Just One Chance (Oh Tequila #1) - C.A. Harms

Table of Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Epilogue *BONUS* INSTANT ACCESS TO A SECRET CHAPTER! GET (5) FREE READS EVERY FRIDAY!

Just One Chance

Oh, Tequila Series #1 By C.A. Harms



Just Once Chance Copyright © 2017 by C.A. Harms. All rights reserved. First Print Edition: August 2017

Limitless Publishing, LLC Kailua, HI 96734 www.limitlesspublishing.com Formatting: Limitless Publishing ISBN-13: 978-1-64034-182-1 ISBN-10: 1-64034-182-X No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.



Dedication

Because no matter how tough the world becomes, you must never run out of sweetness. ~ Bernardo Kath



Table of Contents

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28

Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Epilogue *BONUS* INSTANT ACCESS TO A SECRET CHAPTER! GET (5) FREE READS EVERY FRIDAY!



Prologue Oh Tequila, how you have brought me to oblivion so many times before. A great stage of euphoria, leaving me feeling afloat. No troubles; you made it all seem perfect. You helped me relax when I was tense. You helped me get through many occasions I would have rather skipped. You and I had an agreement. You would give me only what I needed and never would you overstay your welcome. You would not invade my life and leave me to regret your presence. You would be known only in the best kind of way. But for the first time, Tequila, you failed me. You left me in a terrible haze, and I can’t find my god damn wallet. Or my left shoe. How the hell does one lose their shoe, you might ask? My answer: I have no fucking clue. I know at one point I was fully dressed, including two shoes, pants, and a shirt. Well, let’s just say that now my zipper in my jeans is broken, my shirt is missing a sleeve, and I feel a slight breeze through the large hole in the left side of my boxer briefs. And only one fucking shoe. I have a pounding headache, Tequila, which tells me you obviously overused me. My mouth tastes like how I imagine ass would taste. And I feel sick, like really sick. But I can’t blame only you; I have to include my brothers too. Those fuckers insisted I let loose. They insisted that for me to get over Britney, I needed to get under another chick. Apparently my moping ass had gotten on their nerves and it was time to relocate my balls. Their words, not mine. My fraternity brothers are rowdy and fearless. Those dicks don’t care. They took

college life to the extreme, and up until now I have managed to keep my head on straight. That has come to an end, I’m afraid. For one night at least I lowered myself to their level. Those assholes taunted me and pushed me until I finally gave in and just went with the flow. Drink after drink, shot after shot. “You need a wild night to forget all about what’s her name,” they said. “You need to relax and have a good time,” they said. “Forget all your troubles and enjoy life.” Can I just say at this point I can’t remember shit? I’m not enjoying the after effects of my night of living it up. You would think by now I’d listen to the voice ringing in my head, saying, “They always get into trouble. Stay clear of their chaos and destruction.” Every single time. But no, I went along with their plans for a night of partying, and let’s just say I am now fucked—literally. The worst part about it is I don’t remember how I got where I am now. I have absolutely no memory of the events that took place once I arrived. And the person staring back at me with a gleam in their eye is freaking me out. I don’t care much for their smirk, either. It gives my already rolling stomach more reasons to twist.



Chapter 1 Xavier 24 hours earlier “We drew names and Red is the sober brother for tonight’s party,” Isaac, our fraternity president, announced as he looked around the room. All eyes were on Elijah as he sat with his arms crossed, scanning the room with a smirk on his face. He looked pretty damn pleased with the announcement. Corbin was the first one to complain about our so-called sitter for the evening. “No way, man, last time that asshole shaved my eyebrows after I passed out in the upstairs bathroom. “At least he didn’t pull your pants down, put a big purple dildo in your hand, and take pictures of you. Then decide to share them on social media,” Clayton, Corbin’s twin brother mumbled. Chuckles from all the brothers around the room began and Red continued to sit in the same place, still wearing the same smug grin. The pride in Red’s eyes made it obvious he’d do it all over again if he had the chance too. There was absolutely no regret there. The guy loved when his name was chosen. We could almost instantly see the wheels turning in his mind. Oh, the possibilities were endless. He would rather spend every party sober if it meant he’d gain the chance to torture all of us. Elijah was rewarded the name Red because of the obvious. His hair. Ever seen a man with a red afro? It was coarse, wild hair that he did nothing to tame.

But he’d had his share of torment handed to him too. At my hands. “Well, I think Red got his last month,” I said, all attention now focused on me. Elijah’s eyes narrowed and the earlier smug look on his face was gone. “How long did it take you to get your hand released from your ass cheek, Red?” “Fuck you,” he mumbled and once again everyone laughed. Only this time the humor was directed at the person responsible for torturing each one of us at one point or another. But I had a feeling his time for paying me back was coming. Maybe I shouldn’t have superglued his hand to his bare ass cheek. But it was funny as shit watching him try to get it to let go while the rest of us sat around and laughed. Even when he practically begged for us to help, we each chose to sit back and watch the show. Red still glared at me, and I could practically hear his mind churning. “I had sores on my ass for weeks after that,” he complained. “I told you to stop tugging.” I kept a straight face while everyone around us continued to laugh and make comments quietly. “I also told you that they recommend fingernail polish remover, or submerging yourself in water, to remove the glue.” “Yeah I know, but none of you assholes would get me any, and it’s next to impossible to buckle my fucking pants with my hand glued to my ass so I could go to the store. Forget putting on a shirt.” More laughter erupted. “And Dicks One and Two were occupying both bathrooms, apparently both suffering from the shits, so you tell me how I could submerge my ass in water?” Corbin and Clayton seemed to be laughing harder than any of them. I am positive it was related to the fact that neither of them needed the bathroom that morning; they just didn’t want to share with Red. The way Elijah was looking at me told me I was only poking the sleeping bear. I was giving him more reason to target me. I should have stopped, but it was too much fun. “Miss Frankie helped ya out though,” I said, hiding my “I won” smirk. Frankie Lester was our forty-nine-year-old housekeeper. And she had a thing for Red. I think it was the hair. I chuckled, remembering the time I found her combing her fingers through it while he was sleeping in the chair. No one else was around as I peeked around the corner, watching the way her eyes lit up each time she stroked his head. “She was more than happy to get the acetone and treat your problem,” I said, slouching back in my chair. Elijah’s cheeks reddened and I was sure it wasn’t just due to embarrassment. The guy was getting pissed. That day we all stood around laughing and dodging swings from Elijah while Miss Frankie rubbed acetone on his ass with her fingers. She insisted she had to work it slowly to refrain from scarring his ass.

The lady was practically foaming at the mouth. I had a feeling I just set myself up for a night of hell. The look in Red’s eyes was all the reassurance I needed. I knew he was already thinking up some form of revenge. But I couldn’t let him see me sweat. I’d just stay one step ahead of the game.



Chapter 2 Morgan I worked too much. I knew this. I was nineteen, living on my own. Paying my own way through college, the small amount of classes I could afford, anyway. I knew at this rate it would take me twice as long to get a degree, but in the end it would be worth it. I had watched my family struggle for far too long. My father worked double shifts to make ends meet, and my mother stayed home with my brother, Toby. My little brother required a lot of attention and a lot of therapy. Which also required a lot of money. Toby had cerebral palsy, which gave him a lifetime of struggles. He was bound to a wheelchair, and though to some he may appear as if everyday life had no effect on him, I could assure them he was well aware. Things bothered him, and he knew he was different, even though none of us who love him treated him as such. He is our special guy, who, on most days, was a happy, sweet boy. And even when he wasn’t, we loved him just as hard to show him that no matter what, we would always be on his team. To me, asking my parents for help was like taking from him. And I’d never do that. So working hard, forcing myself to be a grown-up when everyone around me was being a typical nineteen-year-old college student, was mandatory.

But tonight I was letting go of the mature side. I was letting my hair down, wearing something hot, and attending my very first fraternity party. It took convincing, and a lot of nagging from my best friend Marcus, but I went for it. I just hoped I didn’t embarrass myself too much. Did I mention I hate parties? Drunk guys, even drunker girls, hanging all over one another, their morals going right out the window as they practically dry humped each other in front of an entire room of onlookers. I shivered at the thought. The smell of booze and sweat as the bodies of college students crammed themselves into one house. Loud thumping music, and those girls who took the center of the room and made it their own personal stage. They annoyed the hell out of me. Attention whores, that’s what they were. Those women who felt like they had to have all eyes on them. Have you ever wanted to toss a bag of marbles to the floor at someone’s feet and keep walking? Or even thumbtacks? I have; I’ve even envisioned it in my mind. And smiled too, as I pictured them falling to the floor, squealing like baby pigs. Arms and legs flying out in all directions, their asses making contact with the floor in loud thuds. Bet that would get the attention of the entire room. I chuckled to myself as I shuffled through the shoes in my closet, looking for my other suede boot. “What the hell are you giggling about in there?” I heard Marcus ask behind me. I didn’t even take the time to turn around to face him. I continued my search for that one boot I felt would complete my outfit. “Oh nothing,” I said over my shoulder just as I spotted the light brown braided suede. “Have you started drinking early?” he asked as he backed away when I spun around to face him. I’m sure I was wearing a crazed look on my face, overjoyed that I found the treasure I was seeking. Holding my boot out I shook it, expressing my excitement, and he crinkled up his eyes in confusion. “Or have you moved on to other highs I’m unaware of?” “Okay, smart ass, if you must know I was imagining torture tactics for the bimbos at these stupid ass parties.” I sat down on the edge of my bed and lifted my leg up, paying little attention to the fact that I had a skirt on. Marcus had no interest in me, or any other woman, for that matter. “Bimbos?” he asked, as he leaned back against my dresser and crossed his arms over his chest. Which only made the muscles in his arms flex.

Had Marcus not been batting for the other team I would so ruffle his feathers in the best kind of way. Did I mention my best friend was hot? Like super-hot. “You know,” I continued, shaking off the thought of molesting my best friend. “Those cheeky girls who drive me insane.” “Most girls drive you insane,” he corrected. I tried to look offended, but it was true. “True,” I said with a smile. Women were catty and judgmental, and I did my best to avoid any close friendships with someone of the same sex. They were jealous and I found it hard to relate to other women. I didn’t complain. I sure as hell didn’t look for someone to pamper me or baby me. That kind of shit drove me crazy. I was a girl who knew what she wanted. And damn it, I wasn’t the type to sit around and gossip about it later. If I had something to say I would tell that person, not everyone else around them. “That’s why I love you, Marcus. You don’t whine, and you don’t expect me to be all sweet and understanding.” I shrugged. “I can be a bitch and you don’t judge me for it.” “That’s because I can be a bitch too,” he added as he pushed off my dresser and walked toward the door. “You need to hurry, by the way. Toby’s waiting for us to bring him his ice cream.” He walked out, leaving me with a smile on my face. Marcus had been my best friend since I was nine. He moved in next door to me, and most kids teased him from the start instead of befriending him. Kids can be assholes sometimes. They refused to give him a chance to fit in. So instead of going along with the rest of the kids, I distanced myself. And spent all my time with Marcus. In turn he became part of my family and I his. He loved my brother like his own and every Saturday he made sure we brought Toby his favorite Oreo cookie ice cream. Marcus was a bad ass.



Chapter 3 Xavier “Jay,” I hollered as I rushed toward him. “What the hell are you doing?” He was hanging half over the balcony that overlooked the living room below, a disco ball dangling from his hand as he attempted to hook it onto the chandelier that hung from the ceiling. “I need to…” he started to say as he stretched a little further, “…just hook this right here.” On instinct I grabbed his legs as he stretched. “No, dumbass, the only thing you’re gone do is fall off the balcony and break your neck,” I told him. I refused to let go of his legs. “Got it,” he said, his body finally sagging back toward mine. This quick unexpected movement only caused me to stumble and in the process he fell in the same direction. When I hit what felt like a brick wall behind me, I looked back over my shoulder. And of course it was Elijah, standing with his arms crossed, watching us with his eyebrow cocked in question. “Do the two of you need some alone time?” he asked, his eyes focused solely on me. Yep, I definitely pissed him off with the earlier mention of Miss Frankie. I should have been scared, but I wasn’t. Call me an idiot, and yeah—I knew I was a glutton for punishment—but I loved getting under his skin. It was sometimes the best part of my day. “No, we don’t, but Frankie is downstairs and she’s been asking about you,” I told him

as I righted myself after practically falling into his arms. “She said something about some amazing ointment she found for scarring. I think she wants to play with your ass a little more. Massage it in nice and slow.” I wagged my eyebrows and I swear the guy growled. “How about I kick your ass?” he sneered. I tried not to smile but damn it, it was just too hard. And the moment I did, I had no time to run. I guess I should have planned better, considering I had a balcony behind me and a wall of muscle before me. There were only two directions I could go. I should have chosen the balcony. I’m not a small guy, but in comparison to Red, I was only half his size. Within seconds I was lifted and tossed over his shoulder. I should have been trying to get away, but all I could do was laugh. The curious, puzzled looks I got as he barreled down the stairs, through the house, and out the back door made it even harder not to laugh. “Dude, come on, I was just playing.” I tried to backpedal a bit. But honestly, I wasn’t sorry in the least. “I just know how much Miss Frankie loves that ass of yours.” Red said nothing. He just lifted me once again and this time he tossed my ass in the pool. I came up sputtering and choking because I was a dumbass who didn’t stop laughing once I hit the water. An audience of all my brothers had gathered to take in my current predicament. “Shut the fuck up about my ass and Miss Frankie,” Elijah said in a pissed off tone. “I didn’t realize you were so sensitive about her.” I smirked, knowing that I really should stop, but being who I am, I just couldn’t. “Defending your girl is completely normal.” “Xavier,” Red growled, his nostrils flaring. He no longer stood with his arms crossed but instead took on the attack stance we’d all come to expect from Elijah. “Keep this shit up and Isaac is gonna have to call home and tell Mommy and Daddy that I killed their prick of a son.” “But then you’d be locked up for murder and unable to see your woman,” I added as I moved toward the opposite side of the pool. He took a step closer. “Wait,” I said, holding up my hand, widening my smile. “Conjugal visits,” I added with a nod. “That’s what you’re shooting for. Hot.” A deep, rumbling, displeased growl erupted from Red and echoed across the backyard. Just before he dove in the pool and I scrambled to the opposite side to escape his wrath. “Your time’s coming, asshole,” he yelled as I hurried across the backyard toward the house. “I’m not saving you when he decides to gain his revenge,” Isaac assured me as I moved

past him, leaving a trail of puddled water behind me. “You’re on your own.” Lifting my hand in the air, I offered a “whatever” kind of wave. “I don’t need help, I got this.” But on the inside I was starting to think maybe I had pushed Red a little too far. The idea of being drunk in his presence tonight was asking for all kinds of crazy shit to take place.



Chapter 4 Morgan Toby lit up with delight the moment Marcus handed him his freshly scooped bowl of ice cream. No one cared that he leaned in and put his face directly in the bowl, opting out of waiting for a spoon. Instead we laughed, as did he when he lifted his head to show off his new self-made mask. “Isn’t that cold?” I asked him. His grin was wide and mischievous as he shook his head and did it all over again. By now my mom was used to his unpredictable ways; she no longer batted an eye. Instead she simply lay the rubber-gripped spoon beside Toby’s bowl and ignored the fact that he showed no signs of grabbing it. “Do you two have big plans for the night?” she asked as she took a seat in the only chair still left at the table. She looked tired, and for a moment I just looked at her. I wished there was something I could do for her. A way I could relieve just a small amount of the heaping stress both she and my father felt. “I’m forcing your daughter to go out tonight,” Marcus stated, causing me to focus on the present instead of being lost in wishful thinking. “She hasn’t had a free night since she started working at the Sub Shop and I’m making her take advantage of it.” He seemed pleased with himself. “Yeah, by making me go to some college party,” I said, wrinkling my nose and making my mother laugh.

“Marcus.” She fought the smile I knew she wanted to share and tried to maintain that motherly expression she used often. Marcus was like one of her own. “I think we both know that Morgan hates parties. Do you plan to babysit this evening?” “Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I fully intend on making sure that no one gets in her way. But I do, however, think she needs to relax a bit. We both know that stick up her ass cannot be comfortable.” At that point my mother had no hope of hiding her smile any longer. I narrowed my eyes at the both of them and had a flash of “I’ll show them stick up my ass” moment. “You two are awful,” I said as I leaned over toward Toby. “Do you think I’m difficult?” I asked him and he took a small break from his ice cream to nod his head, agreeing with the other two. “Toby,” I said, trying to act offended, “I thought you were on my side.” He laughed, Marcus chuckled, and my mother sat back with humor in her eyes. It looked good on her. And in that moment I made a mental note to set aside a girls’ day she and I could share. Marcus could sit with Toby if my father was at work. I knew he would. *** We drove by the house where the party was first. A slow pass, just to get a feel for what was to come. The front porch held entirely too many people as they stood sandwiched together. Laughing, talking, and some—well, let’s just say they needed to take it inside. Preferably behind a secure door that hid their goodies from the rest of the world. “You ready to have some fun?” Marcus asked, pulling my attention away from the house and back to him. He chuckled, and it was then I realized I was sneering in disgust. “Does one ever get ready for that?” I asked, pointing over my shoulder back toward the house. “I mean come on, doesn’t a nice quiet movie sound better than…” I waved my hand, unable to think of a proper word for what was going on behind me. “You are such a prude,” he said, shaking his head as he proceeded to look for a parking space. “No, I just have an allergic reaction to dumbasses,” I said in defense. “And something tells me there are a whole lot of those—in there.” Again I pointed over my shoulder. He didn’t answer me, he didn’t try to fire back with any type of smartass remark. Instead he simply parked the car and pulled the keys from the ignition.

I sat in shock as he climbed from the car, shut his door, and began walking across the street, leaving me behind. “Hey,” I hollered out as I opened my door. But he didn’t stop. “Asshole,” I yelled a little louder, and about five guys turned to look in my direction. Yep, let’s party. A party full of men who responded to someone yelling asshole. Oh the possibilities. I shivered at the thought of what my night would entail. Sluggishly, I climbed out of the car and jogged across the street to catch up with Marcus. When I reached him, I tucked my arm through his and he leaned into my body. “Promise me you’ll have a little fun,” he said as he led me up the porch. I ignored the curious stares of those around us as I focused on placing one foot in front of the other. “You never just let go, and you need to every once in a while. Otherwise you’ll be a dried up ol’ bitch with no friends later in life.” “Nice analogy.” I rolled my eyes as we stepped inside. “I’m not kidding; just let loose and be a young adult for once. I know shit’s rough. And I know you have a lot of things to stress over, but for tonight can you just relax? Forget all the garbage and just act your age for one night.” I looked up and could see that he was being completely serious. Marcus and I joked around a lot. But this was definitely one of those times he was not playing. “Okay,” I said, bumping my hip against his. “I’ll have fun.” “Promise?” he asked with a questioning stare. “Yes,” I said, before suddenly stiffening and moving in closer to him. As if to seek shelter from my current position. “I’ll attempt to ignore the fact that right now, there is a hand on my ass that shouldn’t be there,” I said through gritted teeth. Marcus looked over my shoulder and I saw that he was fighting against a grin. “Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be with another girl?” he asked and my eyes widened a little further as the hand squeezed my ass and another began to snake around my waist. “Make it stop.” I glared at him. “Or so help me God, Marcus, I will turn around right now and…” I was cut off when he jerked my body forward and moved me across the room, far, far away from Miss Grabby. I took in a deep calming breath, remembering what I had just promised Marcus only moments ago. A good time. I would relax.

I kept repeating that in my mind when I accepted the pinkish-looking drink Marcus handed me and tipped it back, drinking half the contents in one big gulp. “Keep ’em coming,” I said as I lowered the drink for only a few seconds before lifting the cup again and finishing it off quickly.



Chapter 5 Xavier I was well aware of Red watching me from across the room. When I moved, he moved. I knew he was waiting for the right moment when he could get me back for torturing his ass all day. Which is why for the last hour I’d slowly nursed the same beer. I guess I’d hoped he’d find another source to occupy his attention by now. But I could only blame myself for this. I pushed him; what is one to do when they know they are already doomed? You taunt a little more. I lifted my beer in the air, using it to point in Elijah’s direction, and when I was sure his eyes were locked on mine, I winked and blew him a kiss. The guy was fun to fuck with. As the party went on, I found myself growing bored. It was then I realized that it wasn’t always Britney who kept me from the parties; I just would have rather spent time with her then be wrapped up in this shit. Don’t get me wrong—I had fun with the guys, but I wasn’t a heavy partier. My father and mother had both raised me knowing the importance of life. Neither of them ever drank. Instead we spent nights doing family shit. My brother and sister were both younger than me, so I was always pushed into board games and family nights. After a while those things became something I looked forward to. Nights in, relaxing. Much better than waking up the day after a party feeling like ass and unable to

remember what the hell you did the night before. “You find your balls yet?” I looked to my left to see Corbin smiling at me. The guy was such a weirdo at times. But before I could answer, Clayton responded for me. “Hell no, he’s peeled back his pussy lips and realized they’re gone.” He chuckled and Corbin joined in. They really thought they were comedians. I was just about to hassle Clayton about his dildo pics when I heard a laugh I recognized. A laugh I had spent just shy of a year listening to day after day. A laugh I used to enjoy but now it just got on my nerves. Clayton stopped laughing and I heard him murmur “Oh fuck” under his breath. And “oh fuck” was right. I instantly wondered what in the hell Britney was trying to pull, but then I remembered who I was dealing with and knew instantly. She was a conniving bitch. She loved attention, and would do just about anything to gain it. Including showing up here at my place for a party we threw with her new toy. The asshole who she decided could give her more than I could. Or more efficiently explained, what his asshole parents could provide for her. Wade Richards, pretty boy, trying to act tough. His father was a big time attorney and his mother was some sought after plastic surgeon who traveled around, even working on some of the big actresses and actors in Hollywood. Britney loved the idea of being a trophy wife. So the fact that my father was a simple working man and my mother was a teacher did nothing to impress her. She looked over in my direction and curled into Wade a little tighter. And in that moment, I wasn’t sure what I ever saw in her. Right now she just looked like some bimbo in a short skirt. “Don’t let her fuck with your head, X,” Corbin said, nudging my shoulder. “Don’t plan on it.” I tipped my beer up and looked away from her. “But I was promised a crazy night. So when does the crazy start?” I wouldn’t let her being here stop me from having a good time. I knew that was her intention when she showed up. She never wanted to go to parties when we were together, so tonight was just some fucked up game she had planned. And I wasn’t playing. It was never love with her, just convenience, and now it was simple annoyance. “Well then, let me direct you to the next room, my friend.” Clayton placed his hand on my shoulder and led me out of the living room toward the den. It had been converted to a game room. And when I say games, I mean strip poker, beer pong, and many more things crazy college kids thought up at parties. The room was loud, wild, and just what I needed to get my head wrapped around the

idea of what tonight was meant to be. *** I tipped my shot glass upside down and looked across the table at the blonde. She was giving me a look that had my full attention. It wasn’t a needy sultry look, more of an “I’m unimpressed but I’ll play along to see where this goes” kind of look. Something about the challenge in her eyes had my heart racing. I found I really liked the thrill it inflicted in me. “Never have I ever masturbated while watching porn,” a guy said from my left, yet I continued to watch the blonde. I slowly lifted the shot that sat in front of me and downed it in one quick swig before locking eyes with her once more. It was then that I noticed her own shot glass was also empty. I felt my dick harden at the thought of her spread out on her bed, porn playing on the television as the light illuminated her body. Her hand buried between her legs as she moaned, biting down on her lower lip. I noticed the smirk on her face and found myself wondering if she was envisioning the same thing but with me perched on my bed instead. “Never have I ever repurposed a common household item as a sex toy,” a girl added, and I waited to see what reaction that question would gain from the sexy blonde girl across from me. Slowly, she lifted her drink to her mouth and smiled just as she pressed the glass against her lips. She was fully aware that she had my attention. No one would convince me that she didn’t enjoy it just as much as I did. She tilted back the shot and licked her lower lip as she lowered her glass and once again made eye contact with me. It was now her turn to ask the question, and I found myself eager to know what it would be. “Never have I ever slept with someone I just met.” I moaned. I’ll admit it. I fucking moaned. And what did she do? Continued to stare at me, waiting for me to answer the question I knew was directed at me in the form of some fucked up game we were playing. Had I hooked up? Yes. But I knew the girls. So to answer her question, I had never slept with a girl I just met, but I was more than willing to change that. I found myself hoping that she also had not yet experienced such a thing. And was thankful when she didn’t raise her shot glass to her lips. We shared some crazy stare down, no words, just curiosity.

“Never have I ever slept with twins.” For the first time I took my eyes off the blonde and looked toward Corbin, who was looking around at the girls with a hopeful look on his face. And found myself wandering off into territory I truly didn’t want to venture to, but was unable to stop it. The twins did some sort of fist bump when one girl tipped her glass back and downed her shot. As she lowered it, she was eyeing the brothers and I knew right then their night was set up. Freaky fucking twin shit going down and I was glad I had something else to distract me, because that shit just ain’t right.



