A Different Side (University Park #4) (33 page)

“How about you just take all of us?” Cheryl gave her boobs a nice shake. “I know you can do it.” She grabbed my beer and downed it.

Shit.

Not wanting to sound like a pussy, I had to man up. “I’ve never had five women in one night.” Pressing my hands to my thighs, I leaned forward. “But I can try.”

I was lying big time. I didn’t want to be with all five of them. I started looking around for Josh and Shawn, wishing they were here to help me. Never had I felt so helpless in my life, but these women were more than I could handle.

“Hell, baby, you don’t have to do anything. We’ll do all the work for you. All you need to do is just lay there.” Jenn eyed me like she was ready to attack.

“Well, it’s not that easy.” I shrugged, vying for an excuse. “I have to make sure I have enough energy, you know…so everything cooperates.”

“Whatever you need, just say it,” Iris purred like a kitten.

“Yes, we’ll give you anything you need.” Jessa’s blue eyes were hypnotic. Cat-like. Trying to lure me in, like a puma does its prey.

My skin crawled and I took a hard swallow. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shelby and Amber pull Lexi on to the coffee table. I tried to keep my focus on what these women were telling me, but when I saw Shelby freaking Lexi, all my attention went to her. Shelby ground on Lexi, running her hands up and down her body. I looked for Josh, but he was nowhere in sight. Shelby was known for doing crazy things, not Lexi.

What’s gotten into her?

Lexi seemed stunned at first and then joined in on the obscene dance moves. With her back pressed to Shelby’s, she rubbed her body against hers, showing no shame. Her hands glided up and down Shelby’s bare legs, pushing up her micro-miniskirt so high, her bright pink panties were showing. Shelby pressed her cheek to Lexi’s and for a moment, I thought they were going to kiss. If these were any other girls, I probably would’ve been turned on, but not Lexi and Shelby.

What the hell happened to my sweet Lexi? She had to be drunk.

“So, can we leave?” Iris pulled out her keys from her pocket.

“What?” I had no idea what I had told them, but I wasn’t about to go home with them. I perched on the edge of the stool, keeping an eye out for Josh. He was used to Shelby’s crazy acts. “I’m sorry but I’m a designated driver,” I said, blurting out whatever came to mind.

“What? You’ve been drinking.” Cheryl questioned my response.

“Yeah, um…” The next thing I knew, Brian was on top of the coffee table. Lexi shimmied against his body, sliding up and down to the beat of the music. Then he turned her around and started humping her. Every muscle in my body tensed and the adrenaline hit my veins. So much for my promise. What sucked was Lexi was enjoying it, rubbing her ass all over his crotch.

It was obvious he wanted her.

But I wanted her more.

And I had to have her.

As Lexi twerked against him, his hands squeezed her thighs, inching up her dress, like he was ready to undress her right there. They had to be drunk.

“Raven, come on. It’ll be fun.” Jessa stared me in the face.

“Uh, I don’t know.” I moved my head to the right, trying to catch a better view, but Jessa followed my movements. I finally moved her out of the way, just in time to catch Lexi’s gaze. Lexi froze with her arms in mid-air, while Brian continued to grind on her.

“Excuse me.” I broke through the suffocating den of cougars and pumas and headed straight for Lexi. I grabbed her, pulling her off the table.

“Put me down!” Lexi kicked and screamed.

“Hey!” Brian yelled, but I didn’t turn around. I made a path for the front door.

I hoisted her over my shoulder, trying not to drop her. “Stop, Lexi!” She continued fighting me, which made it difficult, but I pushed through the hordes of drunkards. People yelled and chanted, as if I had my prized possession for the night. Truth was, I did.

“Put me down, Raven.” She pounded on my back, trying to wiggle free from my grip.

But I wasn’t going to let her go. She finally stopped hitting me and I was able to keep her in my arms. I darted out the front door and flew down the steps, without stopping. Once we were outside, I set her on the front lawn. She stumbled back, hitting a tree.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I huffed, trying to catch my breath.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lexi snapped and her eyes narrowed. “I was dancing. Is that a crime?”

