by Lex Martin
I bite my lip to keep the satisfied smile from forming. “What?” I yell from the other side of the bathroom door.
“You know what,” he hisses.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t think I’ll walk out there naked?” He pulls open the door and peeks out. “Because I will.”
“Do what you gotta do.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal to see Travis’s naked behind. “But that’ll be another violation of the house rules,” I say matter-of-factly, knowing damn well they don’t mean a thing to him anyway.
He rolls his eyes and opens the door all the way, exposing his wet muscled-and-tattooed self. Fuck. I didn’t think this all the way through. “Real mature, V.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I keep my eyes down, resisting the urge to look at him again.
He mutters a few curse words before walking around me and going down the hall to his bedroom.
Oh, Travis. The fun has just only begun.
No one said this was about maturity. This was about winning. Travis King needs his ego taken down a few notches.
Leaning against the wall, I wait for the moment he realizes what I’ve done. If he doesn’t notice his sheets missing right away, he’ll notice once he goes to put his shorts on.
I wait and wait and wonder what the hell he’s doing in there. Finally, I hear the door opening and footsteps coming my way. I slowly look up, preparing for the death stare, but instead, he looks completely indifferent. I blink, thinking I must be imagining things, but then I look down and gasp.
Oh my God.
I swallow, unable to take my eyes off him, his sleeve of tattoos that merge into his chest, or the water still dripping down his body all the way down to his cock that’s saluting to the ceiling. Why the hell is he hard?
My mind races as I try to blink away, but I can’t. My feet are cemented in place, and all the air is sucked out of me.
“I’m starting to think you have a thing for me.” He smirks, obviously proud of himself. “If you wanted to get me naked, all you had to do was ask.” He flashes me a wink, the corner of his lips tilted up in amusement, and continues walking past me into the living room.
It takes me a few moments to collect myself. How the hell did that not work? Why is this man so complicated? Fuck. I need to step up my game. But nothing fazes that jackass. He has a perfect body and knows it, so of course he doesn’t mind flaunting it. But sooner or later, he’s going to need his sheets and clothes.
I walk to the kitchen, making sure to avoid him. I dig around in the fridge, letting the cool air hit my heated cheeks. My entire body is on fire, and only an ice bath would cool it down at this point.
Images of his hard cock haunt my mind even when I try to push them out. I assumed Travis was big, but seeing it in all its glory, thick and stretched, has my body tingling in areas I wish I could control.
After several minutes of trying to cool my body down, I decide to make some toast, so I grab the container of butter and a bottle of orange juice. Maybe I just need some sugar to get my brain working again.
With the items in my hands, I use my elbow to shut the door. Before I realize what’s happening, Travis traps me between his hard chest and the fridge door.
“What the hell?” I gasp, dropping both items to my feet. I feel his cock press into the low dip of my back, his firm arms caging me in.
“What’s the matter?”
I swallow.
“I think you need a lesson on boundaries,” I manage to say, my palms pressed against the fridge door.
He dips his head, brushing his stubble along my neck. I shiver, pissed that he’s getting a reaction out of me. His mouth is dangerously close to my ear as he whispers, “If it’s anything like your tutoring lessons, I won’t get my hopes up.” I feel a hand slide up my arm and brush along my collarbone before wrapping his palm around my neck and tilting my head up. It’s oddly soothing, and for a second, I forget Travis is the one holding me captive.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to teaching you a thing or two,” he growls against my ear again. His voice is low and deep as he taunts me, pushing every button he can.
“Get your naked body off me,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Never heard that one before.” He rocks his hips, pushing harder against me. My eyes flutter closed on their own accord as a moan releases without permission. His hand slides down my chest and palms my breast, making me release another throaty moan. His other hand squeezes my hip, melding our bodies against one another, and my head falls back as I feel his hot breath on my blazing skin.
“So, tell me again who’s in control around here? Because I’m pretty sure I just about made you come.”
My skin pricks at the words that come out of his mouth. “Screw you, Travis.”
“Sorry, princess. I don’t fuck virgins.” He clamps his teeth over my earlobe and nips it. “But if you ever want a lesson in sucking dick, I’d be glad to teach you. I’d even waive the tutoring fee.”
My body tenses at his condescending tone. My mind finally clears, and I snap out of his spell. I turn my body just enough to dig my elbow hard into his ribs. He stumbles back with a curse, giving me the opportunity to walk away and out of the kitchen.
I’m pissed at the way he’s always pushing my boundaries and trying to get a reaction out of me, but I’m even more pissed at myself for falling into his stupid trap. My traitorous body took the bait, and now I’m the one who got burned.
Chapter 7
Travis
Viola Fisher may look like your typical book nerd, but it’s all a deception. She’s as smart as she is feisty, and hell, if that isn’t hot as sin. My thoughts are plagued by her, and if I don’t get everything about her out of my mind, I’ll go fucking crazy. Drew would murder me in my sleep if he knew the ideas I was having about his sister. That is, if Viola doesn’t do it first.
After our encounter in the kitchen, I walk around the house naked just to rile her up even more. When I catch her staring at me, she blushes and turns her head like she wasn’t just admiring what she saw.
