Meet up with Grace anyway... I can resist the temptation, right?

The air seemed to be freezing as I made my way to the library to meet Grace, noting how at ease every student but me seemed to be; not a single one shivering the way I was at the slightest breeze.

This cold… this damn cold. It seems like it’s coming from each one of my bones in turn, getting worse and worse as time goes on.

I knew, deep down, why this cold was affecting me so badly. My whole body was warping subtly, changing. Like withdrawal from an addiction, not taking a skin in over a month was slowly tearing me apart, the symptoms getting progressively worse the longer I left it.

It’s probably worse than an addiction even… more like neglecting to eat or sleep. Forcing myself to ignore a physiological need…

I gulped as I reflected on my increasing lack of humanity. After all, I wasn’t a human any more, was I? Maybe I was just deluding myself, trying my best to pretend everything was fine, while deep down, the monster I really was made itself more and more known. If I didn’t accept it and it’s needs, it would warp my body until I had to.

Catching sight of myself in the library window, I could see the changes in my appearance were accelerating. My skin looked more than pale, it even seemed translucent and unnatural now. It wasn’t so bad yet to turn heads; strangers might presume I had heritage from Scandinavia or Scotland, and was simply as pale as this naturally. But anyone who knew me could tell I was changing at an alarming rate, and it wasn’t going to be able to be explained away before too long.

I tore my eyes away from the man in the mirror as I walked inside.

The library was a fascinating building that I’d been neglecting so far in my time here; too wrapped up fear over my disturbing transformation and everything else than had happened to really be studying. Built into the a structure that was once meant to be a Cathedral, it’s high Gothic architecture and equally high ceilings projected an air of imposing grandeur, which the tall bookshelves within accentuated.

I’d only been here once before, but Grace had specifically organized to meet me in one of the study areas close to the entrance, as, in her words, “This place only needs a Minotaur to be a true labyrinth!”

I followed the wall around the left until I found the area with her in in, the third one over, buried just a little among the bookshelves. Her back was to me, and I could see her long dark hair snaking down her back. She was wrapped up in a warm jumper in a classy beige shade, tan and white checkered skirt and white thigh high socks snaking down to brown boots. My heart fluttered a little even seeing her from the back, somehow looking so comfortable yet so chic, her hips and the shape of her body being impossible to ignore through her clothes.

I could feel a semi tent up in my jeans as I looked over her, the mixture of appreciation for her personality inspired by my feelings mixing with the appreciation for her body I couldn’t ignore. Something about this library made it seem that sound had a hard time traveling, as I was straining to hear any other students talking, even though I knew from Instagram stories and even just the number of people milling around the entrance, there always seemed to be hundreds in here.

And yet… as I strained my ears, I couldn’t pick up the sound of anyone really. There was a dull hum of subtle conversation that could be made out, but something about the acoustics of this place made it seem to be coming from everywhere and no-where at once, serving as white noise, not a single word able to be made out to any degree of recognisability.

Even among so many students, here we were totally alone. So many visited this library each day, no-one would possibly notice one student who entered and didn’t leave. And Grace’s clothes look so comfy… how would today’s outfit feel on her body? The weight of her big breasts, the cushion of her plush ass in that skirt. Wouldn’t it be sexy to wear her body and her clothes? Even just to study as her, wrapped in her skin, knowing each page read could be slotted in her memories. In a way, I’d be doing her a favor; she gets a nice little rest, while still learning everything she needs to…

What the hell am I thinking?!

The thought ran out clearly, interrupting my fantasies as I seemed like I snapped out of whatever trance I’d been in. I’d advanced a few paces, hands outstretched, a pressure in my fingertips denoting how close the spines had been to bursting free. I shook my head in disgust at myself as I walked closer, sitting beside her.

“Hey…! Sorry I’m late.”

I started sheepishly. She turned to me, big dark eyes seeming to sparkle in the low lights of the library, a warm smile taking to her lips.

“No… no, it’s okay. I’m just happy you’re here at all.”

My heart started melting a little at her simple appreciation and the quiet warmth in her voice, settling down, our faces close, her book on myths and legends spread open in front of her.

“I was scared… the Minotaur had gotten you.”

I laughed a little, forgetting my worries for just a second at her small joke as I fished my own books out of my bag.

“I’d need to try it’s best to keep out a legendary hero like me!”

