by L. P. Dover
Once up the three flights of stairs, I unlocked the door and went straight to my room. I desperately wanted to change out of my dress and in to a pair of silky blue pajama pants and a white tank top.
By now, Camden was probably free and cursing me from one side of the world to the next. However, I didn’t care. He deserved it and I wasn’t going to feel bad about it. In fact, I was going to celebrate my triumph with my favorite ice cream and a movie.
In the freezer, we had several pints … and one in particular was screaming my name as soon as I opened the door. Nothing could beat Ben & Jerry’s Halfbaked with its chunks of brownies and cookie dough; not even my orgasm tonight could compare.
Once I had my spoon in hand, DVD in the player, and a blanket, I was all good to go. The instant I turned on the movie, there was a knock at the door and I instantly froze. Camden immediately came to mind, and I hoped like hell that I’d remembered to lock the door behind me when I got in.
Another knock came, but it didn’t sound like it was someone who was pissed off. Quietly, I tiptoed to the door and peeked through the hole … it was Colin. His platinum blond hair was gelled into messy spikes and he wore a snug green T-shirt with his favorite pair of ripped denim jeans. Breathing a sigh of relief, I opened the door wide and smiled.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
Gazing down at my pajamas, he smiled and walked in. “Well, I tried calling you to see if you wanted to hang out tonight, but your phone kept sending me to voicemail. You’re not avoiding me, are you?”
“No, of course not,” I gasped, shutting the door. This time I definitely made sure to lock it. “I turned my phone off a little while ago. Do you want some ice cream? I was about to watch a movie.”
Once in the living room, he glanced over at the TV and back to me with an amused smirk on his face. “Let me guess … it’s either going to be Pitch Perfect or The Ugly Truth. Which one are we watching tonight?”
He followed me into the kitchen and I opened the freezer, letting him pick his own pint. He chose the peanut butter cup ice cream just like I knew he would. “I was going to watch Pitch Perfect. I need something that’ll make me laugh.”
We sat down on the couch and he bumped me with his shoulder. “Everything okay? You usually don’t sit by yourself with ice cream and a movie unless something’s bothering you. The last time you did it was when you and your ex broke up. What’s going on now?”
Opening my pint, I stuck my spoon inside and paused before lifting it to my lips. “It’s just been a long night,” I told him.
He put his arm around me and squeezed. “Okay, I get it. You don’t want to tell me. If you change your mind, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Colin. It’s just not something I feel comfortable talking to you about.”
Kissing me on the head, he squeezed me one more time before reaching for his ice cream. “I understand, babe. Now turn on the movie so it’ll make you feel better.”
I pressed play and fast forwarded through the introduction stuff. “When are you going to go home and visit your family … and your girlfriend?” I asked.
When he didn’t answer, I looked over at him, taking in his weary gaze and furrowed my brows. “Colin? What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to see them next weekend. I’ve been trying to get in touch with Erin all day. She’s avoiding me and I don’t know why. The last time we talked, she was preoccupied with something like she didn’t really want to talk to me.”
Erin was his girlfriend and had been for going on three years. “Everything was fine a couple of weeks ago when you saw her, wasn’t it?” I asked.
“Yeah, as far as I could tell. I don’t know, things have been kind of different lately.”
“How so?”
Licking his lips, he turned his green gaze to mine and started to tell me when a loud knock came at the door. Now that knock had my stomach instantly tightening into knots.
“Who is that?” Colin asked, glancing back at the door.
My heart pounded and my palms began to sweat. “I don’t know, but I’m sure they’ll go away if we just ignore them.”
The movie had started, so I kept my gaze on the TV; unfortunately, Colin kept his on mine. It didn’t help that another loud knock came at the door. “Ashleigh, open the door,” a voice called out. “It’s Ryley.”
Sighing, I closed my eyes and hung my head. “Dammit,” I murmured low.
“What’s he doing here?” Colin asked.
