Yep, my cock stirs at that as I accept the glass and throw back the water. The cool liquid rolls down my throat. “It’s never affected me before,” I say, placing the empty cup back onto the table beside us.
“Well, should we risk it, or you want to do something about it now?” she challenges.
I raise my eyebrows at her, turned on by her words and forwardness even if it does remind me of Rachel and New Year’s. I lean forward. “I think I want to do something about it now,” I murmur, my throat raw and deep even after the water.
“I think there is a spare room upstairs,” she says, holding out her hand, not shying away.
I grab her hand and pull her past the table to my side and signal for her to lead the way. We slide through the crowd, brushing shoulders with the rest of the partygoers as we go. Ifollow her upstairs, still sipping my beer, my eyes surveying the dance floor below when I notice Shelby watching me. I tip my beer at her, and she gives me a concerned look back as she stops dancing beside Letti. I know why she seems upset with me, but hell, I’m single and Rachel wants nothing to do with me.
I shut the door behind us and watch Alexia saunter toward me, barely over five foot after kicking off her heels. She rises onto her tiptoes and claims my lips, warm and tasting of Malibu and pineapple. I lean down farther, beer still in hand, wrapping my arms around her as I kiss her back. We make out in the middle of the room; it’s slow and sensual as our hands explore each other.
I set my beer down on the bedside table just as she places both palms against my chest, guiding me backward. My legs bump the edge of the mattress, and I allow myself to fall. She crawls over me, pushing me completely back onto the bed just like Rachel did the last time we had sex.Rachel. The image of her flashes through my mind, the look she gave, her lips, her eyes, her…just her. “One second,” I groan out, my head falling back into the bedspread, my voice rough like I’m in pain. Actually, this is going to kill my balls, something her heat is currently sitting on.
“You okay?” She pauses, staring down at me.
I press my thumb and forefinger into the bridge of my nose, drawing in a breath I don’t quite release. “Not really,” I say my voice ragged as I claw at the last bit of integrity I have. The unease of what I’m doing filling my chest and working its way up my throat.
She stares down as she straddles my waist, not annoyed, just concerned.
“I’m sorry.” I shake my head and look up at her. “I can’t do this.”
She slowly nods. “Okay.”
“I know it’s cliché, but… it’s not you, it’s me,” I say, voice strained. “I just can’t do this right now. Believe me when I say—this is killing me, and I might regret this for a very long time.”
“Sure. I understand. No means no.”
She slides off me without hesitation, rising to her feet as I do the same with a quiet sigh. She bends to grab her shoes, slipping them on without a word. I step toward her and press a soft kiss to her cheek. “Thank you for being so understanding,” I murmur
“It’s really no problem,” she shrugs. “Disappointing—sure—but I’ll live.” She smiles, not big but enough to show she means it, though.
My phone rings in my pocket and I pull it out to see Jason’s name light up the screen.
“What’s up?” I ask, already knowing he’s somewhere nearby.
“Outside.Now,” he snaps, then hangs up without another word.
I glance at Alexia, who clearly heard the conversation, or rather the demand. Without a word, I reach for her hand, and together we move quickly to the door. I grip her hand tightly as we descend the stairs, not wanting her to fall in those ridiculously high heels. Then I bend, pressing a kiss to her cheek. She squeezes my hand, assuring me it’s fine and to go as a thick crowd gathers at the front of the house.
As I push through the crowd, I see Jason and my fellow teammates standing on the front lawn with what looks to be about forty Cyclone players.Fuck, this isn’t good.I stride down the front stairs toward them, scowl in place. I lost the championship, my girl, I have a serious case of blue balls, and now is not the time to antagonize me. My long strides eat up the sidewalk, and I push past the last fellow student and cometo Jason’s side. “Are you lost, Cole? What the fuck are you doing here?”
When his eyes find me, his smirk grows. I’m the one he is looking for, so let’s get this over with.
“Just in the neighborhood, thought we would come say hi.”
I look him up and down. He is a good-looking, preppy, arrogant son of a bitch. Liquor bottle in hand, and they are all still clearly celebrating.
“Hi. Now fuck off. This isn’t Cyclone territory, and you’re not welcome here!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, is that anyway to speak to your new champions. Everyone is flocking to congratulate us, Harrison. I thought I would be nice and save you the trip. The trophy is in the car if you want to touch it…might be the only way it’s ever in your presence.” He points toward the convoy of cars they arrived in, that completely block off the street. “We had to put her seatbelt on as we hit a massive hole coming into this town.”
His friends laugh behind him.
“Good, keep it safe. It will be all mine next season,” I spit.
Luke and I are standing eye to eye, our respective teams behind us, everyone full of alcohol and ready for anything. He stretches his neck watching the crowd build behind me, a pleased smile across his face as he takes his time studying the scene and relishing in the gloating he came to do. His expression stills as he leans in closer, though his gaze drifts past me, eyes shining with appreciation. “Holy shit, is that Stone’s girl? The blonde?” He points, sidestepping to get a better view, his bourbon bottle dangling in the air as he leers. I turn to see Shelby and Letti standing at the top stairs. She must have followed me outside along with everyone else. “The one from the news? Holy shit, Harrison! I knew she was hot, but she is evenmore fuckable in person. I always thought your campus was full of trolls, but hell, she will do just fine.”
My stance changes as anger builds in me, Shelby’s face drops at his words. Letti’s brow knits together. She is pissed and starts to amble down the stairs to speak her mind, but Shelby pulls her back.
