A Cross to Bear

by Julieanne Lynch

  Ethan began to lose patience with me. His forehead creased and his nostrils flared. He muttered something under his breath. “Hang on a minute,” Tommy said, running his hand through his hair, eyeing Ethan. “The open invitation remains with you, Logan. But for Drake, he’ll have to complete a series of exercises to prove he has the potential to become a part of the brotherhood.”

  “Whoa, Tommy!” Ethan put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, his face flushed with color. “You can’t make these decisions on your own. You need to bring it to the council.”

  “Then, we’ll bring it to the council,” Tommy said, glaring at Ethan. “Either way, we have two potential pledges before us, Ethan, who just so happen to be teammates. It would be good for morale all round. This is something our brothers will sanction.”

  “This is bullshit!” Ethan stormed up the corridor, shaking his head.

  “Will this be a problem with his ego?”

  “Don’t worry about Ethan. He’s a pussycat, really, under all that bravado.” Tommy smirked.

  “So when do we find out if Drake can be a pledge?” I asked. I would stick to my guns and not accept their offer. Not unless Drake was included.

  “Take it from me. Drake will be offered as a pledge, but it will be up to him to prove himself worthy. From there, it’s out of my hands,” Tommy said, looking at Drake. “I never had you down as the type to want to be a part of anything, Drake. It’s good to see you showing some initiative.”

  Drake nodded and looked at me. “I never even thought of it, not until Logan made the suggestion.”

  “It’s good to see you backing each other up. That’s what brotherhood is all about. Respect goes a long way.”

  The three of us continued up the corridor.

  Once outside, Tommy bid us farewell. I had a feeling I’d be hearing from him a lot sooner than Drake anticipated.

  “I’ll see you boys first thing in the morning,” he said, stepping into his girlfriend’s waiting arms.

  For a moment, I wondered how long it would be before his act dropped.

  Drake cleared this throat, pulling me from my reverie. “You didn’t have to do that, man.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. I got a bad feeling.” He fidgeted with the tag of his bag.

  “Relax, I’ve got this. I mean it. I’m not becoming anything, not unless I have those I trust by my side,” I said, surprising myself with my show of unity. “I don’t trust Ethan. I’m not entirely sure about Tommy either, but we’ll learn soon enough.”

  “Man, this is crazy. I just came here to swim, get an education, hoping for a piece of paper that will prove my old man wrong. I guess things change pretty fast.” Drake stared at the ground. “Anyway, I’m going to get some food. You coming?”

  The sight of Bree strolling down the path took my breath away. “Might be a change of plan,” I said, patting him on the arm.

  Drake smiled when he saw Bree waving at me. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” he chuckled, and left me alone.

  A rush of excitement swam through me.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon.”

  Bree stretched on the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on my cheek before linking her arm with mine. “I wanted to see you,” Bree replied. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”

  “Of course it is.” I didn’t want her to slip away from me.

  “How was the pool?”

  “Wet.”

  She gave me a side-eyed glance and giggled.

  The emotions tumbling around inside me caught me by surprise. I’d never had any intention of getting romantically involved with anyone.

  “Smartass!” She playfully pushed me. “So how was your first day?”

  “Tough. I made it out in time to have a quick breakfast and get to my first class,” I replied. “I hardly slept last night, which isn’t like me.”

  “I know how that is.” She looked up at me.

  “You too?”

  “Yup.” She nodded.

  “Must have been something we ate,” I said, not wanting to take my eyes off her.

  “Or it might have been that good night kiss.”

  The change of her tone sent an unexpected tingle coursing through my body. I didn’t fancy getting a boner in broad daylight, so I made sure the subject changed, and fast.

  “I made a proposition with Tommy.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I told him I would be willing to pledge to their house, but only if Drake would be considered, too.”

  Bree stopped moving and turned to face me. “Oh, Logan, you have no idea what you’ve done.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ethan will do everything in his power to make this backlash on you,” she said. “Don’t trust him. Whatever you do, don’t allow Ethan to worm his way in. You have no idea what he is capable of.”