Chapter 6 Morgan “Do you know him?” Marcus leaned in close, whispering in my ear. The reaction it gained from Mystery Guy made me smile. Apparently he wasn’t impressed with Marcus and his closeness. Normally that type of thing I found annoying, but at that moment it sparked an interest. Something about his dislike for another man paying attention to me was appealing. “Nope,” I said, without looking away from the guy. He had barely taken his eyes off me since we started this silly game of questions and I found I loved it. “From the looks of it, he’s wanting to get to know you,” Marcus added, and by his tone I could tell he approved. The appreciative little moan he let escape made me laugh. Marcus was always pointing out good-looking guys to me. Telling me things like “I bet he would rock your world” and “Look at that ass.” Apparently I wasn’t forward enough for him, and he felt he needed to push me. Mystery Guy, as I’d decided to call him for now, was very good looking. Tall, just how I like them, and dark hair, long enough to tug on when he was doing nasty things to me. Just the thought of those things turned me on. It was then I realized the multiple shots I had consumed were beginning to have an effect. He’d been watching me close for the last hour. Each question that had been asked was just another small piece of the mystery solved. He was experienced, but not overly experienced. Which meant there was room to explore.

I liked that idea. “So what was with that question you asked?” Marcus spoke again and suddenly I felt the heat rise in my neck and cheeks. I didn’t drink often but I found that it seemed to make me more adventurous and, um, horny, apparently. “Morgan?” I pulled my stare away from the guy and faced Marcus. “The question?” he asked again, reminding me that I had yet to respond. “What question?” I asked, as if lost to what he was meant. But I knew. “You know exactly what question I’m referring to,” he added, daring me to argue. “The one about hooking up with someone you just met.” He wasn’t going to give me the chance to skate around the subject any longer. “Oh that question.” I shrugged. “You did insist I have a little fun. He looks like fun,” I said, wagging my eyebrows suggestively. “Honey, he looks like a whole lot of fun,” Marcus corrected. “Maybe even a little too much for an innocent like you.” “Maybe I’m not so innocent,” I said, looking away from Marcus and back toward the guy, who was now preoccupied with the obvious twins he’d walked in with. “Maybe you think I’m an idiot.” Marcus nudged me with his shoulder. “Because, Morgan, I know you, and you don’t do one night stands.” Without looking back at him, I lifted the shot glass to my lips and tilted it back. It burnt on the way down, but I did my best to hide it. I had reached the point where I was feeling a good buzz. I felt more confident than I normally did. More determined and definitely more cocky. Lowering my glass to the table, I sat it down a little harder than I intended and it made a decently loud clank. But due to the noise of the room no one else seemed to pick up on my lack of judgement. “Well it’s time I turn over a new leaf,” I stated as I pushed back and began to round the table. It was as if Mystery Guy could feel me coming because he looked up and smiled. “Hi,” I said and instantly regretted it. I could do sultry. I could do the “let’s get naked now” look that I’d seen many girls use since I got there. I laughed a little and I am sure I looked like an idiot. Okay, who the hell was I kidding? I didn’t play games. I was terrible at them. I was the girl who said things before I thought them through. I shared what was on my mind the moment it arrived there without sugarcoating any of it. So I should have just told the guy I wanted to hook up and move on.

But before I could do something that was so unlike me, I was pushed from behind and fell into his arms. He gripped my waist tightly and turned his body, taking me with him as if to protect me from whatever it was that just barreled into my back. “Whew!” A loud yelling filled the room. “Yeah baby, dick’s a swinging,” someone hollered, gaining everyone’s attention. I looked around the guy’s body and I know my eyes widened to double their normal size. There in the center of the room stood a tall, skinny guy, naked. He was swiveling his hips, making his manly parts swing around and around. A huge smile was on his face, but you could tell he was beyond loaded. The best part about it was all the streamers he had tied around his waist, wrists, and ankles. It was almost as if he had decorated himself. He kept chanting “Dick’s a swinging” as he wiggled his hips around and around. He was so lost. Completely inebriated. And I think I was in shock. Does this shit really take place at parties? No wonder I did my best to avoid them. “Holy shit,” I heard Mystery Guy say. His chest, on which my hand rested, unknown to me, shook with his laughter. “Somebody needs to get Jay,” he said to the two guys standing at his side. “Not me,” one responded quickly, backing away with his hands out to his sides. “I sure as hell ain’t getting him,” the other twin said. “He’s fucking naked, man. I’m not touching that shit.” I straightened myself and stepped back from the guy, but he kept his hand on my hip. I was now trapped in a really awkward situation I honestly just wanted to step away from. Loud cheering broke out, regaining the attention of the three guys. I took the chance to sneak away. I scurried off, hooked my arm in Marcus’s, and quickly dragged him from the room. “Wait,” he argued, straining his neck to see the skinny guy who was still putting on a show. Only now he had moved on to break dancing, or his idea of break dancing. All I knew was his feet were in the air, legs wide open, and I couldn’t stomach the thought of what that actually looked like. Things flipping around, completely open and displayed. I wrinkled my nose in disgust and shivered as I pulled harder on Marcus. I was thankful there was a wall of students blocking my view of the creepy show.



Chapter 7 Xavier I spent the last hour looking for the blonde. I had her right in my hands and then she was gone; I couldn’t find her anywhere. Thanks to Jay and his weird fucked up naked dance. I mean, who the hell does that shit anyway? “Dick’s a swinging.” What the fuck gave him the idea to decorate himself with streamers and streak through the house? And he made sure every person saw him doing his dick swivel. I had to deal with that shit because no one else would touch him. Not that I wanted to either. He would never live this down. I lost track of the amount of students videotaping his show. I could guarantee that shit was live streaming across campus in minutes. The hashtag “dicksaswinging” would follow him around for years. Freaky little fucker didn’t need to be drinking. You’d never guess that on a normal day the kid barely spoke. But give him a bottle of liquor and he lost his clothes and danced around a room, or a house in this case. Clayton and Corbin decided they wanted nothing to do with Jay and his show, and since I was still partially sober, there was no way I could let it continue. I did my best not to touch any parts of him below the waist, but I still felt like I needed a shower. Talk about sobering up quickly. Now that the asshole was safely tucked in his bed, passed out for the night I hoped, I

was in search of the girl. The sweet little blonde who was so close at one point. Firmly pressed against my chest looking up at me with those gorgeous green eyes. I silently cursed Jay, because if I lost my chance with her, he’d pay dearly for it. I entered the kitchen to find the twins standing about ten feet apart facing one another. A small audience had gathered. What the hell is happening now? Just then something went sailing through the air from Corbin’s hand toward Clayton. Cheers erupted when Clayton caught it and held it up in the air. Something white. “Now back it up,” Clayton yelled toward his brother. Each of them took another step back, gaining more empty space between them. “This one is coming in fast,” he stated. Were they throwing baseballs in the house? I started to step forward to tell them that wasn’t a good idea, but Clayton released the object and it connected with Corbin’s hands, splattering all over him. “Dude, you broke it,” Corbin complained as he shook off the slimy mess. “No, asshole, you broke it,” Clayton corrected. The idiots were having a damn egg toss in the center of the kitchen. And once again I wondered how in the hell I got caught up in a house of weird fuckers. Naked, egg tossing, dildo playing, eyebrow shaving weirdos. I began to scan the room and found Red and Isaac both standing back laughing as the twins grabbed another egg from the carton on the counter and resumed their game. “I’m winding up,” Corbin said, trying to maintain a serious face. “This one is coming in hot. A curve ball.” “I’m ready,” Clayton insisted, crouching down in a catcher’s position. Corbin turned sideways, lifted his leg, and with as much force as a dumbass who’d consumed the amount of alcohol he had could, he whipped the egg toward his brother. Only it didn’t reach his brother’s hand. Nope, not even close. The room went silent, everyone staring at the oozing slime and the person who wore it. Red. And by the look on his face he was already planning Corbin’s death. His once bushy red afro was now flat on one side as the yellow yolk dripped down his face. Elijah, slowly and scarily I might add, stepped forward and leaned over. We just knew when the man took a tackling stance, the one he used every game. We were in trouble. With eyes wide as saucers, Corbin began to back away, shaking his head. “Red.” He held his hands out before him, as if that would stop Elijah. “I’m sorry, man, I’m really sorry.” But his apologies did nothing to stop the attack. Red reared back, and with one big,

heaving push-off, he charged toward Corbin. The best fucking part of it was Corbin’s banshee squeals. He ran in the opposite direction, arms flailing like a damn girl. You could hear him wailing in the next room until one high pitched squeal echoed throughout the house. “Touchdown,” someone yelled out, followed by cheers and laughter. I knew for a fact Corbin would feel that in the morning. And the day after, too. *** I’d given up and come to the conclusion that the girl from earlier was gone. I’d looked everywhere and still no blonde with gorgeous eyes. But unfortunately Britney was still there. Lucky us. She was still trying to gain my attention, and for what, I wasn’t sure. I grabbed a bottle of tequila and a shot glass and moved upstairs to a quieter area. If I was gonna get drunk, I’d do it somewhere away from Red. But honestly, I was hoping he had long ago forgotten my earlier torment and replaced it with his hate for the twins. Well, at least for Corbin and his wild pitch. I moved through the hallway, and when I reached my room I placed the key in the lock and twisted it. Once I was inside I made sure to lock it back and sat back on my bed, leaning against the headboard. Opting out of the glass, I went straight for the bottle instead.



Chapter 8 Morgan I was completely aware of my surroundings. Aware of the fact that the girl next to me had her head resting on my shoulder. And she had for some time now, as she went on and on about her crush on some guy named Isaac. The weird part about it was that it didn’t bother me as much as it would have had I been sober. And by the look on Marcus’ face, he was equally surprised. “He’s just so dreamy,” the girl slurred. “And we hooked up once, but now he just acts like he doesn’t know me. And I’m wondering what I did wrong,” she whined, stretching her words out in long exaggerated tones. I didn’t have the heart to tell the girl that she fucked him, so there was her answer. College guys weren’t looking for long term, they wanted freedom. And she was wrong to expect more. But had he promised more? And if he had, well then that was where he was wrong. That was what the logical piece of my mind, tucked way back deep was saying. But the drunk part, which definitely outweighed Ms. Logic, spoke instead. “Maybe you should make him jealous,” I said as I began scanning the room, looking for the poor bastard I was just about to push her off on. “Him,” I said, pointing to some guy. He was tall, and fairly good looking. I jumped in surprise when the girl began to wail. Not a small quiet whine that only I would hear, but a high pitch squawking that made me feel like my fucking ears were bleeding type of squeal.

“That’s Isaac,” she wailed, as she curled into me further. I looked toward Marcus for help and all he did was laugh. Hunched over holding his stomach and a deep laughter shook his entire body. The dick was just loving this. “Okay,” I said, patting her arm. “Maybe you should just talk to him.” I had no clue what it would take to get her off of me, but I knew I had to do it. A moment ago I was feeling the buzz, loving the night, let’s dance and all that shit. But this girl—she was killing my happy feeling. “Hey you,” I said, pointing toward another girl who looked equally as smashed as the girl lying at my side. I mean, the damn girl was clutching my arm in a death grip. The other girl tried to focus on me and it took a second or two, but once she did, a smile crossed her lips. “Hey you,” she repeated. Much slower and more dragged out than when I said it, but I’d take it. “Come over here with us.” I waved my hand, motioning in my direction. I watched as she tried three times to get up off the couch before she finally stood. It took far too long for her to reach us, or maybe it was just my patience running thin. But seriously, I could feel the anxiety in me rising. When she flopped down in the empty space on the other side of Whiney Ass, who still held me tight, her head bounced back against the cushions behind her. I nudged the girl who was apparently hung up on Isaac and she lifted her head. “Our new friend had an idea on how you can get Isaac to pay attention to you.” Her face lit up and she immediately released my arm, turning around to face the other girl on her opposite side. She wrapped her arms around her and the other girl reciprocated, holding onto her with equal enthusiasm. They began talking in hushed tones and I sagged back, instantly relieved. When I looked at Marcus, he gazed between me and the two girls at my side before eventually focusing back on me once again. “Evil,” he said shaking his head. “Pure evil.” “No, genius,” I corrected as I pushed up off the couch and walked past him. It was time for another drink, because that scene was equivalent to six cups of coffee and I needed a jumpstart back to happy land.



Chapter 9 Xavier I woke with a jerk. I hadn’t meant to pass out, but as I looked around my room, I realized I had. Not truly aware of just how long I was sleeping. Lifting the bottle of tequila, I was irritated to find it empty. I had fully intended on staying in my room, spending the remainder of my evening with my friend, Jose. My friend who never tried to shave parts of my body, or tackle me and toss me in a pool. Jose only made me feel happy things. Jose Cuervo was a good friend. But plans change, and at that moment I was in need of more alcohol. Now some may argue. They may insist that I’d had enough, but I begged to differ. I was feeling no pain. I could still see clearly…well, kind of. Granted there were now multiple dressers, and two doors that led from my room instead of one, but I could still see. So as I said, I needed more booze. I moved across my room, using the wall to lead me toward my door, and when I felt the handle in my hands, I was relieved. See, I could do this. The music filtering up from downstairs was like a tidal wave. I had to step over several bodies, which took extreme concentration, but I made it. Just as I was about to attempt the stairs I heard laughter from behind me and turned around much too quickly.

The hallway looked like one of those 1970s hippy videos where the background gets all squiggly and moves in a wave-like motion. That shit was not good for someone who had been drinking. Things that waved and rolled played with a drunk guy’s mind. After an excessive amount of blinking to clear the fucking wiggling waves from my vision, things slowly began to come in clear. And when they did, I just stared questionably at what I found before me. Mouth gaped open, eyes wide, still thinking I was suffering some hallucination brought on by the tequila I indulged in. So what do you do, or anyone do, when they feel they are seeing things? Well, you reach out to feel and make sure. Right? “What the fuck are you doing, numb nuts?” Isaac asked as my hand rubbed over his face. “Get your hand off my face,” he said, shoving me away. Nope, I was not hallucinating. This shit was real. “What happened to you?” I finally asked, my head still spinning. He looked pretty messed up, with his eyes all droopy and bloodshot. He looked back at me, with confusion. But before he could question me and the weird way I was looking at him, someone else spoke. “Nice look, man,” some guy said, gaining both my attention and Isaac’s. “Is that a dick?” the guy asked, pointing toward Isaac’s face. “No, I think it’s a cigar,” the girl at his side said, moving in closer to inspect. “Nope,” she finally said after a few seconds of close inspection. “It is most definitely a dick.” Isaac sagged back against the wall and I squinted my eyes, still trying to figure out if what I saw was real. “What the hell are you all talking about?” Isaac asked. A moment of silence set over our small accumulating group. Then I was the first to speak. “Did you pass out?” I already knew that had to be the explanation. “I think,” he mumbled, rubbing his hand over his face. “You need to look in the mirror, because I think someone found you,” I told him, waiting for him to register what I’d said. And when he did, he moved fast. Too fast for me as I again couldn’t keep things focused. “Motherfucker,” he growled. “Red!” he yelled out, echoing down the hall. I heard a deep recognizable chuckle and turned to my left to see Elijah standing on the third step from the top. “What’s wrong with pretty boy?” he asked. “Did he not like my artwork?”

“I’m gonna kill him,” Isaac threatened from the bathroom, only making Red laugh harder. “Is this shit permanent?” Elijah had drawn all over Isaac’s face. I’m talking lipstick and big thick eyebrows. Blue eyeshadow. And to top it off, he now had an oversized dick on his right cheek that appeared as if it was heading straight for his mouth. And across his forehead was the phrase, “I slurp the gherkin.” I looked back at Red and his eyes were now locked on mine. “Don’t worry, X-man, I got you,” he said with a wink just before he descended to the lower level. I truly had no fucking clue what he was talking about. But I had a feeling I would figure it out eventually.



Chapter 10 Morgan I was exiting the bathroom and stumbled back when the door came flying open. I stood frozen in the middle of the room looking back at the mystery guy from earlier. “There you are,” he said with a smirk. “I’ve looked all over for you,” he confessed as he took another step forward. “You are so pretty,” he slurred. His forwardness had me stunned, and I was completely wasted, so my reaction was a little weak. When he lifted his hand to my cheek and left it there as he moved in closer, I did nothing to stop him. “Really pretty,” he said again, leaning in close. “And you smell so good too.” So drunk he wasn’t that great at pickup lines, but I didn’t care. He was the first and only guy since I entered this party more than five hours ago who made any type of impression. And he was hot—a major bonus. I didn’t stop him when he moved in close and began kissing along my neck. I did nothing to slow it down even when he backed me up and I was pinned to the bathroom vanity. I still let it happen. No way was I going to interrupt this. Nope. Instead I did the next best thing. I attacked him.

Like pulling hair, tugging on his shirt and biting his lip kind of attacking. And from the reaction I felt pressed against my stomach, I’d say he liked every minute of it. I heard something tear, but it didn’t stop me. It actually fueled me. I had never done anything like this before. It was liberating. I had been cooped up in my own mind for far too long; it felt good to be free from all the stress. “Damn,” he moaned as I slid my hand past the waistband of his jeans and wrapped my fingers around a very impressive erection. Smiling at what I had found. Drunk sex with a hot guy who seemed to be packing something real good. I was in. I pulled back just enough to gain some space and took in a deep breath. “What would it take for me to convince you to come home with me?” I asked just before he moved in again to take my mouth with his. He was eager. And this was so out of character for me. But being in my apartment felt safer than being here all night. Marcus would be there. And there wouldn’t be a house full of just anybody who could walk in at any time. “Just take me,” he breathed. “No need to ask.” Well, okay then. I hopped down from the sink, and for a moment wondered at what point I ended up on there. Things were flowing quite nicely; I think I lost track of my own thoughts there for a moment. I smiled at the idea that I was so wrapped up in his kisses that I couldn’t remember much of anything else. I began to pull him from the room and he followed without hesitation. Marcus was waiting a few feet down the hallway and smiled when he saw us coming. “You found your mystery man,” he said, eyeing the guy behind me appreciatively. “What’s your name, tall dark and…” he paused, waiting for the guy to answer. “Xavier,” he slurred. “Xavier,” Marcus repeated as a huge smile covered his lips. Then he looked in my direction, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. “Is he coming home with us?” Marcus asked and all I did was nod. “Well, okay then.” He began walking away as I hurried after him, pulling Xavier along behind. The drive back to my house was quite entertaining. I rode in the back seat with Xavier and he was all hands. Sliding along my thighs, my hips. Wrapping his arms around my waist. He kissed along my neck, and at times I found my eyes fluttering shut because it felt so

good. I had a feeling tonight would be one I wouldn’t soon forget. *** Xavier was everywhere. Meaning his hands, his mouth, oh that mouth, it was all over me. Touching, tasting, I had never felt this on fire before. Clothes were flying, and deep gratifying moans filled my room as he continued to consume me. Marcus just handed me a box of condoms and said “Have fun” before he walked off to his room on the opposite side of the apartment. So I fully intended to. I just might break this boy before morning. I was a deprived girl. One who spent far too much time doing things I didn’t want and stayed away from those things that would distract me. Xavier was a distraction. A yummy one, but a distraction nonetheless. But just for tonight I’d let him make me forget that tomorrow, reality would return.



Chapter 11 Xavier I stretched my arms above my head, twisting from side to side. My body ached like I spent hours at the gym, but I knew I hadn’t been in weeks. Fuck, even my nipples hurt. How was that even possible? And my mouth was dry like the desert as I tried to swallow. I tasted something, maybe a little sweet. I ran my tongue over my teeth and clucked it, trying to produce even a small amount of saliva to wet my mouth. What the fuck was that flavor? “Pineapple,” I said to what I thought was an empty room. “You weren’t complaining last night.” I jumped at the sound of a deep, raspy voice. Looking around an unfamiliar room in a panic, my gaze landed on a man standing only a few feet from the bed. He wore a towel around his waist and looked freshly showered. A wide grin stretched out over his face. And in his hand he held a tube of K-Y lubricant. Shaking it from side to side, he tilted his head just slightly and licked his lower lip. “In fact, you were saying you’ve never tasted anything better. You insisted pineapple was your favorite.” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively and my stomach began to roll. As in huge tsunami fucking waves of anxiety.

I felt sick. “You kept saying ‘more, give me more,’” the guy added and that was all it took. I tried to slowly slip from the bed, my eyes still locked on this strange guy who looked at me like he was about to devour me. The grin on his face fucking creeped me out, I’m not gonna lie. Then he laughed, a deep chuckle as he started tossing the K-Y into the air and catching it. Still grinning. I began to move faster because the way my stomach was rolling I felt at any moment I might be sick. In the process of attempting to escape, my feet got tangled in the sheets of the bed and I fell to the floor next to the bed, face first. My bare ass now in clear view. Oh fuck, he moaned; I just knew I heard him moan. And on instinct I clenched my ass, doing all I could to cover it with the sheet and my hand. “Slow down,” the guy insisted. “I wouldn’t want you hurting the goods.” Did I mention I was horrified? My stomach still churned at the idea of what we’d done the night before. I had absolutely nothing against homosexuality; it just wasn’t something I was into. I scurried across the floor, just needing a minute to clear my head. Hoping like hell last night would come back to me. Sitting down on the floor of the bathroom next to the running shower, I took a few deep breaths. Running my hand over my stomach and up my chest, my fingers caught on something. Pierced? My fucking nipples were pierced. “I really like those,” the guy said from the doorway, noticing me inspecting them. “I think last night you said something about tugging on them made you hard.” And that was all it took. I was done. I got up on my knees and began heaving. My entire body tensed with each gag. “Marcus,” a girl’s voice filled the room and I tried to look up but continued to heave. “Seriously?” the girl asked again and I was finally able to turn my head to the side. “Leave him alone.” It was the girl.

The one from the “have you ever” game. The one I was looking for all night. “You?” I whispered and she knelt down at my side. She too had a towel wrapped around her and I looked between the two of them. What in the hell did I get myself into last night? How the hell did I end up here? In some crazy ass threesome? At least it could have been two girls. And as if she could see the crazy scenarios rolling around in my mind, she smiled. “You don’t remember, do you?” she asked. “Remember what?” I was afraid to hear her answer, but I knew it would fuck with my head if I didn’t know. “That jokester over there is my roommate, Marcus.” She nudged her head toward the doorway, but I didn’t look. My stomach was still rolling and I could already sense he was still giving me that look of his. The weird one. I didn’t want to see it again, like ever. “It was just me and you, Romeo,” she clarified, and I felt my body instantly relax. I closed my eyes and let reality sink in. I hooked up with her alone; relief. “Is that a tramp stamp?” The guy from the doorway spoke again, causing me to open my eyes. I thought he was pointing to the girl, but they were both examining me instead. “A what?” I asked, trying to look behind me to see what they seen. Forget the fact that I was on their bathroom floor, nude, after just puking. That had long since been forgotten. “A tattoo across your lower back,” the guy added, leaning in closer. “It looks like a chain of cocks.” I hung my head, knowing full well where, or should I say who, was responsible for my new found ink. I just prayed the shit would wash off eventually. The guy I knew as Marcus chuckled, only causing the girl to laugh. I looked up and her eyes locked on mine. And suddenly I regretted not remembering my night with her. There was something in her eyes. A sweetness about her, unlike other girls I’d been with. She wasn’t prissy, or overly confident. Just real. When she noticed I was staring, her cheeks reddened and she looked away quickly. I liked that. And then I remembered my other new addition to body art.

Lifting my hand, I ran it over my new piercings, regaining her attention. “And these?” I asked. “What, you didn’t have those before last night either?” She smiled as she and her roommate exchanged another look of surprise. “Well, when you came back here you had both, so I’m not sure when you got those either.” I already knew who was responsible. This had Red written all over it. I just found myself wondering how in the hell I didn’t feel the pain from the needle or whatever the asshole used to shove through my nipples. Or where in the hell the rings came from to begin with. How the hell did one sleep through such a thing?



Chapter 12 Morgan I sat on the edge of my bed, now dressed, listening to the water running in the shower. I thought after the shock of Xavier’s morning I could at least offer him a shower. I found my mind kept wandering back to last night, or should I say, early this morning. It was amazing, for me at least. The way he moved, you’d never guess he was so trashed he’d been unaware. I wished he remembered, but maybe it was best he didn’t. I had never felt that alive. Never felt that much pleasure wrapped up in only a few hours. Xavier was unbelievable and giving. I jumped when I heard the sound of his voice from the doorway. “Do you happen to know where my things are?” There he stood, with a towel held secure around his waist. Hanging very low. Beaded water still glistening on his chest. And those nipple rings. He may not have had them long, but I liked them. They looked good on him. “I, um…” I cleared my throat and looked away from him. “I laid what I could find over there.” I pointed toward the chair in the corner and watched him move that direction. He began sifting through and I tried not to laugh when he held up a shirt that was missing a sleeve. Well it wasn’t completely missing, just hanging halfway off. And his

boxers—I was puzzled myself how the whole side of them got ripped out. He looked over at me with a boyish grin and I couldn’t keep a straight face. “You have claws or something?” he asked with a chuckle. “I guess you’ll never know,” I said and then wished I hadn’t. “Listen, I was wasted, and I’m sorry that I…” he began to explain but I waved it off. “I knew what I was getting into when I asked you to come home with me. I expected nothing more than last night. I think we both just needed a free night.” I stood up and moved toward the dresser to grab my keys. “If you want to meet me in the kitchen I’ll give you a ride home,” I added, then moved toward the door. “I could only find one of your shoes, but I’m thinking maybe the other is in the car.” I tried not to laugh when he looked down at the single shoe that sat on the floor by the chair. He just shook his head as if he was confused and ran his hand through his hair. Poor guy was really lost. “I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I told him as I opened the door and found Marcus just on the other side. He looked over my shoulder and grinned wide at Xavier. I pushed against him, placing my hands on his chest and moving him out of the way. “Will you please just leave him alone?” I said as I closed the door behind me and walked toward the kitchen. Marcus was hot on my heels. “You like him, don’t you?” he asked. “No, I feel awful that he can’t remember a damn thing,” I said in correction. Marcus didn’t need to know that I wished he could. “Okay, Morgan, if you say so.” Marcus proceeded to pour both him and me a cup of coffee, placing a third on the countertop next to mine. I was just about to argue with him and tell him he was being ridiculous, but jumped in surprise when a strong hand pressed against the small of my back. “Is this for me?” Xavier asked as he reached around me with the other arm and picked up the coffee cup. I watched with a little too much concentration as he brought it to his lips and took a sip. His throat bobbed as he swallowed and his eyes closed as if it was the best thing ever. “All I’ve tasted since I woke up is pineapple,” he added as he slowly opened his eyes and locked on mine. I felt my face heat and immediately looked down toward my hands. I’d received that stuff as a gag gift, but Xavier insisted we give it a try. And I went for it, along with a few other things that I’d never tried. But I figured if I was going for this one night-of-the-best-sex thing, I may as well go all out.

