chapter Five
Desire
Toby
Two years later…
“You’ve got it bad,” I chuckle, as I watch Kwäzē’s eyes follow the brown skinned girl, across the yard.
There’s all kinds of pandemonium going on around campus tonight. There are a million parties. We’re on our way to one a few of our buddies are throwing.
It’s a theme party, gods and goddesses. I had to laugh when I looked at myself in the mirror tonight. I’m just shy of six-four, wearing a toga.
I give my mom shit anytime she insists we wear our kilts for family functions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud to be Irish and Scottish. I think I just like to get on my mother’s nerves. She already thinks we’re spoiled Americans. Lord knows, she has threatened to ship us all back to her family back home enough.
Hey, you only live once. So, a toga it is. The gold cuffs on my wrists are pretty cool and the crown on my head has me feeling myself.
It’s been a while, since I’ve been with a girl and even longer, since I’ve been in a relationship. I feel like tonight could be promising. I’m already on a high from bringing in my first bounty.
The look of pride in Dad, Wyatt, Noah, and John’s eyes meant everything to me. It was supposed to be Felix’s collar, but he had something come up. Dad decided to trust me with it.
The rush from it all was incredible. I finally understand what my brothers have been talking about. I had reservations about working for Dad in the beginning, but it’s growing on me the more I get to be a part of the action.
“I still don’t know her name, but from the way she is dressed, she has to be going to the same party,” Kwäzē says, with excitement in his voice.
I look at my friend with his crown on his head, tilted just so. A smile comes to my face. He wears a crown well, it looks as if it belongs there all the time.
I know that light in his eyes. He has been eyeing this girl for a while now. I have no doubts he plans to seal the deal tonight.
I pat him on the back. “Then let’s pick up the pace,” I chuckle.
“Yes, let’s, Kamara has decided to join us. She will be meeting us there,” Kwäzē nods.
I almost stumble over my feet. Kamara has been a book worm, since we started college. She hasn’t come to a single party, much to my relief.
Just the thought of her, in a room full of my over sexed friends, has me grinding my teeth. The thought of her at this particular party, is enough to have me fighting to pull air into my lungs. My eyes dart around to all of the girls headed to the same party we are.
They’re all in various states of undress. I mean, their costumes are all next to nothing. I shake my head to clear it. Kamara would never dress like this for a party. She’s much too shy.
So much for me enjoying myself tonight. I will not let Kamara out of my sight, once we find her. Anything could happen to an innocent girl like her, at one of these parties.
I find myself walking faster with that thought. I don’t think Kwäzē notices in his own eagerness to get there. He matches my increased steps.
We’re entering the party in no time. I look around right away to see if I spot Kamara in the growing crowd. I’m antsy, when I can’t find her.
Kwäzē looks up from his phone. “She isn’t here yet,” he sighs. “Knowing my sister, she is probably talking herself out of this.”
Kwäzē frowns and rolls his eyes. Something behind me catches his attention, just like that, his phone and sister are forgotten. His eyes light up, he pats me on my shoulder, and begins making his way around me.
I turn to see where my friend is going. I see him heading for the pretty brown girl, that has been tormenting him for weeks. She looks amazing tonight. I silently wish my friend luck, not that he needs it.
I turn my attention to the party. It’s getting crowded in here, but the place looks promising so far. I survey the variety of pretty girls. My eyes skirt over a few that aren’t quite my type.
I look at a pretty redhead, but pass on that thought. One, as a redhead, I have this rule against dating them. Two, she looks like she’s sloppy drunk already. Her body in the golden toga she’s wearing is what caught my attention at first, but it’s not enough to hold it.
I continue to look around with mild interest, as I move to the kegs. Once I have a cup of beer, I decide to find a corner to people watch from. I also want to pick a spot with a view of the door. I want to know when Kamara arrives, if she truly decides to come out.
“Hey,” I turn at the sound of a voice to find a tall brunette.