I blinked a few times, trying to keep calm. I had never felt jealousy before, but I was positive the burning rage in my gut was exactly that. If I couldn’t have Lexi, no one could. “You were practically having sex with that guy.” I hooked a thumb behind me.

“What?” She gasped, clutching a hand to her chest. “No, I wasn’t.” Her eyes tightened and widened, as if she was having trouble focusing.

I lowered my voice, but the anger seethed through. “I was watching you the whole time. I saw what you were doing with him.”

“You were watching me?” Her eyes glazed over and she swayed to the side.

I took a step back, staring at the ground for a moment. What the hell was I going to tell her? Like Shawn said, I broke up with her. I couldn’t expect her to stay single. It was my fault. But I didn’t care. I was wrong to question her, but I did. “Why are you here, Lexi? You shouldn’t be at this party.” I pinned her with a furious stare.

Lexi struggled to stand, making it obvious she’d had too much to drink. She leaned against the tree for support and looked at me with droopy eyes. “Why not? I’m a student at this school. Not like those hoes who were all over you.” She pointed to the house and nearly fell over.

I extended my hand, prepared to catch her, but she steadied herself. “Shit.” I kicked the dirt. “You’re fucking drunk.”

“And?” She shot me a condescending smile. “What do you care?”

Her words tore through me like a damn hurricane. I had screwed up. She’d never believe me if I told her I still cared deeply for her. “This isn’t you, Lexi.” I took a step closer and she pressed up against the tree. Her cheeks flushed and sweat ran down the sides of her temples, despite the cold air. “I know you and you’re not acting like yourself.”

“Whatever.” She waved me off. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. There’s a party that’s waiting on me.”

She placed her hand on my chest and tried to push me out of the way. But my strength was no match for hers. I wrapped my hand around her wrist and pulled her against me. Her body pressed against mine and it felt so damn good to have her back in my arms.

“Let me go, Raven,” she protested, but her fight was fading. She liked it.

And I wasn’t letting her go.

Not this time.

“No.” I scooped her up in my arms, leaving her totally defenseless in my trap. “I’m taking you home. Now.”

∑

Chapter 21

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.

~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“You can put me down.” Lexi gazed up at me. “I promise I’ll let you take me home.”

I stopped in the middle of the street, eyeing her. “Are you sure you’re not going to run off?”

She took a few deep breaths and nuzzled closer to me. Her sweet smell infiltrated my senses, sending me on a spiral of mixed emotions. Her eyes rested on my lips and then darted back up to mine. She wanted to kiss me and I was fighting every urge not to press my lips to hers. Holding her in my arms was so comforting. This was where she belonged. But the damn demons in my head kept reminding me she didn’t. That she was better off with Collin or some other guy. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t mask the pain. I was ready to conquer hell on earth just to be with her — there was no getting over Lexi Thompson.

“Can you walk?”

She tilted her head to the side and gave me an impish grin. “As long as you help me.”

I lowered my arms, allowing her to stand. With one arm wrapped tightly around her, I guided her to my car and helped her get in before running around to the driver side.

“Are you okay?”

Lexi’s eyes were closed and her head was tilted back on the headrest. “I think so,” she mumbled. “Everything is spinning.”

“Please don’t puke in my car, that’s all I ask.” I started the engine and pulled on to the main road. “I think we should get you something to eat.”

“Why?” She glanced at me with heavy eyes.

“The grease will help absorb the alcohol.” I turned at the intersection and pulled into the parking lot of Whataburger. I ordered us some food and drove back to campus. Lexi ate her French fries and I was glad — the more grease she ate, the better.

“Cool. There’s a spot right there.” I raced forward, claiming a parking space across the street from the commons area. It would be a shorter walk to get Lexi to her dorm. Since I got a parking ticket for leaving my car in the loading zone when Delaney was drunk, I knew I’d be taking a chance if I did it again. Lexi got out of the car, holding her heels in one hand and drink in the other. A blast of cold air swept by us and she shivered.

“Cold?”

She nodded. Reaching in the backseat, I grabbed my jacket. I draped it over her shoulders and then closed the car door. I held her close as we walked toward Charter Hall. The brisk air blew against us and I drew her closer to me, trying to keep her warm. Since it was after curfew, we entered through the back door. The elevator opened and we slipped in without anyone seeing us.

