Chapter 11

Alex

As I escorted Lily to my room, the jealousy inside of me lingered. I squeezed her hand to make sure she was still with me on our trek up to my room. Seeing her flirting with Bret fueled something inside of me. I knew how Bret treated girls and I wasn’t about to let him do anything like that to Lily. I wished I would have known she was at the party I could have saved her from him sooner. I tried to forget the smiles and flirty eyes that she gave him, but she didn’t know any better. Bret could be smooth, but once he had his claws in her, she was no match for him. I imagined she’d never want to come here again if he had his way with her. And that wouldn’t work for me.

I needed her around. I liked her too much. Admitting that only to myself didn’t scare me, but I wasn’t ready to tell her that just yet. We had a deal to complete before I complicated the situation with my feelings. I never jumped into something like this unless I were one-hundred percent sure I’d have success.

Once we reached my room, I invited her inside and closed the door behind us, shutting out most of the sounds from the party below. There was no way anyone would disturb us up here.

Lily stood in the middle of my room, her hands clasped around her cup as if she didn’t know what to do with them. She took a long gulp from whatever Bret had given her. She made a little face. Bret wasn’t the type to drug girls, so I wasn’t worried about that. He did make strong drinks though. I hoped this was her first and not her second or third.

After the party started, I looped around the house twice to find her, but she wasn’t there yet. Maybe I should have done it a third time.

I shivered at the thought of Bret bringing her up here to sit in his room. It was a good thing one of the pledges recognized her and told me that she was with Bret.

“Why are we here instead of the party?” she asked. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

I cleared my throat. “You don’t like my room?”

The corner of her mouth twitched. “The room is fine,” she said flatly. “I’m starting to think you don’t want me around.”

“What?” I asked. “You think that?”

She shrugged. “What am I supposed to think, Alex?”

I ran my fingers through my hair as I took her in. That damn reindeer costume was incredibly cute on her. I didn’t want to share her at all. If I could lock her in my room forever and not get in trouble, I would. “You’re much too beautiful to be around all those other guys. The temptation's too big.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and she avoided my eyes as she looked around my room.

“Must be nice not to have to share a room,” she said.

“It is,” I said. My heart banged around in my chest, watching her inspect the most private place in my life. I could have cleaned up a little better. When she turned to look at my bed, I shoved a pile of clothes under my desk before walking over to her. “I shared a room with others up until last year, so I get it.”

“Amber is fine,” she said. “A little messy. Okay, a lot messy. When she wanted me to come to the Freaky Friday party, she had to coax me by offering to clean up her space.”

I smiled. “I’m glad it worked.”

“Are you?” she asked, whirling on me. She took a step back as if she was surprised that I was so close to her.

“Of course,” I said. “I never would have officially met you.”

“And got yourself a tutor,” she added.

I nodded. “That too.”

My gaze fell to her mouth. The drink that Bret made her lips shiny and very kissable. It was all I could do not to jump her at that moment.

She took that temptation away from me as she walked across my room and sat on my bed. She winced. “I’m not used to wearing heels. I think I’ve worn these once in my life.”

Lily on my bed did all kinds of things to my libido. I wasn’t sure if I should sit next to her or across the room where I could keep hold of my need to be near her.

She placed her cup on my side table, kicked off her shoes and leaned back, pressing her hands into my bed. Many girls had laid on my bed, but I’d never wanted them as much as I wanted Lily.

I went against the warning bells in my head and sat next to her. My weight on the bed moved her closer to me. The scent of her shampoo invaded my nose, and I breathed her in.

I wanted to touch her so badly. Over the last week, I had to curb myself from having my way with her. Now that we were finally alone and in my bedroom, the hold on my reserve started to crumble. I reached up and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. I wanted just to touch her, but an overwhelming sensation came over me, and I wanted much more than that.

As much as she wanted to keep things professional, she wanted this too. Her eyes crinkled at the corners and her gaze fell to my mouth.

That was all the invitation I needed. I brought her close and pressed my mouth to hers. Her warm lips tasted like vodka and cranberry, adding to the sweetness of her. My tongue darted out, wanting to feel more of her, but her closed mouth didn’t give me a chance. I pulled away, wondering if I came on too strong.

“Is this okay?” I asked.

She shook her head but said, “Yes.” She didn't deny me. She was inexperienced, and I’d come on too strong.

I reined it in a bit and tried again, gently cupping her cheeks in my hands. I kissed her again. She smiled against my lips. A small moan bubbled up from inside of her, and I started to harden. I tried to think of boring track meets and ugly old ladies, but the vibe that Lily gave off only made my body respond the opposite of what I wanted.

Her tongue moved against my lips, and I opened up for her. Her tense shoulders relaxed as we made out. I was used to senior girls coming into my room taking advantage of being with a fraternity president. With Lily, it was so much different. And at the same time, it was exactly what I was looking for, and I never realized it. She wanted me to lead but at her own pace.

Her small hands touched my waist. The condensation from her drink made her hands cold, cooling my heated skin.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and scooted her onto the middle of my bed. Her legs lifted up, allowing me to move her. She was so light and fragile under me. I was careful to prop my arms up so I wouldn’t crush her.

I kissed her again. Our heavy breathing intermingled and I knew she was as turned on as me. Within seconds, she was on my level. Her pupils were wide with lust, mirroring my feelings. Her fingers pressed into my bare back, pulling me closer to her.

I stared down at her as my hand smoothed over her leg. Touching each inch of her skin, I waited for her reaction. At first, she was a little hesitant, but when I kissed her again, she relaxed into the bed and allowed me to move up her skirt. My fingers brushed over her panties, and she let out a small sound.

I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed her, slowly this time. Wanting to savor this moment together, I seared it in my memory. If it was possible, my feelings for her deepened as my lust for her grew. Another first for me. Sure, I had feelings for the girls I took to bed, but not like this. At that moment, my feelings for Lily bordered on love, which seemed so crazy and so right.

I stopped touching her for a moment, and her eyes fluttered open.

“Come here,” she said in a breathy voice, and her arms reached up, pulling me close for another kiss.

I would do anything for this girl. I succumbed to the spell she cast over me and kissed her harder. I rubbed my fingers over her mound, and she sucked in a breath, lifting her hips to meet me. I smiled against her lips, ready to take her for myself.