“Sounds like he has a good goal to work toward.” Mom is being nice, and it makes me happy. I was a little worried she would be rude about my going to see my father, but she seems to be handling it all gracefully.
After our pedicures Mom takes us out for lunch and then insists on taking us shopping for clothes. “We don’t need all this stuff.” I laugh looking at the stack of jeans and the rack of clothing Mom had the saleswoman pull for Hayley and me.
“Yes, we do.” Hayley beams at the sparkly silver glitter heels on her feet.
“Nonsense. Hayley, it is my treat. I have a lot of spoiling to make up for. I may not have married James, but I still consider you family.”
Hayley wells up at that and I let them have this bonding moment. I hope my mother is being genuine, but it is hard to tell with her. She can insult you with a sweet smile.
“Besides. You wear nothing but those awful leggings. It’s nice to have a girl who loves clothes to shop with.”
I roll my eyes. “I have you know I have expanded my wardrobe.”
“It’s true. She has. You should have seen her last night when she went out on her date. Liri was bitching in her black dress.”
“You didn’t tell me you had a date,” Mom accuses, and I groan. “Is he a friend of Hayley’s mechanic?”
“God no.” I shake my head and laugh. Mom gives me a sharp look. “Hayley knows what I meant, Mom. I had a date with Hunter.”
“That name sounds familiar.” She taps her chin. “He’s not Esther and Julian Croneil’s son, is he?”
“He is why?”
“Oh hmm. I didn’t think he’d be your type. I was always attracted to bad boys when I was your age. Guys like James.” She laughs and winks at Hayley.
Twelve shopping bags later Mom drops us back at the dorm and makes us promise to meet up with her for brunch tomorrow. She’s meeting up for dinner with some friends.
“Where are we going to put all this?” I wave my hand over all the crap in the front room of our dorm.
“You could always throw out all your leggings.” She sticks her tongue out at me.
“Ah ha. So funny. Are you still going out with Liam tonight?”
“Duh. Are you seeing Hunter again?”
“No, he had a swim thing. He left right after our date last night.”
“Are you going to sit here and doodle in your sketchbook all night or are you going to be wearing something hot to the party tonight and make all the boys eat their hearts out?” She giggles and nods her head trying to convince me.
The frat house is the last place I need to go, but I would like to ask Killian for my necklace back. “I don’t know. I keep telling myself no more parties.”
“You know you want to go.”
“What should I wear?”
Hayley claps.
“Hmm. Let me think.” I take a seat on the couch as she starts going through the bags. “This is perfect! It matches your eyes.” She holds up a blue top that is made similar to her black slinky top I love. Only this one is shorter and will show my midriff.
“I can’t wear that.”
“Yes, you can. You are going to be hot. Woodrow is gonna be wishing he had put the moves on you before Hunter slid in and stole you.”
“Stop it. Woodrow is a friend.”
“No guy wants to be just friends, Liri.”
“You have guy friends.”
“Yeah and probably ninety-nine percent of them would fuck me tomorrow if I broke up with Liam.”
I can’t help but think that Killian is the one percent who wouldn’t. I saw his reaction to kissing her during spin the bottle unless that was an act. I don’t mention him though.
There aren’t as many cars here tonight as there were the last weekend I was here. Liam is waiting at the door for Hayley and me with two drinks. “Don’t say no. It’s Porter’s birthday, and he will be offended if you don’t drink in his honor.”
I roll my eyes but take the drink knowing it is a bad idea. I follow them through the house and down to the basement. My mind immediately goes to Killian and the moment he almost kissed me. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had he been kissing me when Hunter walked down those stairs. Would things have gone differently?
I shake my head. I can’t think like that. I can’t focus on what ifs.
Porter, Misty, Jackie, and Ben are sitting on the couch together smoking a joint. I don’t see Woodrow or Killian anywhere. Hayley and Liam plop down on the loveseat, and I grab the metal chair Liam sat in last time. Its uncomfortable but there is now way I am going to ask to scooch in the with Hayley and Liam or sit on the arm of the couch while Porter feels Jackie up. He has his hand on her boob and she seems oblivious as her and Misty giggle about something then look at Ben.
