“Yes,really.”
Bryson with the Biceps probably didn’t hear me when I saidBrighton,he was too busy pooling blood to the lower half of his body in hopes the rest of my clothes would spontaneously fall off. No wonder he’s been following me around like a lovesick puppy. I’ve given him one serious boner to contend with, and now I can practically see the tally marks spinning in his eyes.
“ColeBrighton?” He nods, affirming my worst nightmare.
“Cole Brighton…” I stride back to the tally marks and inspect the sloppy row of lines crossed in groups of five that string all the way down the door jam. “Oh God, oh God, ohGod.” I spin, taking in the other side of the wall marked Bryson and inspect the hieroglyphics that predict his potential for a serious VD outbreak. And, judging by the magnificent scrawl, I’d say the odds of his dick falling off in the very near future are most definitely in his favor.
“This can’t be right,” I say, turning again in disbelief to inspect the sexual carnage my brother’s engaged in since he’s been away at Debauchery U. And, here, Mom and I thought he was buried in textbooks, losing himself in the stacks at the library. It looks like the only thing Cole has been burying himself in is an entire sea of vaginas. “Are there that many girls in North Carolina, or are you importing them in from out of state?” I bite down over my lip. Honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. This has got to be a joke. “Me thinks these walls exaggerate just a tiny bit.” Correction—a whole hell of a lot especially where my brother is concerned—at least they’d better.
Bryson lets out a laugh, and his sharpened canines flash, his teeth are white as milk. He’s got that vampire, werewolf appeal to him, and my thighs quiver because I just so happen to have a sweet spot for all things vampire and werewolf right between my legs. Not that my sweet spot has ever entertained a beast of the paranormal variety, or human for that matter, but I digress.
“If anything I’ve been conservative with the effort.” He leans in just above me, pinning me against the wall with his chest. His face inches in toward mine, and my stomach melts in a puddle of heat. “Your brother, however, has been known to be liberal with his chicken scratch.” Bryson comes in closer and rakes his hot breath over my cheek. His perfect features inspire my heart to try and break free from my chest with its wild palpitations. My adrenaline spikes, and a bite of perspiration breaks out under my arms. I’ve never been so brazenly propositioned for a kiss, but knowing The Sultan of the Scoreboard, I think the offer extends to far more delicate places—like the aforementioned sweet spot.
The door explodes open, and Cole springs out with his dark hair rumpled, his glowing green eyes, twins to mine, and he looks startled by my presence.
“Baya?” He pulls me into a sweaty hug. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.” He’s grinning ear-to-ear still holding me in a semi-headlock. His body smells ripe, and he’s sticky to the touch.
“Mom managed to get me on an earlier flight.” I give an impish grin as I make my way out of his strangle hold. “So, here I am. Surprise.” I hold out my hands. It’s only then I notice he’s wearing nothing but boxers. Truthfully, this entire scenario has sort of turned the surprise around on me and not in any good way.
A brunette with a matted mane ambles out of his room and down the hall before shutting herself in what I presume to be the bathroom.
“Oh my God, it’s true!” And I was the last person who was going to buy into the pornographic writing on the wall.
“What’s true?” His dark brows furrow as he crosses his arms. Cole is gorgeous with those searing emerald eyes, dimples deep enough to sink your heart into. No wonder he’s bedding his way through school. The girls aren’t giving him a choice.
To my horror a beautiful blonde pokes her head out of his bedroom. She gives a slight wave at Bryson, and my stomach drops like a stone.
“You’ve gottwoin there?” My muscles seize. “You are not the Cole Brighton I grew up with. For sure you aren’t the same Cole Brighton who called home once a week to lecture me on boys and their wandering penises.” Because obviously he was speaking from experience.
“Penises?” Bryson mouths the word, and I choose to ignore him.
“What? We were having a study group.” Cole frowns into me with a look that suggests I’d better believe him and quick.
He presses his hand over my back and ushers us to the couch.
“Study group, my ass,” I whisper. And here I thought he was nothing like the playboys he preached long and hard for me to avoid, when all along he’s been their fearless leader. Or should I say co-leader. I glare over at Bryson who’s making himself comfy on a barstool nearby. He leans over the kitchen counter just gawking at the two of us as if readying for the show, and I can’t help stealing glances. It’s not my fault. He’s handsome in an abnormal freak of nature kind of way, and his biceps seem to be taking my mind off the fact my sweet big bro was nothing but a big fat lie.
“So what’s up?” Cole gives his signature dimpled grin. “Are you all settled in your dorm?”
“Yes.” I shoot a quick look to Bryson and his prying eyes. “Iam.” I’m in no mood to run down the sins of my faux sister when my own flesh and blood has some serious carnal issues I’d like to contend with.
“Good.” He runs his fingers through his thick black hair, totally unmoved by the fact he’s in nothing but his skivvies. But, now that I’ve been made aware of the public service he’s been generously gifting the ladies of Whitney Briggs, I’m sure it’s far more clothing than he’s used to. Cole props his feet up on the coffee table which would have been a felony offense if our type A mother were here. Of course, she would have been wild-eyed and pissed long before now—what with two girls streaming from his bedroom, his sex life mapped out like the periodic table of elements for all to see. That alone would have killed her on the spot, and she would never have made it to this new feet-on-the-furniture version of my brother. “You like your roommate?”
“Jeanine Waters.” I nod. “Real friendly girl.”
A dark laugh sputters from him as he pumps a fist over at Bryson, his comrade in tally mark wielding arms.
“She’s a cool chick.” Cole reaches for the remote, and the enormous television blinks to life. “You’ll like her once you get to know her, but steer clear of her social circle. She’s a party animal if you know what I mean. I’ll set you up with some nice girls who like to hang out and read in their spare time, like you. Rumor has it there’s a book club over at Prescott. You’ll fit right in.”
I try not to glance at Bryson who’s just taken an obnoxiously loud bite of an apple while my cheeks burn through a dozen shades of red. Its one thing to be a self-proclaimed book nerd, but to have Cole announce it like its some social disease that forces bookworms to be exiled in a building together is another.
I clear my throat. “That sounds great, but I was thinking about busting out of my shell a little this year. You know, maybe joining a sorority?” Not really, but, now that the whole roommate thing isn’t quite panning out how I hoped, it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
“Rush is in a couple weeks.” Bryson lifts his apple as if he were toasting my efforts.
“No.” Cole shakes his head emphatically. “No rushing.” He glares over at Bryson for commending the idea. “Baya this is Bryson my bonehead of a roommate. Don’t listen to a word he says. Bry—this is my baby sister, keep your hands, and stupid ideas, the hell away from her.” He turns back to me. “Besides she’s not into guys.”
“What?” This is news to me. “I am, too.” I’m quick to rectify my sexual standing to the nipple ogler in the next room.
