by H. J. Bellus
“I like you, is all,” I mutter around a mouthful of food.
Tuck tries to tell me something, but we are interrupted by a group of men entering the house, and Ethan is among them. He sits on the table in front of me and tries to weasel his way in between my legs.
“Back off, alley cat.” I grab the bowl of food and cradle it to my chest.
“C’mon, I’m hungry.”
“No, I was talking to Tuck before you rudely interrupted us.” I crane my neck to make eye contact with Tuck, but he’s gone. I scan the room quickly and see no sign of him.
Ethan snorts. “That’s funny.”
“What’s funny?” I ask, still searching for any sign of Tuck.
“You talking to Tuck. The man doesn’t talk at all.” Ethan successfully nabs a chocolate wrapped cupcake from the bowl. “Him scooping you up and racing back here is more action toward mankind than any of us has seen out of him.”
“Whatever.” I shrug and unwrap another goodie.
But on the inside my heart races with excitement hearing Ethan talk about Tuck and what he did. Dammit, if only I were conscious to feel his arms around me. If only.
“Your turn.” Sophie bounds down the hall with a wet braid bouncing around.
All the noise in the small living room reminds me how delicate of a state my head is in right now. “Okay.”
I set the bowl to the side and stand up, pleased to find my legs sturdy underneath me.
“Need help?” Ethan asks, with a mischievous smirk on his face.
“You haven’t even been out of a relationship for twenty-four hours.” Shaking my head, I step away from him, and he grabs the back of my thigh. “Don’t touch me, Ethan, don’t touch me ever again. I’m not an easy piece of ass and don’t want anything to do with you.”
His hands fly up in a surrendering motion. “No harm, no foul.”
I don’t respond and feel a tiny bit bad about being so harsh with him, but I want no gray areas with this guy. It’s clear he’s not the smartest one in the bunch. He might be the horniest, but not smartest. Lane comes jogging down the hall in a pair of loose sweats, chasing after Sophie. Scratch that, Lane is the horniest one.
I see Tuck watching me from the end of the hall, and then I look over my shoulder and realize he saw the whole scene play out with Ethan. He’s standing between two doors. The one on his right is lit up, and the door to his left is open, but dark. I don’t take my gaze off him as I walk straight toward him, blocking out all the noise in the background.
I stop inches from him, and Tuck doesn’t move, keeping his hands firmly planted on those sexy hips and his seductive stare on me.
“I’d let you touch me, Tuck, and get to know every single part of me, but you don’t do people or talking. Just know I think you’re gorgeous.”
His jaw clenches and he squeezes his eyes shut for a second before I turn from him and walk into the lit up bathroom. As I shut the door, I sink down the back of it until I’m on the floor, sitting Indian style and staring up at the water stained ceiling and wondering what in the hell this man has done to me. Must be the sugar high. It has to be the sugar high screwing with my thought process and the path from my brain to the words that flow out of my mouth.
One minute I’m telling Ethan off, and then seconds later I’m basically telling Tuck I’m hot for him. The most confusing part of all of this is that it’s the truth. I know it, my brain knows it, and my heart keeps shouting it. Damn, sexy fucker.
Chapter 5
“You know Lane is a dick. Did he really think this was an outfit?”
Sophie giggles as the sunlight shines off her glossy black hair. “Hey, you’d just passed out and he was helping us.”
“Whatever, he was rushing to get back to the house to bone you in the shower.”
“We didn’t have sex in the shower.”
“Oh, really?”
“Fine, we did, and it was even better than the first time.”
I try not to gag and send her a look warning her that I don’t need any details, not even one. I keep my arms crossed over my abdomen, feeling naked as we walk back to the dorms.
“Slow down, Blue. I think I have shin splints from this morning.”
“Too bad. I’m wearing a pink polka-dot sports bra with lime green spandex shorts. I’m really not in the mood to walk leisurely.”
There’s zero doubt in my mind that Lane knew what he was doing when he grabbed our clothes. Sophie wears hers proudly, strutting back to the dorms, and I just don’t understand the girl sometimes.
