by E. L. Todd
Slade suddenly pulled his hand from my thigh and closed off. His face was pale.
I tried not to be offended. “We’re taking it one day at a time.”
Skye seemed to catch on because she dropped the subject.
Cayson cleared his throat. “How about a double date at laser tag?”
“That would be so much fun,” Skye said.
“Yeah, we’re in,” I answered.
“Cool.” Cayson eyed Slade’s face then looked away.
“Does your dad still hate Slade?” Skye asked.
“No, everything is fine now,” I said. “Thankfully.”
Cayson winked at Slade. “Good job, man.”
“You wouldn’t believe how many miles I put on my car driving there all the time,” Slade said bitterly.
“I’m sure it was worth it,” Cayson said encouragingly.
“It was,” Slade said. “But it was a bitch at the same time.”
I rubbed his shoulder. “I really appreciate what you did.”
“You owe me slutty lingerie and blow jobs,” he blurted.
“I can do that.” I rubbed his forearm with my thumb.
He turned to me, the surprise in his eyes. “I didn’t think you’d actually agree to that…”
“When you’re in a relationship, you make your partner happy.”
“Wow.” He nodded. “This is a sweet gig.”
Skye chuckled. “It’s pretty nice, huh?”
Slade rubbed his chin. “So, I can just ask for something and get it? Whenever I want?” He was having a hard time understanding it.
“What do you think has been happening so far?” I asked.
“But I’ve never asked for something. You do things to me and I accept it. But I’ve never controlled the situation.”
“Well, you can.”
“This sounds too good to be true…” He searched my face for a lie.
I laughed. “Well, it is. But it’s a two-way street. I can ask for things too.”
“Okay, but I’m not going to do anything weird, like a threesome with a dude or stick things up my ass.”
Cayson tried not to laugh.
“Okay…I’m not into that either.” I smirked, finding his assumption ridiculous.
“But I’ll do a threesome with a chick,” Slade said.
I narrowed my eyes at him, telling him he better be joking.
He put his arm around my shoulders. “You know you’re the only one, baby.”
Skye smirked. “Aww…”
Slade rolled his eyes. “I want to be a secret again. All this attention is making me insane.”
“Sorry,” Skye said. “We’ll try not to pick on you. It’s just…weird. It’ll take some time for us to get used to.”
“Nothing has changed,” Slade said. “We can still hang out like we used to. It’s not like we’re going to go at it like animals right in front of you.”
Cayson stared at Slade. “I wouldn’t put it past you…”
We were studying in the library when Slade walked in and headed to our table.
Whenever Cayson approached Skye, he would kiss her on the forehead and say something sweet. Would Slade do the same thing? How would he act? Slade was affectionate with me when no one was around, but I wasn’t sure how he would act in front of other people.
Slade came to the table then sat beside me. He didn’t say a word or greet me. His hand dug into his bag and searched for his lunch.
I tried to hide my disappointment. I guess, truthfully, I wanted him to treat me the same way he did when we were behind closed doors, like he loved me and couldn’t be apart from me. But I couldn’t ask him to do something he was uncomfortable with.
Slade put a burrito on the table then searched in his bag again.
I sighed then returned to my magazine, trying to forget about my immature feelings.
“I got you a turkey sandwich.” Slade pushed it toward me. “No mayo.”
Surprised, I turned to him. “Oh?”
“Yeah.” He pushed it closer to me and passed me a few napkins. “Is that okay? Do you want something else?” His voice was gentle and affectionate. I felt like a child again, having someone look after me.
“No,” I said immediately. “That’s great. I love it.”
“Okay.” He turned back to his food.
“But you aren’t supposed to eat in the library…” Skye gave us both a knowing look.
I’d forgotten about that. “Oh well.”
Slade smirked then ate his lunch.
I ate mine, taking small bites while I flipped through my magazine.
“What are you reading?” Slade asked quietly.
“A magazine,” I said like a smartass.
“You know what I mean, Trin.”
“Vogue.”
He leaned toward me and looked at the page.
“I really like this dress—but I don’t think it’s the right color for the model.”
“It’d look better on you.” He leaned back to his chair and ate with his elbows on the table.
Was he trying to be sweet or did it just come out? Instead of comparing him to Cayson and the relationship he had with Skye, I knew I needed to understand Slade was different and didn’t play by any rules. I couldn’t expect him to act a certain way when he never had before.
“The guys are watching the game tonight,” Cayson said. “You down?”
“I’m always down.” Slade finished his burrito then played with the foil in his hands. “You coming, baby?”
Did he want me to? Not being secret was more difficult than I thought. It was like the beginning of our relationship all over again. How did we act? What did he want me to do? What was appropriate and not appropriate? “I think it’s just a guys’ night…”
“Cayson brings Skye everywhere. I can do the same,” Slade said.
“Actually, I wasn’t going to go,” Skye said hesitantly.
“Then I won’t go,” I said.
“Why?” Slade demanded. “I want you there. We’re finally a couple and I don’t have to hide you anymore. So if I want you to come, then do as I say.” His eyes held authority while he stared me down, daring me to defy him.