“Happy birthday, Porter.”
He grins at me and Jackie pays me no mind. She looks stoned and she’s caressing Misty’s cheek. They look at Ben and start kissing. His eyes bug out and I laugh to myself. I feel stupid sitting here alone while they all make out. Hayley and Liam have their tongues down each other’s throats, and I wish I had stayed in. I don’t know why I keep coming here. It’s not like I really ever have fun at these parties.
My phone beeps with a text from Hunter and I smile.
Hunter: Meet didn’t go so good. I didn’t place. My shoulder was giving me trouble.
Liri: Sorry to hear that. You’ll get them next time.
Hunter: I’d like to see you, but I won’t get back until tomorrow. What are you doing?
Liri: I had a girls day with my mom and Hayley. I brought her over to see Liam and will probably go back to the dorm soon.
Hunter: You’re at the frat house again? I thought you didn’t like that scene.
Liri: I don’t but my friends are here.
Hunter: I get it. Have fun okay. I’ll be thinking about you.
His words make me smile but still I don’t feel that all-consuming fire—passion.
I promise myself that I am only going to go upstairs to the bathroom and then I will leave. I tuck my phone in my back pocket and don’t bother telling Hayley. I will send her a text before I take off.
Woodrow stops me before I go up the second set of stairs. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
“I didn’t expect to be here.”
“I need a partner for quarters.”
“I don’t know how to play.”
“I’ll teach you. Come on.” He leads me to a screened porch that sits off the kitchen. A table is set up lined with shot glasses full of clear liquor. “Make way for the virgin,” he teases. Everyone in the group laughs. I don’t recognize any of them.
“I don’t want to get smashed.”
“You won’t. One or two shots won’t kill you. Live a little,” he encourages me.
“Fine. How do I play?”
“It’s simple. All you have to do is bounce the quarter off the table and land it in a glass. If you succeed you get to order someone to take the shot.”
It seems simple enough. I crack my knuckles. “Let’s do this.”
I land my first attempt and Woodrow chuckles and brushes it off as beginner’s luck but then I get the next three. It isn’t until my fourth turn that I miss.
“About time.” One of the guys laughs. When he sinks his shot, he makes me drink. “Payback is going to be a bitch.” He winks at me and I shrug.
I’m on my fourth or sixth shot when I feel the liquor running through me, and I stumble up the stairs to find the bathroom. I lick at my teeth and start freaking out because I can’t feel them. I’m drunk and now I can’t drive myself back to the dorm. I’m mad at myself as I wander down the hall trying to remember which door leads to the bathroom.
I try a knob and the door swings open. “You’re not a bathroom.” I smirk and point at Killian when I see him hunched over a desk working on his computer.
“Liri?” he turns to look at me. “What are you doing? Are you…” he squints at me, “Are you drunk?
”
“I gotta pee, and I really want my necklace back.”
He shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. “What are you doing wandering around the house alone? Who are you here with?”
I hold up my hand and for some reason I lick my finger and point it up. I have to concentrate really hard to answer his questions. “I came with Hayley, but everyone was all over each other, and I didn’t have anyone to kiss me. I went back upstairs and then Woodrow wanted me to play with his quarters, but I started losing, and I need to pee and that brings me to now.”
“I’m going to kill Woodrow,” he growls.
“No. No. You need to take me to the bathroom. Then you can kill Woodrow after you take me home.” I smile.
“You’re annoying.” He closes his computer screen and starts toward me.
“Yeah well you’re an asshole who kisses good.” I cover my mouth with my hand and start laughing. The room starts to spin, and I bump into a shelf. “Oops.” I hiccup.
Killian puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me back out the door. “Come on.” He leads me a few doors down the hallway and shoves me through an open doorway to the bathroom
“Th-thank you.” I curtsey at him and he lets out an exasperated breath.