“What do you know about Tuck?” I finally ask her.
“Who is Tuck?”
“Never mind.”
“Tell me. You can’t play the never mind card with me.” She uses her fingers, air quoting her words.
“He’s a guy.”
“No shit. Spill.”
“He’s on the football team and intrigues me.”
I pray like hell something shiny distracts Sophie from further questioning.
“And?” she pushes.
I’m tempted to scream bear or fire to see if that gets her off topic, but instead her cellphone rings and distracts her.
“My mom,” she says, rolling her eyes.
I let her take the call and walk several steps ahead of her to get to my dorm room. I need a long nap before tonight’s barbecue.
“Blue.”
Shading my eyes from the sun, I notice Stephie walking my way. What did I do to piss off Satan now?
“I just want to say sorry for giving you the short end of the stick these past couple days.”
I want to correct her and say day and a half, but decide to use my better judgment.
“Thanks.”
“No, I really mean it, Blue. I know you’re not a slut and didn’t do anything with Ethan, and I was just being mean.”
“Okay, thanks.” I turn to walk off and bite my tongue to keep from congratulating her on using the word slut once again in my presence.
“I really mean it,” she hollers.
What the hell does this chick want? Does she want me to hug her, hold hands, and sing? Or probably, knowing control freaks like her, she wants me to lick the bottom of her shoes and praise her for her almighty awesomeness.
I look back and send her a quick smile, not wanting her to think I’m ignoring her. Just like my dad always told me growing up, a snake is a snake no matter what skin they’re wearing.
I replay today’s events in my mind as I sink into my bed and burrow deep under my comforter. From the towel folding, to running, passing out, Tuck, Stephie, that Twinkie, and right back to Tuck, my mind refuses to stop analyzing every little thing, but it comes back to Tuck. My eyes close as the sweetest dreamy sensation floats through me just thinking of Tuck carrying me to his house, his posture on the couch, and then his stance at the end of the hallway. The more the man refuses to talk or let me get to know him more, the more I want him.
I guess a girl can always dream about you, Tuck.
Chapter 6
The barbeque is a hit, and I almost blush when Coach Lindsey catches me going in for thirds. Key word—almost. The food is delicious, with a gorgeous array of fish, chicken, and steak all grilled to perfection, adorned with veggies with similar grill marks. There is something about the tangy taste of the onions and green peppers that leaves my stomach wanting more. I manage to escape the looks of Trainer Jay, who is the chef for the evening, but not Coach.
“I’m real proud of you, Blue,” she says as I trail down her curving, perfectly stamped, paved sidewalk. I just nod at her compliment, rub my full belly, and study each of the different colored hexagons stamped on the sidewalk. As shitty as the day turned out, tonight’s dinner makes up for it.
Even Stephie is mysteriously quiet and quite polite toward me and Sophie. Snake, snake, snake…she’s a snake, I repeat over and over in my mind, and then offer her a quaint little grin. I’d be a fool to make an enemy out of her and call her bluff, but I’m sure in
the hell not going to go out of my way to lick her asshole.
“Ewww.” I groan at my own thoughts.
“What?” Sophie stops dead in her tracks and turns to face me with a questioning face.
“Nothing.” I wave her off with my right hand while I gently continue to rub circles with my other hand on my belly.
“What?” she demands once again.
I can already tell Sophie’s the nosy-ass type that would take the time out of her day to figure out who farted in a room full of people, even pulling out the detective card and not giving in until the mystery was settled. She reminds me of my own mother. Not that my mother was a fart sniffer, by any means, but she sure didn’t let anyone fire off a deadly one in her company. It’s always best to spill it with these types of people, even if it makes no sense and contains absolutely no meaning at all, just to forgo the third degree, stare down, and guilt trips.
“I’m not going to lick Stephie’s asshole.” I throw up both my hands in the air, surrendering to her. “See, are you happy? My own freaking thought grossed me out, and I said eewww.”