“For one, I will never do as you say.” I matched his gaze with my own anger. “And two, you should already know that by now.”
Slade turned to Cayson, ignoring me. “She’s coming. She’s fucking annoying, but she’s coming.”
“Excuse me?” I said with wide eyes.
He grabbed the back of my neck then kissed me hard. I was swept off my feet and my thighs squeezed together in desire. Then he released me. “End of discussion.”
My lips were on fire, so I didn’t speak, enjoying the way they burned.
Skye turned to Cayson. “I’m not going to go either…what are you going to do about that?” Mischief and desire were both heavy in her eyes. She was begging him to kiss her like that, to make her world spin.
Cayson smirked slightly, the affection in his eyes. “I guess I’ll have to convince you otherwise…”
She wiggled in excitement. “Oh really?”
“Yeah. But I’ll do it when we get home.”
She sighed in disappointment.
He chuckled lightly then kissed her hard, his mouth moving against hers.
Desperate for his touch, she clung to him like her life depended on it.
He pulled away before it got too intense. “You’re insatiable.”
“Obviously…it’s you.” She rubbed his shoulder seductively.
Slade turned to me. “Are you going to throw up as much as I am?”
“There’s a little vomit in my mouth.”
“Then let’s go.”
I grabbed my crutches then walked out with him. I didn’t need them anymore but kept them with me just in case. My leg was healed, and physical therapy had been successful. But I guess I feared I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Slade pushed me gently but knew when to back off. I would stop using them when I was ready.
After Slade picked me up, we drove to the bar.
“No crutches?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I think I can handle it.”
He eyed my outfit then looked away. “I like your dress.”
“You mean—you like how short it is.”
“Yep. And it’ll ride up when you sit on my lap.”
“I’m not going to sit on your lap,” I argued. “Skye and Cayson are affectionate, but they still understand boundaries. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable?” Slade kept his eyes on the road. “You have no idea what I’ve seen Roland and Conrad do. Believe me, having you on my lap doesn’t even compare.”
I didn’t ask what he’d seen because I didn’t want to know. “I still don’t think it’s appropriate.”
“Well, girls always sit in my lap.”
I glared at him. “Is that supposed to convince me?”
He chuckled. “Well, it’s your seat of honor. If anyone should sit there, it’s you. Besides, you can cover up my massive hard-on.”
“We just had sex,” I argued.
“You always get me hard, Trin.” He turned into the parking lot then killed the engine. “It doesn’t matter how many times you make me come in a single day.”
How did he do that? He somehow made something gross sound sweet.
We walked inside then joined everyone at the table. Skye was there, sitting next to Cayson. When Slade sat down, he pulled me on his lap, not giving me a choice.
Cayson eyed us. “You know I can see you, right?”
Slade kept one hand on my hip. “Then don’t look.”
“This is weird…” Roland’s eyes darted back and forth between us. “I preferred it when you were a secret.”
“And I specifically said no dates,” Conrad said with a growl.
Cayson didn’t look apologetic at all. He shrugged, a pleased look on his face. Skye nudged him in the side slightly, giving him a smirk only he understood.
“Where I go, my other half goes,” Slade said. “Get used to it.”
His other half? I could get used to this sweet talk.
“I knew you were being serious with Trinity, but I didn’t know you were pussy-whipped like Cayson,” Roland said. “So much for that…”
Slade ignored the jab. “Where’s our waitress?”
“She seemed busy so don’t expect her to come back again.” Conrad downed half his glass with a single gulp.
“Fine.” He adjusted me on his lap so he could look at me. “What would you like to drink?” He brought his lips close to my ear and kept his voice low.
“You.” I wrapped my arms around his neck.
He smirked. “Right here, right now?” he whispered. “So much for not making people uncomfortable…”
“Well, when you’re sweet to me, it’s hard to resist you.”
“What are you talking about? I’m always sweet to you.”
“Yeah…when no one is around. I wasn’t sure how you would act in front of the others.”
“I see.” He placed a gentle kiss on the shell of my ear. “I’ll keep it up, then.”
“Okay.”
“Now, what would you like to drink?”
“Seven and seven.”
“Alright, baby. I’ll be right back.” He moved me off his lap then left the booth.
I sighed as I watched him go, looking at his tight ass in his jeans as he walked.
“So much for a guys’ night…” Conrad gave me an annoyed look before he turned back to Roland.
“Yeah…” Roland eyed Cayson and Skye, who were making out.
“Next time, just us,” Conrad said firmly.
Cayson broke apart from Skye even though it was clearly difficult. “Sorry, Skye doesn’t bring out the best in me.”
“Because she’s a brat,” Roland spat.
“Well, I guess I like brats,” Cayson said, giving Skye an affectionate look.
Skye gave him a sweet smile then turned her attention back to the group.
It was nice not to be jealous of her for once. I had a man that cared about me just as much, even if he was a little different from traditional Prince Charming.
“I should have asked Slade to get me a refill,” Conrad said with a sigh.
