Stupid muscly man.
Stupid sex god voiced man.
“You… you little bitch,” she hisses at me. I stand there with wide eyes and the pool cue in my hand. Taj looks to her then to me. “You fucked my shirt,” she spits at me.
I don’t reply, just stare, and that makes her angrier.
“You need to leave, gutter trash, before I throw you out.”
“Is this your house?” I ask calmly.
I feel Matt walking up next to me. He attempts to pull the cue from my hand, but I won’t let him and he hisses under his breath.
“No, but it’s his,” she says looking to Taj. I look at Taj, and his eyes are trained on Matt.
He does not look happy.
“He didn’t ask me to leave,” I say standing tall. It will be very embarrassing if he does, though. I’m hoping against all hopes that he won’t. She nudges him, and he looks down to her then to me not saying a word.
“You aren’t welcome,” she hisses again.
I step closer, cue still in hand. “If you don’t shut up, this cue will meet your ass, and I can assure you, you won’t like it.” My voice is nice, sweet, caring, I swear it is. She pushes me backwards and raises her fist in the air. I wonder for a moment if she can actually use it. But before she has a chance to make contact, Taj grabs her, pulls her away and tells her to leave. She looks to me, then to Taj, attaching herself to him.
“I don’t even know you,” he hisses, then he turns and walks next to me.
Matt is on one side, Taj now on the other. I drop my head. Great! Now I know I’m going to be targeted, and I’ll be number one on the hate list, just by the look on her face. She doesn’t say another word as she turns and stomps off. Her high heels clicking on the tiled floor as she leaves.
Matt is called again, he touches my arm before he walks away leaving me standing here with Taj. I place the cue down on the table, turn to him, and give him a weak smile.
“Now that you’ve made me a number one target... I need to leave.” I turn but he stops me with his arm, the heat radiating from his touch feels like it could burn right through me any second.
“She would have hit you. Isn’t it a favor?” He looks thoroughly confused.
“No, my father taught me how to throw a punch. She wouldn’t have landed one on me even if she’d tried.”
He doesn’t say another word as I leave.
Chapter 4
I haven’t seen him for two weeks, two full weeks of avoiding Taj has been successful. His brother, on the other hand, was at our dorm almost every day. And every day he annoyed the hell out of me.
Today’s classes have been better. I think I know which path I want to take now. So instead of having a headache, I’m actually pretty happy and have a skip in my step while walking into my room. Making sure I knock this time because previously I managed a pretty big eyeful of Turner’s ass. And even though it was indeed a great sight, it wasn’t one I wanted to see pumping into Nash as she screamed on the bed. Nash calls out, so I push the door open. She’s not wearing much, just what looks like a piece of cloth, and my eyes bulge.
“I don’t want to know,” I say with my hands in the air as I walk to my bed. She sits down pulling on heels that look like she could possibly break her neck.
“Get dressed,” she says throwing another piece of cloth at me. I look down at the pink fabric. My head shakes and I think, no way in hell. “Come on, the boys will be here soon. It’s tradition.”
“It’s tradition to dress like a skank?” I ask her.
Her hand covers her mouth as she laughs and shakes her head.
“It’s Hooker and Pimp Night. Everyone goes out to the field, they’ve done it for years. It’s a time for no judgment and no worry, just fun. Oh… and heaps and heaps of sex.”
“I think you get enough of that, don’t you?”
She waves it off with a flick of her wrist. “At least put it on. Then cover up if you want with a coat. Please, for me?” she starts to beg. And when I stand there not moving or even commenting she adds, “Okay, okay… take out all week.”
I jump and run to my closet to grab a coat.
On the way back I stop and think, I so am ringing my mother and blaming her for me being so easily manipulated. Damn, it’s all her fault.
Just as I pull my coat on, a knock comes at the door.
