Hunks Pulled Over

by Marie Rochelle

  Chapter Thirteen

  Emerald tugged the mask further down on her face as she walked through the crowd of college kids dancing to the music while they basked in the glow of the spiked punch someone had been passing around earlier.

  She didn’t usually come to these parties because she never got invited since she wasn’t a part of this crowd. However, she was here tonight because her roommate Daisy was dating one of the older guys at the fraternity and she got dragged along to be the sober driver back to the house they shared off campus. Daisy thought she was making Emerald’s night by allowing her to tag along.

  Truthfully, Emerald knew she wouldn’t have been able to sign the lease without Daisy Tersely since her father was the one who paid the deposit and first month’s rent for the place. Daisy had wanted to have the place by herself, but her father wouldn’t let her stay there alone.

  So, since Emerald had wanted the same place but got denied by the landlord they ended up sharing the place together after word got around campus she had looked into the house first.

  But, secretly, Emerald agreed to attend this party tonight for one reason only. She hoped to catch a glimpse of her crush, Chance Cutter. They only had one class together, but she looked forward to that psychology class every day.

  Chance sat in the row next to her but two seats in front of her. She lost count how many times she would stare at the back of his head and dream about him noticing her again. She fell hard for Chance the second he sauntered into class on the first day of college.

  His powerful well-muscled body moved with an easy grace as he found his seat and sat down. For a split second, Chance turned, looked in her direction and his bright, clear blue eyes were direct and unwavering as he searched her face before he spun back around.

  Emerald knew Chance wouldn’t look at her twice because he had girls throwing themselves at him from every direction, but she couldn’t resist coming tonight since she was more than positive he would be here. He was a senior so he wouldn’t miss this party for anything.

  Looking around, Emerald didn’t see Daisy anywhere in sight and wasn’t surprise by her roommate leaving her. Daisy only stayed around her when she needed something and after that she was gone like the wind.

  Rolling her eyes in disgust, Emerald continued moving around the party noticing how much more revealing the other girls’ dresses were than hers. She knew she was over-dressed for the theme of a masquerade ball, but she considered herself more of a full-figured girl and showing a lot of skin wasn’t her style, not even to attract Chance’s attention.

  Yet, the gown she found at a vintage shop two days ago looked good on her curvier body. The collar rested just below her collarbone showing off her best assets which were her shoulders. Plus the mixture of white, purple and black matched her mask perfectly; she even went to the hairdresser and, with some extra money from Daisy, she bought some clip-in extensions which turned out to be cheaper than regular extensions to and got them added her usually short hair.

  Emerald took pride in how good she looked tonight. Even her usually self-centered roommate and her boyfriend Greg both gave her compliments about how good she looked for the party. Hopefully, she would run into Chance and maybe get him to at least look in her direction.

  After forty minutes had passed, a wave of disappointment was beginning to settle in for Emerald. She was beginning to think Chance wasn’t going to show up tonight. She’d come here for nothing. She would have been better off staying back at home going over her notes for her psychology test next week.

  She was beyond ready to go home, yet she couldn’t leave because she promised Daisy she would stay until at least twelve o’clock. Emerald glanced down at her watch and noticed it was only a little after ten o’clock.

  Forget it!

  Daisy would have to get upset with her but Emerald decided right there she was going to go home. Daisy was pretty and popular. She would find another way home. Honestly, her roommate would just probably end up spending the night with Greg like she had been doing for the past two weeks.

  Spinning around, Emerald’s breath rushed from her body when she found Chance standing directly behind her with a cup of punch in his hand. He looked too good for words in his yellow polo shirt and jeans. God, did this guy ever have a bad day?

  “Hello, beautiful,” he said, staring down at her from his over six foot frame. “Where are you running off to in such a hurry? Don’t you like the party?”

  Emerald ran her tongue over her bottom lip watching as Chance’s eyes followed the tiny movement. She blew out another breath as she got herself back on track.

  “I’m leaving. I just need to find my roommate to tell her I can’t be her ride back home.”

  She continued to stare at Chance’s handsome face. Of course, he would break the rules and not wear a mask to his own party, but she wasn’t going to complain. She loved looking at his face.

  “So, are you telling me you aren’t fond of my party enough to stay longer?” Reaching out, Chance touched a piece of her hair resting against the top of her breasts. “I can’t let you leave, yet.”

  “Why not?” she asked, trying to stay calm as Chance’s hand continued to touch her.

  His fingers were driving her crazy and Emerald caught herself right before she almost collapsed against him. She could talk to him without embarrassing herself in front of everyone at the party. She had gotten her wish and she would do everything in her power not to blow it.

  “I haven’t gotten to dance with you yet. My buddies and I noticed you walking around earlier. They wanted to dance with you, but I made sure I got to you first,” Chance told her. “Would you like to dance with me?”

  “I would love to,” Emerald answered while her heart pounded away inside of her chest.

