The Pledge

by Laura Ward

  “Rise and shine, my pretties. We have business to attend to.” Julie yanked the covers off of me and pulled the pillow away from Alexis. Placing both of our laptops next to us, she pushed Alexis over and got comfortable as she opened her own.

  We had agreed to check house results together. I thought we’d do that at a reasonable time. However, Julie had a different plan. After entering our personal passcodes, we waited and whatever sleep still lingered in me, flew out the window. Anticipation buzzed through my body.

  Julie screamed and bounced on the bed. “All three of my favorites are still here.” She stood up and did a little dance. “I only got cut by two houses, but who cares? I think one was the place where I accidentally let it slip that their furniture reminded me of my Nana’s. The other was definitely the one that smelled like burnt toast. I couldn’t hack that smell twenty four/seven. Sometimes my brutal honesty hurts.” Julie flopped back down on my bed.

  “I got my favorites too,” Alexis said, looking up from the screen. Her eyes danced with excitement. “It looks like I only got cut from one place. I’ll have to choose the other three to cut now.”

  Julie leaned over to look at Alexis’ screen. “But you still have Tri-Gam too, right?”

  Alexis nodded and looked at me. “Taren?”

  “I didn’t get cut?” It came out like a question, and I pulled the laptop closer to me.

  “You didn’t get cut by Tri-Gam?” Julie held up both hands, fingers crossed for luck, and Alexis clapped her hands together.

  “I still have Tri-Gam. I didn’t get cut...by anyone. I guess they all liked me. How is that possible?”

  Julie jumped up and down on Alexis’ bed. “I told you Taren Richards! You are hotter than Satan’s nut sack!”

  I threw my pillow at her. “Did you really just compare me to the devil’s genitals?”

  She laughed. “You gotta admit, that’s pretty hot, though. Right?”

  I didn’t get cut by anyone. I sat back in my bed, staring at the computer screen. A sense of something new struck me. I was finally starting to believe I could be different. That it was my turn to belong.

  Chapter Ten

  ALEC

  We were walking to Ratsies for calzones when I saw her again. The field in front of Memorial Chapel was filled with girls in sorority shirts, but my eyes were drawn to Taren like a heat-seeking missile. She was laughing and joking with a short, dark-haired girl, and I frowned. I’d forgotten how nice Taren’s smile was.

  She’d smiled plenty during the time we worked on our debate project. When it was just the two of us, we never had any problem getting along. Guilt clenched my chest when I thought about that night at the bonfire. All I wanted to do was ignore how I’d been the one to cause that smile to disappear for the rest of senior year.

  Forget the smile, Hart. Forget the girl.

  I tried to look away, but found it impossible. My gaze was pulled back to Taren against my will and damn if it didn’t land on her skimpy skirt and the most perfect pair of legs I’d ever seen. The only way Taren’s legs could look any better was if they were wrapped around my waist.

  Wait. What?

  I ran my hand across my forehead and then raked my fingers back through my hair. I sighed, closing my eyes for a second. I needed to get laid. If I was thinking about Taren Richards that way, it’d been way too long.

  “Over here!” Caz yelled, demanding my attention. He was running down the sidewalk, looking over his shoulder at me with his hand outstretched. I pulled my arm back and threw the football to him. He caught it, and I grinned when he shook his hand to release the sting of the catch.

  “Hey look,” Caz said, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and waiting for me to catch up. He pointed toward the crowd of girls. “It’s your damsel in distress. You didn’t tell me she was Greek.”

  I grabbed the football out of his hand. “Yeah, well I didn’t know she was. In high school she was a geek.” I tossed the ball in the air, catching it with my other hand.

  Caz braced his hands behind his head and looked over at me. “A geek?” He laughed. “And you wonder why she hates you.”

  I didn’t wonder why. I knew why. “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “It didn’t look mutual when you were groping her after her near death experience.”

  “I wasn’t groping her.” Just...protecting her.

  “If you say so.” Caz dropped his arms and shook his head, laughing. “So, tell me. How could you possibly hate a sweet little hottie like that?” His eyebrow was cocked in challenge.