Nash squeals when she sees Turner standing there and jumps into his arms, he grabs her basically bare ass and squeezes it hard with his hand. I’m about to tell them to fuck off and get a room when I see the figure behind him. Taj stands against the wall, his eyes on me. He’s dressed normally, where his brother is dressed exactly like a pimp, with a big gold chain and colorful clothing.
Turner pulls Nash out the door and screams for me to follow. I grab my cell and lock the door, all the while Taj is looking me up and down. He doesn’t say a word, but the heat of his stare makes my cheeks turn red. I walk off, keeping silent, too afraid of what will leave my mouth if I open it. When I turn the corner, girls pop their heads out as we walk past, some even whistle.
I’ve learned a few things about him these past two weeks, thanks to one of the girls in my class who doesn’t know how to shut up. I learned that he hasn’t dated anyone from this school since his freshman year, though not for the lack of trying from many girls, that he doesn’t have time for anyone apart from his brother, and that his fists are more dangerous than his eyes. So basically, he’s the most wanted and terrifying guy on campus.
Just my luck—I had to lick him.
Two cars sit out front of the dorm, both are black and sleek. A truck of some sort, much like my father’s. Turner heads to the car in the front with Nash, Taj heads to the one behind him. I start to walk toward Nash when Taj calls my name. I didn’t even know he knew it. Did I tell him? He makes me go completely hazy, and I don’t trust my brain.
“Get in,” he calls out.
Nash looks terrified and turns back to look at his car. She shakes her head silently telling me no. But fuck it, I don’t want to be listening to them, I do that enough as it is. So I walk to his car and hop in. He eyes my bare legs for a moment before he puts the car into gear, and with a squeal of burning rubber he takes off. I watch as his hands squeeze the wheel, his knuckles turning white.
“Will I get eggs thrown at me?” I ask to kill the stifling silence. His head turns to me then he looks back to the road as he pulls into a field. “You know… because of your girlfriend.”
He doesn’t say anything, just a shake of the head as he stops the car.
“Well, thanks for the entertaining conversation. I’m off to find someone who knows English,” I say opening the door and running across to Nash. I feel him follow me, but I can’t understand the feeling. I just know that before he reaches us, I leave wanting to stay a safe distance away from him. I see Tanika, the girl from my class who knows too much—she’s smart and way too gossipy—and she waves me over. I almost stop when I see what she’s wearing—she’s basically in lingerie. Actually, almost everyone is. Apart from a few. I look to be the odd one out. Well, apart from Taj, but I don’t want to think about what he’s wearing.
“I’m so haaapppy to see you,” she slurs clearly drunk. Her arms wrap around my body and she squeezes me tight. I have to hold my breath as she’s wearing way too much perfume. “Is he here yet? I want to perve,” she says pushing back and shoving a bottle of beer into my hand. I look down and notice it’s still capped, so I twist the cap open and put it to my lips to take a sip.
“Who?” She looks over my shoulder and turns around full circle. I’m almost afraid she’ll fall over.
“Taj,” she replies fanning her face. “That man, makes me want to be naughty. Instead of being a good girl.” I look down to her, she doesn’t look like a school girl nor a good girl dressed in that outfit.
“Hold on, why aren’t you dressed like a hooker?” she asks looking me up and down.
“I am!” She gives me a puzzled look. “It’
s underneath this,” I say stating the obvious and using my hands to point. She nods her head and reaches for my coat to try and open it. I push her hands away, but she manages to pull it open and she whistles as I pull it closed again.
“Take it off,” she sings, then she shuts up. “Holy shit! Your Taj…”
I feel my body slump. Why, oh why, does he have to come this way? I did try to escape him for a reason. He doesn’t speak and Tanika looks surprised. She hands me another beer before turning and walking away, leaving us alone. I guess she got what she came for, to see Taj.
“Are you trying to scare my friends away?” I ask turning to face him. When I look up his eyes are glued on mine. He doesn’t speak at first when he looks down to me. His dark eyes penetrate right through me. I click my fingers in front of him, trying to gain his attention.