I boasted, flexing my arms as I bragged. Grace stifled a laugh.

“Okay, okay, Mr. Legendary hero. Let’s see if you’ve got the brains to match all that brawn.”

Her teasing is so gentle…

Again, I found myself gulping as I opened my books to try to study. Grace had no problem getting into a rhythm, taking down elegant notes while she read, nearly getting carried away in her studies, although even she seemed to be feeling the slight hits of tension in the air.

It’d been like this more and more recently. Every time we were alone together, it seemed like there was a little electricity in the air, gazes lingering for a little too long on each others lips, faces a little too close, almost inviting the idea of something more.

On my own part, the tension was two fold. The bubbling excitement and nerves of young love had started to race in me, my deepening crush on Grace starting to take more and more precedence in my mind. It seemed like it was different from my crush on Lisa; and all the more dangerous for it. Lisa had seemed almost unattainable, in many ways the perfect girl. Pretty but genuine, kind without expectation of anything in return, while being capable and talented with a self-assurance and wisdom that carried none of the off-putting arrogance that infected so many of the gifted.

Grace had lots of the good traits of Lisa too; she was just as gorgeous, and seemed just as smart too, just in a different way, but where Lisa was popular and widely beloved like a crown jewel, Grace felt like finding your own brightest diamond, appearing in a special place just for you. There was an exclusivity there that was different, like she was a hidden gem, a shy personality keeping her away from people but making every moment she opened up to you feel like the first time.

It honestly made her so much more irresistible… especially as each moment spent with her strengthened a real bond formed over time between us two, rather than hopeful notions and delusions hung around the imagined character of a girl I could idolize.

The other tension was felt exclusively by me as I spent time with her. This one was much darker and more depraved, a deep tension spurred on my monstrous lust. After all, what was the intimacy of spending time with such a pure and pretty girl, compared to the intimacy of being her? I felt my eyes graze her thighs, that band of skin between the top of her socks and the hem of her skirt, looking so shiny and smooth.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have legs like that again…? I would be so easy to… no-one is around…

I tore my eyes away, furious desire to resist these dark impulses tearing at my mind, even as I felt my resolve get closer to crumbling with each moment I spent in her presence. I glanced at my phone, seeing we’d been here for an hour already, my own meandering thoughts eating the time as they wandered between my half acknowledged studies and the increasingly irresistible pull of Grace.

“Hey… Alex.”

I felt a tug at my sleeve, as a quiet voice called me. I turned, and saw Grace was closer to me than ever before. My heart rate immediately jumped as I realized just how close we were now.

“Ahh, Grace!”

Startled, I eeped out my reply, as she shifted her legs together, a small fidgeting motion that drew my eyes and chiselled away my resolve.

“So… we’ve been spending a lot of time together lately, and…”

A furious blush took her cheeks as she stumbled over what she was building up to. It felt like the blood was rushing faster and fasted in my ears as I looked over her. A cute face scrunched up in embarrassment, fingers wrapped around my sleeve, so close to brushing against my hand. Her big breasts, obvious through her jumper.

My own internal tension was rising higher and higher as I thought about it. Pressure rushing though my head, energy at the back of my knees. Light touches of pain in my fingertips…

Wait…

Darting eyes confirmed my worst fears, as small beads of blood formed at the edge of each fingertip, the first tip of each spine slowly beginning to slide out. I breathed quickly, eternally grateful Grace was so wrapped up in trying to say whatever was on her mind she was too distracted to notice what was happening to me. My deep breaths filled my lungs with her rich scent, touches of apricot and apple and nectarine, like the perfect mix of May and September all in one… so hard for me to resist.

I broke her grip on my sleeve as I stood quickly, the blood in my ears seeming to rush faster and faster.

“Alex…?”

She looked up, concerned and filled with emotion alike, at the almost feral look that sparked on my face.

“Grace, I just…”

What should I do??

The blood was getting worse as the spines started to slide out, my hands kept firmly behind my back now, prayers cycling around my mind that the steam wouldn’t be noticed as the wounds started knitting themselves closed.

I have to get away from here! Who knows what I’ll do if I stay…!

But then… another part of me chimed in.

Grace’s lips look so plump and soft, quivering just a little with whatever is on her mind. I should take those lips… wear them. Take her body now! What could be better, than being the woman I love!