“I don’t know exactly, but if his brother is out there it’s not going to be good.”
“Why? What happened?” When I wouldn’t answer, he growled and got up to go to answer the door.
“Colin, no,” I hissed. “Don’t answer it.”
Instead of listening to me, he opened the door and stood there like an avenging angel. It made me realize how much I loved having him in my life. He was a good friend … even if he didn’t listen to me.
“Can I help you with something?” Colin snapped, his voice stony and hard.
Ryley’s voice wasn’t angry or bitter when he answered, “Yes, I’d like to speak to Ashleigh. I know she doesn’t want to see me, but I need her to talk to me for just a minute.”
Colin glanced back at me, lifting his eyebrows.
“Please, Ashleigh,” Ryley called out. “I promise it’ll only take a minute.”
Setting my ice cream down, I huffed and got to my feet. “Fine.”
Colin moved over a step so I could join him at the door, but stayed close. He kept his arm protectively behind me as he held the door, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Ryley, who watched with narrowed eyes.
His blond hair was disheveled like he’d just woken up, and I had to admit it was kind of sexy along with his tight white T-shirt and tattoos down his right arm. However, his crystal blue eyes were nothing like his brother’s tonight; they were full of concern, apologetic.
“Can we talk out here … alone,” he asked, pinning a glare at Colin.
“Where’s Camden?”
“He’s still in Malibu, or at least that’s where I left him. He’s not going to come here if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“Ashleigh, what’s going on?” Colin asked, cutting in. “Do you need me to stay with you tonight?”
Ryley rolled his eyes, but kept his gaze on mine. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. My brother isn’t going to do anything stupid other than what he’s already done.”
Colin tensed behind me, but I turned around and put my hand on his chest. “Everything’s fine, Colin, I promise. Just give me one minute with Ryley and I’ll be right back in, okay?”
Clenching his teeth, he huffed and glared at Ryley before slowly backing up with a warning in his gaze. As soon as he shut the door, Ryley moved closer. “Before you start bitching at me, I want you to hear me out.”
“What do you want, Ryley?” I asked, stepping away. “I have nothing to say to you or Camden. I just want you to leave me alone. It was a mistake to get involved with you two.”
“That’s not true. I’m not going to apologize for my brother because frankly he’s a dick. I thought he was going to be different with you, but I can see now that he wasn’t.”
“You think? I don’t understand how you both get women treating them like dogs. I can handle being at the mercy of a dominant, but I cannot and will not be with someone who doesn’t respect me. Hopefully, Camden realized tonight that I’m not an inferior in the bedroom.”
Ryley bit his lip and lowered his gaze. “Yeah, about that … how did you get him to blow his load? He wouldn’t tell me what you did. I think that pissed him off more than anything.”
“Well, he deserved it. A little anal action was all it took.”
“Are you serious?” Ryley asked, eyes wide.
I held up my hands, feigning innocence. “Hey, it serves him right for being a complete and utter dick.”
“So that’s why you wanted an hour to do what you wanted with us. Well, I guess it’s a good t
hing I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“I guess so,” I snapped back.
We stared at each other in silence, neither one of us knowing what to say. Finally, Ryley nodded his head and slowly turned around. He started in the direction of the stairs, but then abruptly came back and grabbed my arms, not accepting defeat.
“Okay, look, I know you’re not going to believe me, but I’m not like my brother.” When I lifted my brows in disbelief, he paused and huffed, “Fine, maybe I am, but not in the ways you think. Let me prove to you that I’m not. I still want us to have our time together. Believe me, I had a whole day planned that didn’t involve just sex. It was going to be a date, my first one actually.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No,” he replied in all seriousness. “I’ve never gone on a date and done things other than drinking, fucking, or fighting. It’ll be a first for me.”
“Why are you even doing this? There’s nothing in it for you.”
Slowly, he smiled and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. “That’s where you’re wrong. There’s always a first time for everything, right? It might actually be fun. I wouldn’t know.”
