A Different Side (University Park #4) (43 page)

“What?” Lexi looked at me for an answer. The look in her eyes told me she didn’t want to leave me behind with Macy and I really didn’t want her and Reece becoming besties. Since she’d be in the next room, I could keep an eye on her. It was probably safer for her to hang out with Reece then having her at the table. I gave her a slight nod, telling her it was okay.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” Reece pulled her to the living room. Cage was dancing with two girls, humping one of them from behind while the other one twerked against him. He was having a damn good time.

“I guess.” Lexi followed her, downing half her drink on the way.

“Cage! Get your ass over here,” Jared yelled.

“Shit.” Cage’s party was over. His smile quickly turned into a frown. “I guess.”

Cage trudged to the kitchen, his oversized arms nearly dragging on the floor. Lexi sat on a white leather chaise and looked around for a minute. Tony and Deandre had slipped away, probably to one of the bedrooms with some of the girls.

Lexi watched Reece get down with the two girls Cage had been dancing with. I felt certain she’d be okay.

“So you ready to get this game started?” Jared locked his fingers together and cracked his knuckles.

I set my beer down. “How about we play Black Jack instead?” I thought that might be better than poker, just in case Macy decided to start stripping. Though, it took much less than a game of cards to get her naked.

Jared glanced at Cage and then back at me. “Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Whatever,” Cage said with indifference.

“I’ll play dealer.” Macy reached for the stack of cards.

Jared pushed them in her direction. “Be my guest.”

Macy shuffled the deck a few more times, cut them, and then waited for us to place our bets. Each of us tossed five dollars into the pot. Macy dealt each of us two cards, including herself. She flipped over her first card — a ten. I had a soft nineteen, Cage a queen and king, and Jared a three and five. Cage and I decided to stand while Jared tapped the table, taking one hit after another until he busted.

“Damn it!” Jared flicked the cards and took a gulp of his beer.

Cage and I waited for her to turn over her other card. Using her long black nails, she revealed a seven. She had seventeen and had to stand.

“Yeah, baabby.” Cage wiggled in his seat.

“Pay up.” I motioned for Macy to hand over the money from the house. Since it was Jared’s, I figured she wouldn’t have a problem doing that.

“Fuck!” Jared pounded his fist on the table and I shot him a big smile.

Cage and I split the winnings and I kept a five in place. The door to the loft opened and Shawn walked in, carrying a paper bag. The girls stopped dancing for a moment and focused on him. He shot one of them a crooked smile, and she did a little hip and shoulder action.

“Shawn, my man,” Jared yelled him from the table.

“What’s up?” Shawn shut the door behind him. He walked to the kitchen and put his beer in the fridge.

“Have a seat.” I motioned for him to play a game for us. “We’re just getting started.”

“That’s okay.” Shawn patted me on the back. “I’m gonna chill and drink my beer.”

“Alright.” I tipped the neck of my beer to his. “I get ya.”

Macy dealt another hand and I focused on what I should do. Stand or hit. I had a fifteen.

“Hi, I’m Shawn.” I overheard him and realized he hadn’t officially met Lexi in person, only seen me point to her at the frat party.

I glanced over to the living room and Lexi shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Lexi.”

“I’ve never seen you around before,” Shawn said bluntly. I wanted to get up and slap him on the head. What the hell was wrong with him?

“That’s because you haven’t,” I yelled from the kitchen. Didn’t he know who she was? What the fuck?

Shawn looked over his shoulder at me. “Oh, okay.” His brows lifted and I think it finally dawned on him who was with me.

Idiot!

“And she’s a really good girl,” Jared mocked.

I rolled my eyes and gripped the bottle tightly between my fingers. Jared was pissing me off.

Just a few more games and we’re out of here
.

Jared let out a loud burp. “Want another beer?” He scooted his chair back and got up.

I finished off my bottle and handed him the empty bottle, before I hit him over the head with it.

“How do you know Raven?” Shawn asked Lexi. I turned wondering why he was asking her such dumb questions. He knew how we met.

“I used to tutor him,” Lexi said proudly.

“No shit.” He let out a slight laugh. “This is the girl you were talking about?”

I shot a quick glance in his direction. “Yeah.”

Dumbass.