  The serious look on her face unlocked my own panic. Not once had I thought about the possible repercussions of having Drake included. I was stupid and irrational.

  “I never once thought of that,” I admitted, a knot building deep inside me.

  “You weren’t to know.” She sighed and linked her arm with mine once more.

  “Is Ethan really that bad?” I asked as we headed toward the dining hall.

  “You have no idea,” Bree said. “He’s got this evil streak in him that makes him unpredictable. That’s a dangerous quality to have.”

  “He comes across as a spoiled rich kid who thinks he can bully anyone he decides he doesn’t like.”

  “He’s Tommy’s lapdog,” she said. “Which brings me to Tommy. Don’t trust everything he says or does.”

  “Why?”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I like Tommy, but he’s arrogant, and has a serious case of entitlement.”

  “I already sensed that with him on our first training session,” I replied, letting out a long breath. “I’m about to climb into bed with the devil, aren’t I?”

  “Believe it or not, the frat houses, just like the sororities, they’re cults. The only difference is, people on the outside rarely witness the bad stuff. The Greek way is a whole other world.”

  I focused hard on the choices I’d already made and the ones that would soon come my way. A part of me wanted to be put to the test, to prove to myself that I wasn’t the kind of guy to be brainwashed. The inexperienced side of me worried about having to say no. I wondered how far I was willing to go before I caved.

  “How about we forget about them all and go grab something to eat?” I suggested.

  “That would be great.”

  The sight of Bree’s beautiful smile washed away any of the underlying anxiety running through me. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with her.

  Spence and Drake sat together in the dining area, lost in conversation. I grabbed a tray and found my appetite. I couldn’t wait to eat. Bree’s choice of a burger and salad looked meager in comparison to my plate of pasta and chicken. I walked over to Drake and Spence and sat down, winking at Bree as she took a seat next to me.

  “How was your first day?” I asked Spence, who was busy separating the lettuce, tomato and onion from his beef patty.

  “It was interesting. It seems like I’m not the only one on campus who has an aversion to assholes and vodka,” he said, grimacing as he touched the lettuce. “I asked for a burger and they give me this crap. If I wanted a salad, I would have asked for a fucking salad.”

  “Calm down, you idiot!” Drake said.

  “Easy for you to say.” Spence looked at his plate with disgust. “You’re easily pleased.”

  “Whoa, you two!” I laughed. “It’s a friggin’ burger, Spence. If you don’t like it, go get something else.”

  Bree sat in silence, chewing on some of her food, watching the three of us act as if we were back in kindergarten. She laughed, drawing Spence’s attention.

  “So, you’re the one I need to thank for getting me home safe
the other night,” he said, bestowing her with a broad smile.

  “Yup, that’s me.” Bree smiled at him.

  “Then, thank you.” He nodded in her direction. “A pretty girl coming to the rescue of a drunken idiot… Kudos, my friend, kudos!”

  “You’re very welcome.” She stretched her hand across the table. “I’m Bree. It’s lovely to meet you.”

  Spence took her hand and winked at me. “I’m Todd, but everyone calls me Spence.”

  “We’re not a bad bunch, are we, guys?” I asked, glancing at my newfound friends. Genuine happiness filled me. I had gotten lucky in meeting them.

  “I think we’re pretty fucking awesome,” Spence said.

  “Agreed,” Drake replied, patting Spence on the head.

  Bree laughed. After dinner, I took Bree back to her house.

  Drake and Spence decided on studying together, which was bizarre, but I was convinced they didn’t want to be alone.

  “I like your friends. They’re good for you,” Bree said.

  “Yeah, it’s crazy, because I would never have ever roomed with someone like Spence. Not that I think there’s anything wrong with him. He’s just in a league of his own and he doesn’t see that,” I admitted. “Jesus, do I sound like a jerk for saying that?”