  I gripped the football between my palms, pressing my hands together until my muscles screamed in protest from the effort. “I thought we were going for calzones, not confessional.”

  Caz held his hands up in an unspoken demand for me to throw the ball. “I’m just curious. You saved the girl’s life, and she was too pissed to even thank you. I want to know why.”

  My arm snapped forward and the ball sailed into Caz’s outstretched hands. I shrugged. “Not much to tell. We were competing for the same scholarship at a debate competition. I needed it to get out from under my dad’s iron fist.” That scholarship had symbolized my freedom. “She won.”

  Caz stopped walking and frowned. “Let me get this straight. You humiliated her, and then she kicked your ass in a competition. I don’t see how you could hate her for that.” He chucked the ball at me, attempting to hit me in the chest, but I snatched it out of the air with one hand.

  I took a deep breath and released it. “I was pissed about the scholarship because she won it with a project we had both worked on together. But that’s not the reason I hate her.”

  Caz held his arms wide. “Enlighten me then.”

  I rubbed my chin in thought. “Imagine this. A group of seniors in a D.C. hotel at a debate competition for the entire weekend with only one chaperone.”

  Caz grinned liked he’d just accidentally wandered into the girls’ locker room after gym class. Yeah. I had his attention now.

  “So, one night my buddy and I decided to throw a party in our room. His brother even hooked us up with some beer. Brilliant right?”

  “So did she puke on your bed or something?” Caz looked over at Taren, a small grin tugging the edge of his mouth. “She’s pretty fucking hot, dude. I think I’d forgive her for just about anything.”

  “Guess who turned us in?” I asked him.

  Caz’s eyes widened in surprise. “She snitched on you?” He laughed and shook his head.

  “Yeah, and it fucked up my senior year. No car. No parties. No dating. My father became my fucking shadow.”

  “For one mistake?”

  “One mistake could ruin his perfect plan for me.” I took a deep breath and looked away. “According to him, I couldn’t be trusted after that.”

  Caz slapped me on the back. “Just proof that you should sign the Acroletes pledge. You and alcohol have a dark past.”

  I met his gaze and grinned, tossing the ball back to him. When he turned away from me to continue walking, my eyes were drawn back to Taren. She looked happy. The only other time I’d ever seen her happy was when she’d won the scholarship at the debate competition.

  “You coming, man? I’m starving.”

  I tore my gaze away from her. “Yeah.”

  Caz slung his arm around my shoulder, turning me away from the field of chattering girls. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “What?”

  “About crossing the line. You say you hate her, but it’s a thin line between love and hate. Besides, your high school nemesis is now a Greek. We’re not their type.”

  “Speak for yourself. I’m everyone’s type.” My cocky grin slid into place.

  Caz slammed the football against my chest, knocking the breath out of me. “Based on the Vulcan death glare she gave you the other day, I’d tend to disagree.”

  ***

  I stood up from my chair and stretched. Homework on a Friday night? Pathetic. I needed to go out and have some
fun. I could probably bullshit my way into any one of the parties on Frat Row...

  I grabbed my jacket just as my phone buzzed, and I picked it up to see that it was a text from Amanda.

  Amanda: What are you doing?

  Me: Studying. Caz went home. Bored out of my mind.

  Amanda: Maureen did too. Mind if I come study with you? I’m bored, too.

  Me: Sure.

  We didn’t have any classes together, and I had a feeling Amanda’s version of studying would require naked skin. Charming her out of her shirt would be a lot more fun than trying to get into a Frat party.

  Amanda: Cool. See you in 10.

  I straightened up our room, tossing all of my workout gear into the closet. When Amanda arrived, I went downstairs to let her into the dorm.

  “You look nice.” I gave myself a mental high five for the tiny skirt she was wearing.

  Her tongue peeked out to wet her lips. “Thanks.” She held a bag from the convenience store. “I brought snacks. I know Caz doesn’t have anything edible in his fridge.” She handed me the bag of popcorn and bottles of water, and then followed me upstairs.