I wasn’t sure if he was disappointed, impressed, or already drunk. No wonder he had problems getting a girl in bed. He didn’t know how to charm them for shit. I had a lot of work to do with him. I heard him whisper, “Keep him in line, okay?”

“Don’t worry, I will,” Lexi responded enthusiastically.

“I heard that,” I said, taking the beer from Jared. With Shawn sitting over there, I had nothing to worry about when it came to Reece. Other than sticking his foot in his mouth, he would keep an eye on her for me.

We played several more hands, and I won five of the six. I guess it was my lucky night. By my third beer, the room began to tilt from one side to the other and the numbers on the cards blurred. I stared at my beer, knowing three beers wouldn’t get me drunk. Jared shot me wicked grin and Macy reached over and rubbed my arm.

“Want another one?” She wet her lips with her tongue and for a moment, I swore it looked like a damn lizard tongue. Long, slender, and v’ed in the middle.

What the fuck?

I shook my head, but it didn’t help clear the fog consuming my thoughts. It was rolling in thick and heavy, taking over me with a mission. A mission to get me so fucked up, I wouldn’t remember tonight or tomorrow.

What the hell did he give me?

I looked at Cage, but he seemed oblivious to what was going on. Had they drugged him too?

I started to protest, and then a second wave hit me, relaxing all my muscles. My lips tingled and my face went numb. A weird taste hit my tongue, but I ignored it. I hadn’t felt this good in a long time. In fact, I felt so damn good, I didn’t give a shit whether I won or lost. I also didn’t care that Macy had her foot all over my crouch, rubbing it like she was ready to get under the table and go down on me.

I glanced to the living room and saw Lexi dancing with Reece. She was laughing and having a good time. I just hoped they hadn’t drugged her too. I turned my attention back to the toes stroking me like fingers. With a raised brow and cocked gun, I winked at Macy.

“Oh, Raven, the night’s just getting started.” She laughed and then got up. Leaning over, she whispered in my ear. “My mouth works better.”

Shit.

I set my beer on the table and Jared gave me an approving nod. Macy walked to the back and I waited a few minutes before following her. I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it. All I knew was my dick was hard and I needed some relief. Macy could do that for me, no questions asked. I hoped Lexi wouldn’t mind.

I made a pit stop at the bathroom and took a piss. Turning the water on, I stared in the mirror. Everything was blurry and walls seemed to be closing in on me. I splashed water on my face, but it didn’t help. Whatever they slipped me was some good shit. Really good shit.

I heard a knock at the door and shut off the water. I opened the door and saw Macy and Lexi standing in front of me. Damn, this was a dream come true! I started to smile and then heard a voice telling me to wake the hell up.

Oh shit!

“What do you want, Macy?” I shouldered past her.

She bit her lower lip and gave me a thorough look over. “You know what I want.”

Lexi lunged forward. “You bi—”

“She’s not worth it. Trust me, baby.” I quickly wrapped my arms around her and pulled her away. Macy rolled her eyes and walked back to the kitchen. Lexi was pissed and I couldn’t blame her. My head was still spinning and I had no idea what had gotten into me. Lexi continued to try to break away from me and I knew there was only one thing that could tame her. I planted my lips on hers, giving her a deep sloppy kiss. At first she protested, then threw her arms around me, kissing me hard. It was great.

“Damn, you taste good, baby.” Feeling the spit around my lips, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“I was thinking the same thing.” She eyed me hungrily. I started to pull her into one of the rooms when I heard Jared.

“Raven, c’mon, man. This shit is good.” He coughed and sniffed a few times and like a dog, hearing his long lost master, I forgot about everything. The enticing kiss, Lexi, Macy…my surroundings faded away. Nothing mattered but the craving deep inside me, dying to be satisfied. I hadn’t snorted cocaine in a long time. Knowing it was just on the other side of the apartment was too tempting. “We’ll leave in a little while.” I gave her a quick kiss and headed straight for the table.

Lexi’s hand slipped from mine as I made a path to Jared. The white power on the table called to me and my mind concentrated on one thing. Euphoria. The pill they gave me had me feeling good and a few lines would send me over the edge.

Shawn stepped in front of me. “Raven, I think you need to leave.”

“Nah, I’m good.” Toe to toe, we entered a stare down. But I wasn’t backing away. Nothing was coming between my conquest and me. If being with Lexi already had me feeling like I was ten feet tall, a few hits would make me even grander. Invincible. Strong and capable of doing anything I wanted.

