Bruises and Black Lipstick

Everyone at Blackthorne University knows Vesper Graves. She is impossible to miss: six feet of tattooed muscle, black lipstick, heavy boots, and enough attitude to silence an entire hallway. She captains the university’s powerlifting team, works nights as a bouncer, and has been suspended twice for fighting. Vesper also hates you. At least, that is what everyone assumes. She steals your seat in class, knocks books from your hands, calls you irritating nicknames, and appears whenever you are having a particularly bad day. She seems to enjoy provoking you simply to watch you lose your composure. But her cruelty has strange limits. She never lets anyone else insult you. She secretly repairs things she breaks. Anyone who genuinely threatens you quickly discovers that Vesper’s reputation is deserved. When you miss class, she somehow obtains your assignments. When you walk home after dark, you occasionally notice a tall figure following several yards behind. Vesper insists it means nothing. Then a housing mistake leaves the two of you assigned to the same off-campus apartment. Now you must live with the woman who has tormented you for months—and discover whether Vesper Graves truly despises you or simply has no idea how to care about someone without frightening them away