  “God, no,” Bree said. “There’s a girl in our house, Jet. She’s so different to all of us, but she’s the one who gets me the most. I love Jenny. She’s like a sister in every sense of the word, but Jet—she sees me and doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to telling me exactly what she thinks. And I appreciate that, because sometimes friends don’t have the balls to be honest.”

  It was nice hearing Bree talk about her friendships. I liked the sound of her voice when she was passionate about something. I dreaded having to say goodnight to her, but I had a feeling there would be more evenings like this one.

  “You’re a good person, Bree,” I said, pulling her close to me.

  We paused at the bottom of the stairs of her house.

  “You’re not so bad yourself,” she replied, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’d invite you in, but… You know the drill.”

  “Hey, it’s all good. I’ve some studying to do before I turn in. If I stayed here with you, you’d be a huge distraction.”

  “Oh, really?” Bree asked.

  I leaned in close, yearning for the soft touch of her lips against mine.

  She reciprocated. The sweet, tender kiss was laced with the potential of being something bigger than either of us could ever imagine.

  “Good night,” I said, not wanting to let her go.

  “Sleep tight, baby,” she replied.

  The words alone drove me insane.

  * * * *

  After a lot of twisting and turning, I still couldn’t switch off. I didn’t know whether it was the looming pressure of entering the fraternity, or because of the sexual frustration.

  I sat up, cracked my neck a few times and sighed. I glanced at Spence, who’d fallen asleep with a textbook on his lap.

  Grabbing a towel, I decided to take a cool shower, hoping it would snap me out of my stupor. The water touched my skin and I found myself thinking of Bree. Her long, slender, tan legs, the way her ass wiggled when she walked—the notion alone made me hard. I tried to ignore the throbbing sensation, but the willpower was nonexistent.

  I wasn’t one to sneak off in the middle of the night for a little solo action, but I couldn’t help myself. I ran my hand down over my balls and gripped my cock, stroking myself several times, testing myself to see if I could really do this.

  I envisioned Bree’s face, the taste of her lips, the way her tongue brushed against mine—a mosaic of arousing thoughts drove me to the point of no return. I closed my eyes and stroked myself a little faster. I imagined being inside Bree, the warmth of her velvety pussy lathering its juices on me, driving me wild.

  “Fuck yeah!” I mumbled, gritting my teeth and thrusting my hips forward.

  My strokes grew harder, tighter, as the tension began to build in my balls. For a split second, time seemed to stop. The coolness of the water, the heat of my cock and the visions of Bree riding me as if her life depended on it pushed me further. Unable to hold myself back, I let go. The tingles burned through me. Ropes of cum shot against the white tiles, bubbling down over my hand as I worked out the last drops.

  Breathless, I rested my forehead against the cold tiles and looked down at my hand as I stroked the head of my cock. I smiled and rinsed myself off before finishing my shower. Once I got dressed, I returned to my room. I slept like a baby as soon as my head hit the pillow.

  Chapter Eight

  The first week of semester was tough. Bree never imagined how hard it would be. She spent the better part of the week ignoring texts and calls from Jack and settling back into her school life.

  The only downside was study. She found it hard to focus, but put that down to the cute athlete who occupied her mind. Bree smiled to herself and made her way to the last class of the week. She caught sight of Ethan, who was headed straight for her.

  “Oh, shit,” she whispered, pretending she hadn’t seen him.

  “Well, hello there, stranger,” Ethan said.

  His smug grin annoyed her. She had tried many times to see past the bully he was when they had been together, which now seemed clear to everyone.

  “Leave me alone, Ethan,” she said, taking a step to pass him.

  Ethan’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, twisting it tight. “Hey, that’s not a nice way to greet someone you used to love.”

  “I wouldn’t call that love.”

  “From what I can remember.” Ethan tightened his grip on her wrist. “There was a lot of love between us, especially during those nights my cum dripped from your pussy.”

  Disgusted, Bree pulled back her hand. “You’re such an asshole.”