She’s pretty, light brown eyes, full pink, pouty lips. My eyes roam over her body and a smile comes to my face. I can definitely see myself with her legs wrapped around my waist.
“Hey,” I say back.
“You’re Toby, right?” she says, with a seductive smile on her lips.
I lift a questioning brow at her. Her smile brightens, showing her face to be prettier than I originally thought. I nod my head and step in closer to her. She smells sweet, but she also has a hint of a familiar smell, as if she’s been around something familiar to me.
My brain tries to work out where I know the familiar scent from. It’s right there, I almost have it. Only, the girl before me, breaks the thread I’m getting ready to pull, when she places her hand on the bare left side of my chest.
“I’m Gwen. I’ve been trying to get my roommate to introduce us for weeks. I’m so glad you’re here tonight,” she purrs.
Yup, I’m hitting this tonight. I’m a little tired of tugging on my shit to fantasies of a girl I’ll never have. My eyes lock on Gwen’s glossy pink lips, imagining then wrapped around me.
“That makes two of us,” I say, with a crooked smile.
Gwen releases a small giggle, not too annoying. Or it could just be the music drowning it out. I take a sip of my beer and decide. To hell with it. Tonight, might actually turn out how I’d planned in the first place.
~B~
Kamara
I wipe my sweaty palms on my thighs. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I should have stayed in my dorm room. An hour ago, I thought I would.
I have been trying to summon the courage to do this. I don’t even know why I think it matters, whether I show up or not. My roommate asked me for weeks to come to this party.
Each time, I told her no. I already know Gwendolyn is nice to me because my brother is friends with Toby. She has been trying to get me to introduce them.
Over my dead body.
When Kwäzē told me he and Toby would be attending this party, I almost had a panic attack. Gwen would not need me to introduce her to Toby. She would have the opportunity to do it herself.
Knowing this, is how I got the crazy idea in my head to come to this party. I even picked this crazy costume, thinking I would have the courage to wear it. I don’t know who I thought I was fooling.
The only reason I stand here now, dressed like this is because Gwen sent me a drunken text. It was a picture of her dancing with Toby. I stepped into my heels and dashed out of my room immediately.
I should have been here two hours ago. Now, as I stand on the front porch, I don’t know what I think I’m doing here. Gwen is gorgeous. Toby has already met her. I don’t know what I think I can do.
“Damn,” a tall brown skin guy, drags out, as he steps out from the party. “You’re killing every girl in there.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
My cheeks warm and I tighten my fingers into fists. I refuse to fidget. I came here with a mission in mind and I plan to see it out.
I step forward and the gold chains of my costume ring in my ears. I hear the guy behind me curse, before I feel his heat at my back. He places a hand on my waist and whispers in my ear.
“I can’t leave without just one dance with you,” he breathes.
I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I turn and place a hand on his chest. My brother is protective. Seeing this guy all over me, will be a problem. I want to kick myself for choosing this costume.
“Thank you, but no thank you,” I say with a smile to soften the blow.
He frowns, his eyes pleading for me to change my mind. I shake my head, before turning to enter the party fully. I scan the room and find the golden eyes, I’m looking for right away.
Suddenly, the room falls away and he is all I see, all I can focus on. It doesn’t matter that I hear others around me trying to get my attention. My only focus is getting across the room.
I have come for Toby and Toby alone. I feel the anger that burns my veins, when Gwen touches Toby’s arm to get his attention. She does not deserve my Toby. For her to have him, I cannot allow.
~B~
Toby
I think I’m dreaming. I have to be. It’s the only explanation for what I’m seeing. Every girl in here is dressed as some type of goddess, but there’s one that has hit it on the head, knocking it out of the park.
Kamara has taken this to the next level. She didn’t go with the simple toga dress or the silky fabrics that the other girls have on. No, not Kamara.
Fuck me.
I don’t even know where to begin. The golden halo affixed to her head, is just the beginning. I don’t know whether she has on a full face of makeup. It’s not obvious like with other girls. Her face is glowing and her full lips have a gold gloss to them.
