NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114: Awkward Arrivals
The convoy arrived back at the MIT campus. Jason pulled the Escalade to a smooth stop outside the dormitories.
"We're here, Hailey," Ethan whispered, gently squeezing her thigh to wake her.
Hailey stirred, stretching slightly before her eyes snapped open. She immediately realized two things: first, that she was leaning intimately against Ethan, and second, that Ethan's hand was resting squarely between her legs.
She felt the residual warmth and, to her utter horror, realized her pantys were damp. She was undeniably aroused and slightly very wet. A furious blush immediately stained her cheeks. She prayed to every deity she knew that Ethan, the cool, detached genius, hadn't noticed her embarrassing state of extreme arousal.
Ethan, of course, noticed everything.
[HUMAN EMOTION DETECTION: High-level capillary dilation (blush) and elevated heart rate detected in subject Hailey. ANALYSIS: Subject is experiencing acute embarrassment triggered by the realization of her physiological response (wetness/arousal). Assessment: The situation is awkward, Champion.]
Ethan thought: "I noticed, System. But I'll maintain the illusion of innocence."
"Ready to go?" Ethan asked smoothly, retracting his hand as if it had been resting on a harmless seatbelt, carefully ignoring the damp spot he felt.
Everyone piled out of the vehicles. The remaining group—Ming, Quinn, and Ruby—looked exhausted. Falcon 1 and Falcon 2, professionals even in the wee hours, took charge of Max, who was completely comatose, and practically dragged him toward the entrance.
Jason approached Ethan, who was waiting outside the dorm with Hailey and the other girls.
"Boss, will you be heading back to the mansion now, or should we wait?" Jason asked, his professional demeanor restored.
"No," Ethan replied, shaking his head. "I want to live the experience. I'm staying here for the night."
Jason glanced pointedly at the girls, particularly Hailey and Ruby, who were hugging each other for support.
"Understood," Jason confirmed. I want to debrief you on the situation and what we found tonight."
Ethan shook his head. "Okay "I'll escort the ladies back to their rooms and then be down immediately. Wait for me Jason. I want to ensure they're secure."
Jason nodded, accepting the minor delay. "Understood, Boss." He gave a curt signal, and Falcon 1 and Falcon 2, having deposited Max, quickly returned to Jason's side to stand guard near the vehicles.
The two Falcon operatives remained with Jason while Ethan, Ming, and the remaining girls headed inside the dormitory of the girls building.
Ming, usually reserved, nervously approached Quinn. "Um, Quinn, I... I had a really great time. You were amazing in the science round."
Quinn smiled warmly, softening his anxiety. "I had a great time too, Ming. You're a total genius when you talk about physics." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick, affectionate kiss on the cheek. "See you in class," she said, turning away quickly and running off into the depths of the girls' wing, leaving Ming completely stunned, his hand gingerly touching the spot where her lips had been.
Ruby just laughed at Ming's frozen expression, then walked over to Ethan and Hailey.
Ethan turned to Hailey, pulling her into a warm embrace from behind, his arms wrapping around her waist. "That was a great evening, Hailey. We definitely need to repeat it. You still have that thousand dollars from the prize to pay for our next team outing."
As he whispered the suggestion into her ear, Ethan's erection, large and hard from the previous sensual moment in the car, pressed firmly against Hailey's backside. Hailey visibly jumped at the unexpected sensation of something enormous and solid against her.
In a curious, yet incredibly bold and shy move, she reached a trembling hand back, grasping the firm bulge of his penis right through his trousers.
Ethan's eyes widened, a sudden, wolfish smile spreading across his face. "Wow," he whispered, his voice dangerously low. "I didn't know you were that daring, Hailey."
Hailey's mind immediately snapped back to reality. She realized her mistake: she thought the bulge was a gun, a tool, or some part of his bodyguard gear—she hadn't expected it to be him. Her brain registered the sheer size and hardness, the intimacy of the action, and the realization that she had just boldly grabbed her friend's erect penis.
Her face flushed a deep, immediate scarlet. "I'm sorry!" she squeaked, ripping her hand away as if burned. "I... I thought—" She didn't finish the sentence, instead turning and running after Quinn, leaving Ethan stunned for a moment.
Ruby just laughed, clutching her stomach. "I can't—! You guys are insane! I'm going to crash. Tell the poor fat guy"— she gestured to Max, who was likely already passed out in his room —"that he owes me a huge apology for getting drunk and abandoning me. See you all later!" She waved and disappeared.
Ethan smiled, shaking his head at the chaos.
Ming, having finally thawed, looked at Max's door. "Poor fatty. He really overdid it."
[Target acquisition failed, Champion. The little lamb escaped. You won't have anything delicious for dinner tonight.] The System's tone was dry and mocking.
"Be patient, System," Ethan replied mentally, watching the door Hailey had just fled through. "I want this lamb well-cooked, slow-roasted over time. Her 'pure' heart is the delicious part. There's no need to always hunt sluts who open their legs for a few dollars, like the whores they are. Hailey is worth the wait."
Ethan straightened his suit, letting the playful student role fall away, replaced by the sharp focus of a man with business to attend to.
Ethan walked toward Ming, whose face was still a mixture of delight from Quinn's kiss and confusion from Jason's dramatic arrival.
"Ming, I have some business to attend to now. I need you to go ahead and get Max settled in," Ethan said, nodding towards Jason's Escalade. "I need you to go back alone."
Ming nodded. "Alright, man. I'll see you later. Just be careful, okay?" Ming lowered his voice, looking at the two Falcons who remained standing outside the SUV, rigid and unexpressive. "Your friends look dangerous. They don't exactly inspire confidence."
Ethan laughed, placing his hand on Ming's shoulder reassuringly. "It's all good, Ming. They're just... big friends. I look out for myself, and they look out for me. Don't worry about it."
Ming didn't look entirely convinced but accepted the explanation. "Okay. Go on. See you."
Ethan nodded, and Ming headed inside the dormitory to wrestle with the comatose Max.
Jason and the Falcons waited. Ethan walked quickly to the waiting Escalade, opened the rear door, and slid inside.