I could still feel the ache in all the places he’d explored. And it felt exquisite. “Xavier,” Marcus said, gaining his attention and my own. “I found your shoe in the hallway when I went out this morning to get donuts.” He solved the missing shoe puzzle. “But I hate to tell you that it didn’t survive Rosco,” Marcus added, and I immediately covered my mouth with my hand. “Rosco?” Xavier asked, his eyebrows crinkled in confusion. “Yeah.” Marcus took a seat on the opposite side of the snack bar. “Rosco is our neighbor’s pit bull. And it would appear he quite enjoys himself a Nike.” Laughter fell from my lips, because I could no longer contain it. This poor guy had been through hell in one night, and he couldn’t even remember any of it. *** The drive back to his place was a bit awkward. He tried to carry on a conversation and I could tell he felt bad about not remembering much. I honestly just wanted it all to be over with. He thought he owed me an explanation. I didn’t want one. It was, like I said, awkward. I was thankful when I pulled up in front of his house and he opened the passenger door to get out. “Listen.” He turned back to look at me. “Maybe we can hang out sometime. Catch a movie, or even dinner.” A distraction—he could be a great one. One that I’d doubt I would tire of. And that was dangerous. So making a clean break now was a definite necessity. “I had a lot of fun last night, regardless of your inability to remember much.” His shoulders sagged a little. “Honestly, I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. I needed a night like that. But Xavier, you don’t owe me a thing. And I don’t have time for a relationship or dating.” He nodded but I could tell he wanted to say something in return. “I work a lot and though I’m a college student, I don’t live that typical college life. It wouldn’t work out,” I told him and he just looked at me for a moment before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek. He paused, his lips lightly skimming over my jaw line. “I may not remember

everything from last night, but there is one sound that keeps running through my mind. A soft whimper, a needy moan.” I closed my eyes, trying to keep from making that very sound right then. “A light whisper of someone telling me not to stop,” he said, kissing my jaw. “It keeps playing on repeat in my head. I’d give anything to hear those sounds again.” He pulled back, and without saying another word, he crawled out of my car and left me staring after him as he jogged across his front lawn. And in that moment I realized forgetting about the guy who gave me one hell of a ride would be much harder than I thought.



Chapter 13 Xavier The minute I entered the house all eyes were on me. Corbin was sporting a bruise under his right eye I knew he didn’t have yesterday. And Jay sat on the couch, with his head hung, looking like he was paying dearly for his shit from last night. Isaac had marks on his face, a faint resemblance of ink faded. But redness outweighed the marks, as if he’d been scrubbing his face heavily. I still had not spotted Red. “How was your night?” I looked up just as Calvert entered the living room. “Because that blonde dragging you out of here looked like she was hungry as fuck.” I narrowed my eyes at him in warning. He chuckled and walked off toward the couch to join the others. “Nice eye, Corb,” I said and he flipped me off. A couple of guys walked into the house holding their phones in their hands, laughing at whatever it was they were watching. “What are you watching?” Isaac asked and stepped up to their side. “Hey Jay,” he hollered out, chuckling. “You’re famous, man.” Jay jumped up from the couch, moving in their direction and looked horrified when he saw whatever it was they were watching. He walked backward, his back bumping against the wall just before he slid down it and

sat on the floor. “You even have a hashtag, man,” Brent, another brother, said as he joined the crowd watching the phone held out for all to view. “A hashtag?” Jay asked, still covering his face. “Yeah,” Brent said as he looked around the group. And as if it was planned, each one of them took position and began swiveling their hips. And all together they began to sing “dick’s a swinging,” waving their hands in the air. Jay groaned out and curled over on his side, holding his head. I turned around, intending to head upstairs, but stopped in my tracks. I was face to face with Red. “Hey buddy,” he said with a smirk. “How was your night?” “How the hell did you get into my room, anyway?” I asked, skipping right to the point. Elijah watched me for a moment before a sly grin spread out over his lips. Then ever so slowly, he held up a keyring with a number of keys on it and shook them, making them jingle. “I have a key that fits every one of you fucker’s rooms. You all need to keep that shit in mind. Ya know, for future reference.” He walked off laughing, leaving us staring after him, knowing full well he’d been playing us all along. “Oh, Tequila,” I mumbled as I walked up the stairs. And even though I felt like hell, I found myself still hearing that sweet moan in my head. Morgan could pretend she didn’t want a repeat but I’d break her down. One way or the other I would get another chance.



Chapter 14 Morgan “I know,” I said as I rushed through the front door of the Sub Shop. “I’m late.” Today had been a day from hell. First my car wouldn’t start and then I missed the bus by less than thirty seconds. I could literally see it as the driver pulled onto University Ave., leaving me behind to yell out a few choice words. I was then forced to walk eight and a half blocks, feeling the perspiration pool between my breasts and along the back of my neck. Which all in turn made me late. Fifteen minutes late, to be exact. “Mitchell is in the back, and he’s in a mood,” Trina told me as I moved past the counter toward the time clock. “When isn’t he?” I asked just as I pushed open the door. There, only a few feet away, sat Mitchell, his arms crossed over his chest, staring directly at the door. It was as if he was waiting on me. “Car troubles and I missed the bus,” I said in explanation as I moved toward the time clock in a hurry. “You do know this is strike two.” I looked over at him, feeling confused. I had never been late before. “You called in last Tuesday, without proper notification, and left us short staffed,” he added. “We are swarming with college kids daily, and working with less than four at all times isn’t acceptable.” “My brother fell out of his wheelchair and we had to take him to the emergency room.” I could feel the anger growing inside me. “My mother needed my help.” “You are still in probation period, Morgan,” he stated, leaning forward in the chair. He dared me to argue and damn it, I wanted to, but chose to bite my tongue instead. “Though

I understand your situation,” I didn’t much care for his tone or his wording when referring to my family, “you have to understand mine. Your brother is not your responsibility.” Oh hell no, he didn’t. “Let me stop you right there,” I said, holding up my hand. The last thing I wanted was to lose my job, but there was no way I was going to let this arrogant bastard say another word without me setting something very clear. “With all due respect, you were fully aware of my responsibilities outside of work when you hired me. My brother may not be my son, but he is most definitely my responsibility. He will always come first, regardless of what I may have to set aside in order to go to him. He is not a ‘situation’ and I would greatly appreciate you remembering that little detail. You may be my boss, but that does not give you the right to be an ass.” Okay, so the ass comment may have been a little too much, but my blood was boiling and my hands were shaking with the desire to punch this prick. “Are you done?” he asked. “I don’t know,” I added. “Are you?” I was challenging him. He was a twenty-year-old college dropout who thought he could treat us college kids like his property. He was smug, and though I had been working here less than a month, there was no way I’d allow him to treat me like an incompetent fool. “As I said, this is strike two,” he continued. “I should make it three, considering you just called me an ass, but I’ll let that one slide.” He stared at me as if giving me the chance to say more. I didn’t. “I’m sorry that I was insensitive, but again I have to run this place, and to do so I need reliable employees.” “I understand,” I said through gritted teeth. “Good, then,” he said, standing from his desk. “We understand one another.” I remained standing in the same place until he moved past me and out through the door that led to the shop in front. The moment I heard the door click behind me I fisted my hands and kicked at the ground. Spinning in circles, throwing my best version of a tantrum, to keep from storming out there and tackling the asshole. “Arrogant, no good…” I let the words fade as I moved toward the time clock and yanked out my card. The words rolling around in my mind would surely have me fired on the spot. No one, and I do mean no one, ever, made Toby out to be an issue. I meant what I said—he would always come first. I spent a couple of extra minutes in back, doing my best to tame the beast still roaring inside of me before going out front. Purposely avoiding eye contact with Mitchell, I began filling the station with fresh veggies and making sure the sauces were full. Trina already had fresh bread made and was currently loading in another tray. Miles was in the lobby, cleaning tables and floors before we unlocked the doors. My mood was shit, and honestly, I just wanted the day to be over. Continuing to stay to myself, I positioned myself behind the counter when Miles unlocked the front doors and the first customer entered the lobby.

Mitchell was right; we were busy, like always. The Sub Shop was within walking distance of the University of Florida. It was a cheap place to eat, and something fast, so we were on a constant rotation of new customers. It was one of the things I loved about this job—for the most part, the hours went by in a rush. It was only an hour before my shift ended, and though I still had no idea how I’d get home, I was glad it was almost over. I’d gone to the back to grab another container of onions and left Trina and Miles manning the counter. Hurrying back through the door, I quickly slipped around Miles and removed the empty container to replace it with the full. I wasn’t really paying attention to the customers as I scanned over the remaining items to see if anything else was getting low. “Hey,” a deep gruff voice said loudly, gaining my attention. A tall guy, with sandy blond hair and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen stood before me with a big smile on his face. “I know you,” he added, looking at the guy to his left. “Sorry, I think you have me mixed up with someone else.” I reached out and lifted the sweet peppers and began to turn away but was stopped in my tracks by his next words. “You’re the blonde that X took home from the party last weekend.” He said something to the guy he was with and they both chuckled. I was that girl, I guess. The girl who got nailed by a fraternity guy and later became just another girl they passed stories around about. “He slept for a day to recover.” “You’ve got it wrong,” I said, staring back at the guy. “I took him home. He served a purpose and now, I’m done.” I walked away, satisfied with the look I left on their faces. But in my head I was only irritated that I let myself be another party whore. Honestly, what in the hell was I thinking? Had I honestly expected he wouldn’t run back and tell all the guys about our night? The thing was he didn’t remember, so my guess is he made shit up just so he could be the man. A slap on the back, a few way to gos from his brothers, as he went on about screwing the desperate girl. Guys were assholes. By the time I came back out from the back, the guys were already gone and I ignored the curious looks that Miles and Trina were giving me. Neither of them were going to get details; they could think what they wanted. I have never been the type of girl to give a shit what people thought of me and I sure as hell was not going to start now.



Chapter 15 Xavier I leaned forward, placing my head under the warm water spraying from above as I closed my eyes, allowing the water to relax me. My thoughts fell back once again to a set of gorgeous green eyes. Hooded eyes, staring up at me and my body moving against hers. Memories of my night with Morgan had been coming back to me, vivid memories of the most erotic night I had ever had. She was so needy, almost as desperate for me as I was for her. We were ravenous, clawing and tugging at one another. A hunger that was uncontrollable, a desire that was untamable. Fuck, it was something I craved so badly, it consumed me when I least expected it. I wanted to touch her, taste her, but that wasn’t all. I wanted to know her. My mind raced as I pictured her blonde hair and that beautiful smile. She was a challenging girl, but I knew there was more to her; if I was given the chance to unveil her I would be glad to. The warm water felt great pelting against my skin, relaxing almost. In this house it was impossible to get an uninterrupted shower, and I was surprised I’d been given the ten minutes I had. Normally within seconds someone was already beating on the door bitching about needing to hurry. If that didn’t work, the assholes moved on to the next level and starting pulling shit like picking the locks or even worse, turning off the main water valve. There was nothing worse than having shampoo in your hair and not being able to rinse it. Well, when it ran down and got in your eyes it was a little worse. So being allowed these few extra minutes was something I planned to take advantage of.

Opening my eyes, still with my head tilted down, my gaze landed on the small hoops that remained in my nipples. They were a reminder of my night with Morgan. The night shit got a little crazy, yet the memories of her flooded out everything else. I’d have already removed them if she hadn’t said she liked them. The way her eyes bored into mine and that sweet seductive look that covered her face when she looked back at me. I stood naked before her, in the middle of her bathroom, with her crazy ass roommate only a few feet away, and all I could focus on was her. Faint memories of that night and well into the morning had slowly came back to me. I might not remember it all step by step, but I had flashes. Small windows of our time, the way she ran her tongue over my nipples as she thrust her hips against me. Warm, wet kisses over my chest and stomach, the way she’d looked up at me through hooded eyes as she moved lower and lower. It was like I could almost feel her against me. Her fingers linked with mine as she used the support I offered to ride me hard and fast. The memories were now so vivid. There were also the soft whimpers and words she released as I flipped her over and took control. Sweet pants, mixed with demanding encouragement. Damn, the girl was hot, needy, and though I tried, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. She was the polar opposite of Britney. The impression she made just after one night had my head spinning and my body humming at an almost constant pitch. “Quit jacking off, asshole.” Loud pounding echoed throughout the bathroom. “You’ve been in there long enough.” Corbin was such a dick. “I need to get in there before the rest of the assholes get here and take all the hot water. I got a friend coming over tonight and I need to make sure my junk smells fresh.” Like I said, a dick. I could guarantee this socalled friend he had—he didn’t even know her name. Most of the guys in the house were like that. I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing the clean towel from the shelf. Taking my time to dry off just so I could further irritate Corbin, my mind rolled around trying to think of the next big gag I could pull. Yes, we were all unable to pass up the opportunity to get one of the other guys when they least expected it. It kept things interesting. In this house there were a list of things you never should do. One being you should never leave your shampoos or body washes out unattended. It may seem girly, but I carried a handy little basket with all my own shit. My shaving cream, razors, body wash, shampoo, hell even my cologne and deodorant. Believe me when I say the guys calling me a pussy was better than the alternative. The pink loofah and the douche I found on my bed last week still didn’t phase me. I would always keep my shit secure. Not everyone in the house had learned their lesson yet. The twins—they’d never get it. “Come on, X.” He pounded on the door once again. “Get on with it; your dick is the one hair that is slightly bigger than the rest. Just jerk it, think of a naked chick with big tits and get the hell out.” Shaking my head, I leaned into the shower and grabbed the bottle of body wash that had Corbin’s name on it. I should have felt bad for what I was about to do, but I didn’t; he

was the dumbass who left it out in plain sight. He was also the prick tormenting me at the moment, so to me it all seemed fair. I knelt down and opened the vanity, leaning in to reach into the very back corner. There was a space behind the built-in shelves that a small baggy of goods fit behind. I smiled to myself as I pulled it free and held it out before me. Food coloring, Nair, and a few other items were still tucked safely inside. This time I went for blue. Unscrewing the lid to his body wash, my grin grew wider. The bottle was a dark gray color and contents within the bottle were a shade of bluish green, which made this even better. Tipping the food coloring up, I slowly counted out the drops in my head. One, two, three. “Xavier, come the fuck on, man.” This time it sounded like he was kicking the door. I looked over my shoulder, and by the time I looked back I realized I had lost track of the drops I had applied. For a moment, only a small one, I thought of maybe not going through with it. But, only for a small moment. The asshole had tormented me a time or two. I shrugged my shoulder and thought fuck it. Quickly I placed the food coloring back in the bag and tucked it back behind the shelf before standing up and screwing the lid back on the body wash. With a few good shakes, I placed it back inside the shower and wrapped my towel around my waist. I hurried to gather my things, and just as I opened the door, a fist almost collided with my face. There I stood in the doorway, staring back at him, trying not to give anything away. “About time, man.” He pushed past me and I quickly stepped out into the hallway. The door slammed behind me, indicating he was in a rush and it only made my smile grow. I walked toward my room, suddenly feeling triumphant, as I thought of what Corbin would look like when he exited the shower. “What are you smiling about?” I looked up to see Red walking toward me. “And why the fuck you still have those damn things in?” He pointed toward my chest. “Well, I still have these in,” I answered pointing toward my piercings, “because I kinda like them. I think they look badass, so I guess I should offer you a thanks.” He hated that I wasn’t pissed he’d pierced my nipples. Made the whole thing even better. “I’m smiling because Corbin is in the shower, and I left him a little surprise.” “Do I even want to know what the hell you’re talking about? Because the way you’re gleaming makes me wonder even more about the two of you.” He arched an eyebrow at me, yet still didn’t move out of the way. “Let’s just say that when he walks out, have a camera ready to capture the moment.” I didn’t tell him more as I moved around him and left him to wonder. Once inside my room, I opened up the locker I had had my mom get me when they replaced the ones in the school where she works. It was the best place to keep all my shit

safe and out of the hands of the guys. Once I added in my basket, I locked the padlock and tucked my keys into the pocket of my jeans I’d planned to wear. It was the price you paid for living with a bunch of assholes that got off on making each others’ lives hell. It was all in good fun and mostly harmless. Besides the few times we’d had to live down the humiliation of long lasting effects. Parts of our bodies that generally shouldn’t have been shaved, stained skin, and other shit that wasn’t so pleasant. I quickly got dressed and moved downstairs as I sat in the living room, waiting for the sounds of Corbin to echo throughout the house. I knew they were coming. “Dude, I saw the pretty blonde you were with last week.” Brent entered the living room and sat down on the arm of the chair. “She is a looker, man, you know she works at the Sub Shop.” I think every guy in the house had congratulated me on Morgan. I wasn’t one to discuss my times with girls, but they all saw me leave with her. They also saw me come home the next day with claw marks on my back and a few love bites on my neck and shoulder. I didn’t give them anything they’d hoped for, but I didn’t deny it when they said I’d had a wild night. “She was damn feisty when I mentioned my boy took her home,” Brent added and I shot him a look of annoyance. “She said that she took you home, not the other way around.” It was then I smiled, because Morgan apparently liked being the one to have control. I would have to remember that. “Where is that asshole?” I heard Corbin’s angry voice and the sounds of his feet from above. “Xavier, I’m gonna kick your ass.” In this house nothing was a surprise. We all knew each day would be a new adventure of some sort. So when Corbin came barreling down the stairs looking like the lost fucking smurf, everyone burst out laughing. “You,” he said, pointing at me, his nostrils flaring. “What the fuck did you put in my shit?” “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I shrugged as I looked around at the guys. A few feet behind Corbin, Red held out his phone, videoing the entire thing. “Bullshit,” he huffed. “Blue, man, seriously? How the fuck am I supposed to get this shit off? Candy is coming over in less than an hour.” “Maybe she’ll think you’re a lollypop and lick you,” one of the guys hollered out. “Her name is Candy, right? Tell her you taste like blueberries,” a second one stated. “Tell her your balls are so blue that it’s now moving through the rest of your body.” Isaac stood next to Red, leaning against the wall wearing a wide grin. “Who knows, man? She may buy it.” Corbin looked like he was about to lose his shit. His nostrils flared and his chest heaved. “I’m gonna get you back for this,” he declared as he lifted his phone and began dialing. As he climbed the stairs we could hear his conversation. “Ma, how do you get food coloring off your skin?”

Laughter broke free just as Clayton entered through the front door. “What’d I miss?” he asked, looking around at all of us who were still gathered in a circle. “You are your twin are no longer identical,” Jay said as he lifted the controller and began flipping through the television. “He decided to channel his inner smurf.” Clayton looked confused and the rest of us only laughed harder. It was just another typical day at the house. I hadn’t forgotten about Brent’s earlier comment. I would tuck that information away to use for another day. I was suddenly craving a sub sandwich with the works served by a blonde with the sexiest green eyes I’d ever looked into.



Chapter 16 Morgan “I think it’s shot, kid,” my father said from under the hood of my car. “The head gasket is leaking oil, not to mention your radiator is near death.” None of these things sounded good, or cheap to fix. Which meant my car was done for. “I think it’s time to look for a new car,” he added as he peeked around the side of the hood. “I can help,” I cut him off before he got the chance to complete his offer. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s fine. The bus will take me anywhere I need to go and Marcus said he’d help as much as he can. A bus pass is cheaper than the maintenance on a car.” I tried to make the best of it but on the inside I was groaning in irritation. Public transport was the worst. I always got stuck next to the guy with the worst body odor or the woman who had on enough perfume to gag you. It was my luck; I had never gotten on a bus and left it without feeling horribly nauseated and like I was in desperate need of a shower. “We could find ya something cheap,” he tried again. “I could get in touch with your Uncle Rich, see if he can get us something halfway decent out of the heap and we could use it as a down payment.” “Dad, really, it’s fine.” It wasn’t fine. I dreaded the measures I would have to take to get from point A to point B daily. I also refused to put even more stress on my family. I couldn’t afford a car payment, not with what I made. All my funds went toward school and rent. I already paid way less than Marcus, and felt horrible for it. He took care of me, and each night I went to bed with a perpetual knot in my stomach for it. “Who knows? All those hours on the public bus could give me great material if I ever decided to write a book later,” I said with a smile.

“What? A horror novel?” He smiled in return. “Or comedy.” I shrugged, pushing off the fender as I turned toward the house. “Come on, ol’ man, Mom left our lunch on warm in the oven and I’m starving. There is no use wasting any more time. Wilbur gave it a good run but it’s time to give ’im a proper burial.” “Wilbur?” he said with a chuckle. “Yeah, it was all I could think of. It sounds like a hard working man ready to retire.” I offered in explanation, smiling back at my dad. “What about Edmond? Ed? Does that sound like an old man ready to kick up his feet and hang up his hat?” I heard the hood of my car shut just as I reached the steps of my small childhood home. It might be tiny, but it was full of more love than most large homes. “Edmond sounds like a man with a huge heart,” I said as I spun around to face him. I watched as he walked toward me, and I noticed how tired he looked. I wished more than anything that I could help both my parents more. They deserved a break, a vacation, something. “Ed is the name of the best man I know,” I told him just as he stepped up to my side. “He’s my hero.” It wasn’t a lie. My father was and is the best man I have ever known. He would do anything for his family and he had. He worked long hours, only to come home with a smile on his face, showing us nothing but love. Even on the nights he was so exhausted and could barely keep his eyes open, he still found time for Toby and for my mom. He had a heart of gold. “You do know you’re my favorite daughter.” He placed his arm over my shoulder and hugged me close. I laughed and poked his side at his joking comment. I was his only daughter, but he said this often. “Really, kid, you’re amazing, and I’m proud of you.” I teared up as I always did when he said things like that. My father’s pride was all I could hope for. He loved so deeply and the way he took care of us all, even when he’d reached his limits, well, it was inspiring. Because even though there wasn’t much else he could do, he still made the worst possible situation feel like it would be okay. “I’m proud of you too,” I said. *** I was lying on the couch, curled up under a blanket when Marcus entered carrying a pizza box. “Dinner has arrived,” he said in a happy, enthusiastic voice. “I got your favorite.” “Extra mushrooms and black olives?” I asked, still watching the Lifetime show on TV. “Yep.” He lifted my feet and sat down on the end of the couch, before setting my feet in his lap. “Pete says ‘Hi’ and that he added extra sauce for you too.”

I rolled my eyes at the mention of Pete. “That guy has it bad for you,” Marcus taunted. “Pete has it bad for every blonde who enters Porter’s Pizza.” It was true; I thought I’d seen him practically salivating on multiple occasions as he scanned over the restaurant, taking in every single blonde in sight. “Well darlin’, if those innocent looks of yours get us free pizza, I am willing to use it to our advantage as often as I can.” Marcus began to rub my feet. “I told him you’d stop by and see him soon.” I gawked at him, making him chuckle. “What?” he said with a shrug. “I had to give the poor dude something, and he isn’t interested in me personally, so I offered you instead.” “Way to pimp me out.” I turned back toward the television. “If only that man knew how much of a bitch I can truly be.” “Nope,” Marcus said, “I’m sure it wouldn’t make a bit of difference. He reminds me of the submissive type.” “Oh my god,” I groaned, taking that as my cue to get up and move. “I don’t want to even begin to imagine that man in any type of intimate situation.” “What about Xavier?” Marcus asked from behind and I was instantly glad he couldn’t see my expression. The name alone still gave me chills. But after his friend came into the Sub Shop and commented on our night together, my expression might have been mixed with a little irritation too. “Only you don’t have to imagine what he’s like in an intimate encounter, you know.” Marcus rounded the counter just as I placed two plates next to the box of pizza. “The sounds that poured from your room that night I’ll admit were erotic.” I looked up just in time to see him shiver with delight. “To have been a fly on the wall.” A large smile spread out over his lips. “Okay weirdo,” I said, thrusting a plate of food at him, “enough fantasizing.” He smiled wide, taking the plate from me before offering a wink. “Just think you should have taken him up on a repeat performance.” He shrugged, turning around and walking toward the table. Marcus kept things interesting. “What—so he could go back and tell his fraternity brothers about the easy girl he banged the night before?” The words left my mouth before I even took the time to think them over. It was a downfall of mine. I think they call it foot-in-mouth syndrome. Or maybe it’s can’t-shut-the-fuck-up syndrome, I’m not sure which. “He didn’t.” The fun Marcus from moments ago disappeared and in his place was one who didn’t look too pleased. “Let me rephrase that, he better not have.”