“Don’t do it, man. Just walk away.” Shawn insisted, keeping his head directly in my view and away from the coke.

“Leave me alone, Shawn.” I tried to sidestep my friend, but he moved in sync with me. I rammed my chest against him, determined to push him out of the way.

Shawn didn’t fight back. “Fine. It’s your life. If you want to fuck it up again, be my guest.” He stepped aside and then stormed out of the kitchen. “You’re a dick, Jared!” His voice echoed loudly over the music. He was pissed, but he’d get over it.

“Shawn, don’t go.” One of the girls called for him as he slammed the apartment door.

I shook my head, blowing him off. He didn’t get it. No one got it. Except maybe Jared, Macy, and Reece. Lexi would eventually understand. Besides, I wasn’t an addict, just a social user, and tonight, I felt like getting high.

Jared looked at me with a devious smile as he chopped and cut the powder. Back and forth, the blade sliced through the substance, making it smooth and fine. The more I watched him, the more I wanted it.

My phone chimed and I pulled it from my back pocket. The words blurred across the screen and I narrowed my eyes, trying to focus. It was a text from Lexi. Was she still here or did she get pissed and leave with Shawn?

Lexi: Hey, sexy, you look damn hot in those jeans. Care to show me what’s underneath them?

I grinned. She wasn’t pissed. She still wanted a piece of me. After a few hits, I’d give her the ride of her life. I couldn’t wait to show her what I was really capable of in bed. I quickly tapped out a message.

Me: Baby, I’ll show you anytime. Just say the word.

I tucked my phone back in my pocket and caught sight of Lexi in the living room. She looked so pretty sitting on the white chaise. So angelic and peaceful. Best part, she was my angel. I shot her a quick wink.

“Are you going to snort or what?” Jared sliced the powder into perfect, thin lines.

I sat down, ready to get my fill. “Yeah, cut me two.”

Jared continued prepping my lines, making them ultra-thin and supremely fine. I’d be able to snort them with one inhalation. My phone chimed again and I retrieved it. Reclining in my chair, I read the message.

Lexi: Talk dirty to me.

Oh yeah, baby. Now she was talking my language. We hadn’t done that yet, and the thought of it had me already hard. I pinned her with the hungry desire to strip off her clothes and show her the creative things we could do on that chaise. I took another swig of my beer and set it back on the table. My fingers dragged across the phone as I thought of what I could say that would send Lexi’s head in a whirlwind. She hadn’t seen this side of
The Raven
and I was ready to tease her until she couldn’t take it anymore.

Jared moved the mirror in front of me. “What the fuck, man? Are you going to text all night or what?”

I waved him off. “Go ahead, man. I’ll do the next one.” I wanted to have some fun with Lexi.

Me: So, you want me to tell you nasty, dirty things I’d love to do to you?

Just thinking of my mouth exploring her fully had me grinning from ear to ear.

Lexi: Yes. Tell me, baby. Tell me how much you want to kiss and lick me.

I let out a low chuckle and then licked my lips. I could already taste her. Sweet honey and peaches. So fucking good. I rolled my shoulders, trying to stay calm. I hadn’t gone down on Lexi, but if she wanted me to, I’d do it. In fact, I was dying to do it. One lick and flick of my tongue would make her scream at the top of her lungs.

Me: You like what I do to you with my tongue?

Lexi: Hell yeah. It’s freakin’ awesome. But tell me how you like it. Tell me what you want me to do to you. How you want me to touch you…

Oh hell fucking yeah.

The little blood that was in my head rushed to my dick and I was rock hard. I shifted in my chair and adjusted my jeans. But it didn’t help. This hard on wasn’t going down without some action. I needed Lexi now. The coke could wait until later. I needed her to show me what she wanted to do to me. And I was dying to show her what I could do.

Me: Shit, baby. Why don’t I just show you?

I stood up and kept my eyes focused on my new conquest: Lexi. “I gotta go, man.”

“What?” Jared snorted. “This party’s just gettin’ started.”

Shoving my phone in my pocket, I rushed into the living room. I hoped Lexi was ready for me, ]because I was more than ready for her. I wanted her so fucking bad. There wouldn’t be any foreplay this time around.