My eyes lower and nearly pop from my head. The gold bra she has on has gold chains draping from and covering it. They give the illusion of fabric that’s barely covering her mid-section.
Her taunt skin is on display, calling attention to her milk chocolate complexion. I’ve often wondered if her deep rich color is as even on the rest of her body, as it is on her face. Now, I don’t have to wonder anymore. She’s flawless everywhere.
Her legs are bare, as more chains give a sporadic covering to her most sacred treasure and her upper thighs. Basically, she’s in her bra and panties with gold heels on her feet.
She looks just like a fucking Egyptian goddess. I don’t hear anyone. I don’t see anything else but Kamara, as she enters the party and makes her way towards me. I had given up on her coming. I thought she changed her mind.
Instead, she has shown up to make the entrance of all entrances. I don’t have to look to tell all eyes are on her. Her presence commands the room, as she seems to float forward. The bass of the music takes over the room, as I’m entranced by her movements. She’s not moving to beat of the music, the music is moving to the sway of her hips.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight in my life. Her hair is wild behind the halo, adding to the dramatics of her overall look. The gold cuffs on her wrists just take the entire outfit over the top to perfection. Kamara is perfection.
Her full hips sway, as she makes her way, it’s like she’s floating on air. I don’t even know if she’s aware of the sexiness she’s exuding. That long luscious body was made to grab for attention.
“Toby, Toby,” Gwen calls drunkenly.
Honestly, I lost interest in her an hour ago. I’m part Irish, part Scottish, I can hold my liquor. It’s never wise to try to follow me. Gwen has tried and failed, horribly.
“Hey, I think you should go drink some water,” I say to Gwen, without looking away from Kamara.
I can hear the pout in Gwen’s voice, when she replies. “But, I want to dance again.”
“Hello, Gwen. Hey, Toby,” Kamara says, when she stops before us.
It hits me right away. That scent, the one I caught a hint of on Gwen. It’s Kamara’s scent. I curse internally, as I play Gwen’s words back in my head.
Kamara must be her roommate. I almost fucked her roommate. I feel sick to my stomach. I know it’s crazy, but I would’ve had a problem with that.
I move closer to Kamara, crowding her space. “You look gorgeous,” I whisper for her ears alone.
The smile that takes over her face is amazing. “Thank you.”
I go to say something else, but Kwäzē appears, looking like a bull in a china shop. He grabs his sister’s arm and spins her to face him. His face is covered by a dark cloud.
“What is this you are wearing,” his accent comes out stronger with his anger.
“It is my costume,” Kamara defends.
I’m at a loss for words. My own anger flares, now it is registering in my head, how the other guys were staring as she walked towards me. With Kamara’s back to me, I can see why.
Those golden chains do little to cover her ass. In truth, they are calling all types of attention to it, as they rest against her full globes. I can’t stop the instant erection I have. I was already semi hard, from watching her walk towards me.
I curse under my breath and move closer to her to block anyone else’s view. Kamara and Kwäzē are in the middle of a heated agreement. It isn’t lost on me that I can’t understand them.
I figured out a few years ago, that Kamara tends to speak in a different dialect from the one that Kwäzē taught me, when we were kids. This fact has peaked my interest more than once. I get the feeling that even now their use of this particular tongue is intentional.
“We are leaving,” Kwäzē demands with finality.
I don’t disagree. If he didn’t demand it, I sure as hell was. This party was over for me the moment Kamara walked in, grabbing my full attention. There’s nothing here for me.
“Kwäzē,” Kamara challenges.
I place a hand on the small of her back. It’s a huge mistake. It’s like she arches into my touch and it feels so right, but I know it’s so wrong. I move even closer to her, allowing my body heat to blanket her, when I feel her shiver.
“I’ll walk with you guys,” I say, effectively cutting off her protest.
“Fine,” she murmurs to my relief.
This girl is going to be the death of me. I have no right to want her the way I do. I don’t even know if it’s possible to have her and keep my friendship with my best friend.
I’m in trouble.