Loch (The Powers That Be Book 3)

by Harper Bentley

  By Friday morning, my nerves were a bit frayed. I’d texted Loch again on Thursday but he still wasn’t answering and I was feeling even worse.

  “I’m a bitch,” I mumbled as I walked into the kitchen.

  Marcy looked sleepily up at me from her cereal bowl and raised an eyebrow.

  “I’ve been texting Loch trying to see when’s a good time to call him but he won’t answer. And that makes me feel worse about what I did and now I hate myself. If I could just apologize and get it over with, I’d feel better.” I cut a bagel in two and put the pieces in the toaster.

  “You’re doing it again.”

  I turned and looked at her.

  “You’re letting him make you feel bad about yourself again. God, Sim, you’re a grown woman. What is it about this guy that gets you all riled up?” She spooned some cereal in her mouth as she looked at me, elbow on the table, her head resting in her hand.

  “You’re right.” I frowned. “You’re right! Shit! Why do I even care what he thinks?”

  I saw her roll her eyes. “Because you like him. Hell, by this point you might even be in love with him since you’ve held a torch for him since you were five.”

  This made me sputter. “Wh-what? I’m not in love with him! That’s, that’s utterly ridiculous!”

  “Uh huh,” she muttered skeptically as she continued eating.

  “I’m not!”

  She pinned me with her eyes. “Then why do you care so much?”

  “He’s someone I grew up with!”

  “I grew up with lots of guys but haven’t contacted them in years.”

  “Well, I had a crush on him!”

  “And he was a jerk to you.”

  “We were kids!”

  “He’s someone who hurt you so badly you withdrew for years.”

  “We were twelve!” I yelled.

  “And yet you still care.”

  I spun around to scowl at the toaster angry at myself for getting so, well, angry.

  “Sim…”

  I kept my back to her as I buttered both pieces of bagel.

  “There’s nothing wrong with the way you feel about him.”

  “Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, Marce,” I snapped as I got the juice out of the fridge and poured myself a glass.

  “I’m not. I’m saying this as your best friend. You and Loch always had something special. I remember being jealous when we were in elementary school because you always sought him out during recess. You liked playing with him more than you did me.”

  I went to the table and sat, keeping my eyes from hers.

  “Even when you weren’t really friends in middle school, I still saw how he looked at you.”

  My head shot up. “What?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t tell you because he was always such a jerk to everyone and I didn’t want to get your hopes up, but when you weren’t looking, I saw him.” She shook her head. “I sound like the worst best friend ever. First, I don’t tell you that then I make a plan for you to get revenge on him. I’m a dick.”

  I snorted. “You’re not a dick. You were just looking out for me.” I paused as I thought about what she’d said really wanting it to be true. “Did he really look at me?”

  She nodded. “Ryker also told you Loch felt bad about what he did at the dance, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And now Loch has that Little Prince tattoo…” I glanced at her as she gazed into her cereal bowl and swear I saw the lightbulb come on over her head. “He loves you too,” she whispered. Then she looked up at me and said louder, “He loves you!”

  Well, my best friend had officially lost it. And I didn’t hesitate to tell her this.

  “No! He got it permanently inked onto his fucking skin! Don’t you see? He’s loved you this whole time! He might not know it yet, but he does!”

  “Marce, you know how the carpenter’s house is the worst on the block? Needs the most repairs? Or the dishwasher has dirty dishes in his sink?”

  She stared at me.

  “You’re wanting to be a psychologist or psychiatrist or whatever yet your brain’s fried. I think you need to work on you because what you’re saying makes no sense.”

  She scrunched up her face. “It makes perfect sense! He’s felt bad for years. Wanted the opportunity to make things right with you. Then you were right there in front of him and he didn’t even know it. Now shit’s all screwed up and he feels like a dumbass for not realizing it was you! Boom! Got ‘em!”

  I rolled my eyes. That was the most ludicrous thing I’d ever heard.

  “So now that I’ve diagnosed the problem, you’ll just need to keep after him until his eyes are opened to the truth.” She shrugged like it was that easy.

  “Diagnosed the problem,” I scoffed. “So, is there a timeline on this?”

  “I’ll bet you’re already wearing him down. I’ll even bet he’ll talk to you today.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Let me know.” She spooned a last bite into her mouth. “Oh! Party tomorrow night at one of Adam’s friends’ house. You’re going. Supposed to be some big bash I heard. The guy’s an athlete so there’ll be lots of hotties for us to check out.”

  “Uh, thanks for asking me to the party. How do you know I’m not busy?”

  She was nice enough not to laugh at that. “Do you work tomorrow?” she asked as she got up to take her bowl to the sink.

  “Until nine.”

  “Good. Adam and I’ll wait for you here and you can follow us over.” As she walked by me, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around my neck giving me a hug from behind. “I’m really sorry I started all this Triple C shit. It was dumb. I was blinded by your hurt and my hurt. I’ll try to be a better friend.” She kissed my cheek then went to her room to get ready for class.

  As I ate my bagels, I thought about everything she’d said and came to the conclusion that studying the mind and behavior had driven my roommate nuts but I still loved her. When I finished eating, I swiped the crumbs from my hands, put my glass in the dishwasher then went to get ready for class.