We exited the elevator and walked down the hall. A few girls eyed us as we crossed paths. I was positive they recognized me and probably thought I was taking Lexi to her room so I could bang her. And I wanted to, badly. But not while she was drunk. If she were any other girl I wouldn’t have cared, but Lexi wasn’t. She was special to me.

“Do you know them?” I asked, noticing how Lexi recoiled into my jacket.

“Unfortunately, yes.” She relaxed and my jacket fell past her shoulders. I took all my strength to keep my hands under control. Her bare shoulders called to me and my fingers twitched, eager to touch her. “Do you?”

“Fortunately, no.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure and was relieved I hadn’t encountered them before. “But I have to know something.” Our eyes met and that familiar desire shot through me. Being next to her was pure torture, but it was a torture I didn’t want to escape — ever. “Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“No, it’s just that…”

She didn’t have to say the words. I knew what the problem was. “You don’t want Collin to find out.” My gazed dropped to the floor, waiting to hear the confirmation I knew was true.

“What?” Lexi sounded shocked by my statement. I looked up to see her struggling with the zipper on her small purse. “No, he’s history. Trust me.”

It felt good to hear those words, but it would take a little more to reassure me. “Let me help you.” Taking her hand, I glided the leather strap off her wrist. I took advantage of the opportunity and brushed my fingers across her silky skin. Chills formed over her arm and I wanted to kiss every inch of her until her inside razed with heat. If only she weren’t drunk.

“You know any other girl would die to be seen with me,” I teased, unzipping her little purse.

She bit her lower lip and sucked in a deep breath. “Who says I’m not dying right now?”

I grinned. Maybe she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. The moment we walked into her dorm, I knew I would need restraints to keep from attacking her.

“After you.” I unlocked the door and pushed it open.

I followed her into the suite, shut the door, and locked it. She flipped on the light and I sat on the couch. Pulling out our food, I reasoned with myself to take things at her pace. Follow her lead. If she wanted to have sex with me, I’d gladly make love to her. All night if she let me. But the ball was in her possession and she was calling the plays. I was the defensive player, trying to figure out what she was going to do next. Only, I wanted her to score — with me.

Then I remembered she was drunk.

Damn it!

How fast could I get her to sober up so she knew what she was doing? She needed to get that greasy burger in her stomach now, and maybe drink some water.

“Are you going to stand there or eat?”

“Huh?” She turned around as I took a bite of my burger. “Yeah, I guess I should eat.” She tossed her heels on the floor and took off my jacket. She seemed nervous and I hoped she wasn’t having second thoughts about me being there. Most of all, I hoped she still wanted what I wanted.

Picking up her cheeseburger, she sat at the opposite end of the couch. Bite after bite, she chewed intently, something bothering her. What, I didn’t know, but I was pretty sure it had to do with what we both wanted.

“Why are you so quiet?” I wadded up the wrapper and tossed it in the bag.

“Just thinking,” she blurted before taking a sip of her soda.

I knew I shouldn’t have asked, but I had to. “About what?”

She hesitated for a moment and then said, “What’s with you? I mean, why do you insist on being with so many girls?”

Her question caught me off guard and I vied for a believable excuse. I mean, what was I supposed to tell her? There was no right answer.

“And don’t tell me it’s because you’re a guy.” She pivoted in my direction, waiting for a response.

I clasped my hands together and drew in a deep breath. “You really want to know?”

She nodded and slurped the last of her soda, until nothing was left.

“I guess I like sex.” I gave her the most obvious answer.

Her eyes widened and then relaxed. “That’s such a guy response,” she retorted. Apparently, my reason wasn’t what she was expecting. She set her empty cup on the coffee table and grabbed the Whataburger bag, pulling out the last of the fries.

I shrugged. It was the best answer I could provide. I shifted my weight, turning my body in her direction. “Well, I promised I’d be honest with you. Now you know.”

“Yeah, but aren’t you scared you’ll catch something?”

My head jolted back and then it hit me. She was afraid I might give her some type of disease. “No, not really. I practice safe sex, Lexi. Don’t you?”