“Just try not to fall in.”
“Aye. Aye, Captain.” I salute him and he shuts the door in my face. “I really gotta pee,” I say aloud to myself and lick my teeth again. I hiccup and start fumbling with my pants. Panic hits me when I can’t find the button or the zipper.
“Killian!” I whine. “Help me.”
“What?” I hear his voice muffled through the other side of the door.
“Come here, please.” I pout my lips.
The bathroom door opens, and Killian is shaking his head and muttering under his breath as he closes it and flips the lock in place. I lean against the sink and he stands in front of me. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t get my pants unbuttoned so I can pee and I gotta go really bad.” I push my bottom lip out.
His fingers touch around my waist. “You don’t have a button or a zipper.”
I look down. “Oh.” I laugh. “That explains it.”
“Anything else?”
“Hmm. Not right now.” He starts to the door. “Wait,” I call out.
Killian slowly turns around. “What?” he snaps.
“Why are you mad at me?”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are?”
“Don’t you need to pee?”
“Yup.” I hook my thumbs under the waistband of my black stretchy pants and push them down.
Killian’s eyes grow dark and zero in on the little pink bow on the front of my black lace panties. “Jesus, Liri. Wait until I get out the door, will you?”
I hiccup again. “Okay. Don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone.” The door slams hard enough I think I hear the wood crack.
Chapter 16
Liri
When I open the bathroom door Killian is waiting for me. “You didn’t leave me.” I smile. “You’re still my friend, aren’t you? I don’t like it when you’re not my friend.” I stab his cheek with my fingernail.
“Did you drive here?” I nod. “In a car,” I whisper like it’s a secret.
“Where’s your keys? I’ll drive you to the dorm.”
“Good question.” I swore they were in my pocket. “Check my pockets.” I spin around and stick my butt out at him. He raises a brow and delicately pats the back of my pants.
“I should spank your ass for getting drunk like this.” His voice has a hard edge that makes me wet between my thighs. I like it when he talks all threatening and dirty. I like the way his eyes darken when he stares at me.
“You gonna ground me too?” I lick my lips and grin over my shoulder.
“No. You’re going to go to my room and wait for me to find your keys so I can drive you back to campus. You’re drunk.”
I grab his mouth and squish his lips together. “You’re going to go to my room and wait like a good girl, Liri,” I mock, and he knocks my hand away. I follow him back down the hallway, and he takes my hand, and I smile at the way his touch feels. “Butterflies,” I whisper to myself.
“You are the worst drunk on the planet,” he grumbles and pushes me down on his bed by my shoulder. “Stay here.” He pauses at the door.
I follow his gaze to my cleavage. I poke my boob and it jiggles. I laugh. “My boobs look pretty, don’t they, Killian?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, and I think he’s mad at me. I don’t want him to be mad at me. “There’s a trash can next to my desk. If you get sick use it.”
“Yes, sir.”
I lay back on his bed and snuggle down into his blankets. God his bed smells amazing like him. I want to roll around on his sheets so the smell will rub off on me and I will smell like him. I giggle to myself at the thought. I roll around on his bed but that makes the liquid in my belly swish and I don’t like it.
I get up and nose around his room, looking for my necklace. He better not have thrown it away. It feels like he has been gone forever. I don’t want to sit here by myself. Screw that. I’m not a kid who is in trouble and being punished. I make my way down the stairs and hear a commotion coming from the kitchen. I push my way through the crowd and see Killian yelling in Woodrow’s face. Liam is trying to get between them, and Hayley grabs my arm. ‘There you are,” she hisses. “I’ve been looking for you. Why is Killian pissed at Woodrow about you?”
“Because he played with my quarters or maybe I played with his.” I laugh.
“By quarters you mean money, right?”
“What else would I be talking about?” I sway. “Why are they fighting?”
Hayley rolls her eyes. “You are trashed.”
“I am?” I look down at my clothes. “I like this outfit and you picked it out.”
Hayley laughs. “Wow. No wonder Killian came down here like a wild man and started swinging.”