  ~*~*~*~

  After class started, I noticed that Loch wasn’t there. It wasn’t that I’d looked around for him, I just knew. And how I knew, I had no idea, and that bothered me which gave me a brief panic attack as I wondered if that meant I was in love with him. Then I chuckled to myself at how stupid I was being which made Cute Guy’s Feed Me a Cheeseburger girlfriend look at me disapprovingly. I gave her the biggest smile back and chuckled some more at her disgusted eye roll before she looked away.

  When Dr. Lykins released us, I couldn’t tell if I was disappointed or happy that I wouldn’t be followed by Loch today. Guess I’d find out. I grabbed my bag then made my way outside the building and began my trek across the quad.

  When I passed the fountain, I giggled along as I watched a group of girls throwing pennies into it because they were coming up with some outrageous wishes.

  “I wish that I ace my government exam!”

  “I wish I’d get down to a size four!”

  “I wish the clothes manufacturers get their size labels mixed up so I can just say I’m a size four!”

  Massive giggles.

  “I wish the guy I hooked up with over summer finally calls me!”

  “I wish my ex’s new girlfriend gets herpes!”

  Cackles and screams of laughter galore from the girls now and several people around me laughed as we all made our way to our next class or to the student center or wherever everyone happened to be headed.

  When I got to Noble Hall I went up the steps and inside only to find myself amidst a small crowd that I found out later was protesting one of the professors not being rehired. I ended up running into a guy who came to an abrupt stop right in front of me which shot me backward where I smacked right into someone else.

  “Oh, God, I’m so sor�
�” I started to say as I looked over my shoulder only to see it was Loch I’d crashed into. Ack! And damn it. The black-rimmed glasses he was wearing made him look hotter than ever.

  My eyes were huge as he smirked down at me and it was then I felt his hands on my hips pulling me back into him. He leaned down to my ear and said, “No need to apologize, sweetheart. Your heart-shaped ass near my dick? Pure heaven, Simone.” Then he let me go and pushed his way through the crowd leaving me standing there frowning.

  Ah, so this was how he was going to play it. The jerk was back.

  This I could deal with. This didn’t make me feel nearly as guilty for what I’d planned to do to him.

  And this made me want to slap his face off.

  I made my own way through the crowd and walked inside the classroom heading to my normal seat, sure that a look of pure annoyance covered my face. After class started, I took my notes ignoring the feeling that I was being stared at while at the same time tossing around in my head what Loch had said.

  He’d meant it to be condescending and demeaning. He was also trying to show me that I meant nothing to him. I’d just been some girl he’d basically fondled.

  Well, two could play that game.

  I’d grown up with a big brother who’d given me the brush-off all the time so I had experience. Well, only on the receiving end but how hard could it be?

  I only had one thing to say about this: Let’s get ready to frickin’ rumble.

  Confession Number Twelve

  I’d soon learn how hard it was acting callously cruel toward Loch. I just didn’t have it in me to be mean right to someone’s face. No, the only way I could do that was to go behind their back plotting with my roommate. Ergh.

  Right before class ended, the professor gave us an assignment that was due that evening (a Friday!) covering assembly language and protocol layers. We had to go to the library to work on what he’d set up, so leaving class amidst groans from people wanting to have their Friday night free—people who actually had lives unlike myself—I made my way to the library to get started.

  I went to a carrel next to the window and pulled up the assignment. It was just after noon and I was hoping this would take no longer than the three hours the professor had told us it would. I mean, I wanted to complete it so I could have my Friday evening off too even though my plans were probably to go home, pull up some sappy movie on Netflix, eat a bunch of crap I shouldn’t then pass out amidst wrappers of said crap. Go me.

  Almost three hours later, I’d just finished submitting my work when a message popped up on my computer.

  To: Student.9571589

  Student.9551524 (8/22 3:08 PM): Like your heart-shaped ass in those jeans. Especially liked it pressed against me earlier…

  What in the world? I stared at my computer screen for a moment while my brain switched from assignment mode to social media mode. And after reading the message, my face got heated as I’m sure it turned a brilliant red.

  I looked over my left shoulder to see if Loch was anywhere nearby and when I didn’t see him, I stood to look over my carrel. Hm. He was nowhere in sight. I sat back down and decided I’d play his little game right back as I conjured up my inner raunchy phone sex operator (who also might be fairly sarcastic).

  To: Student.9551524

  Student.9571589 (8/22 3:11 PM): Yeah? Well, feeling your hard shaft against it really turned me on… or was that a sock?

  My face was burning now. And also, Big Fat Yikes! I hoped the university wasn’t monitoring messages too closely because going before a peer review board in a discipline hearing wasn’t my idea of a good time.

  To: Student.9571589

  Student.9551524 (8/22 3:13 PM): That was all me, baby… and you’re more than welcome to come check for yourself

  To: Student.9551524

  Student.9571589 (8/22 3:13 PM): Am I now? Hm. Just might have to make that happen…

  Huh. I was pretty good at this! I have to admit that for a split second I actually contemplated joining the ranks as a supplier of phonic fornication.