  Chance grinned down at her making his blue eyes shine even more. If she wasn’t almost in love with him, that look from him would have made her fall for him.

  “Great, let’s go.” Placing his cup down on a table behind him, Chance grabbed her by the hand and led her out onto the dance floor. He pulled her to him as a slow song started to play.

  “Something about you seems so familiar,” he said as his fingers stroked the lower part of her back. “Do we have a class together or something?”

  Emerald thought about giving Chance a hint about who she was but then decided against it. Because at the very moment, he was drawn to the mysterious female behind the mask and it might all go away if he found out her real identity.

  For one night, Emerald decided she would be the girl getting all of Chance’s attention and after it was over, she would think back on the time in her life with fond memories.

  “I don’t think so,” she answered in a low voice making Chance bend closer to hear her above the music.

  “Are you sure?” he questioned. “Tell me your name and it might jog my memory.”

  He really wanted to know her name! Emerald knew Chance would know without a doubt who she was then and this dance would be over before the song ended.

  “You aren’t keeping to the rules of the party Daisy told me about on the drive here. I’m not supposed to tell you my name.”

  Easing his hand around her waist, Chance held her even closer against his rock hard chest. Her nipples grew harder from the sudden contact and she felt Chance’s cock as it twitched inside of his jeans.

  “I’m attracted to you,” he whispered in her ear than nibbled at it. “I got jealous when my friends were commenting about how good you looked.”

  Emerald moaned as her panties started to get wetter, but she tried to keep her wits about her. However, Chance’s touch was burning her up.

  “Why?”

  “You’re different from the other girls here tonight. You have this air of confidence they don’t. Aren’t you even attracted to me a little?”

  The question almost made Emerald laugh out loud, but she caught herself in time. Chance wanted to know if she liked him. Her heart wouldn’t be able to take much more
. He was driving her crazy with his surprise touches here and there all over her body.

  “Of course, what girl on campus doesn’t like Chance Cutter? You’re the most popular guy here.”

  Chance stopped dancing causing her to fall into him. “I’m not talking about them; I want to know about you. When I saw you across the room I felt compelled to come over. I hated hearing my fraternity brothers sizing you up. I didn’t even know your name, but I had this need to keep them away from you. Does that sound crazy to you?”

  The sincere look on Chance’s face made Emerald stop for a moment and look into Chance’s eyes and his unblinking stare. He was serious! He really wanted to know what she thought about him without knowing who she even was.

  “Why is my opinion so important? We barely know each other. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see each other again after tonight. I’m like Cinderella and at the stroke of midnight I’ll be gone and you’ll move on to the next girl.”

  Sadly, Chance wouldn’t be intrigued with the real her after all of the fantasy she had going on tonight was gone.

  “You don’t know that,” Chance told her. “I feel something with you.”

  “Sure you do.” Emerald laughed. She wondered how many times Chance had used this same line on other female students at the college.

  “No, I mean it. Come up to my room. I want to talk to you without all of this noise and other people around us.”

  Wait a minute!

  Her going up to Chance’s bedroom was a very bad idea; she could barely resist him on the dance floor. His pull would be even stronger inside his own private domain.

  “No, I should really be leaving.” Emerald took a step back from Chance and turned to leave.

  Wrapping his hand around her waist, Chance tugged her back to him, spun her around and then kissed her. The warm, firm touch of Chance’s mouth against Emerald’s sent her mind into a tailspin. She couldn’t think about anything else but how good his lips felt. He ran his tongue along the bottom of her lip, and then moved it to the corner of her mouth.

  “Say you’ll go upstairs with me. We don’t have to do anything but talk. Just agree...please,” he whispered right below her ear.

  When would she ever get an opportunity like this again? Emerald already knew her answer before the words left her mouth.

  “Alright, I’ll go with you,” she said softly as Chance’s handsome face split into a huge grin.

  “Thank you. I promise that you won’t regret it.” Taking her by the hand, Chance weaved them through the party and upstairs to his bedroom around the corner and totally out of the way of the party-goers downstairs.

  “Here we are.” Chance opened the door and tugged her inside behind him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Emerald walked around Chance’s bedroom trying to take in everything that she could. Tonight was going to be a rare occasion and she wanted to burn it into her memory.

  “You really look beautiful in that dress,” Chance said from behind her. “But I still feel like I’m at a disadvantage that you know my name and I’m still oblivious to yours.”

  “I want to stay mysterious. I think it makes me more intriguing to you.” Spinning back around, she stared at Chance from across the room. “Don’t you like a little mystery in your girls?”

  “I love the hunt like any other guy, but I want to call you something when I kiss you again.”

  Emerald tried to contain her excitement. Chance wanted to kiss her again. How was it possible her crush liked her as equally as she was into him? This night was turning out to be better and better.

  “Sweetheart is fine.” She had always wanted to hear a cute guy call her something like that. She got jealous when her roommate’s boyfriend addressed her by a pet name.