“What are you wearing under that coat?” he asks. His eyes don’t wander, they hold mine tight. My hands start to fidget with the drink I’m holding.
“What’s it to you?” I laugh walking away from him and sipping on my beer. I thought I could rid him from my mind in those two weeks. What an idiot I am because it only made me think about him more. Now, when he’s in front of me, mixed with that voice, I know I’m truly fucked.
I end up catching up with Tanika, she’s surrounded by a group of guys, all of them seem to not be in a fraternity which is nice. They talk about school, what they’re studying, and before I know it I’m bored and drinking my fifth beer. They start talking to me, and when they don’t get an answer, they carry on like I’m not even there.
I sit lost in thoughts, mainly of Taj’s voice when I actually hear his voice next to me. When I look up, no one is there, just us two.
“You again,” I say breathing out heavily. “Plan to talk, or just stare?” I ask him.
He takes my bottle from my hand and throws it across the grass. I’m about to protest before he hands me a bottle of water.
“Thanks… I think,” I say then drink it.
We sit this way for a while, watching people dancing on the back of trucks, taking shots, walking around naked.
“You kissed me, then punched me,” he says breaking our silence.
“I’m sure you’ve had many random girls kiss you.”
“You didn’t know who I was.”
I look at him. “I didn’t even see your face at the time.”
“Why did you kiss me?”
My head drops slightly when I whisper, “It was a dare.”
“Huh?” he asks.
“It was a dare,” I say louder. “I had a pact with my friends. Every year we have three dares to complete. Mine all happened to be on that one night… with you. Though I was very drunk, so I could have been kissing my ex, and I wouldn’t have known.”
“I liked it.”
My head whips to him. “The punch?” I question.
His lip twitches slightly, and I wonder what it’d be like to hear him laugh. I bet I’d drop my panties.
“You can if you want,” he says. I raise my eyebrow at him. “Drop your panties,” he continues with a smirk.
“Where’s Nash and your brother?” I ask turning, hiding my face, because I feel as though at any second now, I’ll do just that if he keeps talking to me. I turn too close to him, his scent wafts up my nose. I’m instantly turned on, and I want to jump him so very much.
“You can if you want,” he says again.
Oh God, please tell me I didn’t say that out loud.
“You did,” he says smirking again.
“I need to get away from you,” I say standing. I was sure I was thinking those things, not saying them out loud for him to hear.
He follows and he’s standing right in my face. I fight the urge to reach out and touch him. My hands itch for it, then I run because I don’t trust myself. I hear a chuckle and I almost trip. It was Taj’s, I am sure of it.
“There you are,” Nash says pulling me over to her side. She’s sitting down on tree logs with the guys from the fraternity all around her. I see Matt and smile at him. He has a girl sitting next to him who’s trying to gain his attention. I listen to Turner speak, he’s talking about a joke they played on the pledges. I end up tuning out and drinking another beer that Nash hands me. She pulls on my coat and I don’t bother to tighten it back up, it’s getting warmer, and this coat is heavy as fuck.
“I’m riding back. You coming?” Taj suddenly appears in front of me, and like always all words stop. No one says anything, and that’s when I realize he’s speaking to me. I look to Nash who’s smiling and nodding her head.
“Sure,” I say standing, letting the coat drop just a bit. I can feel the sweat beading on my forehead and want to throw it off me. And right now I don’t care who sees what I have on underneath.
He starts walking and I follow, leaving the coat open at the front while I walk to the car. He won’t see me, his back is to me, so I pull it further apart. The air hits my bare skin and I stop. It feels so good, and I want to soak in it. Why did I let her talk me into wearing this on a hot summer’s night? Next time I won’t listen and I won’t agree or cave in to her stupid food bribes.
When I open my eyes Taj is standing in front of me, his eyes glued to mine. His hand comes up and he closes the coat, then pushes my glasses up on my nose. He grabs my hand and pulls me to his car. It’s parked at the back, behind all the others because we arrived so late.
