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Look sexy

Gravity and Gold Rings

The athletic dorms at New Rome University were a step up from the standard freshman housing, featuring higher ceilings to accommodate the tall athletes and thicker walls to dampen the sound of constant competitive banter. However, as Percy kicked the door shut behind him and Annabeth, the only sound he cared about was the soft thud of her gym bag hitting the carpet and the quickened pace of her breathing.

The walk from the taco shop had been a slow torture of accidental brushes and lingering glances. Now that they were finally behind a closed door, the air between them felt like it had been charged with a static current. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the blue LED strip Percy had tacked behind his headboard and the pale moonlight filtering through the blinds.

Annabeth turned to him, her brown eyes wide and shimmering with a mixture of playfulness and desire. She didn’t even have time to say anything before Percy’s hands found her waist. He stepped into her space, his 6'0 frame towering over her 5'0 stature, but Annabeth didn't look intimidated. She looked like she was exactly where she wanted to be.

"You've been wanting to do that all night," she whispered, her voice a soft, melodic contrast to the hum of the air conditioner.

"You have no idea," Percy groaned, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly register.

He leaned down, his curly blonde hair falling forward as he captured her lips with his. It wasn't like the chaste kiss at the dorm entrance; this was hungry and urgent. Annabeth hummed into the kiss, her small hands sliding up his chest, feeling the solid muscle he’d built through years of competitive swimming, before winding them tightly around his neck. She stood on her tiptoes, straining to get closer to him, her boho braids rustling against his hoodie.

Percy’s hands didn't stay at her waist for long. His palms, calloused slightly from the gym and the pool deck, slid down to the curve of her hips. He’d been staring at her in those volleyball spandex all afternoon, the image burned into his retinue like a solar flare. Now, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her denim shorts, he felt like he was finally touching something he’d only dreamed of.

He broke the kiss just long enough to lift her up. Annabeth let out a tiny, bubbly squeak of surprise that quickly turned into a giggle as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Percy carried her the two steps to his bed, his grip firm on her thighs. He lowered her onto the blue comforter, hovering over her as he braced himself on his forearms.

The light brown braids with their gold rings were scattered across his pillow, looking like a crown. Percy reached out, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw before tangling gently into the ends of her hair.

"You're so beautiful, Annabeth," he breathed, his blue eyes searching hers. "I seriously don't know how I got so lucky."

Annabeth reached up, her fingers grazing the back of his neck where his hair was still slightly damp from his post-practice shower. "It’s not luck, Seaweed Brain. It’s because I like a guy who smells like chlorine and stares too much."

Percy let out a short, breathless laugh. "I told you, I couldn't help it. You were jumping so high, and the way you move... it's like gravity doesn't even apply to you."

"Maybe it doesn't when you're watching," she teased, pulling him down by his drawstring.

They fell back into a rhythm of deep, slow kisses. Percy was a physical person by nature—his love language was touch, and with Annabeth, he was never quite satisfied with just a little. He wanted to memorize every curve, every inch of her. His hands migrated back down, finding the hem of her yellow crop top before sliding underneath to feel the soft, warm skin of her back.

He moved his mouth to her neck, trailing kisses along her collarbone. Annabeth arched her back, her breath hitching. "Percy..."

"I've got you," he murmured against her skin.

His hands moved lower, settling on the swell of her rear. He squeezed gently, his fingers digging into the denim. He was obsessed with the way she was built—small and delicate in some ways, but incredibly strong and toned from her sport. The muscle of her glutes was firm under his touch, a testament to every squat and every explosive jump she made on the court.

Annabeth let out a low moan, her fingers tightening in his blonde curls. "You really... you really were focused on the 'athleticism' today, weren't you?"

Percy pulled back just enough to look at her, a mischievous, lopsided grin on his face. "I'm a student of the game, Wise Girl. I have to analyze the form. And your form is ten out of ten."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, her face flushed a deep, beautiful rose. "You are such a dork. A very thirsty dork."

"Only for you," he countered. He shifted his weight, pulling her closer so there was no space left between them.

His hands were restless. He couldn't stop touching her. He moved one hand to her thigh, tracing the line where her shorts ended, while the other stayed firmly planted on her backside, pulling her flush against his hips. He loved the height difference; it made her feel so tucked away and safe in his arms, while also making him feel like he had to be careful with her, even though he knew she was probably tougher than he was.

"Percy," she whispered, her eyes fluttering shut as he kissed the sensitive spot just below her ear. "The guys... they're going to be back soon, aren't they?"

"Jason and Beckendorf are probably still at Silena’s or grabbing a second dinner," Percy muttered, his voice muffled by her skin. "We have time."

He moved his hand back to her braids, fascinated by the texture and the way the gold rings felt cool against his warm palms. He picked one up, kissing the gold bead before looking back at her. "I love these. They suit you. Soft but... sharp."

Annabeth smiled, that bubbly, girly side of her shining through the haze of their making out. "Silena helped me do them. It took six hours. I'm glad you like them, because I'm not taking them out for a month."

