Chapter Two
Then
I pick up Ellen from her last class of the day and drive her home to their apartment so she can get ready ahead of our date. At the building’s front door, after she unlocks it, I quickly step around her to open and hold the door for her.
“After you.”
She smiles up at me, mirth sparkling in those gorgeous green eyes of hers. We’ve only been dating for two weeksbut I am utterly convinced I am going to marry her.
I’m also not stupid enough to tell her that. I might be an idiot, but I keep that kind of stuff to myself. Besides, if I say something like that at this stage, and she tells her overprotective roommate and best friend, Casey-Marie Blaine, I might as well forget about ever dating Ellen again.
Ellen tries to tell me Casey doesn’t hate me, buteverything the feisty blonde says and does speaks otherwise.
I’m twenty-two, and Ellen and Casey are only twenty. They’re in their sophomore year of college while I’m in my junior year. I’ve dated before, but Ellen’s special.
I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like she silently asks me for more in all the good ways, and I don’t have to worry about her hating me for wanting to be in charge.
Iwantto take care of her. Not like keep her home barefoot and pregnant, but just…
I don’t know.
Guys aren’t supposed to want to spank women, or tie them up. But even though Ellen and I haven’t slept together yet, everything she hints at is naughty and dark and playful, all rolled into one. When she playfully says, “yes, Sir,” to me, I canhearthe capitalSas she looks up at me with thosegorgeous green eyes.
Inviting me.
Baiting me.
Tempting me.
We’d have already slept together if it was up to her. Not that I don’t want to—Idefinitelywant to—but Casey is always around when we’re at Ellen’s, and my roommate is an utter prick who will do his best to interrupt us if he thinks we’re having sex because he hasn’t been laid in over two years.
I get the feeling Casey will cockblockme to infinity. If she’s around when I’m in the apartment, she’sthere. Practically on top of us. Always making snarky comments at my expense, which she disguises as friendly teasing. So I know trying to make love to Ellen with Casey there would be a fricking disaster.
I’m trying not to be a dick to Casey, but I don’t know how much longer I cannotbe a dick to her. And if I am a dick to her,I can pretty much guarantee that will end anything that’s developing between me and Ellen.
Somehow, I have to win over Ellen’s prickly bestie.
That means…patience.
And a lot of masturbation.
* * * *
Casey and I are both pre-law, so at least we have that in common. We don’t have any classes together, but we take classes from the same instructor.
I seize a chance to score a couple of pointswith Casey when I bring her copies of my notes from last year for a class she’s taking now. Ellen’s still getting ready while I’m talking to Casey.
“Peterson is a dick,” I warn her as I hand her the thumb drive with the copies of my notes saved on it. “He’ll be pedantic for the sake of it and claim it’s to build your chops as an attorney. But the truth is, he’s just a dick who couldn’t cut itin private practice, so he likes to make students miserable for the hell of it. My friend’s older brother had him and told me that.Hisfriend’s father is an attorney who knew the guy years ago. He said Peterson was an idiot in private practice and couldn’t hack it. That’s why he ended up teaching.”
“Well, they say those who can,do, and those who can’t, teach.” She glances at Ellen’s closedbedroom door and smiles. “Ellen’s excluded from that, of course.”
“Of course.” Ellen’s an education major who wants to teach special education.
Casey’s fingers close around the thumb drive. She cocks her head as she stares at me for a long moment. Like she’s trying to decide if I’m for real. “Thanks.” Her light brown gaze narrows suspiciously. “Why do I feel like this is a bribe?”
“Oh, it’sabsolutelya bribe. I’m not going to deny it.”
Her scowl quirks into a smirk. “You’re honest, I’ll give you that.”