He opens the door, and I climb up into his truck. His hands touch my leg as he helps me in, my breath hitches thinking about where else I want those hands. Then before another thought leaves my mind he removes his hand and closes the door and runs around to his side.
Driving me back to my dorm he doesn’t say a word and neither do I.
He confuses me, and most of all he intensifies my nervous energy. So much so that butterflies storm in my stomach.
Chapter 5
It’s my last day of being fed by Nash after her bribes. We sit in a local burger joint while she goes on and on about Turner. Personally, I think she may be in love with him. I’m not sure about him, though.
My cell starts ringing. My father is up this way for work and wanted to meet up, so when I answer he tells me he’s waiting out front. I say my goodbyes to Nash and thank her for the food. As I step out I see Turner and Taj walking in, I smile politely before making my escape so I don’t have to speak to them.
I spot my dad straight away. He’s standing at his black truck dressed in all black, his badge is displayed on his belt along with his gun. My father works hard, he has since I was born. It was his dream to become a detective, and my mother insisted he follow his dream. She raised me while he went into training, and eventually became a well-respected detective on the force. He smiles brightly and holds his hands out as I run to him. He lifts me up and swings me around, placing a kiss on my cheek. I haven’t seen them in almost two weeks. I’ve never been away from either of my parents that long. It’s hard, but I call them almost every day, and Skype them at least once a week.
“You look beautiful, baby,” he says placing me to the ground. I reach his arm and lace mine through it. He holds on tight as we start to walk. “Your mother insisted I take you clothes shopping,” he says walking away from his car. I turn to look into the restaurant, Nash, Turner and Taj are all watching me with their mouths open. I don’t look long as my father starts to pull me across the street and into the shops. He waits the whole time patiently while I choose. He’s patient with it all, he has to be especially living with two girls. As soon as we finish he drives me back to my dorm and before I get out he hands me more cash kissing my nose before I jump out. Standing there I watch him drive away knowing I miss home, and that I need to go back there soon.
As soon as I enter my room, Nash pounces on me with question time. Who I was with? Why I cuddled him? Why he took me shopping? My head starts to spin, and I give her a confused look.
“I told you I was meeting my father.” She shuts up and stares at me. “That wa
s my father,” I say making it clear.
“No way, he’s way too young.” She shakes her head.
“He’s in his thirties, so he isn’t old. But hold on, who did you think he was?”
Her mouth shuts and she looks away. “Your boyfriend.”
I start laughing. “Wait till you see my mother.”
She starts laughing and then my cell begins ringing, I answer noticing it’s Lauren. She starts talking, way too fast, about everything and anything. I don’t say a word as I start unpacking all the bags and just listen.
“So anyway… I slept with him. Now he won’t speak to me,” she rushes the last part out.
“Stop sleeping with him. You always do that, then the same thing happens again and again.” Her on-again-off-again boyfriend went to the same college, and she sleeps with him when she’s drunk. Even though she knows he’s an ass. She will never learn.
“How about you? You slept with anyone?”
“No Lauren, my Love Boat is closed. No one is coming near this…” I make a sweeping gesture to my body and turn to see dark eyes on me, in my room, on my bed. I look around and there’s no Nash.
I quickly say goodbye to Lauren and hang up, even though she continues to talk as I press the talk end button.
“What are you doing here?”
“Love Boat?” he asks raising his eyebrows.
“Do you stalk the other girls as much as you stalk me? Or am I just special?”
“I think you’re special,” he replies—no sarcasm to that answer at all.
“Bet you say that to all the girls,” I tease him. I close my closet and walk around to stand in front of him. “You do have other things to do, right? Than sitting here?”
“I came to see if you wanted to go for a drive.”
I look at the time, it’s still early. I have time to study later on, so I nod my head and grab my bag. When I look back to see where he is, he’s almost on my heels. As I walk out, he grabs my hand and holds it while we stride to the car. I see the stares of others, the looks they give me. But right now, I don’t care. For some reason, his hand in mine feels natural—it feels good.
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