  I stopped when we reached the common room. “Should we make popcorn right away?”

  She nodded. “I missed dinner. I’m pretty hungry.” Her eyes moved over my body like she was starved, but not for food.

  I grinned to myself. I would definitely make sure she was satisfied. “Come on.” Putting my hand on her lower back, I steered her into the mini-kitchen that was just inside the common room. I tossed the popcorn bag into the microwave and pressed start. Leaning back against the counter, I watched the bag turn around in circles. “Do you go home much?”

  Amanda moved next to me. “No. My dad lives in Florida, and my mom works a lot on the weekends. There’s no point.”

  “Don’t you miss your friends from high school?” Her shirt was damn near see-through. All I could think about was continuing the kiss we had shared on the ropes course.

  She turned, moving close without actually touching me. Her gaze travelled a slow path from my arms up to my face, and I clearly heard all the words she didn’t say. She wasn’t at my dorm to study or even for small talk. She was here for one reason only.

  “Most of my friends are off at different colleges, and they don’t come home much. I’d rather be here anyway.” She shrugged and ran the tip of her nail along her lip.

  The microwave chimed, and I pulled the steaming bag out, holding it up. “Want to watch a movie? Caz has a huge collection.”

  The smile that curved along her mouth made me wonder if she could read my mind. “Does he have any horror movies? They’re my favorite.”

  Sure they were.

  “Horror movies, huh?” I raised my eyebrows as I looked at her, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I think we can find something for you.”

  Amanda grabbed my arm, curling her fingers around my bicep as I led her out of the kitchen and into the hallway. On the way down the hall, she leaned against me. I shook my head and smiled. Girls only liked horror movies for one reason, and I was totally on board with that reason.

  When we entered my room, Amanda took it upon herself to create a makeshift couch on my bed with pillows while I browsed through Caz’s immense Blu-ray collection.

  “Do you want an oldie but goodie or a new release?” I asked.

  Amanda came and leaned against me to peer over my shoulder. “Oooh. The Shining. I love that movie.”

  I raised my eyebrows in surprise as I tilted my head to look at her, but she’d moved away and was already crawling across the bed. She settled against the pillows, cradling the bag of popcorn in her lap. I smiled to myself and turned to put the movie into the player.

  “Turn off the lights,” she said when I stood up. She ran a piece of popcorn over her lower lip before eating it and licking the butter off her fingers.

  I like the way you think.

  The lights were out in seconds and I made my way over to the bed. I sat close to Amanda, spreading my arm across the pillow behind her. Five minutes into the movie, I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, and I reached into the bag of popcorn, which she had conveniently tucked between her knees. Her hand slipped into the bag at the same time, and she stroked my fingers with hers. As her fingers slid along mine, a thrill ran through me. All I could think about was her stroking me with that hand...

  “Are you comfortable?” I asked. I sure as hell wasn’t comfortable. My dick was already hard and I had zero interest in watching the movie.

  Smiling, she curled herself into my side and rested her hand on my stomach. “I am now.”

  She tilted her face toward mine, and I leaned down to kiss her. She tasted like butter and salt, and when she slid her tongue into my mouth, I groaned, hungry for more. She buried her hands in my hair, making small noises in the back of her throat.

  “You keep making noises like that,” I murmured against her lips, “and I’m going to come up with all sorts of ideas that don’t involve watching this movie.” I tilted her head back so I could lick and kiss her neck. She moaned when my lips touched her skin, and my pulse picked up speed.

  “That’s what I was hoping.” Her eyes closed and she held me close.

  Reaching for her hip, I pulled her into my lap so that she was straddling me. My hands cupped her tight ass and she rolled her hips into me, pressing our bodies close. Jesus. I was hard as a rock. I kissed down her throat and looked down between us where her legs were spread around me. Her skirt was hiked up so that I could just barely see her panties.

  I felt wild and I wanted her clothes off. I needed to be inside her.