  To: Student.9571589

  Student.9551524 (8/22 3:13 PM): Oh, it’s gonna happen… you just need to name the time and place

  There was the cocky SOB I knew him to be. What a player. He’d already moved on but was still hitting on me.

  To: Student.9551524

  Student.9571589 (8/22 3:14 PM): How about right here, right now?

  Totally calling his bluff.

  To: Student.9571589

  Student.9551524 (8/22 3:14 PM): I like the way you think. Meet me in the periodicals room where they keep the old microfiche in ten. Doubt anyone ever goes in there…

  Cripes! So much for bluffing.

  To: Student.9551524

  Student.9571589 (8/22 3:15 PM): What, scared to be in the stacks?

  No way would he take this dare.

  To: Student.9571589

  Student.9551524 (8/22 3:15 PM): That a dare?

  To: Student.9551524

  Student.9571589 (8/22 3:15 PM): If that’s how you wanna take it

  He’d be backing out in 3… 2… 1…

  To: Student.9571589

  Student.9551524 (8/22 3:08 PM): The girl’s got guts. Okay, meet me in the back corner near Library Science… I’ll be waiting…

  Holy shite!

  He was supposed to back out!

  I’d gotten so caught up in playing my role and so confident that he’d bail that when I read his last message I almost fell out of my chair. So now I had a decision to make. Was I really going to do this?

  Yes. Yes, I was.

  But not for what he thought would be happening. I was merely going to go back there so I could finally apologize and get this shit off my chest. Then I’d walk away, this time for good and not take one look back.

  I logged out of the computer then grabbing my bag, stood thinking I’d see Loch smirking at me before he turned and walked out the front door leaving me to be humiliated at his handiwork yet again. But he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Staring pensively out the windows, another thought hit me and I knew exactly what he was planning. I’d get where he’d told me to meet him and he wouldn’t be there, reject me, and once again, make me feel like a fool. I just hoped he hadn’t brought an audience.

  I probably should’ve just left and gone home, but I was tired of being a chickenshit all the time when it came to him, so I knew I had to go to the stacks just to show I wasn’t afraid anymore, if only to prove it to myself. Breathing in through my nose and letting it out, I headed to the back corner, preparing myself for gloom and doom which was okay. At least I wasn’t backing down.

  I got to the section he’d told me to go to and walked between two tall stacks lined with dusty books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in years. It was so quiet in this area as if the rest of the library had forgotten its existence leaving it to wither over time. I rounded one large shelf and just as I figured, Loch wasn’t there. I swallowed roughly just then realizing how tense I’d been, but then I rolled my eyes and turned to make my way back to the front because who was the chickenshit now, when suddenly I was jerked back by a hand that grabbed my upper arm.

  “Hey!” I hissed.

  “Shh!” he hissed right back.

  And seeing him up close again after our naughty repartee was too much. I dropped my bag then threw my body into his slamming him against the wall, and going up on my toes, smashed my mouth to his hard.

  I think I must’ve shocked him because we stayed that way for a moment, me totally molesting him as I climbed him like a friggin’ tree, all the while thrusting my tongue into his mouth and whimpering at the feel of his tongue (hesitantly) tangling with mine. Then without warning, he presently regained his senses and the next thing I knew, he’d turned us to where I was now backed against the wall, his body pressed into me, his tongue seeking mine which made me moan loudly.

&nb
sp; And now my arms were above my head where he held my wrists in one hand, his mouth still crushing mine and I felt his hand move under my shirt and up under my bra to cup my breast. Oh, my.

  My body started undulating against him as I arched my back, pushing my breast forward into his hand wanting more. Needing more. And he gave it to me, rolling his thumb roughly over my nipple then pinching it between his thumb and finger making me gasp into his mouth.

  Tearing his lips away but still holding my wrists above my head, his golden eyes burned with heat into mine as I felt his hand leave my breast and slip down over my abdomen to the waistband of my jeans where his fingers slipped teasingly inside a few inches. He let my wrists go but grabbed one again when my arms dropped, and leading my hand to the front of his jeans, pushed my palm into the hardness behind his fly.

  “All me, baby,” he muttered, his eyes now full of haughtiness as he rubbed my hand over his very hard and very large bulge that I’d implied was a sock.

  This made a husky groan escape my throat because I was instantly soaking wet for him. Wow.

  “You want me,” he muttered, a totally arrogant look on his beautiful face but I couldn’t find it in me to protest because he was so friggin’ right.

  His mouth crashed down on mine again and I felt his hand at my waistband flatten against my stomach before he slipped it down inside my panties. When his fingers glided through my folds and over my clitoris, I wrenched my mouth from his, throwing my head back against the wall and letting out a loud moan.

  “Christ,” he ground out then his mouth was back on mine attempting to keep me quiet.

  But when he slid a finger inside me, there was no silencing me as I ripped my mouth away and said breathily but kind of loudly, “Oh, my God!”

  He brought the hand that’d been holding mine against his hardness up and clapped it over my mouth where I panted roughly against it. “Baby, gotta keep it down,” he whispered as he pushed another finger inside while his thumb pressed in, moving in circles.

  God!