“And if it’s not fun?” I asked. “Are you going to go back to being the inconsiderate ass who likes to gangbang chicks with his brother?”
Guffawing, Ryley turned on his heel and started toward the stairs. “Most likely, but if it’s something I enjoy doing, I might have to consider a lifestyle change. However, it’s all up to you. If you want me to be a better man, let me pick you up tomorrow. If you agree, I’ll be here at ten in the morning.”
“Ten? Why so early?”
“Why not? I told you I had the day planned.” He started to descend the stairs backwards, smiling up at me as he went. “So what’s your answer, angel? Are you going to give me this chance to make things right?”
Staring down at him, I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine, I’m in, but the first second you turn into a jackass I’m out. Take lessons from your brother … I don’t play around.”
He chuckled. “That’s for damn sure. Just as long as you stay away from my ass we’re fine.” When he was completely off the stairs, I watched him walk toward his black Mercedes G600 in the parking lot. “I’ll see you in the morning, sunshine,” he called out over his shoulder.
Taking a deep breath, I waved at him once and watched him get in his car and leave. Either I’d just made the right decision, or possibly one of the worst ever by agreeing to the date with him.
I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.
“Are you okay out here?” Colin asked, opening the door. He glanced around for Ryley, and when he didn’t see him he stepped out to join me, crossing his arms over his chest. “So what did he want?”
“He asked me to go on a date with him tomorrow.”
Colin nodded and looked away. “And I’m assuming you told him yes?”
“Yes, and I’m hoping I don’t regret it.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened with his brother or not? Is that where you were earlier … with him?”
When he lifted his green gaze to mine, I groaned and turned my face away. “Yeah,” I answered sheepishly. “I kind of tied him to a bed and left him there.”
“What?” he snapped. “You weren’t going to fuck him, were you?”
“Well,” I started nervously, “that was the plan until he started being a complete dick. When I saw an opportunity arise, I took it and left him there to suffer. Afterwards, I called Ryley and told him so that he could go there and untie him.”
Putting his arm around my shoulder, he led me back inside. “You should have just left him there.”
“True, but I’m not that cruel. I’m pretty sure he’s embarrassed after what I did.”
“Do you think he’s pissed off enough to come by here tonight?” he asked, shutting the door.
“I don’t think so, but then again, I don’t know him that well. I really hope he doesn’t.” When I sat down on the couch, my ice cream wasn’t on the table where I’d left it.
Smirking, Colin went to the freezer, pulling out our pints, and joined me on the couch. “I knew you would be out there longer than one minute. I didn’t want them to melt, so I put these back.”
“Aww … thanks,” I gushed, ignoring the way my heart felt when it fluttered. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you when we all graduate and go our separate ways.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we don’t have to think about that right now. Do you mind if I stay here tonight?”
Snuggling up to his side, I turned the movie back on and smiled. “You don’t even have to ask,” I said softly. “You’re always welcome to stay.”
In that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted in life, but it was something I couldn’t have.
THE NEXT MORNING, the sun shining brightly through the blinds, a text came through my phone, waking me up. However, it wasn’t just me it woke up. Colin’s raspy moan, along with his bare chest was all I could see and feel as I opened my eyes wide. I must’ve fallen asleep on the couch with him.
“Good morning,” he murmured sleepily.
Bolting up, I slid off of the couch and grabbed my phone. It was nine o’clock in the morning. Holy shit, I have to hurry.
“What time did I fall asleep last night?” I asked. “I don’t even remember.”
He shrugged and put his hands behind his head, sprawling out now that I was off the couch. “I don’t know, maybe a little after midnight.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up? It couldn’t have been comfortable for you.”
“Oh, he was fine,” Gabriella chimed, waltzing into the room and winking at Colin. “Weren’t you, Colin?”