"Good," Percy said. "I don't want you to change a thing."

He leaned back down, his kisses becoming more fervent. As they moved together on the bed, Percy’s hand returned to its favorite spot. He loved the way she felt, the way she reacted when he pulled her closer. Every time he squeezed, she made a soft sound in the back of her throat that made his head spin.

He was incredibly touchy, his hands never staying still for more than a second. He traced the curve of her waist, the dip of her spine, and the strong line of her shoulders. He was a swimmer; he knew bodies. He knew how muscles worked and how they moved. But Annabeth’s body was a different kind of science to him—one he wanted to study for the rest of his life.

Annabeth shifted, rolling them over so she was sitting on his lap, her legs draping over his. She looked down at him, her braids falling forward like a curtain around them. She looked like a goddess in the dim blue light, her brown eyes dark with affection.

"You're very quiet all of a sudden," she noted, her hands resting on his shoulders.

"Just taking it in," Percy admitted, his hands resting on her knees before sliding up to her hips. "Sometimes I think I'm going to wake up and I'll still be twelve years old and you'll still be the girl who told me I drool in my sleep."

Annabeth laughed, a bright sound that filled the small dorm room. "You still drool in your sleep, Percy. Some things never change."

"Hey!" he protested, though he was smiling. "I've improved."

"Debatable," she said, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to his forehead. "But I suppose I can put up with it."

Percy’s expression softened. He reached up, cupping her face in both of his hands. His thumbs stroked her cheekbones, his blue eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"I love you, Annabeth," he said, the words simple and heavy with truth.

The playfulness in the room shifted into something deeper, something more intimate. Annabeth’s smile turned soft and sweet, the look she only ever gave him when they were completely alone.

"I love you too, Seaweed Brain," she replied.

She leaned down, and this time the kiss was slow, deep, and filled with everything they had been through to get to this point—the move to New Rome, the stress of college athletics, the long nights of studying, and the quiet moments like this.

Percy’s hands slid down her back, settling once again on her rear. He held her there, grounding them both. He felt the steady beat of her heart against his chest, a rhythm that matched his own. For a long time, they just stayed like that, tangled together in the quiet of the room.

Eventually, the distant sound of a door slamming in the hallway broke the spell. It was followed by the unmistakable sound of Jason’s loud laugh and Beckendorf’s deep voice.

Annabeth pulled back, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips. "The boys are back."

Percy groaned, burying his face in her neck. "Maybe if we're quiet, they'll think I'm asleep."

"Percy, your light is on and your shoes are in the hallway," Annabeth pointed out, amused.

"Details," he muttered.

He let her slide off his lap, though he kept a firm grip on her hand until she was standing on the floor. He sat up, his blonde hair a mess of curls pointing in every direction. He reached out, tugging on one of her braids playfully.

Annabeth smoothed out her yellow top and checked her reflection in the small mirror over his desk. She looked slightly disheveled but glowing. She turned back to him, pointing a finger. "No more staring tomorrow at practice. Coach is already on my case about focusing."

Percy stood up, stretching his arms over his head and inadvertently lifting his hoodie to reveal a sliver of his toned stomach. He saw Annabeth’s eyes linger there for a second, and he smirked.

"Oh, so I'm the only one who gets distracted?" he teased.

Annabeth flushed, grabbing her gym bag from the floor. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sure, Wise Girl," Percy said, walking her to the door.

He opened it just as Jason was walking past, a box of leftover tacos in his hand. Jason stopped, looking between Percy’s messy hair and Annabeth’s slightly red face. He smirked, shaking his head.

"Took you guys long enough to come up for air," Jason joked.

"Shut up, Jason," Percy and Annabeth said in perfect unison.

Jason just laughed and kept walking toward his own room.

Percy turned back to Annabeth, leaning against the doorframe. He reached out, his hand finding the small of her back one last time, pulling her in for a final, quick kiss.

"I'll walk you to your building?" he offered.

"It's literally across the quad, Percy. I think I can handle the two-minute walk," she said, though she didn't move away.

"I know you can. I just want to watch you walk away," he admitted with a wink.

Annabeth shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "You are incorrigible."

"But you love me."

"I do," she whispered.

She turned and started down the hallway, her braids swaying and her steps light. Percy stayed in the doorway, his gaze fixed on her just like he’d promised. He watched the way she moved, the confidence in her stride, and yeah—the way her denim shorts fit.

Just before she reached the end of the hall, she looked back over her shoulder, caught him staring, and blew him a kiss with a playful roll of her eyes.

Percy watched until she disappeared around the corner, a satisfied smile on his face. He stepped back into his room and shut the door, the scent of her coconut oil still lingering in the air. He had a 6:00 AM swim set in the morning, and he knew he was going to be exhausted, but as he flopped back onto his bed, he knew it was worth every second.

He closed his eyes, already looking forward to tomorrow afternoon—to the smell of chlorine, the sound of a volleyball hitting the floor, and the best view in New Rome.