When I didn’t answer right away, Marcus leaned in and narrowed his eyes as I sat down across from him. “Who told you this?” he asked. Marcus is an amazing friend. He brings out the best in me, that side I rarely let others see. I didn’t have to pretend with him. “It wasn’t so much him, but one of his brothers came into the Sub Shop the other day and made a comment about me being the girl he took home. You could just see it on his face,” I said, picking at my food. “I’m more than sure he got every detail Xavier could offer and he probably made up the rest. Considering he couldn’t remember much.” “I’m sorry, babe,” Marcus said, reaching out to take my hand in his. “I pushed you on the guy.” “No, I did that all on my own,” I corrected him. “It was fun, I won’t deny that. But it’s over and now I want to move on.” I pulled back my hand and lifted my pizza to my mouth, taking a bite fit for a guy. I was a mess, but again I didn’t care. Marcus didn’t judge me and he sure as hell didn’t expect me to eat nothing but salad. I could eat more than him on any given day and most of the time I did. The rest of our conversation revolved around the death of my car and the plan to get me back and forth from school to work. “I don’t like you riding that shitty ass bus,” he said as we stood side by side washing the dishes. “I think you should let your dad help you get a car.” “Leave it alone,” I told him. My parents were already behind on their mortgage as it was. He couldn’t afford to add me on top of it all. I had this. I may not like it, but it was a sacrifice I’d make to secure my family.



Chapter 17 Xavier “What can I get for you?” the perky redhead asked from the opposite side of the counter. I was too busy looking for Morgan to even consider the menu. “Is Morgan working?” I asked and the girl’s smile faltered. “She comes in at four,” she said, still staring back at me with curiosity. “Are you a friend?” I lifted my phone to check the time and was disappointed to see it was just a little after two. “Did you need me to make you something?” the girl asked when I didn’t answer her earlier question. “Yeah,” I replied, tucking my phone back in my pocket. “I’ll take a number four.” I stood quietly while she made my sandwich and wrapped it up. “Anything else?” “That’s good,” I told her as I moved toward the cash register. After paying for my food, I moved toward the far corner and found a small booth. I wasn’t really hungry, but I couldn’t just sit here without ordering something. I spent the next hour working on a paper I had due next week. My phone buzzed on the table next to me, and as I opened the message, I did my best to hide my laughter. A picture of Red, holding Isaac in a bear hug. But the funny part was the makeup Red wore. It would appear that Isaac had gotten his revenge on Red, finally. “What are you doing here?” I looked up to see none other than Morgan standing next to my table. Her arms were

crossed over her chest and she didn’t seem pleased to see me. “Eating a sub,” I offered, holding up the sandwich still wrapped in the paper. “What are you doing here?” I said in return, acting surprised. “Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t look good on you.” She lowered her hands. “Cora already told me you were looking for me. You’ve been here for over an hour already and you haven’t touched your food.” “Sit down.” I motioned toward the opposite side of the booth. “I remember you being much more friendly the last time we met.” “Well, considering you couldn’t even remember where you left your shoe, I’d say your memory isn’t the greatest. I could have been a raging bitch then too, and you wouldn’t have known any different.” She arched her eyebrow, daring me to argue. “That may have been true at first, but I can assure you things have come back to me slowly. Memories and visions, words spoken; it’s all right here,” I said, tapping on the side of my head with my fingertip. She didn’t look convinced. I leaned in a little closer, assuring that those around us wouldn’t hear what I was about to tell her. “You have this birth mark, on the inside of your left thigh,” I whispered. “It looks like a diamond almost. I remember it very explicitly. I remember it because I spent quite some time between those thighs, kissing and tasting.” She swallowed hard, yet didn’t take her eyes from mine. They narrowed slightly, her lips pressed together as she tried her best to appear unaffected by my words. It was her turn to lean in, but I didn’t retreat. I quite enjoyed our closeness. “Are these the same stories you shared with your friends when you got home the next day?” she asked, her question surprising me. “Did you give them details about the easy girl you spent the night with? Did you tell them how I begged for more, how I couldn’t get enough?” “I didn’t tell them anything.” I was a bit thrown off by the direction this conversation had taken. “It was one night, a night that was completely out of character for me. But I did it and that moment has passed.” Morgan stood tall once more. “I gave you stories to share when you all sit around and talk about the easy girls you hooked up with at parties. I told you that next morning that it wouldn’t happen again and I meant it.” She started to turn away and I reached out instinctively to grab her forearm. Her eyes settled on the place my hand was and her nostrils flared. Standing from the booth, I stepped in closer and released her arm. “I don’t know why you seem so angry, but I can assure you that I haven’t shared any details about our night with the guys. The only reason they knew I left with anyone is because they saw us walk out together. The claw marks on my back and the hickeys on my neck were the only proof they had the next day.” She looked up at me, still looking as if she didn’t quite believe me. “I didn’t share anything with anyone. That night is ours,” I stated. “I came here today

looking for you because since that night I can’t think of much else. I know you said you didn’t have time for dating, but I just wanted you to know that I’d be willing to take whatever I could get.” I leaned back toward the table and grabbed my book and notebook, leaving the sandwich behind. As I turned back to face her, she still watched me close. I wasn’t sure if it was the right move, but I didn’t let my racing heart stop me. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’m not that guy, Morgan,” I whispered. “I’m not an asshole.” I didn’t wait for her response before slipping past her and walking out the door. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, I finally took in a deep breath. My head was spinning and my heart still felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest. Things were always easy with Britney, even when we first started dating. I asked after she threw out all the signals. She was interested, it was obvious. After that things went smooth for us, for the most part anyway. Now looking back, I’ve realized she was clingy and jealous, controlling and possessive. But I’d never had to work for much. Morgan was a mystery, a challenge. My father always told me that the biggest things in life never come easy, you have to work for them. I was willing to work for Morgan and willing to prove that I wasn’t the jerk she thought I was. I may have only had one night with her, but her smile was etched in my mind. Most of it was still a little sketchy, but her gorgeous green eyes with small flecks of gold and that laugh was something I knew without a doubt I could never wipe clean from my memories. Our night together was nothing short of amazing. One imperfect, unforgettable night that I couldn’t walk away from. All I needed was just one chance to show Morgan that we could be more than a one night stand. *** “What the fuck, man,” I grumbled as I stepped out of my bedroom and tripped over something just outside. It was still dark outside, which made it hard to see. What I do know is whatever, or whoever it was, it still remained in the doorway of my room. Nudging the figure once again, a little harder this time, caused a deep, displeased growl. I had given up being shocked or surprised about the events that took place in this house. Nothing was unexpected. I didn’t push too hard to figure out why someone chose to sleep in the center of the hallway instead of their bed. I figured they had a reason. Instead, I moved past them toward the bathroom. Just as I was about to exit, I heard a loud shriek. It sounded more like a girl, which set

off alarms in my mind. I hurried from the bathroom and rounded the corner toward the scream, only to come to a screeching halt. There on the floor just outside my room was not only the figure I had stepped over, but also Red. The hallway light had been turned on, which confirmed the figure was actually Clayton wrapped tight in his sleeping bag, only his head poking out of the top. “What the hell is going on with you guys?” I asked, still completely confused about this entire ordeal. “Why are you sleeping in the hall?” I asked Clayton before turning my curious stare back to Red. “And why are you standing over him with a pitcher of…” I paused, looking at the jug he held in his hand. “Is that Kool-Aid?” “Yes,” Red said, shrugging. “It’s all I could find to dump on this asshole.” I lifted my hand up and ran it over my face in an exasperated manner. It was the fucking twilight zone; I could swear it. It was too damn early for that shit. “He put cooking oil all over my floor and I got up to take a piss, and about broke my neck.” Red added as I lowered my hand. “I slid and fumbled, fuck, I almost went right through my damn door. A man of my size should never attempt the fucking splits, man.” A look of horror took over his face. I tried not to laugh, but imagining what he described made it hard to keep a straight face. Red was a big guy. “Well, you put puddin’ in my fucking bed,” Clayton interrupted, his deep southern twang echoing throughout the hall. He was still wrapped up in his sleeping bag, attempting to hide from Red and his pitcher of red Kool-Aid. I looked up at Red and arched an eyebrow. “Pudding?” He only nodded his head as if that was the most normal thing in the world. “So I oiled up his floor as payback,” Clayton’s mumbled words filled the silence. “Yeah, and now I’m gonna drench his ass.” Red announced as he held the pitcher high. “Can the two of you just move this to another area? It’s too early, and if you both want to continue on with this bullshit, don’t do it right outside my room.” I stepped over Clayton and shook my head at Red as I stepped inside my room and closed my door behind me. I heard a few muffled words, followed by Clayton’s screeching just before Red broke out in deep guttural laughter. Asshole dumped that shit right outside my room. I loved the guys, I really did, but I was beginning to think I needed a place more peaceful and civilized. I lived with a bunch of damn animals.



Chapter 18 Morgan I sat in class staring ahead, but hearing absolutely nothing that the professor said. I couldn’t focus on anything other than Xavier’s words from yesterday. “I’m not that guy, I’m not an asshole.” Maybe he wasn’t. I won’t pretend for a second that the urge to relive the night we had all over again wasn’t lingering in my mind. Drunk or not, that guy was sinful. He may have fumbled a bit, he may have repeated his words a few times throughout the night, but what he lacked in smoothness he made up for in skill. Every time I thought about his mouth and hands, I’d feel the heat rise in my neck. Then I’d remember that I had to stay focused. I couldn’t get distracted by a guy and his ability to make me forget everything else, even for a short time. It was hard enough already; I didn’t need to add drama on top of it all. Because that’s what relationships were—drama. Especially a college romance with some fraternity guy who partied every weekend on his parents’ dime. When Professor Wright dismissed us, I gathered my things and exited the class. I still had close to two hours before I had to be at work, and catching the bus home was the last thing I wanted to do. Instead I stopped at the vending machines, grabbing a Coke and a bag of mini chocolate chip cookies before I walked outside and looked around. Spotting an empty bench, I began walking that direction. Once seated, I dug through my bag in search of my iPad. Flipping through the study guide I had downloaded the night before, I used my teeth to open up the bag of cookies. Before long I was lost in all the medical terminology and became oblivious to anything

outside of the studies of cerebral palsy. Toby was my inspiration to go into the medical field. I still wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to settle on. I had time, since it would take me twice as long to get through school than most. I knew I wanted to help people. I wanted to give them hope even when they felt there was nothing left. I reached over to grab my drink, my eyes still focused on the screen and not what I was doing, and knocked it to the ground. Thankfully the lid was still on. Leaning forward, I grabbed for it and sat back up, suddenly surprised by the overcast shadow that now hid the sun. Squinting, I looked up to find none other than Xavier standing over me, a smile on his face. I didn’t say anything, only quirked my brow in question and waited for him to say the first word instead. Reaching around his back, he pulled something out of his bag and brought it around front. “Peace offering,” he said, holding the bag out toward me. I tried to keep the smile that was tugging at my lips at bay. “Sour Skittles?” I asked, wondering how in the hell he knew my love for them. “I told you I’ve since started to remember things from our night.” I looked away because the smirk covering his lips was distracting. “There were like, five bags of these things on your dresser, two on your nightstand. If I remember correctly, they were also in your car when you took me home the next morning.” “Observant even when you can’t walk straight,” I said with sass. “Impressive.” “So does this make us friends?” he asked as I leaned back against the bench, still doing my best to remain aloof. “I don’t know about friends,” I teased. Reaching out when he began to pull the Skittles away, I swiped them from his hand and he chuckled. “Do you mind if I sit?” “It would be kind of rude for me to say no now, after you just bribed me with candies.” I slid over, giving him a little more space just before he sat down next to me. “Listen, about the other day,” he started to backtrack, and I held up my hand to stop him. “I was a bitch,” I said, and he scrunched up his brows, surprised by my words, I guessed. “I’ve had a really shitty week, my car quit, I have to take the public bus every day. Let’s not forget my boss is a complete asshole, and when your friend mentioned something about us in the middle of the Sub Shop, it hit me wrong.” “Defensive,” he said, turning more to face me, “but not a bitch. “Sweet, but really, I was a bitch.” This time he didn’t argue. “I apologize for Brent, he can be a jackass.” He placed his arm over the back of the bench and I felt his fingers brush over my shoulder in the process. “But I meant what I said.” “Which part?” I asked, feeling my heart race now that he was closer and his eyes were fixated on mine. What was it with me and this guy? Any other male I could remain aloof

and brush off their advances. Xavier, though, he had this way about him, a look maybe, or just his mere presence that had me feeling all girly and soft inside. “About all of it, actually.” And there was that smile again. “I never told them anything about our night. I’m not the type of guy to run back and share details. I prefer keeping my personal life private. It’s disrespectful.” I looked down at the bag of Skittles I held in my hand, just to gain a moment of clarity. It was hard to focus when he was staring back at me with the gentlest brown eyes. I wasn’t a girl wounded by a man of my past. I wasn’t even a girl who allowed men close. There was no hidden secret as to why I kept myself out of relationships. I just truly didn’t have time for the distraction. “I also meant what I said about being willing to take whatever I could get, just to get some time with you.” I took in a deep breath and tilted my head just enough to see his expression. “I know what you said about not having a lot of room to date.” “I don’t,” I assured him. “Okay, so, we don’t go out to movies and dinner, instead I surprise you with takeout when you’re too tired to make something after a long day.” I had to give it to Xavier; he was quite persistent. “So what if it takes us a full week to watch a movie on Netflix? We’ll take all the time we need. I want to get to know you, Morgan. Even though you say it’s complicated, I think we can un-complicate it.” He offered a silly little wink that made me laugh. I quickly regained control and shook my head, as if to clear my thoughts. “Xavier, I had a lot of fun that night.” I couldn’t think of any other word to use. Fun was definitely an understatement. “But with school, work, and other things, I just don’t have much space left in between.” “Other things?” he asked, just as he skimmed over my shoulder with his thumb. Chills covered my arm, and I fought the shiver that rolled through me. “Family,” I said, more breathlessly than intended. “No guy friend?” he asked, still toying with me. “Guys are too much trouble,” I told him, gaining a smile almost instantly. “Is that right?” He leaned in closer and I suddenly found it a little harder to breathe evenly. I only nodded my head in agreement. “I can be fun,” he assured me. The idea of just how truly fun he could be flashed in my mind, and I squeezed my thighs together trying to control my thoughts. “Too much drama,” I said, looking away from those brown eyes that were completely focused on my mouth. “I hate drama,” he added. Lifting his other hand, he placed it over mine, resting on my leg. “Just one chance,” he whispered. “It’s all I’m asking for.” My entire body was screaming “yes.” I wanted to skip work and take him back to my apartment where we would spend the entire afternoon reliving each touch, each kiss from

that night. I felt almost desperate to feel him touch me again. But the woman inside me who knew I didn’t have time to be a horny college kid fought against every single urge inside me. “I can’t,” I whispered before I could talk myself out of it. I closed my eyes, and for a moment just focused on the feeling of his fingertips. His touch made it almost impossible to stand behind my words. If that wasn’t already bad enough, he moved in closer, much like he did that morning when I dropped him off at his house. His lips brushing against my cheek, his warm breath fanning out over my shoulder and neck. “You can,” he whispered. “I’ll convince you, it’ll all be worth the fight.” He slowly stood, placing a soft kiss on my cheek near the corner of my mouth. When some distance had been created between us, I looked up at him. “You don’t give up, do you?” “No.” He didn’t even hesitate. “Not when I want something.” “I’m that something?” I replied, finding that inner sass I had momentarily lost. “No, Morgan, you are that someone.” He continued to stare at me for just a moment before leaning in and placing a piece of paper in my lap. “What’s this?” I asked, opening it up. “Don’t take the bus,” he said. “Call me.” He turned around and began walking away without giving me the chance to argue. I watched as he moved across the grass toward the parking lot. A confident sexy swagger, his pants hugging his legs and ass just perfectly. Just before he got into a red car, he lifted his hand and offered me a wave and my heart rate sped up. Why did he have to be so confident and demanding? Couldn’t he just take our night for what it was? One night of heated sex between two consenting adults. Done, finished, and move on. By this time I was too distracted to even attempt continuing to read. Every other word had to be reread because all I kept remembering was the way his hot breath felt against my neck, or his fingers on my shoulder. It was pointless. So instead I gathered my things and started walking to work. My phone began ringing about halfway there. I pulled it out of my back pocket to see it was Marcus. “Hey you,” I said as I pressed my phone to my ear. “Where are you?” he asked and the seriousness in his tone frightened me. “Walking toward work, why?” I paused at the side of the road and listened to what sounded like tires squealing through the phone. “Marcus, what is going on?” “I stopped by your parents’ to hang with Toby for a bit,” he said, his voice laced with anguish. It wasn’t unlike him to stop by for no particular reason; he did it all the time.

“Toby was asleep, and your mom…” he started to explain, and I stopped walking as I stepped to the side, allowing people to pass me. “Tell me,” I said, pushing him. “I think I should wait until I get there to pick you up,” he insisted. “No, you can tell me now,” I practically demanded. “The last few times I’ve stopped by to visit, I’ve found her crying in random places throughout the house. Today she sat at the kitchen table staring off at nothing. She hadn’t even heard me come in, she was so lost in her sadness,” he continued and my chest tightened. “I think she needs help, Morgan.” Of course she did, she was overwhelmed, stressed about medical help for Toby, and money to pay for everything. “I know that you talk to your mom, and you offer her help whenever you can, but have you ever just sat back and watched her?” Of course I had…hadn’t I? “I think she needs more than just physical help, Morgan, I think she needs to see a doctor.” Just then I looked to my left to see Marcus pull up along the curb only a few feet away from me. “She’s depressed, and I don’t mean just a little. It’s severe, Morgan, and she needs help.” Tears pooled in my eyes as I thought of her being so saddened that she felt like the world was crashing in all around her. “If I miss work, I’ll lose my job,” I whispered. I don’t know if it was my way of ignoring the truth and not wanting to face it, or if I was truly worried about being fired. “It’s a shit job for shit pay,” Marcus added, and I knew he was right, but it was all the income I had. Even with student loans and grants I barely made it as is. “I already called your dad, he’s on his way home. They’re gonna need us.” Things like this, times like these just confirmed what I told Xavier only moments ago. My life was complicated. I’d give in, and he’d be all right at first with the limited time we’d have. Then it would all change and he’d grow tired of having to attend events alone or me having to leave at the drop of a hat to rush home for some reason. In the end I’d be left missing the idea of us and he’d move on to another girl who could offer him a real relationship. It was better for the both of us if I just continued to resist his advances. I climbed inside the car, reaching across to latch my seatbelt before I actually took the time to look at Marcus. “You okay?” he asked, and I offered him a nod. That nod immediately shifted to a no. Shaking my head, I looked back at him and a tear escaped me. “How did I not see how depressed she was? I knew they were struggling and that she was overwhelmed, but I just continued on each day thinking it would all work out in the end.” “We all did,” he said, reaching out to take my hand in his. “She’s taken care of all of us for so long, now it’s time we take care of her.” He was right, my mother had given so much to everyone around her and never

expected anything in return. She was selfless, and I thought it was time she got a welldeserved break.



Chapter 19 Xavier It had been two days since I saw Morgan outside of the student hall. I’d looked in that same spot at the same time each day to only come up empty. Had I truly expected her to use the number I gave her to call for a ride? I guess I hoped by some miracle she would. I didn’t like the idea of her riding the bus. After the third day I grew anxious and stopped in at the Sub Shop, only to find out that she no longer worked there. The guy behind the counter was a raging dick who told me to tell her thanks for leaving him high and dry. I assumed he was the manager as I observed him barking orders to the rest of the workers. Had it been me working for a douchebag like that, I would have told him to fuck off and walked out too. I know I had no right to worry, but I couldn’t stop myself. I drove across town to the apartment I knew she shared with her friend, and as I stepped up to the door, I took in a deep breath. I heard the sound of the locks clicking and a chain being slid across the metal bracket, just before it came open. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Pineapple.” Just inside stood her roommate and the man I knew would never let me live down that night. I was afraid to know all the things he heard and actually witnessed from that night. But the entire pineapple flavored lubricant was more than I wanted him to know already. I was very thankful to find that the night hadn’t gone as I initially thought once I woke, but I had this creepy feeling that Marcus stood outside Morgan’s room and got an earful. Some things are just better left unknown.

“Is Morgan home?” I asked, ignoring his pineapple comment. “Nope,” he said, enunciating the pop of the “p” of the word. “She took my car over to her parents’ house, but uh…” He paused, lifting his phone from his back pocket. He typed out a message, and just when I was about to speak, he looked up at me with a gleam in his eyes. “You could be a hero and take me over there so I can get my car, though.” I won’t lie; the guy creeped me out a bit. I think it stemmed back to the fact that he did indeed see me naked. “You’ll get to see Morgan,” he offered with a grin. Apparently bribing me was his next attempt. “Sure,” I replied as I backed away when he rushed forward, crowding my space. The guy seemed harmless; something told me he just liked getting a little rise outta me. Maybe it was the way my cheeks reddened whenever he mentioned anything about that night. Or hell, the way he looked me over as if remembering the way I lay sprawled out on Morgan’s bedroom floor with my ass in the air. Once we were inside the car, Marcus made himself at home. He took control of the radio until he found the station he liked. When he started looking through my glove box, I looked at him, thinking the man had lost his damn mind. I mean, who does that shit to someone they barely know? “Do you know that there are two very sure-fire ways of getting to know a person for real?” he said, not looking in my direction as he continued to search my glovebox, now empty, as he held its contents in his lap. “Someone’s garbage, but I’m too good-looking to search through the garbage at that fraternity house. So the next option is a person’s car.” He shrugged as he continued to look over one item after another. I had nothing to hide, though I did find his tactics strange. He lifted a picture out of the bunch as I slowed for the red light. “Family?” he asked. I leaned in closer, “Yeah. That is Carter and Cassie, my brother and sister. The woman is my mother, Caroline.” I had forgotten that picture was even in there. It was at least four years ago, because Carter was now in high school and it was taken before Cassie cut off all her hair. “Your father in the picture?” Marcus asked just as I sat up straight once again and eased my foot off the brake. “Yeah, he is.” My parents were so together that it was at times nauseating. Still to this day they acted as if they were teenagers dating. I don’t think the newness phase had ever worn off for them. My family was amazing. “He just works a lot.” “Something you and Morgan have in common,” Marcus added as he placed the items back in my glovebox. “Her father works way more than any one person should.” “Does she have any brothers or sisters?” I asked. “Toby,” Marcus said and I could almost hear the smile in his voice. “Amazing kid.” He didn’t say anything more about him, but “kid” gave me enough indication that he was younger than Morgan. The remaining part of the ride the only conversation shared

was when he’d tell me where to turn and so on. “Here we are,” Marcus said, pointing toward the small yellow house on the left corner. It was aged, grass a little taller than the others surrounding it. It appeared at one time it had a screen door of some type, the frame with hinges were still visible. The blue paint on the front door was cracked and weathered, chipped away in places, showing the wood beneath. In the driveway was a bright blue car, clean and sleek. Just next to it was an older model Toyota, the paint faded and aged in spots throughout. “Come on, loverboy,” Marcus hollered out as he pulled open my driver’s door and hurried toward the front porch. My parents aren’t wealthy, but they’ve done well for themselves. My father owns his own construction business, updating homes and remodeling. It was a business his father started so long ago that has since flourished and expanded beyond his wildest dreams. They’ve all planned well for the future through investments. My mother was a teacher at the high school in Kissimmee, Florida, where I’m from. I wasn’t raised to think I was better than anyone; we were all the same. But looking ahead, I knew there was a part of this beautiful girl I had not witnessed. She was so different, and I think I knew that from the beginning. Marcus didn’t even knock before entering, just pushed the front door open and hollered out something about the sexiest man was in the house. I chuckled to myself, because honestly the guy seemed like a fun dude. Just outside the front door was a makeshift ramp, made out of plywood and two by fours. My first thought was it would really dress up the front if they added a small deck with maybe some railings. I felt a little strange just walking inside without being invited, but Marcus was nowhere in sight. I could actually hear his voice echoing out the still opened door, but I couldn’t see him. Not wanting to leave the front door wide open, I stepped just inside and closed the door behind me. Pushing my hands into my front pockets, I looked around at the small space cramped with an abundance of furniture. In the corner was some type of contraption with straps and a hoist, or seat, or something. I felt huge in the space as I continued to scan the area. “Well, hello.” I looked to my left and felt nervous as a shorter woman with cropped blonde hair entered the living room. “You must be Xavier, though Marcus did insist that I call you Pineapple Man instead.” She smirked. “I’m not sure I even want to know.” I tried not to react, but when she laughed I knew my face gave away my shock, and maybe discomfort. I made a mental note to get him back in some form whenever the opportunity arose. “Xavier,” I said, thrusting my hand forward, “Stone. Just Xavier Stone,” I insisted as she reached out and shook my hand. “He tells me you’re a friend of Morgan’s.” I didn’t miss the curiosity in her eyes. “I

never get the chance to meet many of her friends, besides Marcus, of course, but he is like one of my own. She keeps her life outside of here pretty private.” “I’ve learned that about her too, she’s a difficult puzzle to solve,” I agreed, and her smile only grew. “Difficult is one way to describe my daughter. Strong willed, determined, and stubborn would be a few other options we could use too.” “Cranky, broody, irritable,” Marcus said as he entered the living room. “Maybe bitch too.” Morgan’s mother laughed as she nodded her head, agreeing with Marcus. My thoughts on the topic were suddenly lost when a small boy entered the room in a motorized wheelchair. He beamed brightly, a toothy grin as he drove right up to me and came to an abrupt stop. I could feel the eyes of both Marcus and Morgan’s mother on me, as if they were weighing my reaction to the boy. At first I was a little shocked, but that quickly passed as I leaned in and placed my hand on his. “Hi,” I said. “You must be Toby?” He didn’t respond. He turned his head toward his mother, and by the excitement on his face, I’d have to say I passed the test. “He approves, Mom,” Marcus told Morgan’s mother. “Toby knows a good one when he sees one.” I had no idea what that meant, but when they welcomed me in and led me toward the table where they too, joined me, the tense feeling inside me faded. I had been accepted. “Morgan went to the hardware store with Ed, and then they were gonna stop by and pick up lunch for all of us. I’m sure they’ll be back soon,” Morgan’s mom said; I now knew her as Kathy. “She’ll be excited to see you’ve stopped by to visit.” Marcus snickered and I narrowed my eyes at him. I think we were both thinking the same thing. She would be shocked, irritated maybe, but I doubt excited. “Come on in and get comfortable.” Kathy waved me in. I sat down on the couch and Toby slid his chair as close as he could get to me. He appeared to be a happy kid, always smiling. His legs didn’t seem as if they had much mobility or strength, but he was able to use his arms. A small switch that operated his wheelchair was mounted within reach and he used it to move himself around with ease. His right hand looked a little tighter than the left. “He was born with complications, and though I know there was nothing I could do to change it, I feel like sometimes I did this to him.” I looked at Morgan’s mother and could sense her sadness. “But he is our special little man, full of love and determination. Stubborn like his sister, but has his daddy’s heart.” “And his mom’s too,” Marcus added as he reached out toward her and hugged her closer. She touched his arm with her hand and offered a gentle pat. I didn’t know the situation between Marcus and Morgan’s family, but anyone could see

they were close. “Well, I may have just met ya, Toby,” I said, reaching out to tap his knee, “but I say you are an amazing guy.” He nodded his head, before looking over toward his mother and Marcus. “That he is,” Marcus added. I was studying the field of orthopedics, and though it may not have been the same thing, I’d always been fascinated with muscles and how they work. I had gone through courses for rehabilitation and the best exercises to treat specific injuries for full recovery. Again, not the same as what Toby needed, but the tightness and spasms he experienced were sometimes treated using the same tactics.