“Appreciate it, princess. All of it,” I taunt as I strut to my room to grab my phone, knowing damn well she’s looking at my ass.
When I walk back into the living room, giving absolutely no fucks, she groans and starts shoving books into her bag. I’m wondering when she’ll raise the white flag and return my clothes, but when she leaves to go nerd it up somewhere with her whole library packed, I realize she’s not going to cave anytime soon.
Though I could walk around naked, showing her every inch of my body all day, it was getting a little annoying. But I’d never let her know that. It’s too much fun to make her uneasy, which she brings on herself most of the time. I have nothing to hide, and I’m not fucking ashamed of what I’ve worked for.
I can’t stop thinking about the rush that swarmed through my body as I pressed against her, knowing damn well she felt it too. The electricity isn’t something that can be ignored. Her body responded to my touch, and as much as she’ll deny it until the day she dies, she wanted what I had to offer. The moan that released from her pouty lips was almost too much for me to handle. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that, but goddammit, she pushed me too far. She asked for all of me, or she never would’ve stolen every piece of clothing I own. She made sure to be extra cunty and took my sheets and pillowcases too, like bare mattress sex would scare me. For the record, I regret absolutely nothing. I’d press my naked body against her again and again. It’s a memory that I’ll file away for later use.
After I rummage through Drew’s closet and find something that’s somewhat my style and size, I search through Viola’s clothes and take everything but the scandalous pieces. If she wants to go anywhere, she’ll look like she works at a strip club. Although she won’t appreciate it, I know I will.
I throw on a pair of Drew’s jeans and a polo because I refuse to spend my Friday night fighting with her. I need to wash Viola from my thoughts a
s quick as possible, but each time I close my eyes, I think about that tight little ass, flat stomach, and perky pink nipples. For fuck’s sake.
I text Drew, knowing he’ll erase the dirty thoughts I’m having about his little sister who would willingly gouge out my eyes if I gave her the chance.
Travis: Dude. How’s it going so far?
The text bubble almost immediately pops up, and I wait.
Drew: Everything’s great. Didn’t realize how much I missed Mia.
Mia and Drew have been dating since last summer. She struck up a conversation while we were playing sand volleyball. He spoke to her first, which is good, because I would’ve made my move based on the way she was eyeing me. They’ve been together ever since, and I’m happy for him because she’s pretty, with a tight little body, and knows how to have a good time. She’s not afraid to say exactly what she wants, or so Drew tells me.
Travis: That’s great, man. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Actually, do everything I would do.
I laugh as I hit send.
Drew: I can’t believe Viola hasn’t killed you yet.
I laugh again. I’m sure she wants to. I linger on her name a little longer than I should, and it makes me feel so damn guilty.
Travis: We’re getting along great. Ha. Sense the sarcasm? And it’s only been a day.
It’s been the best and worst twenty-four hours of my life.
Drew: So you live to see another day. Congrats. I’m sure she’ll warm up to you where you can at least be cordial toward one another. Maybe she’ll let you borrow her invisibility cloak? But if you go missing, I’ll know who to ask first.
I shake my head and smile.
Travis: Thanks, bro. Now get back to your woman. Tell Mia I said hi. I’ll check in later.
Drew: Will do. Later.
Viola and I being cordial to one another? Impossible. We’re playing some fucked-up game of cat and mouse, and in the end, we’ll realize it’s a trap for both of us. I’m not stupid, and neither is she. We should call a truce before it goes too far, but we’re both too damn stubborn to admit defeat. It’s about who’s going to come out on top, which will always be me.
I grab my keys and text Jason, a friend from college, so we can start the night early. I have a lot of drinking to do and images of Viola to erase. The pre-party starts at his house, and when I walk in, he immediately senses something is off as though he has a sixth sense or some shit. Four girls file out of the kitchen, giggling and eyeing me like they want to eat me. If they’re lucky, maybe I’ll let them, all at the same time. I throw a smile to each of them, finding my mark for the night. The blonde one licks her ruby red lips, and I know that look from a mile away. She wants what I have to offer. Perfect.
“What’s up?” Jason asks as he takes a long pull of his beer and walks to the living room.
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused by the tone of his question.
“You’re wound up tighter than a stripper’s G-string on a Friday night. You’re all tense. Shit. Have a beer and chill out,” he says, handing me a Heineken.
“This is bitch beer.” I smile as I take a swig. Jason knows how I feel about the little green bottle. It tastes like piss with a pretty label. I have to admit it’s good marketing, but damn, give me a real beer, something dark like a Guinness or Krombacher.
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” he says, plopping on his couch to check his phone. “We’ll leave soon. I have a few more friends meeting us at Good Times.”
He glances over his shoulder and looks at the girls, then lowers his voice. “So, you gonna tell me what has you so tense or pretend nothing’s wrong?”
I finish the beer off in another big swig and answer. “Drew left to hang with Mia on her break, and I’m stuck dealing with his little sister for two weeks. It’s fucking torture.” But not in the way he thinks.
He laughs and sits up. “Viola? She's single again? How’s she been? Still hating your guts?”