  “Baby, I just may be that and so much more.” He pushed her against the wall of the empty corridor.

  Bree panicked. Her whole body tensed. She grew worried about what he intended to do. Bree tugged at his grip, but Ethan refused to let go. “What do you want?” she asked, her mouth dry. Every nerve in her body was on high alert. She had never anticipated Ethan’s doing something like this. To make matters worse, there wasn’t a soul around to come to her rescue.

  “Just an old friend saying hello.” A fake smile spread across his face. “Why in the world would you ever think about fucking a freshman?”

  “Oh my God! Only you would say something like that.” Her eyes burned as she tried to hold back her tears. It wouldn’t be long before the dam burst, one way or the other.

  “Don’t act so surprised, Bree-Bear. Remember, I know you. I know how you hunt.” Ethan’s breath fanned across her ear. “I know what makes you tick, what makes you squirm, and what makes you cry like a slut.”

  Bree’s inner voice screamed, throwing obscenities in Ethan’s direction. He was everything she hated. A perfect example of the world she wanted to leave behind. The small amount of courage she had, had been long devoured.

  “Ethan, if you don’t let go of me, you’ll regret it.” Her voice trembled with fright.

  “Whoa, easy there, princess.” He let go of Bree’s wrist, stepping back with his hands up in the air. “Just making sure a friend is okay.” Another smug look spread across his face. “Didn’t mean to cause any harm.”

  Bree clenched her fists on either side of her body. She wanted to hit him, then and there. Regardless of the many times he’d made her smile or made her heart skip a beat, nothing could ever make her forget the pain she’d experienced the night he’d broken her heart.

  * * * *

  Ethan stepped out of the shower, his face red from the heat of the water.

  Bree sat on his bed, reading and trying to make some sense of her essay. She tried to focus but couldn’t seem to grasp the words she’d written.

  “Would you stop acting like a silly little nerd?” Ethan remarked, rubbing th
e towel over his back, leaving little to the imagination.

  “I need to get at least a B in this, or I’m screwed for next semester.”

  Ethan smirked, giving Bree a look she’d grown accustomed to. A glint of something naughty flashed in his eyes.

  “How am I meant to focus when you’re going all Magic Mike in front of me?” she asked, giggling behind the textbook.

  “Ooooh, c’mon, baby! Don’t try to pretend this doesn’t excite you more than whatever’s happening between the pages of that book,” Ethan said, wandering over to pull the book out of Bree’s hands.

  “That is so unfair!” Bree laughed, pretending that the effort to cavort with her boyfriend was too much to handle.

  “Shush! You know I can make you feel so much better.”

  Bree focused on Ethan.

  Ethan climbed onto the bed and didn’t waste any time. He kissed Bree on the neck and his tongue lightly touched the tender flesh under her ear, sending little tingles pulsing through her body.

  He knew how to please her, how to break down all her barriers. In the end, she always wondered how he would top it the next time they were together.

  “I could just eat you up,” he whispered, sliding his hands beneath her top and unhooking her bra.

  “Then eat me.” Bree removed her top and threw it across the room.

  Lust flashed in Ethan’s eyes. He tugged on Bree’s pants and removed them with urgency. The closer he got to the spot he wanted to touch and taste, the harder he became.

  “Fuck, you make me so horny,” he said, slipping his hands under her hips, pulling her toward him. “I love how you smell when you’re wet.” He trailed his nose across the material of her panties, stopping right at the spot where Bree craved to be touched.

  “Oh, God, stop teasing me!” Bree gasped, tilting her hips upward, brushing herself against his face.

  Ethan smirked and pulled down her panties, taking them off. He licked a finger and gently inserted it inside Bree, making her giggle and moan at the same time.

  Ethan kissed her inner thigh and took his time. He worked her juices as they leaked over his finger. He rubbed himself a few times and pulled out of her. Like a starved animal, Ethan leaned forward and lapped at Bree. He twirled his tongue around her engorged clit, making sure every stroke brought her closer to her orgasm.