Chapter 20 Morgan The last couple of days were hard. I’d missed school, refusing to leave my mother’s side. Even though she insisted she’d be fine after the doctor prescribed meds and we all sat down and talked, I still couldn’t go. I felt awful knowing she was fighting some type of hidden battle I couldn’t fight for her. So I stayed at my parents’ for a couple nights, making sure she had very little to do on her own. I wanted her to just relax, take some time for herself, and let me handle everything else. She was stubborn, even though she said it was all me, but where did she think I got it from? She fought me, then when she finally realized I wasn’t gonna budge, she gave in. She napped, took long hot baths, and even went to lunch with an old friend. My mother has such an amazing heart, so full of life. Lately though that spark within her had faded and I wanted nothing more than to get it back for her. I wanted her to laugh and smile, know that it was not forced or for show, and that it was truly genuine. I’d do whatever I had to in order to get back that sweet woman. I was slowly starting to see her again; with each day that passed she resurfaced. “Looks like we’ve got some company,” my father said as he rounded the corner onto the street. “Fancy little red car, isn’t it?” I didn’t respond, because all I could focus on was the tight knot in my stomach. I knew that red car. It was the same red car Xavier climbed in after he gave me his number and walked away. A red two-door sports car that looked like it cost more than mine, my father’s, and my mother’s combined. My question was why he was here. Oh, and how in the hell did he figure out where my parents lived?

I moved from the truck within seconds of my dad slowing to a stop as I moved toward the front door with purpose. I pushed open the front door, fully intending to tell Xavier he had a lot of nerve taking his need to know me this far and froze instantly. My mother and Marcus sat on the couch, while Xavier stood in the center of the room. He held Toby’s hand in his as he extended his fingers, pressing firmly to the palm of his hand. I recognized the movement immediately; it was a therapeutic method we used on him daily. The muscles and tendons throughout his arms and hands needed continuous stretching, otherwise they remained tight and caused him pain. What I didn’t understand was why Xavier was now the one performing them. “Do they recommend this once a day?” he asked. They were all still oblivious to my presence. “Actually we do it with him twice a day,” my mother said in response. “There are times, though, that we’ve done it more. Usually Morgan will do it or Marcus when they are sitting down to watch a movie. He does better when others help him; I think he gets frustrated with me.” “Sometimes a change is good,” Xavier added, “for the both of you, actually. Does he have therapy weekly outside of the house? Cycling, maybe,” he asked. “They say that truly helps with the muscle spasms.” “What are you doing?” I asked, gaining everyone’s attention. Marcus spun around, looking back over the couch at me, and my mother stood. I knew he was somehow behind this and I’d handle his nosy, pushy ass later. By the look on his face, I think he sensed I was irritated with him. “Honey,” my mom said, taking a step toward me. She looked so much brighter than she had a few days ago. It could be related to the fact that she was now on medication to help her cope with her depression. Or maybe that none of us have left her alone for more than thirty minutes at a time. “Xavier was just…” I cut her off as I stepped around her and focused on Xavier. “Why are you here?” I asked. “I invited him.” I turned my body toward Marcus and gave him a look I knew he’d understand. This is my life, my family. I wouldn’t allow any guy to weasel his way into my life by using my family to do so. Especially Toby, and Marcus knew this. I was territorial of my brother. No, I was obsessive. He was the most important thing in the world to me, and at that moment I felt bulldozed. My emotions were all over the place. “He gave me a ride over here after he showed up at our place looking for you,” Marcus clarified, only it did nothing to ease the tension I felt. I bit down hard on my lip to keep myself from saying all the things rolling around in my head. “Thanks for the help, Morgan,” my father said from behind me as he squeezed past me carrying bags. “There’s more in the truck,” he added.

It was my way out, my escape. I needed a moment to just breathe. Without another word I turned on my heels and walked back out the front door. By the time I reached the truck my heart was racing. I leaned forward, bracing myself against the side of the bed and closed my eyes. I could hear someone approaching from behind and assumed it was Marcus coming to explain his actions. I spun around, fully intending to let him have it, only it wasn’t Marcus. It was my mother. “He seems nice,” she said cautiously, “and Toby loves him.” “That’s just it, Mom,” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “Toby.” I ran my hands over my face, trying to regain a little self-control. “What?” she asked. “Toby is off limits.” I sounded louder than I intended to. When I lowered my hands and looked back at her she was just watching me. How could she not see why this upset me? “He’s just a guy, Mom,” I told her. How the hell do you explain to your mother that you hooked up with someone you didn’t even know and now he wants to do it all over again? “I barely know him.” I left the rest unsaid. “He’s asked me out and I declined. Now he’s here, in my space, with my family. He’s acting as if he gives a shit about Toby and his therapy and you all are buying into the act.” “Do you know anything about this guy?” she asked, still giving me a look like I’d lost my damn mind. “He’s just a frat guy who isn’t used to being told no,” I assured her. “I give in, he gets what he wants, and then he’s gone.” “I don’t get that from him,” she stated, crossing her arms over her chest. “I see a boy who likes a stubborn girl.” I rolled my eyes and leaned back against my father’s truck. “Morgan.” My body tensed as I looked over my mother’s shoulder to see Xavier standing only a few feet away. “Can we talk for a minute?” My mother stepped forward and pressed her hand to my cheek. “You’re young, you shouldn’t be forced to push the things you want aside. I may be old, honey, but I know what it’s like to be your age. Give the boy a chance.” Her hand dropped away and she turned to face Xavier. Walking toward the house, she patted his arm as she passed him and I cocked a brow in question. Had he really had them all so fooled? “Just a frat guy, huh?” he questioned me as he stepped closer. I should’ve felt bad about him overhearing my thoughts, but at least it saved me from having to repeat it all. There he stood, with his hands pushed into his front pockets, his forearms flexed,

showing off the contour of the muscles throughout his arms, shoulders, and chest. A flashback of those very muscles ran through my mind as I remembered the way they tensed when he hovered above me not that long ago. “You have this perception of men,” he began, pulling me back to the present. “Like we all want one thing, as if we aren’t capable of commitment. That may be true for some, but I’m not sure why you’ve categorized me as the same. I’ve tried since the morning after we were together to be more with you than just that one amazing night.” “I told you I didn’t…” He held his hand up to stop me. “I know, you didn’t have time,” he finished for me. “I didn’t show up here to make you mad. I didn’t decide I would invade your life and leave you with no other choice but to give in.” “Then why did you come here?” “At first,” he shrugged, “it was because Marcus assured me I’d get the chance to see you.” I arched my brow as if to say “I told you so,” and he chuckled. “I know, but then after I met your mom, and Toby, it was different.” I didn’t say anything in return. The mention of Toby once again gave me that territorial reaction. Only I chose to not yet react. “It doesn’t change the fact that I want to know you more. But if you’re still adamant about not giving me a chance to show you I’m not the guy you think I am, then I get that.” He removed his hands from his pockets and took a step toward me. “Okay, so I lied, because I’ll still try to change your mind,” he chuckled when I rolled my eyes at him. “But Toby is a great kid, and whether you believe this or not, I’d still like to be able to hang out with him.” “Why?” I said. “Because you feel sorry for him and you feel like you’re doing something great by befriending him?” “No.” He appeared completely unaffected by my aggressive words and demeanor. “Because he is amazing and his personality is refreshing. He’s brave and the way he smiles as if everyone around him has the challenges and not him himself is inspiring.” “I don’t mean to be rude or bitchy, I’m protective of Toby. I can’t help it,” I said, suddenly feeling slightly defeated. “When it comes to him, something shifts inside me and the need to keep him safe is all I can think of.” “I understand why you are so protective over him,” he added. “I’m the same way with both my siblings, but I can assure you of something. I’m not using him to get to you and I don’t feel sorry for him.” “Hey, you two,” my father hollered out from the door, “grab the rest of the food from the truck and get it in here. Let’s eat before it all gets cold.” Xavier raised his hand indicating to my father that he’d heard him before looking back at me. I could tell he was silently asking me if it was okay. How could I tell him no? It appeared that everyone else thought him being here was nothing big. Like he’d been accepted as part of the gang and I was the one overreacting.

Hell, maybe I was. But the idea of anyone using Toby, or looking at him as if he was an easy target infuriated me. It was something I would do everything I could to avoid. Even if it meant pushing aside my own needs and curiosity to protect him. “I guess you’re staying for lunch?” I realized it was more of a question. I also knew I was the only one questioning it. “Only if that’s okay with you.” With a tilt of his head, he offered me a sweet smile and suddenly the charm they all could see was right there in front of me. “I did promise Toby I would watch his favorite movie with him.” “Pulling out the Toby card already, huh?” I asked, unable to hide my own smile. With a shrug his grin grew wider. “Toby is pretty amazing.” I couldn’t have agreed more. “You do realize what movie you agreed to watch, right?” I asked. It was a movie I thought I could recite word for word I’d been forced to watch it so many times. Xavier looked back at me for the first time appearing concerned and shook his head. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” “Shew,” he said, pretending to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “For a minute I thought you were gonna say something like Legally Blonde or Pretty in Pink.” “No,” I moved past him, “but in that case you should never agree to watch a movie with Marcus. Pretty in Pink is one of his favorites.” I didn’t look back but I could hear him chuckling as he followed closely behind. “I will remember that if I’m ever invited over to watch a movie.” Maybe it was just me, but his comment sounded a little hopeful.



Chapter 21 Xavier I think I was enjoying my movie time with Toby a little more than I should, but the kid was a riot. He was so perceptive and the reactions from him throughout the movie may have brought out my inner crazed spirit. I’m talking imitations of the karate moves, the sounds they made when fighting the bad guys, the whole works. Toby and I were like two young boys having the best time of our lives. The moment Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael stepped onto the elevator I knew what was about to take place. By the look on Toby’s face and the way he pushed his hands out before him, I had a feeling this was one of his favorite parts too. I slid forward on the couch and the beat began as I started to imitate the movements of playing the drums. Toby’s grunting laughter made it even better. I was so lost in the moment that I hadn’t even noticed we were no longer alone. It was the sweet sound of Morgan’s laughter that broke me out of my moment and I looked up to find her standing in the doorway of Toby’s room. “You two look like you’re having fun in here,” she said when her eyes connected with mine. Toby squealed and her smile grew. “How many times has this been now?” I held up two fingers and offered her a wink. She was right; the kid loved this movie, but I honestly didn’t mind. It was one of my favorites too. Had I imagined watching it two times in a row, no, but I wouldn’t complain. Toby was enjoying himself, and that made it worth it. “After this time, buddy, it’s time for therapy and then your meds.” She looked over my shoulder toward her brother and he just ignored her. I had a feeling that happened often

when it was related to something he didn’t want to do. When I looked back at Morgan and nodded my head, indicating she come join us, she only shook her head. Still insistent on keeping her distance from me. I didn’t give up though, this time patting the empty space next to me. Again she shook her head. Please, I mouthed the word yet she still refused to budge. The flirty feeling I was getting from her now was much better than the earlier look of irritation. I understood her need to keep her life hidden from those she didn’t know well. I just had to convince her that I wasn’t the jackass she thought I was. Still she made no indication she was going to give in, only backed away and left both Toby and I alone to finish out our movie. So for the remaining time, he and I fell back into our silly roles and played out the scenes doing our best to imitate the green mutants moving around the screen fighting evil. By the time it ended, Toby was grunting the word more and I knew had I hit play once again, I may have had a sweet little blonde kicking me out the front door. “Morgan said it’s therapy time, pal,” I told him as I stood tall and stretched my arms above my head. He looked up at me, for the first time without a smile. Slowly he shook his head and pointed toward the television. “Let’s make a deal,” I said as I held out my hand, waiting for him to shake on it. “I’ll come back and me and you will have an all-day mutant turtle marathon,” I told him and his face lit up. “I promise,” I assured him and he placed his hand in mine. “You ready, Toby?” I looked to my right and found Morgan looking at me with a skeptical look on her face. I was caught off guard by the jerk of his wheelchair as he used his other hand to push the button and move it forward. I jumped back, bumping against the TV stand and Toby drove away, chuckling at my reaction. It would seem the little guy was a jokester. I noticed Morgan had yet to follow behind him, still watching me as if there was something she wanted to say but she was holding back. So instead of waiting on her, I slowly moved toward her and leaned against the doorframe, only inches left between us. “What’s that look for?” I asked, noticing immediately the way her eyes shifted to my mouth before quickly moving back to my eyes. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” she finally said and I knew she was challenging me and my promise to Toby. “I never do,” I assured her. “I told him I’d come back and I meant it.” She arched her brow and I couldn’t help but grin. She was feisty. “Just like I told you that I’d be happy with even a small amount of your time,” I whispered moving in just a little closer. “I didn’t lie then, either. You may think I’ll eventually give up and lose interest. Like maybe if you ignore me and your curiosity long enough it’ll just go away. If that works for you, then do it, but I’m not wired like that. If I

want something, I make it known, and I want you. Gaining Toby was just one hell of a bonus.” “You just don’t give up,” she said. “Do you?” “No,” I whispered in return. “Not when it’s worth it.” “How do you know it’s worth it?” she asked me, her eyes shifting toward my mouth once again. “Because I’ve had one night with you and ever since then, I can’t think of much else. You’re different, Morgan, and I mean that in the best kind of way. You may not believe this, but you and me are more alike than you think.” She looked up, her eyes questioning me. “We both would do anything for our families. Neither one of us cares about all the material things, because they are all just things. It’s more about the people we share our time with, not what we’re actually doing, just them alone.” “You’re either a really good liar,” she said, her chest rising and falling with one deep breath, “or a really good guy.” I shrugged. “I’m a good guy.” I smiled when her lips tilted up at the corners. “I’ve tried telling you this, you just won’t listen.” “I’m stubborn,” she offered. “Haven’t you figured that out by now?” I nodded, taking the last step that remained between us. If I leaned in just an inch or two, I could’ve pressed my lips to hers, but I remained just how I was. “That was evident our very first night together when you insisted that you were in control.” I noticed the way her eyes lit up with the memories. “I am in control,” she said, daring me to argue. I remained silent, though in my mind I could only think of showing her just how uncontrollable I could make her. “I am,” she added as if she could actually read my thoughts. “I agree,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing. “Which is why I’m the one choosing to kiss you,” she said just before she rose up and pressed her lips to mine. Instinctively I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her body tightly against mine. Her own hands instantly went to my chest and slid upward to wrap around the back of my neck. “Stop taking control,” she mumbled against my lips and I smiled at her words. Pulling back, I pressed my forehead to hers. “This is going to be a problem for us, isn’t it?” “Not if you just accept that I make the rules and I make the choices,” she challenged me. “Not a chance,” I shot back and she started to step away, but I tightened my hold on her. Pulling her in toward me, her body was now pressed firmly to mine. “I have a really hard time with rules.” With those words I once again took her mouth with my own and I felt her body melt against mine. She might say she was the one leading, but I knew different. I remember the

way she writhed beneath me, begging me to keep going. I remember the way she gave in and allowed me to take the wheel that night in her apartment. She liked letting go, she enjoyed the way her body reacted to mine. I just had to remind her. *** “Where are you going?” Isaac asked as I exited the house just as he was entering. “Picking up Morgan and taking her to class,” I said as I tossed my keys in the air. It’d been a week since I broke through her walls. She was still hesitant, but at least she was willing to give me a chance now. “Is that the girl you’ve been moping over?” he smirked. “The girl I met at the party,” I offered, “the blonde.” “Nice,” he said, nodding in approval. “You sure you wanna jump from one fire to the next, though?” He was referring to my relationship with Britney. What he didn’t know is even though I was with Britney for close to a year, she didn’t hold a candle to Morgan. “I can assure you Morgan is nothing like Britney.” He smiled as I turned around and continued to walk toward my car. As I climbed inside my car, I sent her a quick text telling her I was on my way. When I pulled up in front of her apartment, she was sitting along the curb waiting. Before I could even think of getting out to open her door for her she was inside the car and buckling her seatbelt. I knew she wasn’t the type of girl who wanted a guy to do those types of things, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to be that guy. It was just the right thing to do. When I didn’t take my foot off the pedal, or say a word she finally looked up at me. Her brows scrunched in confusion as she looked over me, most likely wondering what the hold up was. There was one thing, one very big thing that made my time with Morgan very enjoyable. Her sassy attitude. God, it turned me on. Most guys would just classify her as a bitch and move on to something easier, but not me. I loved the challenge. There was nothing better than watching that outer exterior melt away when she gave in to me. It was a struggle to reach that point, but once we did, it was so fucking gratifying. “What?” she asked, still curious as to why I had yet to move my car.

Once she looked back at me, her eyes locked on mine. I lifted my finger to my lips and tapped once. She rolled her eyes and tilted her head just slightly to the side. “Seriously?” she asked, throwing back attitude. I only nodded, still refusing to move. “I’m gonna be late for class,” she insisted, still refusing to give me a kiss. “Then I guess you better give me what I’m asking for,” I told her. “I don’t hear you asking.” She crossed her arms over her chest, this action only pushing her breasts up. When she noticed my eyes shift downward she made a “humph” sound. I was a guy, and she had really nice tits, so shoot me. “Morgan,” I said in my sweetest voice. “Can I have a kiss?” I asked. “Please?” “You are ridiculous,” she stated. I didn’t argue. She made me this way. Once we broke through the shit at her parents’ and she finally accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to stop trying to break her down, things shifted. There was this fun, playful manner between us that made it feel as if we’d known one another for a lot longer than we had. I was relaxed around her, and though she tried to hide it, I think I was growing on her too. She liked me, she just didn’t want to willingly admit it. “We can sit here all day,” I added, refusing to give in and let her have her way. “Or I can just walk,” she tossed back with a grin of her own. “You could,” I agreed, “but then you’d still be late.” She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something and then closed it quickly. She did this a couple more times before leaning in and pressing her lips to mine. When she tried to pull back, I gripped the back of her neck and held her close. At first she was a little resistant, but ever so slowly she let go and accepted our kiss. Her tongue skimmed over my lower lip and greedily took over, and within seconds we both lost control just a bit. As I sat back in my seat and released my hold on her, I took satisfaction in the redness of her lips. Swollen with that just kissed look. “Now, will you drive?” She tried to be all sassy as if she was unaffected, but the breathless whisper she used gave it away. Morgan was just as attracted to me as I was to her.



Chapter 22 Morgan “That smile looks good on you.” I ignored my mother as she danced around the kitchen looking more lively than she had in months. After Marcus found her sitting in the living room crying and looking lost, things changed. Not only was she on medication to help with her depression, she was talking to a counselor too. Just someone to listen to her and never judge her for the things rolling around in her mind. She also took a pottery class once a week and joined a book club that met every Wednesday night. Starting that week, every Saturday afternoon, she and my father were going to take a few hours to escape. Just some time to enjoy each other and reconnect. The idea of it all was so romantic. My father was being all cute about it, planning it all out, keeping it secret. The worry on his face that day when he rushed in through the front door was one I never wanted to see again. He blamed himself for her state, though we all knew he wasn’t to blame. He was providing for his family the best way he knew how but he couldn’t let go of the fact that he’d missed the signs. The thing is, I did too. Now that she was smiling more, and even laughing, I realized just how long it had been since the last time I saw her this happy. It was easy to forget something when it was gone for so long. “Would a certain tall dark haired man be responsible for that smile?” I rolled my eyes at her sappy tone. She stepped up to my side, bumped her hip to mine, and I laughed. “Maybe,” I said, shaking my head at her. She was like an eager young girl, just itching for some gossip. “I

just don’t know yet what to think of him.” “What do you mean?” she asked with a genuine concern. “We didn’t meet under,” I paused, looking away from her, “normal circumstances.” I still felt a bit strange discussing Xavier with her. I didn’t want her thinking that I did that kinda of thing often. “You mean a one-night stand isn’t the normal college way?” I shot her a look and she snickered. “Marcus told you.” It was the only explanation. When she shrugged, still wearing that same smile, I knew I was right. “I’m gonna kill him.” “Morgan, I met your dad at a party. Three weeks later we moved in together. Two months after that I found out I was pregnant.” She laughed when my eyes grew wide. “Yeah, and then we were married less than a month before you were born.” “I am not moving in with Xavier, and we aren’t getting married or bearing any children.” Was she insane? “Ya never know,” she added. “Oh, believe me, I know,” I assured her. “Okay, fine.” She turned around and leaned back against the counter. “But he obviously likes you. You’ve made the poor guy jump through hoops to gain even the smallest amount of your attention and he’s done it willingly. No twenty-one year-old I know would even bother if he wasn’t truly infatuated with the girl.” For a silent moment we just stood there, me focusing on the dishes I washed and her, I’m sure, staring at me. I don’t know why it was so hard for me to accept that Xavier might truly want to be a part of my crazy life. “I just think you need to enjoy his attention, because he’s passing it out in bundles.” He was too. “Do you know when Dad is supposed to be home?” “Sometime after six,” she answered as I looked up at the clock mounted on the wall. “I’m fine alone, Morgan.” I was hesitant, but I knew she was doing better. She was her old self again. “Go see Xavier.” She nudged my shoulder. “My keys are on the table.” *** I pulled up in front of the fraternity, parking my mother’s car in pretty much the same place Marcus parked the night of the party. I could see Xavier’s bright red car parked across the street, so I knew he was home. Maybe I should have called. Suddenly just showing up unannounced felt like the wrong choice.

I was just about to leave when there was a knock on my window that made me jump in surprise. Looking over toward the man standing on the passenger side, I realized I knew him. It was the same guy that came into the Sub Shop talking about Xavier and I going home together. He waved his hand, motioning for me to roll down the window. I tapped the button and the window slowly began to sink. “You’re Morgan, right?” “Yeah.” Maybe I should have said no. “X is inside.” He nodded toward the house. “They were all torturing Jay.” I could only imagine what type of torturing was being performed. A house full of nothing but testosterone-driven men sounded dangerous. “Come on.” He stood and walked around the front of my car before pulling open the door. “I’ll walk you up.” As if I had a choice. He reached out and took the keys from the ignition before taking my hand in his and tugging. “I need to roll up the window,” I insisted. I thought he’d give me back my keys, but I was wrong. Instead he leaned in past me, put the key in the ignition and then hit the button to roll up the window himself. After he took the keys back out and shut the door, he hit the lock and then began dragging me toward the house once again. “Listen, I’m sorry if I offended you that day in the sub place.” He looked back over his shoulder, my feet scurrying along to keep up. “I didn’t mean it how it sounded. Xavier was just coming out of a shit relationship with Britney the bitch, and it’s not like him to hook up with someone.” I wasn’t sure how this was any better than what he said before. “We all told him he needed a rebound girl,” he added, making my stomach feel as if it dropped to the ground. I stumbled up the stairs and he caught me at the top before moving quickly toward the door. I tried tugging back my hand but he held it firmly. Just as he pushed open the door, some guy walked through the entryway wearing nothing but a pair of underwear. If that itself wasn’t weird enough, he turned to face me and it was then I noticed the fake penis hanging from the front. Across the top it had a hashtag—#dickaswinging. It was that moment that I remembered the guy from the party that streaked through the house singing out that very thing. I looked up at the guy, feeling embarrassed that I was staring at his crotch, to find him smiling wide. “Hey sweet thing,” he said with a wink. Normally a guy calling me sweet thing, or any other random pet name would trigger a not so friendly reaction out of me. But this situation was already awkward enough, so I decided to let it slide. “Hey X,” the guy still holding my hand hollered out. “I found your girl outside.” His words echoed through the house followed by a few loud whistles and obscene words, just before Xavier appeared in the doorway, a look of surprise covering his face.