  “Fine, I’ll let your name go for now.” Chance came across the carpet closing the distance between them. Slowly and seductively his gaze slid down her body like he couldn’t get enough of her in front of him.

  “Your eyes look amazing behind that mask; it makes them pop like two pools of melted chocolate.”

  Her face grew warm at Chance’s compliment; she could feel he meant what he just told her. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Are you not used to getting compliments? I mean you must get them all the time.”

  Emerald noticed he was watching her intently. She shook her head. “Not really, most people around campus consider me a bookworm. I haven’t been asked out on many dates since I started here.”

  “You look anything but like a book worm tonight, sweetheart.” Touching her face, Chance ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “I have to kiss you again to make sure you taste as good as I thought you did earlier.”

  The prolonged anticipation was almost unbearable as Chance lowered his mouth and recaptured her waiting mouth with his. There was a tingling in the pit of her stomach. Her body ached for more of his touch and seconds later Emerald got what she so badly craved. Chance ran his hands across her lower back making her pulse jump another notch.

  “Baby, you taste so good,” Chance whispered against her mouth as he picked her up and carried her over to the bed behind them.

  Laying her down gently, Chance covered her body with his. His nearness made her head spin; it was getting too easy to get lost in the way he was making her feel. She knew better than to be on the bed with him, but everything he was doing felt so natural and right.

  Lifting his head, Chance stared down into her eyes. “I want to make love to you. Will you let me? I just can’t fight it anymore. I know this is fast and we just met tonight and I will understand if you tell me no. I won’t think any less of you.”

  Emerald knew her feelings for Chance had nothing to do with reason, just blind attraction— lust. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his. Her body went into overdrive when Chance smiled then winked at her. She could feel his heart thudding against her own.

  A delicious shudder heated her body at the thought that her first time would be with Chance, but she tried to stay the level-headed person everyone told her she was.

  “Don’t you think it’s strange that we don’t know much about each other, but might end up having sex?”

  “Haven’t you ever heard of two people being so attracted to one another that they can’t keep their hands off each other?” he questioned.

  “Yes, I have but I never thought it would happen to me,” Emerald admitted honestly.

  “Well, it did happen and with me. I’ve had parties before but I don’t ever recall seeing you at any of them. I think there was a reason for you showing up tonight at this party.”

  Emerald was filled with a strange inner excitement. It made her feel good to be with him. She wasn’t going to over think it...not tonight. Tonight she was going to live by her roommate Daisy’s favorite self-quote, ‘Party now and regrets things later.’

  Sliding her hand behind Chance’s head, Emerald pulled his head back down towards her and whispered. “I want to be with you tonight.”

  ****

  The wetness of her tears sliding down her cheeks brought Emerald back to the present. She glanced down at the mask in her hand and flung it to the side. How could she have been so dumb as to have lost her virginity to Chance? After they’d made love, she’d woken up and found herself all alone in his bed.

  Thank God she’d been smart enough to keep her masquerade mask on her face or he would have seen and known who she was. Ashamed at her lack of control, she had quickly gotten redressed and rushed out of his bedroom and down the steps. She was halfway to the front door when she spotted Chance over in the corner kissing a tall, leggy brunette who was the complete opposite of her.

  Over her shoulder somewhere in the background she heard someone laugh and then tell another person, “Chance ‘The Touchdown King’ Cutter is about to strike again.” Crushed beyond words, she realized then everything Chance told her were only lies to get her to sleep with him.

  She raced out of the door, knowing one thing was for certa
in. She had to transfer to another college before Chance found out who she was. Nothing would be more humiliating than seeing him every day in class, knowing how intimate they’d been with each other and nothing about that night meant anything to him at all.

  Chance wanted to know why he felt such a connection to her. Could he not think of another pick up line since college? She wasn’t about to fall for that dumb ass line again. Hell would freeze over before she let him find another way back into her heart.

  It had taken her months to forget how good he made her feel the night of the party. Chance proved to her what kind of man he was on that night and she didn’t want someone like him in her life.

  Brushing the tears away from her eyes with the back of her hands, Emerald gathered everything back up and placed it back inside the hope chest. She was done wasting her tears on Chance.

  He had stolen enough of them when she was turning eighteen years old. Chance coming back into her life now didn’t matter. They weren’t going to ever be close. If she had to deal with him for the sake of her friends then she would do it, but nothing more would ever develop between them no matter how much he kept pushing her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Back at his house, Chance climbed into bed and folded his hands behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He wondered what in the hell went wrong tonight with Emerald. Everything seemed to be going so well while they were dancing and then all of the sudden she just got angry and left him standing there.

  Never in his life had he ever had this much trouble getting a woman’s undivided attention. Only for a spilt second did Emerald relax in his arms and the feel of her against him was unbelievable.

  Shit, when he first spotted her, wearing that dress, dancing with that other guy, he had never been so jealous in his entire life. Despite the fact he had no right to feel that way, he couldn’t hold it back.