He looks a little too happy to be asking about her. His question about a boyfriend catches me off guard, and I feel like such a dick for not knowing the answer. Is she dating someone? My jaw tightens, and it’s not lost on him. He raises an eyebrow.
“Yes, she still hates me, and I don’t know about the other stuff. We’re not friends. We don’t stay up every night talking about her fucking life,” I say truthfully between gritted teeth. Everyone knows she hates me because she doesn’t keep quiet about it.
“She’s so fucking hot. If Drew wouldn’t go batshit crazy on me, I’d totally hit that,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows as if he’s Viola’s type.
“She’s off-limits,” I growl, almost a little too protectively.
“Damn.” He laughs and finishes off his beer. “I know you’ve been best friends for decades, but for a moment there, I thought you actually channeled Drew. It was frightening. Don’t ever do that again.” He’s joking with me, but there was nothing funny about what I said. Viola is off-limits, the end.
I exhale through my nose as he walks off and try to calm myself. The girls come into the living room and sit on the couch around me. They chat about the night and the guys that will be there, and I’m already bored. Blondie is a little too confident in her red miniskirt and low-cut shirt, but I play along. She seems like the perfect distraction for the night.
“I’m Amber,” she says, grabbing my phone from my hand and programming her number into it. I knew I should’ve password protected it.
I give her a smirk. “Thanks, babe. I’m Travis.” When the words leave my mouth, she beams. Pet names must be her thing. I grab her hand and drag my bottom lip across the top before I kiss it. Her friends walk away taking the hint, and she moves in a little closer and places her hand on my inner thigh. For a second, I wonder if she likes to get her hair pulled. Once the thought crosses my mind, the image of Viola against the refrigerator, my naked body pressed against hers, flashes in my mind. Fucking fuck! She’s ruining my game.
Jason returns with two more beers. “So, you’ve met Amber,” he says, handing me another Heineken. I drink it as fast as I can. The quicker I get wasted, the quicker Viola will leave my thoughts, or at least that’s what I hope, and maybe I’ll be able to screw her away.
Jason makes small talk to kill the time, but I can’t concentrate on his words. Amber’s a filthy little thing, and she’s actually doing a good job of keeping me distracted. Her hand rubs across my thigh, and if no one was here, I have a feeling she’d be on her knees taking my dick in her mouth. I can tell by the way she’s been eye-fucking me for the past thirty minutes. Four beers down and I’m starting to feel the effects. My body is relaxed, and I feel good, not worked up like I was when I arrived. Before I crack open another beer, Jason announces it’s time to head out. Our Uber driver is almost here, which is probably for the best, considering we’re already tipsy.
The parking lot at Good Times is full as usual. Most people my age come here on the weekends to let loose after a long week. The thick bass rumbles so loud it’s heard outside. Girls arrive in their scandalously short skirts and dresses, and it makes it so much easier to forget about Viola, or so I think. I have my arm around Amber and hers is around me, and we walk inside laughing. She’s trying to hold a stupid semi-drunk conversation that means absolutely nothing to me over the loud music. Jason waves to a group of dudes over in the corner, and I realize I’ve agreed to join a sausage fest. Great. Thank fuck for the girls Jason brought along to fill the table. They each find their dude for the night, and the only man out is Jason. He’ll find someone here, I’m sure of it.
Amber excuses herself to the bathroom, and I walk to the bar for another drink, but this time, I want something with a punch, so whiskey will be my poison for the rest of the night. I need more alcohol so I can fall asleep on my sheetless bed and dream about nothing. I lean my back against the bar and scan the room. Lots of beautiful women are here tonight, and I smile, knowing I could bring anyone of them home . . . until my eyes land on Viola fucking F
isher walking through the door.
I exhale slowly when I see the scandalous outfit that shows just enough skin to make her desirable but not seem easy, compliments of me. She turns back and smiles at the bouncer whose gaze is lingering on her ass just a little too long, and that’s when I notice she’s hanging on a dude’s arm like an ornament.
What in the hell?
Chapter 8
Viola
I’m happy that Travis isn’t home after I return from tutoring. I thought it’d be better if I asked everyone to meet me at the library instead of being in a house with a crazy naked man. I could’ve given back his clothes, but that’s too easy. Me and easy won’t ever go in the same sentence, so I drove to the library with a shit-eating grin knowing all his clothes, sheets, and pillowcases were in my trunk.
When I returned, Travis was gone, and I felt like I could breathe again. Earlier, he had taken my breath away, and my body betrayed me once again. If I weren’t a Fisher and he weren’t asshole King, maybe things could be different, but they can’t and won’t, especially with our past.
As I cozy up on the couch, hoping for a quiet night full of romance books and alpha males, I receive a text. I reach over to see Courtney’s name.
Courtney: Can I cash in on those drinks tonight? Good Times is having Ladies’ Night!
As much as I don’t want to go, I think it’ll be good for me to get out of the house. She’s also leaving in two days, so I want to spend as much time with her as I can.
Viola: Sure. How’s 9?
The later we head out, the sooner we can head back home.