“I’m not going to even ask why you were thinking of Stephie and her butthole in the same sentence.” Sophie’s face dances with disgust and a tiny hint of questioning.
“Thank you.” Taking two long strides, I catch up to the still half-disgusted Sophie and wrap my arm around hers. We chose to walk to the barbeque tonight, and now in the dark night without roaring traffic filling the streets, I realize it was dumb. Yes, a very dumb decision for two eighteen-year-old girls to make. We had no business being off campus at this time of night and walking alone. I know the stories of a local string of murders and rapes filling the news, which Trainer Jay shared with us over dinner, and it didn’t help matters. I know three quarters of the goose bumps forming on my skin are due to my overzealous imagination.
“Quit worrying.”
“What?” I freeze. “I’m not worrying.”
“Oh really, you just chewing your bottom lip for an extra shot of protein?”
I shove her shoulder and then flip her the bird with my other hand. “We are two young, dumb girls walking the streets in the dark like Trainer Jay was talking about.”
The roar of an engine cuts off my speech, and we turn to see an extremely jacked-up silver Dodge with all the bells and whistles.
“See, I called Prince Charming for us.”
I see Lane’s face as he slowly rolls down the tinted window.
“Fuck,” I mumble to myself. If Lane is in there, that means Ethan is there.
As if on cue, he hollers from the back seat, “Ladies, want a ride?”
At this point, I’d rather jog home, but then I’m reminded of my full belly and screaming muscles and hesitantly follow Sophie over to the truck.
“We only have one other seat.”
Lane crawls out and lets Sophie sit in the middle beside him. Ethan pats his lap from the back seat. All of the glorious food I enjoyed before now roils around and threatens to paint the sidewalk. I’m going to have to have a serious talk with Ethan about the excessive flirting and instill a strict friend code with severe consequences if the code is broken.
My glance darts to all the seats in the truck and notice every single one of them is taken by their fellow teammates, and then my vision lands on Tuck, who is huddled up in the back corner of the truck, sitting on the opposite end from Ethan.
“C’mon, it’s just a seat, not a date.” Ethan pats his lap again and licks his lips.
“Forget this.” I continue down the sidewalk. “I’d rather walk back on my own.”
The truck creeps along the road while I walk. I fight like hell to avoid making eye contact with any of them, or acknowledge the obnoxious truck inching along with me.
“Just go, you guys.” I try waving them off.
I look up and see some rustling going on in the back seat, and I’m pretty sure Ethan’s body was just thrown across the back of the truck. I keep walking, focusing on each time my foot hits the pavement and cuss my dumb ass out for eating so much, because I’d do anything in this moment to sprint.
Moments and several steps go by, then the silver back door opens. I don’t have a chance to jump away before I’m scooped up in someone’s arms and plopped down on a lap. The sound of the door shutting and the engine roaring to life fill the cab of the truck as it lunges forward, causing me to fall deeper back into my seat.
I immediately notice Tuck has me on his lap, and when I make eye contact I feel his hands move from my bare thighs. Looking down, I see he has his palms stretched out on either side of his legs, firmly planted on the seat. Glancing back to my bare thigh, I feel the sting of his hand vanishing. It was only there a second, but sent a jolting amount of pleasure strumming through my whole body.
I know we only have a few private seconds in the dark before the rest of the truck invades our tiny space. I study his gorgeous face and smile when I recognize that strong jawline in the moonlight shining through the window. A slight stubble peppers his face, and it’s something I’ve never picked up before, but then again I’ve never been this close to the man. However, his black hoodie is familiar, with the hood hooked up over his head and beanie safely tucked underneath it.
Without breaking eye contact, I grab his left hand that rests next to the door, and his muscles go taut as I do. I’d give anything to feel his skin instead of the hoodie between us, but my thigh will have to do. And I thank the creator of very short shorts. I guide his hand back on to the top of my thigh and am slightly shocked when he follows my lead.