“He wouldn’t have done it anyway,” Roland reasoned.
“You’re probably right,” Conrad said.
I looked at Slade at the bar, wondering what was taking him so long.
A pretty girl with black hair and sleeves of tattoos was talking to him. She had bright-green eyes and a figure that would make any girl check her own measurements in comparison. One look at her told me Slade had already slept with her or she was definitely somebody he would take to his place.
“Damn, she’s hot,” Roland blurted, following my gaze.
“That’s Stacy,” Conrad said. “That’s the one girl that Slade…you know.”
“You know what?” I demanded, jealousy coming out.
Roland raised his eyebrows. “Who did that…thing?”
Conrad nodded with a smirk on his face. “Yep. She’s the one.”
“No way.” Roland turned back to the girl, his eyes even wider than before.
“What the hell did she do?” I demanded.
“Unspeakable things…” Conrad’s voice trailed off as he stared at her.
Skye tried to come to my aid. “She’s got nothing on you, Trinity. Don’t be threatened by her.”
“Maybe you should take your own advice…” Cayson muttered.
I looked at Stacy and watched her touch Slade’s forearm. “Why is she touching him? It’s not like he’s going to fly away.” Venom and anger burst from my mouth.
Conrad laughed. “You’re getting so red.”
“No offense, Trin, but that girl is one tough chick,” Roland said. “You could never take her.”
“You bet your ass I can,” I snapped.
Stacy leaned toward Slade, sharing a secret for only him to hear. He smirked after he listened to her, not stepping away or pulling his arm out of her grasp.
“Not if you knew what she was into…” Cayson smirked as his voice trailed off.
“What the hell did she do with him?” I snapped.
“No.” Roland held up his finger. “The question is, what the hell didn’t she do with him?”
I growled and tried not to flip the table over.
“Trin, it’s okay,” Skye said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“What are you talking about?” I snapped. “She’s all over him!”
Slade kept talking to her, leaning against the bar while he smirked at her. She pressed closer to him, talking like they were closer than friends. They’d clearly already shared a bed—several times.
“Enough of this.” I left the table, ready to kick some ass.
Conrad laughed from behind me. “My sister is going to get her ass handed to her.”
I marched across the room until I reached the bar. Neither one of them noticed me, clearly lost in their own world. Whatever they were saying was too interesting to ignore. That just made me more pissed off.
I cut her off and moved in front of Slade. My arms wrapped around his neck and I crushed my mouth against his, giving him a hard kiss that would knock him off his feet.
His body reciprocated immediately, and his hands moved around my waist. His lips massaged my mouth for a moment before he ended the embrace. “What was that for?”
I ignored the question and turned toward Stacy, my arm around Slade’s waist. “He’s taken. Now take your business elsewhere.”
She gave me a glare, cool and confident, before she flicked her hair over one shoulder. “Call me, Slade.” Then she glided away, shaking her hips and turning heads as she went.
Bitch.
I turned to him, fuming.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“What was that about? You were flirting with some whore.”
“Flirting?” he
asked. “I wasn’t flirting. I was just talking—”
“It looked like a lot more than talking! She seemed to have a good grip on your arm.”
“She likes my tatts,” he said. “So what?”
“My tatts,” I snapped. “No one touches those but me. If you don’t know how to be a boyfriend, then maybe you shouldn’t be one at all.” I was so upset I could bring down the building. I turned around and took a step, prepared to make a dramatic exit.
He gripped my wrist and yanked me back, forcing me against his chest. “Baby, calm down.”
“No.” I swatted his chest. “It’s not okay to flirt with other women.”
“It’s not?”
That just pissed me off even more. “You are—”
“Kidding.” He gave me an affectionate look. “Baby, I wasn’t flirting with her.”
“It was pretty clear you were. I could see you.”
“I didn’t say she wasn’t flirting with me.” A cocky smirk was on his face.
I smacked his shoulder. “God, I hate you sometimes.”
He gripped my hips and pulled me closer. “I hate you too. But I would never cheat on you. I may be new to this relationship thing, but I understand what’s right and what’s wrong. And I know how I feel about you. Please don’t ever worry about that.”
“If that’s what you do every time you’re out by yourself, then I am worried.”
His hands moved up my arms, touching me gently. “Look, I have a reputation I spent years building. Every single girl within ten miles of this campus knows what kind of guy I am. And sometimes they are looking for a good night on my sheets. Can you really blame them?”
“You’re mine.”
Fondness shone in his eyes. “I know I am. But they don’t.”
“Then tell them.” I swatted his shoulder again.
He laughed then restrained my arm. “I did. But she didn’t believe me. Now, can you really hate these women who have no idea. As far as they know, they aren’t doing anything wrong.”
“Women? As in plural?” My blood was about to boil. “Does this happen a lot?”
He shrugged, a guilty look on his face. “Perhaps…”
“You go out behind my back?” I snapped.
“No. It’s called a phone, Trin.”
I hadn’t even thought of that.
“You’re really making this into a bigger deal than it needs to be.”