Auryn took a few steps toward me, closing the distance between us. “So they say. Does that scare you, Ripley? Are you afraid to be out here alone with me?”
Every step he took toward me made my pulse pound faster. Even though I wasn’t afraid of him, I knew better than to let my guard down with one of the Kings. Unbridled violence lived within him. The ability to end a man’s life with ease. It should have had me running like hell. Instead, I found myself taking a step toward him too.
“Should I be?” My tone was more flirtatious than I’d intended. “You would never hurt me, would you, Auryn?”
“Only if you want me to, baby girl.” He was right in front of me then, his gaze dropping to my lips.
When I caught myself leaning toward him, eager for his kiss, I jerked away. “I better get home. It’s late.”
He studied me for a moment with one eyebrow raised, like he knew I was a jittery mess inside. “I’ll follow you. Jamie might be hanging around your apartment building. I’ll feel better when I know you got inside safely.”
Struggling to form words, I simply nodded, whirling around to get into my car. Once I closed myself inside, I let out a heavy whoosh of breath. I’d never looked twice at Auryn before last night at the party. It astounded me how much could change in one night.
We’d talked, laughed, and done drugs together. Then we’d ended up in bed. I wasn’t the type to leave such an encounter with my head spinning. Now when I looked at Auryn, my heart immediately began to race. My cheeks flushed and my palms sweaty.
There was no denying that he was easy on the eyes. Definitely attractive. A lot of people were attractive though. I couldn’t figure out why I felt this twinge in my stomach now when I looked at him. I’d gone into our encounter drunk, high, and eager for a good time. I’d left it with my head spun and my world flipped upside down.
Not good. Not part of the plan.
Starting the engine, I took a minute to ground myself with a few deep breaths before putting the car in gear. Auryn’s black Porsche followed me from the lot. Keeping a safe distance, he tailed me through town, back to my neighborhood. Every time I glanced in the rearview mirror to find him still behind me, I felt disoriented.
I had to remind myself that he was doing me a service. Keeping Jamie away. This world didn’t make it easy for women to say no. My little arrangement with Auryn would help me get through until graduation without having to handle Jamie on my own. After that I’d probably never see either of them again.
That thought should’ve been reassuring. Something about it didn’t sit right with me.
“Jesus, Ripley,” I muttered to myself, hands tight on the steering wheel. “You don’t even know this guy. So he fucks like it’s an Olympic event and he’s the gold medal winner every time. That’s hardly a good enough reason to swoon over the guy. Grow up.”
Upon reaching my building, I was glad this would all be over right away. I would escape upstairs to the apartment and close the door on this night. As I pulled around the back of the building to my designated parking space, Auryn surprised me by pulling up behind me.
“It’s cool,” I said as I got out of the car, locking the door. “I think I can handle it from here.”
Auryn glanced toward the building. “I should walk you up.”
I thought about Athena. I wasn’t sure if she was home yet, but if so, I didn’t want her to see me come in with him. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Thanks for looking out for me. I hope it didn’t ruin your night. You must have had better things to do than wait around all night for me.”
He surprised me then by reaching to pluck the clip from my hair. Plunging his hand into my tresses to gently tousle them as they fell about my shoulders. “There. Much better. I really didn’t have anything else to do tonight. There was some party Dom and Noah invited me to. I doubt it was anything special.”
I stared at him in wonder, accepting the hair clip he held out to me, and stuffing it in my purse. This was the part where Ihad to find a way to politely tell him to leave. Otherwise, I would be forced to invite him inside. I couldn’t bring myself to do that.
“I’m pretty tired. It’s been a long day. I think I’m going to head inside and go to bed.” I turned toward the building, hoping that he would take the hint and leave.
“Trying to get rid of me?” Auryn’s lips curved into a sly grin. “Maybe I’m not ready to let you go yet. Maybe I think you should bring me upstairs, and we’ll go to bed together.”
He was bold in a way that both impressed and intimidated me. He had this fearless quality that I admired, even though it made me nervous as hell. Auryn wasn’t afraid to speak his mind or to make it clear what he wanted.
“I still haven’t recovered from the last time we went to bed together.” I laughed nervously, tucking my hair behind my ear. “It’s barely been twenty-four hours. My kitty needs more recovery time than that.”
That wasn’t entirely true. Last night my body had felt like it was made for Auryn. Like I could take his cock a thousand times and still be ready for more. It was the thought of doing it sober that had me running scared. I’d been a different person last night. A different version of myself. I wasn’t sure this current version of me could match Auryn the way I had. I was afraid to find out.
“What are you so afraid of, doll? I can see how hard you’re trying to convince yourself that you don’t want me. Is it because I’m a shady motherfucker into illegal activity? I’m a straight up bad dude. Or is it because that’s what turns you on?” Auryn shocked me further by picking me up and placing me on the hood of his Porsche.
“I…uh…” The hood felt warm beneath me from the engine recently running. I felt like a moron as I tried and failed to make words happen.
“That’s what I thought.” Nudging my legs apart, Auryn stepped between them. Pressing so close that I felt him grow hard against me. He untied the scarf around my neck, eyeing it for a moment before using it to tie my wrists together.
My mouth dropped open. I watched him do it, making no effort to stop him. My brain had glitched out, no longer working.
“I know you haven’t always been a fan of me and my friends. I know you think we’re dangerous. You wanted your friends to stay away from us. You think we’re trouble. And you’re right.” Using my tied wrists, Auryn pushed me down against the hood, leaning over to trap me with his body. He held my wrists above my head, so easily putting me under his control. Using his free hand to touch the bruises marking my throat, he murmured, “But you like trouble, don’t you, Ripley? Let’s see just how much you like it.”