  Amanda rocked her hips into me, and I groaned against her skin, nipping the curve of her neck with my teeth. She jumped back and squealed like she’d seen a mouse.

  My dick softened at the sound. Fucking traitor.

  “Alec! I’m ticklish.” Amanda slapped my arm, giggling. Then she pouted. “You need to lose this.” She tugged on the neck of my shirt.

  I reached behind my head and yanked it off, and then tossed it to the side. Her hands roamed over my chest as she leaned forward to kiss me again. She circled her hips, and the little moans she made sent an electric current straight up my spine. My eyes were focused on the tiny scrap of material between her legs, and my dick was back on his game again.

  Amanda broke the kiss, panting. “I like you Alec.” Her voice was needy, and she ran her hands over my chest and arms. “But I need you to understand that I don’t do relationships.”

  Was this girl for real? “I guess it’s a good thing I don’t have time for one.”

  She grinned, still circling her hips against me. “Good. Now take my shirt off.”

  Amanda lifted her arms, and I pulled the fabric up over her head and tossed it to the floor. Holy shit. She wasn’t wearing a bra. My dick twitched in appreciation. I slid my hands up her sides and then spread my fingers over her breasts, pressing their weight into my palms.

  I bent down to draw a nipple into my mouth, and she arched into me. She whimpered and grabbed the back of my head, and I squeezed her other breast, rubbing my thumb across her nipple. Pressing her breasts together, I licked up the seam, imagining what it would be like to fuck them.

  “You taste so good,” I murmured against her skin. I moved my mouth back to her breast and nipped the tiny bud between my lips. She squealed again, pushing me away.

  “I told you I was ticklish!” She giggled.

  The chink in the armor—Amanda was hotter than hell, but her laugh was a literal cock block. I rested my forehead against her shoulder. Did she have any idea what that screeching did to the situation in my pants? Limp. Like I-just-saw-my-grandma-naked limp.

  Fuck. Why was I thinking about that?

  Concentrate, Hart. Amanda is half naked in your lap. You want to fuck her tits. She probably wants you to fuck her tits. Shit, she’s probably going to let you fuck her tits if you can keep it together for more than ten seconds.
/>   “Keep going,” Amanda said, pushing my head back to her chest. “That felt so good.”

  Don’t mind if I do. My tongue circled around her nipple, and I reached down between us, pushing her skirt up higher. I started kissing her again, keeping her mouth busy and my dick happy.

  Amanda’s fingers were at my waistband, fumbling with the button of my jeans.

  Oh, hell yes.

  She pulled her lips from mine to stare at me. “You want this, Alec?” she asked, rubbing her hand along the bulge in my pants.

  “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

  She slowly slid down the zipper, and I shifted so I was lying down on the bed with her still straddling me. “Tell me you want me,” she whispered as she slid her fingers inside my jeans and stroked.

  “I want you, Taren...” The sentence ended in a growl as I pushed my hips up into her hands.

  Amanda’s head snapped up. “What did you just say?”

  “What?” I asked. Why was she stopping?

  “Did you just say Taren? Is that a girlfriend or something?”

  “What? No.” What the fuck? Did I really just say Taren?

  “Who’s Taren?” Her hand was still in my pants, but now it felt like she was holding my dick hostage. The other hand was in the middle of my chest, pinning me to the bed, which was actually kind of hot except that she was glaring at me.

  “Amanda,” I said, “I don’t have a girlfriend.” I wrapped a long strand of her hair around my finger and pulled her face down to mine for a kiss. “No relationships, remember?” Her body relaxed, and then her hand started stroking me again.

  My dick was straining against her grip and I pulled her closer, grinding my hips up into her. So fucking good. I just wanted to lose myself in her.

  The door to my room swung open and crashed into the wall behind it.

  “Honey, I’m home!” Caz called, flipping the light switch on.

  Blinded by the sudden brightness, I put my hands up to shield my eyes, and Amanda made the strange squeaking sound again as she attempted to cover herself. I sat up quickly to try to shield her, and I accidentally knocked her off my lap and onto the floor.