I lean back on his chest and realize how expansive the man is. I fit perfectly on one side of him and know I could easily snuggle in, throwing my arms around his neck and flexing my hips back into him, but I don’t. My back simply relaxes on his left shoulder. Turning my head, I let my lips lightly brush against his stubble and feel the tickle of each tiny hair, and a large smile spreads across my face. I take the path back to his ear very slowly.
And when I finally get there and that stubble is gone, my smile slowly fades. “You are the only one allowed to touch me.”
His hand tightens on the flesh of my leg, and I gasp.
“Blue.”
His whisper is more of a growl, and I know exactly what’s coming next. And I have no idea why I’m so magnetized to him.
“I know, Tuck, you don’t do people or talk or anything human. I know.”
The cab of the truck fills with Outkast singing Roses, and I’m a little stunned when both of Tuck’s hands connect with my hips as he centers me in his lap. My back immediately mourns the loss of his solid chest. He pushes up as we settle in our new position and his message takes no words to convey. It’s clearly pressed against my ass, and it makes me smile. Peeking over my shoulder, I let Tuck see my smile, but he only shoots back his dark gaze.
Our ride comes to bitter end, and I notice we are outside Tuck’s house.
“Stop one, boys.”
Without a word or as much as a glance back in my direction, Tuck hops out, leaving me on the cold seat of the truck. The remainder of the guys also get out, with the exception of douche bag Ethan, Lane, and Sophie. Of course Sophie and Lane are practically humping while he starts driving in the direction of the dorms.
My heart breaks. Wait, it can’t break because I don’t technically love Tuck, so maybe my ego fucking shatters with his reaction to me. I want to get to know the man, flirt with him, spend time with him…all the shit Ethan wants to do with me, I want with Tuck, and yet it seems he finds me as annoying as I find Ethan.
When the truck comes to a stop, I let all my manners fly straight out the window as I bolt for the dorms. I even forget to greet the security guard. I’m beyond being nice and just want my bed. It’s a welcome sight being greeted by a dark dorm room. I strip down and find an over-sized cheer shirt I got at camp years ago and go snuggle deep down in my bed. My sheets smell like home, and it might be the only thing that can hold me together. I grab my phone and F
aceTime my mother.
Of course she answers immediately. Her screen is as black as mine, and I know she and my father are in bed as well. Even in my high school years, I’d cuddle between the two of them when I’d endured a difficult day, and that’s what I want now.
“Blue, you look so black.” I hear my dad laugh at his corny-ass joke.
“I miss you guys.”
I roll my eyes at the sound of my mom sighing and my dad saying, “I told you so, I won the bet.”
I get lost talking to the black screen as all three of us share our days, and I know my mother cringes just like I do when my father shares some of his experience in the ER. The man is the best surgeon around. My mom warns me about the crime that Trainer Jay talked about at the barbecue, and I tell her to keep her ass off of Fox News. We all get our fill of giggles and chuckles before we hang up, and even as silly as it seems, I kiss the screen two times before hanging up.
I lazily begin to drift off as I keep my cellphone clutched to my chest, and I wish I had Tuck’s number. I have to get him off my mind. When sleep is about to finally win out, the door flies open and reveals one silhouette. Sophie hurries to shut the door and uses enough courtesy to not flip on the lights. I hear her rustle around in her drawers looking for clothes to wear, and then she climbs in my bed.
“That was the best sex ever, Blue.”
“Eww! Get your sex-soaked body out of my bed.” I push her away as her giggles fill the room.
“We did it in the showers.” She flicks a lock of her long hair on my shoulder.
“How?” I don’t believe a word she says.
“Ethan was lookout, and we took our time. He even went down…”
“Whoa, whoa. Shut up.”
Sophie laughs hard, shaking the bed. The little fucker loves taunting me with their sexcapades.
“But, Blue, for reals, Lane and Ethan both told me to warn you about Tuck.”
Now the little ass has my full attention. “Why?”
“Because they say they’ve never met an angrier person than him.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s not angry, just reserved.”