Again more awkwardness, and I contemplated turning around and just walking back toward my car. I should be fighting this feeling inside of me; I knew I should. Between my mother and Marcus pushing for Xavier and my own curiosity tugging at me, it was hard to stay away. I guess deep down inside I wanted to feel what it was like to have someone desperate for me. I wanted to let go of all the hesitation inside of me and see where it led us. “Hey,” he finally said before his eyes shifted to where his friend still held my hand. “Brent.” He said the guy’s name, his eyes never once leaving our joined hands. “You mind letting go?” It was more of a demand, really, which in turn made me smile. The idea of Xavier feeling possessive over me felt good. I was never one to understand that outward expression until now. Prior to him I would have found all of this childish and something I would only want to avoid. “Shit,” the guy said just before releasing my hand as if it was burning him. “Sorry, man.” Brent was off faster than I could register and in his place stood Xavier. “What are you doing here?” he asked, only making me feel stupid for showing up. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you are here,” he added, “just a little surprised.” “I should’ve called,” I said as I stepped back, only he didn’t let me get far. He extended his arm and gripped my hip as he pulled me back toward him. “No,” he said in a low voice, “this is good.” He grinned when my smile widened. A heat filled my cheeks and my stomach did this crazy little fluttering rush. I quickly tried to cover up my reaction to him by giving him my challenging look instead. Arms crossed, eyebrow arched, with my lips pursed. Only it did nothing to tame the cocky side of him. “Good, you brought your attitude with you,” he said, excitement in his eyes. He was so weird sometimes. What guy liked when the girl they were hanging out with had attitude? “Let’s go upstairs,” he said before taking my hand in his and dragging me off much like his friend did only moments ago. As we reached the top landing, he looked over his shoulder and then tugged me, pulling me to his side. Leaning in, he kissed my temple, and for a moment I forgot all about the information Brent offered outside. I forgot about the idea he planted in my mind about only being the girl Xavier needed to get over his ex. But, only for a moment. He opened a door, and within seconds I was in his room with the door shut behind us. “A rebound girl, huh?” I said without a second thought. Xavier stepped closer, a confused look covering his features. “Brent explained what the night we met was all about. That the guys wanted you to find a girl to help you get over Britney and I was that girl for you, right? The one to help you forget what you two had.” He didn’t answer me, which only made the fact that I even brought it up seem more stupid.

“I get it,” I said with a shrug. “Were the two of you together long?” Still no reply, only an intense look I couldn’t quite explain covering his face. “Why are you looking at me like that?” He shook his head, as he let it fall forward, now hiding his eyes from me. An awkward silence settled over the room. “Are you going to say anything?” I asked, wondering why he was ignoring all my questions. “Xavier…” Reaching out, I placed my hand against his stomach. He moved fast, backing me up to the door behind me, his body pressing my own against the hard wood. “Your first mistake was ever listening to a word Brent said. You’re not a rebound,” he said, his lips only inches from mine. “You weren’t that night, and you’re not now.” “It’s okay,” I assured him, and his features hardened. “I understand.” “Are you done?” he asked. “It doesn’t have to be a problem.” I was just glad I figured it out now prior to my heart getting in the way of things. It was a good thing to know before things went any further than they already had between us. “A problem,” he repeated, closing his eyes for a minute. “The only problem we have here is you.” I flinched at his words. “Me?” I asked, feeling slightly irritated. “Yeah,” he said, opening his eyes, looking directly into mine. “You keep looking for a way to prove this thing between us won’t work out. You’re just waiting for the moment you can say ‘I fucking told you so.’ But I got news for you, Morgan.” He lifted his hands and curled his fingers with mine. “That moment isn’t coming.” He closed the last amount of distance between us, pressing his lips to mine, as he slowly lifted my hands above my head. Pinning me to the door, using his body to press tightly to mine, he conquered my mouth, leaving me breathless. “I’m in this with you because I want to be, not because I feel like I have to be,” he whispered as he kissed along my jaw. “Stop pushing me away, stop fighting it.” In a slow, torturous pace, he kissed along my jaw and down the side of my neck. There was really no point in fighting for control, because at that moment, Xavier had it. He knew just how to manipulate my body to react to his touch, to his kiss. Within seconds I was ready to let go of all my reservations and let him do whatever he wanted. He was right, why fight it? Challenging the connection between us was exhausting. I bit at his lower lip as he began to pull away, triggering a moan from between his lips. “I think it’s time you accept it,” he said, skimming the side of my nose with his own. “You want me, I want you, there’s really nothing more that matters than that.” He was a cocky asshole who was completely right.

“Show me how much you want me,” I challenged him, and I could see his eyes fill with lust. The way he pushed his hips forward, grinding his erection against me. “No,” I whispered, “show me.” He released my hands and reached around me to grip my ass. Gently he lifted me and I willingly circled his waist with my legs, hooking them securely behind him. Spinning me around, he began moving across his room toward his bed. He held my body securely to his while using his other to brace himself against the mattress. I felt secure in his hold as he began lowering both of us to the bed. With my back pressed to the mattress, he sank against me, taking his place between my thighs. My pulse quickened as his hand ran along my side, moving beneath my shirt along the way. “I’m gonna take my time with you,” he whispered. “I want to remember everything.” Pressing his mouth to mine, he ran his tongue over the seam of my lips and I parted them, welcoming more. “I’ve craved that soft whimper of yours.” He pressed into me once more and I raised my own hips, gaining even more connection. “I’ve dreamed of that sound,” he confessed. “I need it.” “I need you,” I admitted. “You have me,” he assured me just as his hand covered my breast. “You have me,” he repeated, covering my lips with his once more.



Chapter 23 Xavier I took in a deep breath, my forehead pressed to Morgan’s as I tried to come back down from the high I just hit. Our bodies slick with sweat, mine still firmly tucked between her thighs as her legs remained around my waist, securely locked behind my back as if she wasn’t quite ready to let me go. That was fine. I wasn’t ready to leave. In fact if she agreed, I planned to stay right where I was all night and well into the morning. The challenge I’d faced trying to get her to give me a chance was torturous, but well worth it. I was just sorry I missed how amazing we were together the first time around. “That was…” her words faded off and I knew just what she was feeling. “Yeah, it was.” Both of us obviously found it hard to think of a word to describe what we just shared. She tucked her face into the crease of my neck, snuggling in as close as she could get. “I could get used to this,” I confessed, closing my eyes and getting lost for a moment. “Used to what?” she asked, her warm breath tickling my neck. “You being all cute and snuggling against me.” I could almost sense her rolling her eyes. “Just admit it, you like it too.” “Maybe,” she whispered softly, burrowing in a little closer before pausing. “Okay, I like it too.” It was my turn to smile. I think my girl was beginning to get a little soft. I liked the idea of being able to share this with her when we were alone. She was determined and stubborn yet with a gentle side hiding underneath. It was the best of both worlds. Her sassiness turned me on like nothing I’ve ever felt before, but this right here, this was good too.

I was glad I was lucky enough to see this side of her. The idea of any other man doing this very thing, with this very girl, made my chest burn with jealousy. “Stay with me tonight.” I knew one thing, I didn’t want this to end. “I drove my mom’s car,” she replied. “I should get it back to her.” “So we can take it back early in the morning. She’s not going anywhere tonight.” Morgan was quiet and I knew she was worrying her lips. It’s strange how by just silently observing someone for so long you learn their nervous tics. I’d witnessed it each time I approached her after our first night together. I also found her doing it multiple times when I was at her parents’ house, interacting with Toby. I didn’t have to see her face to know she was doing it now. “I really don’t want to get up now, but if it would make you feel better, we could take it back tonight.” I was willing to do just about anything to keep her with me tonight. “We can take it in the morning,” her soft, hesitant whisper filled the darkened room and I felt instantly relieved. I rolled toward my side, yet kept my arms securely around her body. The fact that Morgan willingly came, curling into my chest, was a good sign that she was warming up to the idea of us. I know my persistence helped too. We lay there in the darkness, her body snuggled in tightly to mine, neither saying a word. I could tell she was awake, but I waited to see if she was going to say anything more. I could hear the guys downstairs, and even in the hallway outside my room—loud laughter and havoc as usual. I’d gotten used to sleeping through most of their activities. You had to in this house or you would never get any sleep. “What else do you enjoy besides living with bunch of zoo animals?” she asked, making me chuckle. “You know it’s true,” she added. “Most of these guys are out of control.” “Yes, they are.” I didn’t deny it. “So besides streaking, egg tosses, and whatever else you guys do to torment one another, what do you enjoy?” she asked again. “Right now, I’m enjoying you,” I said as I kissed along the back of her neck and shoulder. “Besides that,” she said, breathier than the words she spoke only seconds before. When I didn’t answer right away, she turned in my arms to face me. “I like drawing,” she whispered, surprising me. “I’m not very good at it, but I find it relaxes me. Mostly landscapes and abstract images.” Knowing what I knew of Morgan, so stubborn and hard headed, I just found it hard to imagine her sitting with a sketch book in her hands. “I’d like to see them sometime,” I told her and she tucked her chin to her chest. When I reached out and placed my finger beneath her chin, I lifted her head to get a better look at her face. “Will you show me?”

“Maybe,” she whispered. “Now you have to tell me something.” I sat quiet for a moment, scanning over her face in the darkness. Her profile was illuminated by the light coming in the window from the street lamp just outside. “I used to play baseball,” I confessed and her nose wrinkled in the cutest way. “A jock, huh?” she said, a smile covering her lips. “Why, you into jocks?” I asked her as I slipped my hand around her back and placed it against the dip just above her ass. She looked up and I took advantage of our closeness, pressing my lips to hers. For a moment we were lost in our kiss, her tongue seeking entrance, mine meeting hers without hesitation. I could kiss this girl for hours, I swear. She pulled away much too soon and I fought against the urge to pull her back to me. “Not really,” she said. “I prefer the bad boy type with a bit of attitude.” “Then I’m glad I decided not to go after that scholarship and play for UCLA.” Her eyes widened and I knew I’d surprised her. “I loved it once, but I outgrew it. I knew I wanted more. Honestly, leaving my family to live in California was hard to imagine.” Her features softened. “What?” I asked, wondering what the look covering her face was all about. She snuggled in closer, her arms slipping around my side. Our bodies were completely pressed together, our legs tangled as our lips hovered only inches apart. “I think that is one of the things I find l like about you most. You understand the need for family. I can see it in the way you talk about yours; your need to stay close just confirms it.” “I told you we were more alike that you thought,” I assured her as I kissed her softly. No other words were spoken, just soft kisses in the dark. Those kisses alone were enough, they were more than enough. I was completely content with them alone. *** “Drop that pizza.” I turned my head to the left and found Morgan standing near the refrigerator, her arm extended outward as she pointed directly at me. I held the pizza near my mouth, fully intending to take a bite, but she looked kind of vicious. “Now,” she added as she took a step toward me. “This pizza?” I asked, wanting to fire her up just a little more. It was actually fun, and I’d found over the last week times like these had become a part of what I enjoyed most of our time together. The silly banter, the continuous flirting was refreshing. “Yes.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “That pizza. Mushrooms and black olives are mine.” She tried to sound intimidating, but it was impossible to hide her smile. It tugged at the corner of her mouth as she pursed her lips attempting to hide it. “That half is mine.”

“The whole half?” I asked, looking her over from head to toe. There was no way a tiny girl her size could eat the entire thing. Could she? As if Marcus could read the question in my eyes, he began to chuckle from across the table, “She can, she has, and she most definitely will again. Your girl eats like a man, so you better get used to it. The one piece of advice I can give you is never, and I do mean never, get between her and her mushroom and olive pizza.” I looked between him and Morgan, before looking back at him once more. “You could lose a finger, or a nut.” He shrugged and I swallowed hard just as Morgan snorted in laughter. “I love my pizza,” she added, trying to regain control after Marcus and his threat on my manly jewels. Or one of them at least. “Pete has a thing for Morgan, and when he makes her pizza, he makes it special,” Marcus added, suddenly gaining my full attention. “He puts extra toppings, and I swear the man writes hidden messages with the mushrooms. He is hooked on her something fierce.” “Marcus,” Morgan said in warning, only I wanted to know all about this Pete guy. “No,” I said, waving my hand in a continue on manner. “Please go on, I’d love to hear all about this Pete character.” I was trying to look unaffected by the thoughts of another guy liking Morgan. I smirked and leaned back in my chair, but my gut was tied in knots. “His family owns Porter’s Pizza on Michigan Ave.,” Marcus continued and I watched Morgan for a reaction, looking for any sign that she might have an equal interest in ol’ Petey. “He never charges us full price, never makes us wait for pizza. If I call in and order, it is top priority for Morgan here.” It had only been a couple weeks since Morgan gave in to what she was feeling toward me and showed up at my place. Since then she’d allowed me into her world. Which means I’d also been allowed into Toby’s and Marcus’ world too. Marcus was actually a pretty okay guy, and seeing how protective he seemed of Morgan, I found I liked him too. When she wasn’t with me, she had him, and that was reassuring. “He has a unibrow,” Morgan announced, breaking through my thoughts. “A huge, overgrown unibrow, of the darkest black hair I have ever seen.” Marcus broke out in laughter, and I know I had to have one hell of a perplexed look on my face. “A unibrow?” I repeated, and she nodded, her eyes widening just a bit. That helped, a little. But I still thought me and a few of the guys should visit Porter’s and harass this Pete guy. I thought it could be a fun way to fill an evening. Maybe I could trick Morgan into coming along just so I could fawn over her in front of him to prove a very important point. She is mine. Without a second thought, I lifted the pizza I held to my mouth and took a huge bite, just because I could. Morgan’s eyes grew wide, and you would think I just performed some horrendous act. Her eyes narrowed, her nostrils flared, and her lips pressed into a

tight line. At that moment I swore I could have heard a pin drop. Marcus didn’t speak, I continued to chew, and Morgan watched me as if I were the enemy. “This is some damn good pizza,” I said as I took another bite. I closed my eyes and made an over-exaggerated sound expressing my delight as I continued to eat the slice of pizza. I could almost see smoke coming out of her ears. I wanted to laugh at her; she didn’t scare me, she intrigued me, even when she was irritated. Whenever she attempted to look mean, I only found her cute. It was actually fucking adorable that she thought she could intimidate me. When I reached out for another slice, Morgan moved in fast, placing her hand over mine. Leaning in close, she brought her face close to mine, her eyes staring directly in to mine. “If you touch another piece of my pizza I can assure you, you’ll be going home tonight instead of sharing my bed with me.” “Is that so?” I asked, and all she did was offer me a very slow nod. Part of me wanted to push back. I wanted to fire her up and then when she was good and pissed, I would toss her up over my shoulder. I assumed she’d be kicking and thrashing as I carried her down the hallway toward her bedroom. I could almost hear her deep, exasperated pants mixed with her irritation when I’d toss her to her bed and move in quick. I had a feeling irritated, rage sex would be one hell of a heightened experience with Morgan. “That is most definitely so,” she assured me. “Eating my pizza equals banishment.” I chuckled. “I’m in no way exaggerating, Mr. Stone. You and your special friend down below will no longer be sharing my bed, or any other bed, with me.” So it’s like that? I wanted to challenge her, but I wanted her body pressed to mine later tonight more. I gave in. I’d save this battle for another night. “I tried warning you,” Marcus said. “You should just consider yourself lucky she didn’t kill you for stealing one piece. But she could still take off a nut later, so I would for sure remain on guard.” Ignoring Marcus and his continuous mention of my nuts, I focused on Morgan. Fucking adorable was the only thing I could think of her attempt to frighten me. Without another thought, I moved forward before Morgan expected it and pressed a quick kiss against her lips. I could tell I’d caught her off guard as her lips stiffened against my own, but honestly I loved doing that. It wasn’t often I was able to get to her with her guard down. Well, not when other people were around to witness it, anyway. When we were alone it was different, she gave me a side of herself I knew she did her best to keep hidden. Pulling away from our kiss, my gaze connected with hers and instantly I noticed the lust in her eyes. My chest felt as if it swelled with pride. Knowing that with just one

simple kiss I could trigger that kind of reaction reassured me and tamed the insecurity I felt only moments ago.



Chapter 24 “Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence.” Red stood from the couch and pretended to bow. “That’s right,” I said as I moved past him toward the stairs. “Glad you know who the bitch is and who’s the king.” I chuckled when he lunged at me. His arms circled my waist and suddenly I was tossed up over his shoulder. Just then my phone began to ring and I did my best to attempt to grab it. But the position I was in made it impossible. “Dude, put me down.” “What? Are you that whipped that if you don’t answer your phone your girl will get pissed?” The guys had given me shit for weeks. They loved hassling me about Morgan, but it never phased me. I’d take all the shit they had to throw my way. I watched as Isaac approached Red from behind, almost prowling. I knew I was probably going to be dropped or tossed as a defense mechanism. Either way, I assumed the shit was gonna hurt. Before I could say anything, Isaac jerked down Red’s pants, and like I’d assumed, he spun around in a quick reaction, causing me to slip from his hold. I put my hand outward to brace myself for impact, and the entire thing would have worked out just fine had the coffee table not been in the way. When the side of my face came into contact with the hard as fuck wood, I swore I saw stars. Instantly I covered my face and rolled to my back. “Motherfu…” My words were muffled by the pressure of my hand against my mouth. “Did you lose any teeth?” I looked up to see Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Fucking Dumber hovering over me. Corbin held a sandwich in his hand as he chewed obnoxiously. Clayton actually looked semi-concerned.

“Your girl won’t like the farmer look,” Corbin added before he slapped his brother’s shoulder. “Dude, you remember Murray from back home?” They both started chuckling. “That man only had every other tooth. Don’t know what happened, but he looked fucked up for sure.” “We could call him Murray,” Clayton added with a laugh. Okay, so I guess he wasn’t concerned. I moved off the floor to find Red holding Isaac in a headlock; the craziest part—his pants were still around his ankles. So were his boxers. Bare ass was all we could see. No wait, it wasn’t bare, he looked like Chewbacca. “Hairy fuck,” I said, shaking my head and walking toward the bathroom to inspect the damage. Flipping on the bathroom light, I lowered my hand and groaned out loud. “Well, you aren’t missing any teeth,” Corbin said from the doorway. “But you do look like you have a third eye growing out of your head.” I’d thought about arguing with him, but he was right. My cheek was all swollen, and in the center was a cut. A small amount of blood trickled down. The swelling was actually so bad, my eye even appeared bigger. “Great,” I said, bracing myself on the vanity as I leaned in closer. “I should have stayed at Morgan’s place.” Even the constant sexual innuendos from Marcus were better than the abuse I got here. My phone began ringing again, reminding me that I had missed a call prior to my collision with the table. I stepped back from the sink, reached inside my pocket, and looked down when my phone came into view. It was my sister, Cassie. “Hi kid,” I said, wincing when I pressed my phone to my ear. Immediately I moved it to the right side. “What’s up?” “Bored,” she said. That was it, only one word was all I got. Cassie was twelve, the baby of the family. She was hitting that stretch where boys were a little more interesting and all the things she used to enjoy now were childish. I didn’t much care for the liking boys part. “Where’s Carter?” She sighed, the sound of annoyance. “He’s with Ariana,” she said. “He is always with her. I swear she installed an invisible shock collar on him or something. She snaps her fingers and he runs.” Carter just turned sixteen, and just a week ago my dad caught him and his girlfriend naked in our upstairs shower. I spent that entire conversation with my hand covering my smile. There was just something different about him experiencing sex. Hell, I wanted to high five him and buy him the biggest box of condoms I could find. Cassie—I just wanted to find a chastity belt and lock her ass in the basement.

“She’s his first girlfriend,” I said in explanation. “She is a whore,” Cassie added, causing me to choke, “is what she is.” I could almost visualize her rolling her eyes. “I may be young, but I know why he likes her so much. She lets him do just about anything he wants to her. Carter is a sap, he just don’t realize she also lets Mark and Fritz do those things to her too.” “What?” I turned around to find Corbin and Clayton still hovering in the doorway, eavesdropping. I waved my hand outward, shooing them away. “Are you telling me that she’s sleeping with three different boys?” “Yep,” Cassie replied. “But if you tell Carter that he just gets pissed off. “Cas,” I said in warning. I knew that the word pissed was most likely the lightest word in her vulgar vocabulary but I still wasn’t ready for her to be using it. “Come and get me,” she tossed back, changing the subject. “Cassie, you’re over two hours away.” I leaned back against the sink, crossing my arms over my chest. “Well then, you better get moving.” Apparently cussing wasn’t the only thing she’d been perfecting. “Stop complaining and just get in your car and drive.” “Since when did you get so bossy?” I smiled because her sassy behavior reminded me of a certain blonde I was quite fond of. “Since you decided to desert me and run off to college, leaving me with the troubled brother,” she said without hesitation. “Since I’ve been forced to listen to him and his friends talk about things my little innocent ears shouldn’t hear. Before you decided that partying and easy college girls were more important than coming home to visit with your little sister more often. Sine you decided…” She just kept listing crazy shit. “Okay, okay,” I interrupted her. “You can stop now.” “You asked,” she offered with a laugh. “Just so you know, I’ve got a girlfriend,” I told her. “Please, don’t tell me you are back with that awful girl that says like every other word.” Cassie sounded annoyed. “I swear I thought she’d knock herself out one day with as much as she whipped her head around. ‘Ya know, it’s like so like, crazy how if I like flip my hair this way and like that way, boys like notice me more.’” Leave it to Cassie. “No, her name is Morgan,” I corrected her. “She’s nothing like Britney, she actually has a brain. She’s funny and I don’t think I’ve heard her use the word like more than a few times in the entire time I’ve known her.” “Okay then. Bring her with you.” Instead of responding, I sat silent for a moment, wondering if I could actually find a way to convince Morgan to drive with me to see Cassie. “Hello,” Cassie said when I was quiet for too long.

“Let me see what I can do,” I said before ending the call. I didn’t even wait for her to reply. *** “What in the hell happened to you?” Morgan asked when she opened the door to her apartment. She stood in the doorway, wearing only a long t-shirt. The same t-shirt she wore to bed last night. How do I know this? Because I was there when she slipped it on over her then naked body. The t-shirt was mine. Seeing her in it once again was gratifying. She looked damn good in it. Ignoring the fact that she was looking back at me more with a look of worry as she scanned over my face, I moved in. Hooking her around the waist, cupping her ass, I pulled her body against my own. She gasped when I pressed my now semi-hardened cock against her and shifted my hips slightly. “You like my shirt?” I asked her as I kissed her cheek. “Maybe.” The breathy whisper assured me that “maybe” was a definite “yes.” “It looks better on you.” I pressed another kiss at the corner of her mouth. Another shift of my hips caused her to moan. “Are we alone?” I asked as I backed her into the apartment. “Marcus is at work,” she assured me and it was all I needed. I kicked the door closed behind me and gripped her ass fully, one palm spanned over each cheek. My girl had one very sweet ass. I lifted her and she hopped up, wrapping her legs around my waist. I had come here for a purpose and this surely wasn’t it. But seeing her in my shirt, looking at me concerned, it did something to me. So I wanted to take advantage of us being alone. When I lowered her to the kitchen table and pressed my palm to her stomach, pushing her back, her eyes grew wide. Tossing her a smirk, I pushed harder and she slowly lowered her back to the table. Her legs still around my waist, I carefully unhooked them and stepped back for a moment, taking her in. Her hair fanned out over the darkened wood top, the t-shirt ridden up, exposing her weak excuse for panties. I loved the fact that Morgan chose to wear sexy little numbers beneath her clothes. It was always a pleasant surprise to find what she had hidden beneath. Each time we were together it was like unwrapping the best fucking present. Lifting my hand, I extended my finger and gently trailed the tip over the lacy material. Her back arched and she closed her eyes tightly when I went lower, applying just a small amount of pressure as I skimmed her clit. “Feel good?” I asked and she nodded her head, her eyes still closed tight. “Do you want more?” Another nod, only I needed more.

“Tell me,” I insisted. I could see the determination in her eyes when she opened them and looked up at me. She was trying to find it. Trying to reverse the roles and make me think she was in control. Only I couldn’t have that. Not now; I was wound too tight to give in. “Tell me,” I repeated as I slipped my finger beneath the edge of her panties and felt just how wet she already was. “I just need to hear it, and it’s yours,” I assured her. When I saw her resolve slipping, I pushed my finger inside her, just enough to tease. When I pulled back, she whimpered. “More?” I asked, gliding over her clit once again. “Yes,” she said in a needy demand. “More.” Her word echoed throughout the apartment. Keeping my finger in place, teasing her, I reached inside my pocket and pulled out my wallet. Somehow I maneuvered it around and retrieved the condom I had tucked inside. Placing it between my teeth, I quickly undid my pants and pushed them low enough for my hard cock to spring forward. After I tore open the condom and skillfully rolled it on, I pulled her panties to the side, and pressed myself against her. Already her hips were shifting in search of more and I moved closer, giving her just a small tease of what she wanted. “Please,” she begged. My chest swelled, knowing I was in control. She opened her eyes, staring up at me with a desperation I fucking craved. I gripped her hips and with one hard thrust I was deep within her and she was moving, pushing against me with her own hips in search of more. Panting filled the air around us. The sound of our bodies slapping together in search of release. My legs tensed when I felt her pussy clench down and I knew she was close. Using my thumb, I applied just enough pressure to her clit, creating a circular motion. Within seconds she dug her fingernails into my forearms and her hips pumped faster, matching my own movement. “Yes,” she gasped, her body trembling and shaking against mine. Immediately I too was lost as I squeezed her hips tighter and held my pelvis against hers, riding out the wave of pleasure.



