Bad Rep (29 page)

Pulling up to his house, I wondered if I could get away with just staying in the truck.  “You coming?” Jordan asked, getting out of the vehicle.  I sighed and climbed out.  He took my hand as we entered the front door.  Several of his brothers were in the living room and every single one of them looked up as we came in.  The looks they gave us ranged from surprise, confusion, to outright leering.

“Hey, man.  Where've you been hiding?” One of the guys asked as we headed toward the stairs.  Jordan slung his arm around my shoulders. 

“Ah, you know.  Here and there,” he answered vaguely.  The guy, I think his name was Derek, looked between Jordan and me.  His lip curled a bit when he took in the possessive way Jordan held me.  I tensed and tried to move away, but I was held firm.

“You know Maysie Ardin, right?” Jordan asked, a little confrontationally.  Derek's eyes flicked to me but then looked away. 

“Yeah, sure.  Maysie,” he said.  But I could hear the chill in his voice.  It made me feel like absolute shit.  Jordan didn't miss the way his “brother” greeted me.  His jaw hardened and he pushed passed the other guy and led us to the stairs. 

“Asshole,” Jordan muttered under his breath as he dropped his arm from around my shoulder and took a hold of my hand. I squeezed his fingers but didn't respond.  What could I say?  This was not a good beginning to our first venture into public as a couple.  I had a feeling this was going to be a long day.

Jordan and I went into his room and I sat down on the bed while he found some clothes to change into.  “Like what you see?” he asked huskily as he took off his shirt, catching the way my eyes clung to his every movement.  He was so damn mouthwatering, and hell if he didn't know it.  For the first time I was able to see the tattoo on his back that spread up toward his neck.  It was a black Celtic sun in the middle of his shoulder blades.  The flames leaping up to wrap around his neck and arms.  It was amazing.  And hot.  And I wanted to trace it with my tongue. 

“Not bad,” I said noncommittally, though I had to swallow around the lump that had formed in my throat just by looking at his naked torso.  Jordan arched his eyebrow at me, not fooled in the slightest.  Then with careful slowness, he pulled on a gray Generation Rejects t-shirt.  I felt like I was watching a strip show in reverse.  He was so freaking sexy, even when putting his clothes
on. 
I was debating whether we should just skip our classes and spend the rest of the day in bed, getting better acquainted when the door burst open. 

“Jordan!  Where the hell have you been, man?”  Gio came into the room and punched Jordan good- naturedly on the shoulder.

“I've been at Garrett's.  We've been putting in a lot of practice time so I needed to be over there.” Jordan answered dismissively.  I watched the two of them and I realized Jordan didn't like Gio
at all
.  Not that I blamed him.  Gio was a jerk.  And he just earned the title all over again when he realized I was sitting on Jordan's bed.

“Well, that's not Olivia,” he said with a sneer.  Jordan's shoulder's tightened. 

“Shut up, Gio.  That shit's uncalled for,” Jordan said in a dangerously soft voice.  Gio put his hands up in mock surrender. 

“I was just making an observation, man.  Just a little surprised to see the swap in bed partners.   After all, it was Olivia's fine ass up in here just a few weeks ago.  Though pussy's pussy, right?”  Gio grinned nastily in my direction.  The acid bubbled in my stomach though I was proud of the hateful glare I threw in his direction.  Gio purposefully licked his lips, his eyes raking over my body as though he saw straight through my clothing.  This guy had date rapist written all over him.  What a creep.

Jordan got in the other guy's face.  “That's enough.  Get the fuck out,” Jordan growled, his face a scary shade of red.  Gio looked at Jordan with a twinge of disgust. 

“Whatever.  It's your dick.  You can dip it wherever you want.  Though I'd be sure to wrap it with that one.”  I barely had time to register the insult before Jordan's arm reared back and swung around to connect with Gio's jaw. 

Gio went to the floor.  He held his hand up over his face.  “What the fuck man?” he screamed, trying to get to his feet.  Jordan hauled him up and threw him out into the hallway.  He stood over Gio, his hands clenched by his side, ready to do more damage if necessary. 

“Don't you
ever
fucking talk to my girl like that again!  DO YOU HEAR ME?!” Jordan roared. 

A few of their brothers had appeared.  One was trying to pull Jordan back while two others got Gio to his feet.  Gio's jaw had blossomed in to a bright red and I knew he'd have a serious bruise in a few hours.  Gio spat at Jordan's feet. 

“Bros before hoes man.  Or have you forgotten?  No chick is worth it,” he yelled, throwing me a look that made me want to crawl into a hole and hide. 

Jordan tried to lunge for him again, but their other roommate, Fred, pulled him back into his bedroom.  Fred slammed the door and shoved Jordan back.  “Don't bring your shit into this house, Jordan!  I don't know what is up between you and Gio, but it ends now!”  Fred was a big guy and manhandled Jordan with ease.  I knew Fred played on the school's lacrosse team.  He had always seemed like a sweet person but now he just looked pissed.

Jordan turned and slammed his fist into the wall, plaster falling in big chunks to the floor.  The whole time, I sat there on his bed, too freaked out to move or make a sound.  It was like Jordan had forgotten I was there.  Fred looked in my direction and gave me a tiny smile.  “Sorry about that, Maysie.  You okay?” he asked. I was shocked by the concern in his voice.  I nodded. 

“Yeah,” I was able to squeak out. 

Fred turned back to Jordan.  “Calm down.  I'll talk to Gio.  But this shit cannot happen again.  We have to all live together.  I think we need to have a house meeting tonight,” he said.  Jordan didn't say anything and Fred didn't wait for a reply.  He left the room after giving me another comforting smile.  Once Fred was gone, Jordan seemed to try and get himself under control.  I didn't know what to say, but I got to my feet and tentatively walked toward him.