“I don’t want him to fight.” I pull away from Hayley and stalk over to Killian. “Hey!” I yell and tap his shoulder.
He spins around at me. “I told you to stay upstairs,” he snaps.
“You tell me a lot of things. Take me back to your room and spank me.” Laughter erupts and Killian’s face goes so red I think it may pop off.
“Yeah take your girlfriend upstairs and spank her,” some guy yells.
“What he said,” I say on a hiccup. Then I grip the counter and stick my butt out. Killian looks at me and warmth fills my lower belly. I wink at him. “I’m waiting.”
Killian lifts me up over his shoulder, cheers erupt, and he packs me back to his room. He tosses me on the bed gently, and I grab hold of his shirt trying to pull him down with me.
“Liri, stop,” he warns.
“Why?”
“You’re drunk and out of control. You don’t know what you’re saying or doing. Tomorrow you are going to have a wicked hangover and regret a lot of things coming out of your mouth.”
“Will you just lay with me like you did that night outside.” I pout and tug on his shirt again. I wish he’d take it off.
He sighs and drops his forehead to mine. “Yeah.” His grape bubblegum breath washes over my face, and I wish he’d kiss me.
He doesn’t though. He pulls my shoes off and gets into the bed beside me. He’s on his side running his fingers through my hair, and I smile then turn so that my back is to him. I grab his arm and wrap it around me.
“Liri, I can’t. I can’t lay like this with you.”
“Yes, you can,” I whisper and close my eyes.
The last thing I hear is the exasperated breath he lets out.
**
My head is throbbing. I try to open my eyes but the sunlight filters through the window and blinds me. It hurts. My throat feel like it has been scratched with sandpaper. A heavy arm is weighing me down, and my bladder feels like it is going to burst. I yawn and my breath tastes horrible. My
hair is stuck to one side of my face. I shove the arm off me and blink a few more times and look around the unfamiliar room. Oh. My. God. I look over and a guy is sleeping shirtless next to me. I look down under the covers and I have no pants and I am wearing a t-shirt.
Oh. My. God. What. The. Serious. Fuck.
I pull the pillow away from the guy’s face and sigh a wave of relief when I see it’s Killian. But then.
Holy. Shit.
Holy. Shit.
Did I…
Did we…
I try to remember the night before, but everything feels fuzzy. I feel like I would know if we did anything. I would know, wouldn’t I?
Fuck me.
Fuck him.
Did I fuck him? Did I give Killian my virginity? Panic seizes me and tears roll down my face.
Killian shifts and rolls over. I try to slide off the end of the bed without waking him. I sniffle and wipe at my cheeks.
Liri,” my name leaves his lips in a sexy groan and those damn butterflies take flight.
“Yeah?” I croak and wipe at my face with the hem of the shirt I am wearing.
“How do you feel?”
“Um…okay. I guess.”
“You got sick last night. I was afraid you had alcohol poisoning. I had to throw out your clothes. You woke up out of a dead sleep and puked all over yourself and me. Don’t be mad at me, but I had to put you in the shower with me. I left your bra and panties on so I could wash your hair.”
I feel mortified and relieved.
“I didn’t want you to think I would take advantage of you like that.”
“Thank you for taking care of me, Killian,” I croak unable to look at him.
“Don’t mention it. Hayley took your car and went to get you some clothes and stuff.”
“Okay.”
“I turned off your phone. It’s on my desk. Didn’t think you’d want to drunk dial your boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“It’s none of my business,” he huffs and stretches. I turn to look at him and dear God he’s beautiful. On his right hip are some birds tattooed flying from a cage. It’s the only tattoo I can see. My eyes move lower and he is wearing these gray sweats that hang low on his hips and sweet Lord I can make out the shape of his penis. It’s big like it is laying against the side of his leg big. It looks erect. Oh. My. God. I slept in his bed. I puked on him! “There’s some water and aspirin on my nightstand.”
The Story of Killian & Liri (Cruel Love Book 1) Page 9