Chapter 25 Morgan Talk about whiplash. I was lying on a kitchen table, a table that, I might add, I shared with my best friend. A table I don’t actually own but where I eat dinner with, again, my best friend, almost nightly. Only now that kitchen table had been converted to a place where my boyfriend decided to rock my world. As in, bang my brain loose. Oh my god, I was losing my shit. Who was this girl I had become? I looked up and found a pair of knowing eyes watching me closely. A smirk covering those delectable lips of his. Yep, that was what happened to me. Xavier. He had knocked down my walls, swept me off my feet, and turned me into one of those girls I’d always wrinkled my nose up at. Those girls who got all gooey-eyed in the presence of a man. Yes, I challenged him, but I think we both knew in the end I would cave. He was addictive. “See what happens when you wear my clothes?” he finally spoke, only making me laugh. “Should I be concerned that men’s clothing turns you on?” I asked, giving him some of that sass I knew he loved. He stepped back, and I immediately felt the loss of his body from mine. Reaching out, he took my hand and tugged me up from the table. The moment my chest was pressed to his, he kissed me softly and pressed his forehead to mine. “It is the girl, not the clothes,” he confessed and that familiar flutter returned to my chest.

It didn’t matter how hard I tried not to be the girl falling for the boy, it was inevitable. Xavier wasn’t even close to the guy I thought he was in the beginning. He was adorable, sweet, and kind. He was good to me, great with Marcus, and adored Toby. He was a keeper, the guy to break away my restraints and show me what I’d been missing out on. I leaned back, looking up at him, again his swollen, blackened eye coming into view. “Are you gonna to tell me what happened to your face?” I asked. “Red dropped me,” he said as he removed the condom and walked toward the kitchen, grabbing a paper towel. I watched as he hid it in the towel before tossing it into the garbage can. “Why did he drop you?” I asked, completely engrossed in his manhood that was still fully exposed. “Because Isaac yanked down his pants,” he added just as he tucked himself back into his own pants and began buckling his jeans. “Boxers and all, straight down around his ankles.” I shook my head as if to clear my thoughts. Apparently he’d turned me into a sex fiend because I couldn’t keep my mind straight. “Okay…” still confused but feeling it too dangerous to ask, I skipped on to the next question. “Then why was Red holding you to begin with?” “He missed me,” Xavier said with a shrug, leaning back against the counter. I stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Never would I understand Xavier and his friends. They were wild and constantly pulled the craziest shit off on one another. It was part of the reason I feared staying at his house. Waking up with chicken feathers glued to my body didn’t sound like anything I wanted to experience. “Forget I asked,” I said. Stepping closer to him, I opened the freezer and pulled out a bag of stir fry mix. I held it out to Xavier and he gave me a confused look in return. “You need to hold this against your face. Your face looks like someone knocked the shit out of you.” He took the mixture, held it to his face, and smiled back at me. It amazed me how he found no wrong in being battered and abused by his roommates. “So,” he said, averting his eyes. I knew whatever it was he was about to say he was worried about saying it. “You wanna take a ride with me?” “A ride?” I asked and he nodded. “Where would this ride take us?” With a shrug, he shot me that dangerously sexy smile of his. “Kissimmee.” I knew what was in Kissimmee—his family. He’d talked about them enough during our nights of lying awake in bed. It was those times I truly got to witness his love for his family. When he talked about his brother and sister it reminded me of my love for Toby. He’d laugh and share stories of when they were younger, the protective nature coming out with every word he spoke. When he shared stories about his mother, it made my feelings for him only that much

harder to ignore. He adored his mother, and a man who loved his mother that fiercely was a good man. The pride in his explanation of his father made me smile. The man sounded like a mirror image of Xavier, though I don’t think he realized just how much he resembled the description he gave of his dad. So why the hell was the idea of meeting them freaking me out a bit? “Cassie called and she gave me a guilt trip about not coming home enough.” He was still holding the frozen bag of vegetables to his face. “She wants to meet you.” Again, panic. “I don’t know,” I said, doing what I do well. I was searching for an excuse as to why I couldn’t. The thing was—I had nothing. I didn’t have a job, and it was the weekend, so there were no classes to attend. I’d say I planned to visit Toby and my parents, but they were gone for the weekend to visit my grandparents, and Xavier was fully aware of this. Before I could say more, Xavier stepped past me and slapped my ass, causing me to let out a yelp in surprise. “You got nothing, babe,” he said with a laugh. “Now get your ass moving and don’t forget your suit.” I rubbed at the sting on my ass cheek. “Swimsuit?” I turned around to watch as he moved across my apartment. Once he reached the couch, he sat down and propped up his feet on the ottoman. He looked like he belonged here. He made himself at home, flipping through the channels on the television. “Yeah,” he replied, not even looking at me. “Cassie likes to swim, so I figure you should probably be prepared.” I stared at the side of his head, a little floored that I had somehow gotten myself in this situation. Why couldn’t I tell this man no? I never had a problem with that before, but somehow Xavier was managing to melt away my outer bitch. *** I was taken aback by what I saw. No, I was speechless as I looked through the windshield of Xavier’s car to the house before me. It was gorgeous, bigger and fancier than any house I had ever been in. “Come on,” Xavier said as he climbed out of the car, quickly closing the door before moving around to my side. When he opened my door and held out his hand, I moved forward willingly. “It’s beautiful,” I said, looking over the house once more. “They moved here about eight months ago. My father owns a construction company, so building is his specialty.” He offered a wink as he led me toward the front door. “Your dad built this house?” Again I was in awe. I couldn’t imagine living in a home this amazing. It had three garages—three.

As he pushed open the front door and we stepped inside, the earlier feeling of awe was nothing compared to what I felt now. “Holy hell,” I said without being able to stop myself. Xavier chuckled. “Yeah, he may have gone a little overboard. My mother had wanted a new house for years and when he was finally able to give her one, he made sure he gave her everything he could and more. Come on.” He tugged my arm. “Cassie,” Xavier hollered, making me jump in surprise. The level above us allowed me to hear the hammering sound of someone’s feet against the floor. In a blur, a flash of yellow and black ran past me and practically leaped into Xavier’s arms. “You came!” A high-pitched squeal was followed by laughter, both Xavier’s and his little sister’s. It was sweet to know how much she obviously adored him. “Yeah kid,” he said, hugging her tight, her feet dangling in the air, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. “And I brought someone I’d like you to meet.” I swore my heart skipped a beat when he lowered her to the ground and she turned to face me. I don’t think I have ever seen a pair of eyes so vividly blue. The color stood out against her tanned skin and jet black hair. She was absolutely gorgeous and only twelve. In a few years they were so gonna have their hands full. “Well, she is definitely prettier than what’s her name.” Cassie looked back at her brother and he reached out to ruffle up her hair. She giggled and tried to move away from him. “Okay, stop!” she screamed and he finally stepped back, letting her go. When her eyes met mine once more she smiled. “Hi, I’m Cassie.” “Morgan,” I said with a wave. I shouldn’t have been so nervous about meeting a twelve-year-old, but I was. “We thought we’d hang out for the day,” Xavier told her. “Maybe swim.” “So I take it you haven’t come to whisk me off to Gainesville.” Cassie cocked her hip outward and crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyebrow was arched, her lips pursed, and instantly I knew I’d love this girl. She was sassy and the way she challenged Xavier was hysterical. She said what was on her mind, without hesitation. She was me in a twelve-year-old body. “Hell no, I’m not taking you to the frat house,” Xavier laughed. Cassie huffed in frustration and looked back at me. I shrugged and she hung her head. “Why do girls lose their ability to speak and have opinions once they fall for a guy?” She turned around and started to walk toward the steps, leaving me with my mouth hanging open in surprise. Xavier chuckled and I shot him a glare. “I did not lose my ability to speak or have an opinion,” I stated. He stepped forward and gripped my hip. “No,” he whispered, “but you did fall for the guy.” When his lips pressed to mine I knew he was right, I was falling for the guy. Each moment I spent with him, I fell a little more.



Chapter 26 Xavier “Cannon ball!” Cassie screamed out as she jumped into the pool. It was about the tenth time she had done it and each time Morgan laughed. Cassie could be a lot to handle at times. She was in your face, over the top dramatic, and exhausting, but I adored the kid. She was also a breath of fresh air, my biggest fan, and the little girl who would always be just that, a little girl. Like I said before, her dating and growing up was something I didn’t think I’d ever accept. Lord help any guy who ever broke her heart. I leaned back in the hot tub and watched the two girls. Morgan would follow behind Cassie, and though she never did a cannon ball, she’d use the diving board. Now, being a guy completely infatuated with the girl, I loved when she bounced on the diving board. “Holy Mary Mother of…” I turned to the left to see Carter staring at Morgan with his mouth hanging, practically panting. Horny little fucker. “Asshole,” I said, gaining his attention. “Eyes off.” “That yours?” he asked, sneaking another peek at Morgan. “Her name is Morgan, and she is not a ‘that,’” I clarified. “She is my girlfriend.” “Nice.” He dragged the word out, nodding his head at the same time. Just then my father stepped out of the back door and slapped Carter on the back of the head. “Stop being a little shit, Carter,” he said before looking toward me. “She called ya, didn’t she?” “Yeah,” I smiled.

“She plays you so well,” he said with a grin. “But I can’t say much because she plays me too.” Cassie had a way with the men in the family. Well, besides Carter; he was in that little punk stage. Morgan noticed we were no longer alone and grabbed her towel to wrap securely around her. I waved her over and she came, but with hesitation. I got out of the hot tub and stepped up to her side, “Morgan, this is my dad, Paul.” My dad reached out his hand and shook Morgan’s. “Nice to meet you,” he told her. “This little pervert is my brother, Carter,” I added and pushed at his shoulder. “You’re just jealous,” Carter smirked. “Jealous of what?” I challenged him, and he only laughed before stepping toward Morgan, lifting her hand to place a kiss upon it. He offered a wink after Morgan arched her eyebrow and I could almost imagine the thoughts rolling through her mind. For the next few minutes I remained quiet while my father and Morgan talked like I hadn’t just introduced them only moments ago. She told him what a beautiful home and family he had. She was awestruck, but my father wasn’t the type of man who threw his success in anyone’s face. “It’s just material things,” he always says. I was the same; I didn’t give a shit that Morgan’s family lived in a run-down home; her father was a hardworking man who did what he could. He was a good man who loved his family and that was all that mattered. Seeing Morgan interacting with my family made my heart race with excitement. This was a step for us, a big one. She was a tough girl, but was slowly warming up. When Morgan relaxed and let down her guard, it was an amazing sight. “Carter, will you explain to me why the hell your muddy shoes are sitting in my entryway?” The sound of my mother’s voice echoed through the area when she slid open the backdoor and stepped out. The moment her eyes landed on Morgan her face lit up. “Who do we have here?” “This is my girl,” Carter said, stepping up to Morgan’s side. I was just about to push him backward into the pool when my mother started to laugh. “Yeah, I know better than that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “She is definitely not with you.” “Why not?” Carter sounded offended. “The girls you bring around remind me of the airhead Xavier used to date.” It was my turn to look at her with a “what the fuck” look. “This girl looks like she can actually carry on a conversation without giving herself whiplash from flipping her hair around like some idiot.” Morgan tried to hide her smile but it lit up her eyes. She loved the fact that everyone in my family obviously disliked my ex. “Hi hun,” Mom finally addressed Morgan. “I’m Caroline.”

“Morgan,” she held out her hand, “it’s nice to meet you.” My mother bypassed Morgan’s hand and reached out to pull her in for a hug. She didn’t care that Morgan was still wet from the pool, or that she stiffened in surprise. It was just the kind of woman my mom was. “It’s nice to meet you,” Mom told her as she moved back. “The two of you are staying for dinner, right?” Morgan looked at me for the answer and I offered a shrug; she was up. I’d love to see her attempt to deny my mother the chance to cook for us. I watched it all play out. Morgan looked at me, her eyes widening as if to say “help me.” When she realized I wasn’t going to offer any assistance, she tried to hide her aggravation by forcing a smile. I knew the genuine smiles from the fake as shit ones. “Sure,” she said to my mother, but it sounded more like a question. My mother practically bounced with excitement as she spun around and went inside to get things started, completely forgetting about Carter and his muddy shoes. One by one my family followed, eventually leaving only Morgan and myself behind. “Thanks for the help, jackass,” she whisper yelled, making me chuckle. “No problem, babe,” I tossed back, earning a slug to my side. “By the way, Xavier.” My dad stuck his head back out the backdoor. “What the hell happened to your face?” “Red,” I offered a one-word explanation and it was all my father needed. He’d met my friends, and he’d also witnessed Red on the field during a game. He knew the shit that went down at my place was unpredictable. There was no reason to push for an explanation. When you came into contact with Red, it always ended in disaster. This wasn’t the first time I bore the marks of Red’s actions. *** Time flew by—dinner, laughing, followed by some kick ass dessert that Morgan showed my mother how to whip up in a hurry. Chocolate, strawberries, whip cream, and cake mix. All I know is between my father, Carter, and myself, all that remained was crumbs. We ended up in the family room playing charades, followed by a few other games my sister conned us into trying. Morgan and my sister ganged up on me, and of course all my mother could do was laugh. When Mom leaned over and whispered, “I love this girl. She’s the right mix of sassy and sweet,” I knew Morgan was fully accepted into the family. Night came quickly and I knew we needed to get going soon. The problem was it was so hard to break up the little clique forming right in front of my eyes. Cassie was in definite awe of Morgan; together they were a dangerous mix, but it didn’t scare me. I truly

loved the bond they’d formed. They were sitting on the floor and leaning back against the couch, looking through an old album of when we were kids. I leaned forward, pushing my way between the two of them. Almost simultaneously they looked at me and rolled their eyes. “We should probably get going soon,” I told Morgan. “Just stay over,” Cassie said without hesitation. “I have the trundle bed that Morgan can sleep on.” My stomach dropped as I thought of a night without Morgan tucked in close. We spent most nights curled up together at her apartment, and tonight I hoped we’d be doing the same. As if the little shit could read my mind, she decided to add a little more. “Don’t be clingy, dude, let the girl have some space.” Cassie nudged me out of the way and Morgan began to laugh. Maybe together the two of them were more than I could take.



Chapter 27 Morgan Spending time with Xavier and his family opened a whole new side of him, the side I’d heard of often but had never truly seen. I could feel the love he had for them whenever he would talk of the years before college. His adoration and love was evident for them in every word he spoke. But to see it firsthand was a whole new experience. With his mom he was playful and loving. A teasing banter that reminded me a lot of how he was with me, when he wasn’t kissing or attempting to fondle me. He’d harass her about the smallest things and she’d give it right back. Something told me she was used to this type of behavior from having two boys. Carter was a complete opposite of Xavier. At least to me he was. What I found amazing was how his father just sat back and observed quietly; it reminded me a lot of my own dad. The pride oozed off him, and at times he just shook his head when the two boys got going. And Cassie held her own. That girl was a spitfire and I loved her sassiness. I was changing in Xavier’s room when there was a gentle knock on the door. It slowly began to open just as I buttoned my jean shorts and then Xavier’s head poked in through the opening. “Ah, I was hoping I would catch you indisposed,” he offered, wagging his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. “Too late,” I told him with a challenging smirk. He stepped further into his bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him before turning back to face me. As he began moving toward me I could see the mischievous look

in his eyes. “It’s never too late,” he stated clearly, his eyes roaming over my body from head to toe. When he looked at me like that it was impossible not to react. I could feel the heat rising in my neck as my lower stomach tensed. I tried to hide my reaction, but he had me all figured out. “All we have to do is unbutton these shorts,” he said as his fingers toyed with my waistband. “Then we could slide them down and you could turn around to grip the footboard of the bed.” I shook my head no but my body was screaming yes. “I can be quick,” he promised as he pushed his hardness against me. I was just about to give in when the door burst open and there stood Carter. “Dude, what if I had been Dad?” he said with a laugh. “Or worse, Mom.” Xavier reached down to adjust himself and it was my turn to laugh. “Dad caught me once, though, and all he did was tell me to hurry the hell up before Mom got home,” Carter added and Xavier rolled his eyes. “Ever hear of knocking?” he said in an irritated tone. “Yeah, but barging in unannounced is much funnier.” Carter shrugged as he walked around us and flopped down on the bed. Xavier lunged at him and I quickly dodged a foot that came my way. I stood back watching the two brothers with a smile on my face. I backed up until I bumped into the desk behind me as the two of them continued to pummel and pound on one another. Shaking my head, thinking boys, I turned around and began looking around Xavier’s space. The high school version of the man I now knew was plastered all over the area above his desk. Pictures of him and his friends, some of them girls. Trophies from his youth, along with award and newspaper clipping of highlights from various games. I leaned in closer, scanning over a few of the section titles below some of the pictures. “Xavier Stone pulls the double play of a lifetime to win the Nationals for Florida.” That was just one of the many he had on display. I was so lost as I continued to look over each item that I jumped in surprise when Xavier stepped up behind me. His strong arms circled my waist and his chin rested on my shoulder. “What’chya doing over here?” he asked. “Just getting to know you a little better,” I confessed, smiling as I envisioned him in his baseball uniform moving around on the field with grace. “You know me already,” he assured me. “Why didn’t you try playing baseball for UF?” I asked, curious as to why he let go so easily. “Just didn’t want to,” he sounded so sure. “I wanted to focus on my schoolwork and my degree.” “And partying,” I added. “I love playing baseball, but I didn’t want it to be all I did.” He skipped right over the partying comment.

“Can we play sometime?” I asked, surprising myself. I wasn’t the athletic type but there was something about seeing Xavier in that zone that I found intriguing. I wanted that chance. “Sure,” he whispered as he kissed my neck just below my ear. “I’ll take you out.” I knew it would most likely end in disaster, either with me tripping and breaking my neck or getting hit with a fast ball, but I’d chance it. *** “How was your little getaway?” Marcus asked as I entered our apartment. He was lounging on the couch, still in his pajamas with his hair sticking up all over the place. “It was good, actually,” I said, tossing my bag to the floor and joining him on the couch. “I was nervous, but his family is amazing. His house is huge, fancy, and beautiful, but they don’t act like they’re better. I’ve never met more down to earth people.” Marcus was grinning from ear to ear, not saying a word, only listening to me ramble. “His mom is so sweet, his dad and brother—they’re just like Xavier. Only Carter, that’s his brother, is a little pervert, but he’s sixteen. Most sixteen-year-old boys only have one thing on their minds.” The kid was a little over the top. “But Cassie, his sister, she is a twelve-year-old me, I swear.” “Lord help us.” Marcus’ eyes widened dramatically. “The world can’t survive another you.” I pushed his shoulder and he laughed. “So where is your boy now?” he asked as he righted himself. “Oh, him,” I said, waving my hand out in front of me. “I sent him home. I needed some space.” I tried to hold a straight face, but Marcus knew better. I turned to look at him slowly, and found he had an eyebrow arched and his lips pursed, kind of like I often do. I began to laugh. “I think we both know that you two can’t do space. You’re like an addict and he needs you to function properly. The two of you are glued to one another.” I shrugged, denying nothing. I liked having Xavier around; he’d grown on me in a short time. It made me wonder why I had been so adamant about keeping my distance from him. “You think you got time to spend a few hours with me?” I refocused my attention on my best friend. “Are you missing me?” I asked and he rolled his eyes. “You are. You missed me.” “Whatever, you’re a bitch. How the hell could I miss you?” He stood from the couch and moved toward the kitchen.

“I may be a bitch, but you so miss me,” I continued to taunt him. “Admit it, Marcus Alan, you miss my face.” “Whatever, I just don’t like going to the movies by myself. It makes me look homely.” He leaned back against the countertop and crossed his arms over his chest. “Who else would I make fun of the sex scenes with?” I walked toward him and threw my arms around his shoulders. “If it’s any consolation, I miss you too,” I confessed, still hugging him tight. “Xavier’s making you soft,” he told me, only making me laugh. Maybe he was, but it felt nice not to be cranky and moody all the time. Not only did Marcus and I go to a movie, but we decided on lunch too. What I hadn’t planned was to be sitting in front of Porter’s Pizza. On most days it was all we ate because it certainly kicked major ass, but we never went there. Ordering out was our thing. “What are we doing here?” I asked. “Come on,” he hollered as he hurried out of the car and across the busy street. He left me in the car staring after him, trying to come up with a way I could talk him out of it. The problem was Marcus was a determined guy, and no amount of bitching or moaning was gonna change his mind. Begrudgingly I climbed out of the car and moved toward the restaurant with unease. I entered with caution as I looked around, hoping that by some miracle Pete wouldn’t be working. The problem was he was always working. “Morgan.” I closed my eyes when I heard Pete’s deep vibrating voice say my name. It was more like a long drawn out moan that gave me the kind of chills I didn’t want to have. Slowly I turned around to face him and forced a smile while trying not to focus on his unibrow. “Hey Pete. How are you doing?” “Good. It’s been a while since you’ve stopped in.” He was still giving me that strange smile of his. “Marcus just got led away by Mira; let me show you to your table.” “Great, thanks,” I said, glad that the small talk had been cut short. I truly didn’t know what I should say to him. He liked me, I didn’t feel the same, it made things awkward. Pete grabbed a second menu and started to walk toward the dining area just as a set of strong arms engulfed my waist and my feet were suddenly lifted from the floor. This caused me to yelp in surprise. When I was once again lowered to the floor, I turned to face the culprit and came face to face with Xavier. “Hey baby,” he said as he stepped closer and lifted his hand to my face. “What are you doing here?” I asked as I looked back over my shoulder. Pete stood a few feet away, watching my interaction with Xavier with curiosity. “What? You aren’t happy to see me?” I turned back around and found Xavier with a knowing smirk on his face. “Am I interrupting your time with Pete?” He asked the question low enough so only I could hear. “Were the two of you having a moment?” “Knock it off,” I whisper yelled at him, which only made him laugh.

“Introduce me, babe.” He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “After all, both of us have great taste in women, so he’s gotta be an okay guy.” Before I could say anything, Xavier hooked me around the waist and stepped closer to Pete. “Hi, you must be Pete,” he said, thrusting his hand out toward the dumbfounded man. “I’m Xavier, Morgan’s boyfriend, and we’re here to meet Marcus.” “Um, y-y-yeah.” I felt awful at Pete’s obvious stuttering. “L-l-let me show you both to your table.” “You are awful.” I slapped at his arm as he slid his hand lower, cupping my ass. “What are you gonna do next, pee on my leg?” I walked away from him but I could hear his laughter echoing behind me. Apparently Xavier Stone was on some type of high horse. As I approached the table, I had a feeling that my best friend had some involvement in this fiasco. “Did you do this?” I asked as I slid into the booth opposite him. He looked up from his menu and nodded his head at Xavier as he slid into the space next to me. He’d completely ignored my question, which gave me the exact answer I needed. Pete reached out to offer me my menu and Xavier took it from him as he turned toward me and offered it sweetly. I took it from him but what I truly wanted to do was whack him over the head with it. “Will you be having your regular, Morgan?” Marcus asked and I ignored the looks from Xavier and Marcus, as I smiled at Pete. “Yes, please,” I replied and he smiled back at me. “Make it a large,” Xavier said, tossing his arm over the back of the booth and sliding closer to me. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He was ridiculous. “The special pizza you make for my girl here has become my favorite too.” I wanted to punch him. Pete nodded his head and excused himself, just before I turned on Xavier. “Are you serious right now?” “What?” he asked, acting all innocent. “You know what. Poor Pete.” “Aww, does my girl have a soft spot for the pizza boy?” He tried tickling me and Marcus sat across the table, loving every minute. I looked up to see Pete approaching with a sour look on his face. This entire situation was over the top. On one hand I had my best friend, who obviously set me up for this entire thing, and on the other a boyfriend who felt the need to mark me, so to speak. So fine. They wanted to play, we’d play. Pete sat our drinks down on the table and as he started to turn away I stopped him. “Do you do everything around here, Pete?”

He looked up and smiled. “I try to keep things moving.” He’d always been nice to me, but evading him had been the easiest thing to do. It made the awkwardness avoidable. But now I was in his space, forced to face the weirdness. So why not maybe make things a little less weird? “You make the pizza, you serve the guests. You’re even the man who does the behind the scenes tasks,” I added, and noticed the way Xavier was watching me from the side. “We haven’t had the greatest luck with waitresses lately,” Pete said in explanation. “I guess I’ve just not been picky enough when hiring help, but with the college so close I try to give the benefit of the doubt, and help out those who seem as if they could use the job. It always comes back to bite me, though. No shows, or those that do show barely survive the shift since they spent the night before at a party until the early hours of the morning.” “So you’re down a waitress?” I asked, suddenly interested a little more. I shifted my gaze to Marcus, and I think by the look on his face he knew just where I was going with this. “Yeah, two actually,” Pete said as he looked over his shoulder toward the front door where two new customers had just entered. “Do you have an application?” I asked, regaining his attention. “For you?” He asked as if he was a little taken back. I nodded my head. “I’ve actually been looking for a job that would work around my class schedule.” “I could, we will, I mean yes,” Pete stumbled over his words. “I’d definitely make the hours work for you.” “Really?” I replied. “You don’t even want to interview me?” “No, Morgan, I already know you’re not that kinda girl.” Pete’s smile grew. “I’d love to have you working here.” “I bet he would,” Xavier mumbled at my side, only I chose to ignore him. “That’s great.” I was actually excited. Pete was nothing like my last boss. I knew I would have to endure a little flirting, maybe a few glances that lasted a little longer than they should, but the guy was harmless. “Before you leave, we’ll go over what your school schedule is and work out when you can start.” Pete seemed excited. “If that’s okay?” “That’s perfect, Pete, thanks.” When he walked away, I ignored the curious stares coming from my right and from across the table. Instead I reached out and took my cup of Pepsi, tapping the straw against the table to remove the paper. I plucked the straw from the wrapper and popped it into my cup, taking a generous drink. As I lowered the cup back to the table, I looked at Marcus and Xavier. I could feel the laughter bubbling up inside me at their expressions. Marcus had a gleam in his eye. It was one I’d witnessed often, almost shouting oh no you didn’t.