I put my hand on his arm.  “It's okay,” I said softly.  Jordan grabbed my hand and pulled me to him in a tight hold. 

“No, Maysie.  It is NOT okay!  Is this the shit you've been dealing with?” he asked in a pained voice.  I didn't say anything.  I didn't want him to get even more fired up than he already was.  Jordan must have taken my silence for acquittance because he tightened his hold on me.  “I'll fucking kill them all!  They cannot talk about you like that!” he said angrily.

I pulled away from him.  “Stop it, Jordan.  I don't need you to fight my battles for me,” I assured him.  Jordan shook his head and looked so upset that it wrenched at my heart. 

“This is my fault!  I created this stupid mess.  If I had just broken up with Olivia in the first place...” I put my fingers over his mouth to quiet him.  His eyes held mine and I hated to see him like this. 

“Yeah, the situation sucks.  I won't lie and say it doesn't.  But I'm a big girl and I made the choices that I did knowing the consequences.  It is not entirely your fault.  It takes two to tango, Jordan.  We got into this together and we'll handle it together.  Right?” I asked.  Jordan nodded, kissing the fingers that still covered his lips.

“Then, we'll be alright,” I said confidently.  Jordan pulled my hand from his mouth and roughly kissed my lips.  His hands came up to tangle in my hair as he ravaged my mouth.  He always kissed this way.  Like he was trying to eat me alive.  Pulling away, he dropped his forehead to rest against mine. 

“I mean it when I say I won't tolerate the kind of bullshit people are saying about you!” he said emphatically.  I held his face with my hands, touched that he wanted to defend me like that.  But also feeling sad that he had to in the first place.

I placed my lips to his and he softened immediately.  His arms came up to hold me and we stood like that for a while, not saying anything else.  I looked up at the clock on his wall. 

“Well, I'd say breakfast is out of the question,” I said, indicating the time.  We had thirty minutes before our classes started.  Jordan grabbed his messenger bag and slung it over his shoulder and then he took my hand in his. 

“I can't have my girl going to class hungry.  Let's at least stop and get a bagel.”  His earlier anger had dissipated and he smiled down at me in a tender way so at odds with his bad boy appearance.  With his facial piercings, buzzed head and tattoos he looked like the quintessential bad ass.  But I was beginning to see the soft heart underneath it all.  And it was safe to say I had already fallen more than a bit in love with him.

A few of the guys said goodbye as we left but Jordan ignored them.  After we got back into his truck, I felt the need to address the icy vibe between him and his fraternity brothers.  “I hate to see you so mad your friends,” I said, watching him as he concentrated on the road.  He glanced at me and frowned. 

“If they were my friends, they wouldn't look at you the way they just did.  So fuck 'em.” He said it with a conviction that I wished I felt. 

But I didn't want to be the reason there was a rift between him and his Pi Sig brothers.  “I'm sure it's just weird seeing you with someone who isn't Olivia.”  I had to force her name out of my mouth.  I hated bringing her up at all.  Jordan snorted.

“It's not like any of them were particularly fond of Liv, sweetheart.”  I blinked in surprise.  Hmm, I had always thought Olivia got along well with the Pi Sig guys.  Maybe not.

“No, they're just being a bunch of bitches.  And I don't have time in my life for bitches,” he said shortly, making it clear he was done with that particular subject.  We stopped and got bagels from The Cup and Crumb before making our way to campus.  The ugliness from the morning, while not entirely forgotten, was at least pushed to the side.  And I was able to see what a relationship with Jordan would be like.

We got along so well, it was a little scary.  Despite the amazing sexual chemistry, I found we actually had a lot to talk about.  Jordan was smart and funny and damn near irresistible.  “We have a gig coming up this weekend at Dave's Tavern.  I'd love for you to come and see us play.”  Jordan commented, pulling into the parking lot in front of the freshman dorms. 

I picked up my stuff from the floor of his truck.  “Yeah, I think that can be arranged,” I responded coyly as Jordan reached over to curl his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me toward him. 

“Yes, please pencil me into your busy schedule,” he said with a grin before kissing me soundly.  I wanted to melt into a puddle on his leather seats.  This boy could kiss.  And kiss well.

“Now come on, can't have us late for class,” Jordan said, running his thumb along the curve of my bottom lip as I tried to get my bearings. 

“Um, yeah.  Class,” I mumbled as he chuckled, opening his door.  I followed him up the path that led to Randolph Hall, where my class was held.  Jordan made a point to hold me close, rubbing his hand up and down my arm.  I couldn't ignore the looks we got as we made our way along campus.  I hated this feeling of being on show.  That everyone was a little too focused on the two of us together.

If it bothered Jordan, he didn't let on.  We stopped in front of Randolph Hall, toe to toe, holding each other's hands and grinning like the crazy fools we were.  “I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight.  What do you say?” he asked, swinging my hands back and forth.  I laughed, enjoying the lightness that unfurled in my chest.  Jordan lifted our joined hands and laced his fingers with mine.  Slowly and deliberately, he brought my knuckles to his lips, kissing them softly. 

“It's a date,” I replied softly, watching him as he held my hand against his mouth.  I felt his smile as much as I saw it.  His face lit up and he reluctantly released me to head toward his own class.

“That's right babe.  It's a date. And tonight, you're all mine.” He promised with a devilish twinkle in his eye.  I giggled as I turned and walked inside.  I was on cloud 9.  Well, until I saw three of my sorority sisters giving me the evil eye.

“Hey, Maysie,” Milla said snidely, giving me a hateful smile.  I nodded in her direction but didn't say anything, moving passed her.  Milla fell into step behind me and I suppressed a groan.  “Saw you with Jordan.  So are you two...together?” she asked as though it were something lewd.  I turned and faced her.