Clearing his throat, he quickly glanced at me before reaching for his shirt and sliding it over his head. Colin had tattoos, but unlike Ryley and Camden, his didn’t go down his arms. He had a dragon on his back, which curled around his biceps. I was with him when he got it; in fact, I had the privilege of helping him design it. He was a graphic artist and promised to design me a tattoo when I worked up the courage to get one.
“I guess need to get going so you can get ready for your date,” he remarked dryly. “Call me later, Ash.”
Quickly, he sent a warning glare to Gabriella before heading straight for the door and leaving. What was that all about?
“You have a date today?” Gabriella asked innocently. “Who with?”
“Ryley,” I answered, looking down at the text he’d just sent.
Ryley: Be there in an hour.
“He says he’s going to be here in an hour, so I probably need to get my ass in gear and get ready.” Nodding, with an amused smirk on her face, she strolled into the kitchen to make her morning coffee. “What’s that look for?” I asked. “You have a good time last night or something?”
“Actually, yeah, I did. Bradley and I had a good night, but that’s not why I’m smiling.”
“Then why are you?”
“Because … I got a phone call last night from a very distraught friend of mine. Needless to say, I think it’s pretty epic. Just don’t leave my Ryley like that. He’s the good one of the duo.”
I gasped. “Camden actually called you? What did he say?”
“Well, he was kind of drunk and angry, so most of it I couldn’t understand, but I did get the part where you tied him to the bed and left him. He must’ve really pissed you off for you to do that.”
“Ugh … you have no idea. He deserved it, Gabby.”
“Oh, I have no doubt. Camden is a real piece of work. I don’t talk to him as much as I do his brother. He just doesn’t have a warm personality like Ryley does.”
“Yes, I know,” I said, glancing down at my phone. “I told Ryley to stay away from me, but he showed up here anyway last night and promised he was different from his brother. He wants to spend the day with me, and I have no idea why I said yes.”
“I know why,” she marveled. “It’s because he
’s hot, single, and something that can distract your mind from a certain someone else who’s taken already. Not to mention he’s every girl’s fantasy come to life. Go and enjoy it. What do you have to lose?”
Nothing, I thought to myself. I have nothing to lose. Suddenly, what she’d said registered.
“Wait, what do you mean from someone else? There is no one else,” I snapped incredulously.
Shaking her head in disbelief, she rolled her eyes at me. “Okay, keep telling yourself that. How long have you had a thing for Colin? You were snuggled up nice and tight with him last night when I got home.”
Waving her off, I marched off down the hallway to my room. “I don’t have a thing for Colin,” I called out. “He has a girlfriend, and I’ve known that for the past two years. Besides, I’m getting ready to go out with Ryley and have wild monkey sex with him.”
I wasn’t planning on it, but I’d say anything to get her off my back. Colin was my friend and that’s all he ever would be; I’d known that for a long time now.
Gabriella burst out laughing. “Yeah, you do that. Let me know how it goes.”
Barely controlling my own giggles, I shut the door to my room and rushed to the bathroom so I could take a quick shower. While the water got warm, I fired up my laptop and let my favorite soundtracks play over the speakers. “Classic” by MKTO was my ultimate favorite song at the moment, so I put it on repeat before I hopped under the running water.
I hummed along with the song, dancing around the shower while I quickly washed my hair and body, hoping I could shave before running out of time. After everything that had happened yesterday, I needed to wash every trace of Camden off my body. By the fourth run of my song, I figured it was way past time to get out of the shower and get moving.
The room was so steamy I could barely see, and I loved breathing in the raspberry scent of my shampoo and body wash. Smiling, I took a deep breath and opened the shower door, only to be startled by a set of hypnotic blue eyes staring amusingly up and down my body, and holding a towel in his hands.
Shrieking, I stepped back and started to slip, but Ryley jumped forward and wrapped his arms around my bare body, steadying me. “Damn, I must say you look incredibly sexy right now,” he murmured.