Oh yes I did. As if Marcus wasn’t bad enough, Xavier looked like a scorned child. The earlier awry look on his face had disappeared and in its place was a frown. “Seriously?” he asked as he turned in the booth to face me. “This was a great idea, guys,” I said, smiling wide. “Had you not planned this, I wouldn’t have known about the job opening.” Xavier started to speak, his mouth opening and closing again quickly. He looked to Marcus for help, only to be met with nothing but a shrug. It was the most perfect “in your face” moment. It would hopefully teach them both to not be such assholes. But something told me this was all just the beginning. *** “Are you coming over tonight?” Xavier asked as I held the phone to my ear using my shoulder. I was hopping around trying to get my left leg into the pants I held. “Can’t,” I said, finally succeeding as I shimmied them up and over my hips. “I got the evening shift at Porter’s.” I swear I heard a gauntly growl. “Hello?” I said, wondering for a moment if I’d lost the call. “This is the third time this week,” he complained. “I know, but it is the best time for tips. I’m finally able to help out with some of the bills here at the apartment. I hate being a mooch.” Though Marcus never complained, it still wasn’t right. “It won’t be the first party you’ve gone to without me.” “We really weren’t together then so it doesn’t count.” I could tell he was pouting. “What time do you get off?” “We close at ten,” I said. Xavier followed with yet another long pause. “Will you come over after?” he asked. The idea of going to the fraternity smelling like pizza sauce after a five-hour shift was the last thing I wanted to do. I also knew that if I declined he’d only pout more. Why were men so needy? “I’ll try,” I finally said. “But I’ll need to shower first.” “Shower here,” he insisted. “Come on, I’ve seen you once this week.” And so it begins. “I’ll see you tonight.” I wanted to see him too. Going from being with someone every single day and night to maybe once or twice a week was a little hard. Especially when that person made you extremely happy, for the most part. When he wasn’t being a pigheaded alpha male marking his territory.

Secret was—I sorta liked that part of him too.



Chapter 28 Xavier This party was no different than any of the others. A lot of loud people doing crazy ass shit, leaving any and all morals behind. I told myself I wasn’t gonna drink, but after the first hour that idea went right out the window. Red still felt like an ass for my collision with the coffee table, so he spent the night trying to make it up to me. His idea of doing so was getting shit-faced. Had I been drinking alone I would have assumed he planned some type of attack on me, but he was there right alongside me. They all gave me a hard time at first, teasing and taunting me about getting my girl’s permission to hang out with the guys. It didn’t bother me because I knew had I been given the option of this party or snuggling up with Morgan, she would win every damn time. The girl had me wrapped around her finger; I wasn’t ashamed of that. As the party went on I grew anxious. I was buzzed but that didn’t make me unaware of the approaching hour. “Tug of war,” someone yelled out just before a large hand gripped my shoulder. I looked to my left to find Red smiling brightly with a look of excitement in his eyes. “You’re on my team, X, let’s take those little southern assholes down.” I didn’t get time to inquire or even argue as Red tossed me up over his shoulder like a rag doll and carried me through the living room into the kitchen and right out the back door. He finally sat me down in the backyard and I looked around at all the people. Corbin, Clayton, and Isaac stood on the far side of the pool. A crowd was forming as the party

goers exited the house to find out what was going on now. There was always something. “What’s this?” I asked, looking at Red. “Those punks think they can take me and you down,” he replied, lifting his beer to his lips to finish it off. “There’s no way those three are gonna pull you and me into the pool.” I looked over at the guys again and each one of them were looking back at us with smirks on their faces. Did they really think they had this? Red could win this one on his own. “You in?” Red asked. I nodded, thinking about how fun it would be to make these fish swim. We got into position. Red and I on one side, the other three on the opposite. I scanned over the crowd, smiling confidently. Britney and her boy toy stood just a few feet away from the three clowns who were laughing like they already won. When our gazes connected she smiled at me, and I fought the urge to flip her off. She was such a conceited little bitch; I was just too dumb to notice that back when. “You two ready?” Isaac hollered and Red held up his hand. “You get in front,” he said in a low tone. “The minute they yell go, get ready. Those dicks will be swimming in seconds.” Someone counted it out. One, two and three, the rope was pulled tight and everyone dug their heels into the grass. I was barely pulling, and each of them looked like they were giving it their all. I looked back at Red and we both smiled at one another triumphantly. We were way too cocky, because there was a tug on the rope and both of us began to stumble forward. I looked up just in time to see not only were Isaac and the twins tugging on the other end, but half the damn party was. Within seconds, people jumped on our end and we were in a full-blown tug of war, jerking and jarring all around as both teams battled for the win. My feet were at the edge of the pool and I knew with one good tug I was going under. I glanced back toward Corbin, who was at the lead on the other side, just as his gaze dropped to my feet. That was the moment he realized just how close I was too. He leaned back toward his brother just behind him, whispered something, and I knew I was done for. I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath just as I was jerked forward , and within seconds my body hit the water. I came up sputtering, looking around just as Corbin, Clayton, Isaac and a shit ton of other people from the other side fell into the water. A lot of those standing around came to as the guys bulldozed them from behind. Before long the pool was covered with bodies and laughter filtered throughout the backyard. Those fuckers had this planned from the start. Red was the only one still standing on the side of the pool, dry. Not sure how he managed to pull that one off.

Tiny arms wrapped around my neck from behind, just as a pair of legs hooked around my waist. I looked to the left and found Britney leaning in close. “Hi,” she whispered, her lips lingering over my ear. I shrugged away and immediately grabbed her legs, unhooking them, before moving to her arms. “Do you mind?” I asked, moving away from her. She only smiled, looking pleased with herself. “I don’t mind at all, but I know someone who might.” I was just about to tell her she’d fucking lost it when she pointed toward something over my shoulder. I looked back that direction to find Morgan, standing back, observing the chaos around her. Instantly a worry took over as I thought of her thinking I was messing with Britney, but she didn’t look mad. I hurried from the pool and walked across the yard, my sneakers making a squishing sound with each step. “Looks like fun,” she said when I paused in front of her. “Sorry I missed it.” I waited for some type of reaction. A pissed comment about me and my ex, anything really, but it never came. “That wasn’t what it looked like,” I told her, feeling like I had to explain. “I didn’t think it was,” she said as she stepped closer and leaned in to kiss me. I accepted it willingly as I grabbed hold of her and pulled her body against mine. She squealed when the wetness of my shirt seeped through her own. “Oh my god,” she laughed, “that is so cold.” “What do you say we go inside and warm each other up?” I whispered against her lips. “I like that idea,” she assured me. I heaved her up into my arms and started walking toward the house. The fact that she could have freaked out and instantly assumed that Britney and I were messing around, yet she didn’t, was reassurance that she was perfect. She wasn’t dramatic and childish; she was so much more. Guests of the party hooted and hollered as I walked by carrying Morgan. Most shouted vulgarities, but it didn’t seem to phase her in the slightest. She was completely focused on me. I bypassed my room and went straight for the bathroom, kicking the door shut behind me. Once I lowered her to the floor, I reached behind me and locked the door. “What are you doing?” she asked when I turned back to face her. By the look in her eyes, I think she already knew the answer. “I remember talk of a shower,” I said as I took a step closer. Gripping the hem of my shirt, I peeled the cold, wet material up and over my head. The sound of it hitting the floor with a splat echoed as I moved on to my shoes, shorts, and finally my boxers. The entire time I undressed, Morgan stood watching me. Her eyes glazed over with lust as I reached down and fisted my semi-hard cock in my hands. “Should I undress you now?” I asked

with a smirk. Within seconds she was following me as her clothes joined mine on the floor. I led her inside the shower and reached around her, flipping the handle before turning on the water. The cool mist hit me and bounced over her shoulders and back. We both took in a deep breath, absorbing the coolness, trying not to scream out. She tilted her head back when the water began to warm and I took the opportunity to look her over. She was my definition of perfection. The sweetest curves and flattest stomach. Morgan was amazing. I lifted my hand and trailed my fingertips over her jaw as she leaned into my touch. “I’ve missed you this week,” I confessed, leaning closer to kiss the very spot I just touched. “It made me cranky.” She smiled. “Aww,” she cooed, “let me make it up to you.” “Yes, please,” I whispered, kissing along her jaw. “I think it might take all night though.” “I’m all yours until Sunday afternoon,” she assured me and my lips paused against her neck. “No,” I said, pulling back and looking at her just as her eyes came open. “You’re mine even when you aren’t with me,” I clarified and she only stared back at me. There were no signs of denial on her face as she lifted her hand and placed it on my chest. “You know this already though, don’t you?” When she nodded, I covered her mouth with mine and pulled her body tightly against mine. The water slid over our joined bodies as our hands explored one another. When I kissed along her neck, she looked up, giving me better access. When I cupped her tits in my hands, she let out a small whimper. I took that as an invitation for more and covered one nipple with my lips. “Xavier,” she sighed my name. Moving to the other side, I slid my hand down her stomach and she parted her legs, allowing me access to what I was seeking. She was so wet, and it had nothing to do with the water pouring over us. As I slid my finger inside her, she gripped my shoulders tight. When her hips began to move in a slow, easy pace I remained still, allowing her to ride my hand. I added a finger, and her panting deepened. The feeling of her pussy tightening around my fingers had all the blood rushing to one central location. I wanted to feel that same thing around my cock. “Morgan,” I said as I removed my mouth from her nipple. Only she was so lost in my hand buried between her thighs she didn’t respond. “Baby,” I tried again and it was then she opened her eyes and met mine. “I wanna feel you,” I told her, hoping she understood what I was saying. When she never took her eyes from mine, but continued to move her hips against me, I

tried a little more. “I wanna feel all of you against me,” I confessed. “I’m clean, Morgan, I’ve always used protection.” “I’m on the pill,” she added. The thing was I already knew this. I had watched her take her pill religiously each night I’d stayed at her place. It was like a ritual she did at the same time every evening just after brushing her teeth. “Do you trust me?” I asked, and she almost immediately nodded her head. “Turn around,” I directed her and she turned, reaching out to brace her hands on the shower wall before her. It took everything I had in that moment not to cum from the vision before me. Her tight little ass arched up in the air, her legs parted as she looked back at me over her shoulder. Dreams were made from shit like this right here. There was almost a desperate look in her eyes as she waited for my next move. “You’re sure?” I asked once more and she whispered “yes” as I stepped in closer. Morgan bit down on her lower lip, just as I pushed forward and oh, so carefully began entering her from behind. I had to pause for a moment to gain some control, because it felt so unbelievable. I had never experienced pleasure like this. Our bodies were molded together; nothing separated us. My girl had other things in mind though, as she pushed back against me, taking me in fully. Her sweet moan, the one I love so much, ricocheted off the bathroom walls and a deep groan escaped me. Ecstasy was the only word I could think of to describe what I was feeling. In that moment I knew it was not only related to what I was experiencing, but the girl I was experiencing it with.



Chapter 29 Morgan More than once throughout the night I woke to Xavier pulling my body in tight to his own. Each time I thought it was a start to something sexual, but each time he surprised me. He would curl his body around mine, burying his face against my neck as if breathing me in. It was the sweetest movement. I’d held back for so long, avoiding any real commitment with a guy, but I was glad it was him I finally gave in to. He made every day a new adventure. I lay awake in his bed, the sun barely peeking in through the single window. My back was tucked securely to his chest and his arms wrapped around my waist, holding me captive. It felt good to be caught. No, it felt more than good. The soothing sound of his breathing filled my ear as his warm breath covered my neck and shoulder. I had never felt more at peace. It was in that moment I realized I was truly falling for Xavier. That was both scary and liberating at the same time. I turned in his arms, needing to see his face, desperate to feel even closer to him than I already was. The realization hit me when I had turned in his arms that even that wasn’t close enough. Reaching out, I ran my fingertips along his jaw and felt the coarse stubble beneath them. It was something I had grown to love. Whenever he’d hug me, that same roughness would press against my cheek, or those nights he stayed over and he’d lay his head on my lap, the bristles would tickle my legs. I skimmed the pad of my thumb over his lips, and the softness of them reminded me of just why I loved kissing him. His kisses were something I felt throughout my entire body. Each kiss from Xavier meant more than the last because he put so much into them.

Arching my neck upward, I softly pressed my lips to his and closed my eyes for only a moment before pulling back. I wanted more, but I also wanted to have just a little longer to watch him sleep. He was so handsome. Lowering my hand, I pressed my palm to his chest and felt the soft beat of his heart beneath. Again I closed my eyes. A deep ache settled in my own chest as I carefully took in one breath after another. “You are so beautiful.” I opened my eyes and was met with the deepest blue, sleepfilled but still mesmerizing eyes. “I don’t think I’ve told you that today.” I smiled when he moved in closer and kissed my nose. Each time he said things like that I felt my cheeks heat, not because I was embarrassed, but because he made me feel so many things all at once. He not only told me often that I was beautiful but he treated me like I was. Each time he held me or even looked at me, I felt like I was the most precious thing to him. I never thought I’d like that type of attention, but I loved it. “I know it’s been barely a month, but at this point I can’t imagine not having you in my life.” His confession made my heart race. “You’re the best part of my days.” My eyes remained locked with his as I slid my hand around his torso and brought it to rest on his side. I moved in closer, my chest now pressed to his. “I don’t think I want to ever remember what it was like before I met you.” At my words, he smiled just before rolling over to tuck my body beneath his. His hips pressed firmly between my parted thighs, still watching me as if he and I were the only two people in the world. I wanted to say the three words that were rolling around in my mind, but instead I pressed my lips to his. For now I’d save that confession and instead show him just how much he meant to me, using my body instead of words. *** “Toby, you got your hair cut,” Xavier said as he stepped up to my brother’s chair, holding his hand out before him indicating he wanted a high five. When Toby grew excited and thrust his hand toward Xavier, I laughed. “Looks bad ass, buddy.” “Xavier,” I said, rolling my eyes at his choice of words. “What?” he said with a shrug. “He does.” Toby was fascinated by Xavier. You could see it in his eyes and the way he watched Xavier’s every move. He did the same things with Marcus, but with Xavier, it was more like some hero fantasy than the brotherly one he gave my best friend. The idea that not only did Toby have Marcus and me, but he now had Xavier was reassuring. He was so good to my brother, and I adored him even more for it. “We still on for tomorrow?” I gave Xavier a curious glance, only he was too busy

looking at Toby to notice. “Turtle time, and your favorite ice cream.” Toby bounced happily in his chair, regaining my attention. His excitement was something I truly loved to witness. I had to work the afternoon shift the next day, but I was off by four. I had no recollection of any plans being made. “What’s tomorrow?” I finally asked. “Guys’ day,” Xavier said proudly. “Just me and my boy T here.” T? Apparently Toby now had a nickname. “We’re gonna watch Ninja Turtles and chow on some ice cream.” Xavier clarified just what this guys’ day was going to consist of. When he looked back at me with a cheesy grin on his face, I couldn’t help myself from offering one equally silly. “Should I just meet you here?” I asked and he looked to Toby for the answer, which I found adorable. The even funnier part was Toby shaking his head no. I guess he didn’t like the idea of me interrupting his guy time. “Sorry, babe,” Xavier gave me a weak frown. “No girls allowed.” “What if I brought home a cheese pizza just for you?” Toby looked at me, finally taking his eyes from Xavier. “You want pizza?” He slowly nodded his head, making me laugh. “I guess there is one girl allowed.” I thrust my tongue out at Xavier and Toby laughed. Guys’ night had just gained a plus one.



Chapter 30 Xavier I woke to the sound of yelling and screaming. Maybe a little laughter was mixed in there too. I slept for shit as it was. I’d come to the conclusion that without Morgan next to me, I felt like there was something missing. It was a feeling I didn’t care for. Climbing out of bed, I moved toward my door, and just as I pulled it open, a few of my brothers went running past. All were dressed in some type of war gear, bandanas covering their faces and wrapped up around their heads. At that moment I knew without a doubt they had most definitely lost their damn minds. Once the hall was safe, I stepped out of my room and walked toward the balcony. I leaned over to view the entryway to see all the guys who had gathered there. “What the hell are you all doing?” I asked, gaining their attention. “Get your shit on, X, those douche bags from Alpha are challenging us,” Corbin hollered up. “They’re all calling us a bunch of pussies, and you know we can’t have that shit.” The Alphas were dicks, as in cocky rich fucks who thought since Mommy and Daddy paid for every single thing they wanted without pause, they were entitled to special treatment from everyone else too. Each of us had a run-in with those punks at least a time or two. It was also the same house Britney’s little brown nose belonged to. Though I still had no idea exactly what it was we were about to do, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Call it childish, but the idea of somehow making those dicks’ lives miserable sounded

pretty damn satisfying. “Give me five minutes,” I yelled out as I hurried back to my room. The sound of my brothers hollering and cheering me on faded. In less than five, I was downstairs and following the group out the front door. Most would find it comical to see us all with determined looks in our eyes, covered and painted up as if we were Rambo or something. But this shit was real to us. Being the leaders was important. It was a matter of pride, and that was something we wouldn’t willingly hand over. But never had I planned for what I walked into. There I stood in the center of our backyard as Isaac began to explain what was about to take place. The only thing I kept thinking was what the hell have I gotten myself into? Mud wars, really? Alphas versus us in our backyard. Well, that was the original plan, only it had been opened up into the neighbor’s yard, going both directions too. The moment some jackass blew a fucking whistle it was on. There was absolutely no time to prepare for what was going down. Around the yards there had been multiple barrels and buckets filled with mud. I’m talking soupy, sloshy mud. The kind that splattered everywhere when it hit. Within seconds I was bombarded with one mud bomb after another. Not ten minutes into the war and I had it in places I was sure a person has never had mud. I don’t know how much time passed, but we were now down to only four guys. The other assholes had seven. Everyone else had decided they couldn’t take anymore. The twins and I were led by Isaac. The thing with that guy? He refused to give in. He was competitive and always had to be the last man standing. If he got knocked out, he was the first to seek revenge. Something told me that things were going to get real dirty, no pun intended. Our shelter seemed to be an outdoor storage building that the neighbor used to keep his yard care essentials in. Mowers, shovels, that sorta shit. The Alphas were hovering a few hundred feet away, most likely planning some form of attack. The rules had changed; now if you were hit, you were out. We had to end this somehow. If we had stuck to the original plan and go until you were ready to drop, we would never be done. Isaac was fighting for the house. I was in it for the mere pleasure of nailing all those fucking tight ass Alpha douches as often as I could. Each time I pelted Britney’s new boyfriend I laughed and the look of anger on his face made it even better. Life was good.



Chapter 31 Morgan I’d had pizza thrown at me, compliments of a three-year-old throwing a tantrum at one of my tables. I had a Cherry Coke spilled on me—that was my own fault, and I burned my fingers at least five times during the day by forgetting to grab a potholder when lifting the pizza to cut it. I won’t say my day had been bad but, okay fine—this day sucked. When my shift ended, I sat in the break room to wait while Lenny cooked a cheese pizza for Toby and the two others I ordered for my parents. Well, okay, one was for me and Xavier too. I turned in my chair to see Pete enter, carrying the pizzas with a look of concern on his face. “Long day?” he asked and I nodded. “I just want to say thank you for the job you do around here,” he said as he sat the pizzas on the table. “Just doing what you pay me to do,” I said with a shrug. “No, you do much more than I pay you to do,” he assured me. “You’re always willing to offer help to the rest of the staff. You work extra hours when I need you to, and you take on more tables than you should.” “Really it’s okay, today was just one of those days. We all have them,” I assured him as I stood from the table and lifted my pizzas. “I appreciate your concern though.” “You have plans?” Pete asked, and I knew what he really wanted to ask was if I had plans with my boyfriend. He’d mentioned me having a boyfriend more than one person should to another. It was awkward at times, but I think he was still thrown by Xavier’s behavior and possessive manner.

“Yeah,” I said as I pulled my keys from my pocket, “going over to my parents’. I promised I’d bring my brother a pizza.” I purposely left out Xavier would be there too, because I wasn’t heartless. I didn’t want to see the look of disappointment on Pete’s face. I didn’t have to keep throwing it in his face over and over. He was a nice guy, and he was a great boss. I just wanted to keep the conversations regarding our personal lives as minimal as possible. “You should take the night off, Pete,” I told him, knowing full well that wasn’t going to happen. Hell, he lived above the restaurant. “Kick your feet back and relax, let someone else handle the place for one night.” “I’ll think about it, Morgan,” he chuckled as he waved me off. “You have a nice night.” I left feeling relieved that it was all over. Once I was out of these clothes and showered, I thought I’d feel even better. I had been using my mother’s car after she insisted I stay away from public transportation. I had a feeling she’d been listening to Marcus and Xavier too much. I drove across town with the radio playing loud. I was singing along to the radio and I was finally beginning to feel a little better about my day until I rounded the corner and my parents’ home came into view. Xavier’s car was nowhere to be found. I knew he’d planned on being here and worry that something may have happened began to play heavy on my mind. Once I had the car in park and the engine shut off, I grabbed the pizza and hurried out. Walking up the drive as fast as my legs would carry me, I pushed open the front door. The sound of Toby’s fit filtered throughout the house. He rarely had them, but when he did they were exhausting. Not only for him, but for everyone around him because we felt like in the end we were battered and bruised. I set the pizza down and moved through the living room and down the hall. Once I stepped into his room, my heart ached at the scene before me. Toby was on his bed, turned slightly on his side as he smacked at my mother and father while they tried to calm him. The scene broke my heart. I hated seeing him in this state. He was so confused, sad, and tormented. The look of anguish and loss on my parents’ faces when they both realized nothing they could do was going to stop it. No amount of pizza or his favorite ice cream would matter. “What’s going on?” I asked, gaining my parents’ attention. “Go,” my father told my mother and I could see her hesitating. “I got him,” he assured her. Once she stepped out of the room, I could tell she was stalling. “Mom, what is it? Where is Xavier?” She looked up at me and I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. “We don’t know where he is. It’s why Toby is so upset.” “He didn’t show?” I asked, feeling like there had to be a logical explanation for him

ditching my brother. “No.” She shook her head. “Toby was so excited. He had your father make a fort for him and Xavier. We got the snacks all set up and Toby sat by the door waiting.” She paused again. “But he never came.” I was looking directly at her, but to be honest I didn’t even see her. My thoughts were bouncing all over the place. A mixture of worry and of anger. “There has to be a good reason as to why he didn’t come, but with Toby you know he doesn’t understand those types of things.” I nodded my head, but still felt as if I was unable to respond. The sound of Toby’s turmoil mixed with my father’s kind words still attempting to soothe him echoed through the hall. “Maybe I should try?” I asked finally as I moved past my mother and toward my brother’s room. Again, the moment I entered my chest tightened with that familiar ache and the tears filled my eyes, but I fought against them. The last thing my parents needed was me getting all emotional on top of things. “Hey buddy,” I said as I stepped up to the side of the bed. His thrashing paused for only a moment as he looked in my direction. I watched as he scanned the room, and I think in that moment he noticed I was all alone. Within seconds, he was back to being angry and saddened. “I talked to Xavier,” I lied. The lie burned, because it was one thing I didn’t do with Toby. I always gave him the truth. I might sugarcoat it at times, but he got the truth from me. He paused, though he still held his stiffened arms out before him as if he wanted to make sure no one attempted to touch him or move him. He was in defense mode. “His car wouldn’t start.” I began feeling instantly sick to my stomach. I saw the look my father gave me, as if he knew how hard this was for me. He offered me an assuring smile as if my father was giving me permission to continue lying to my brother. I don’t know if that made this entire thing worse or better. “He’s trying to get it running, bud, but he hasn’t had any luck. He had to have it towed off to get fixed. He told me to tell you that boys’ night will still happen and that he’s so sad he had to miss it. He said to ask you when you’re free to reschedule. The sooner the better, because he really misses you.” I swallowed past the hollow feeling in my chest. The anger inside me felt just a little more dominant than before. The lies I just told burned like acid, even though they seemed to calm Toby just a bit. Though he was still very angry himself, the idea of Xavier rescheduling their night did seem to give him a bit of comfort. “Would you like me to watch Turtles with you?” I asked and instantly he shook his head no before he focused back on me. Tears once again threatened to spill from my eyes. “I brought you your favorite pizza,” I told him, “a large all for yourself. You don’t even have to share.” Again he shook his head. I could see the exhaustion in him as he stared back at me almost blankly. “Do you need to take a little nap first?” I asked.

For a moment he continued to stare, reminding me of someone very deep in thought. Ever so slowly he nodded his head as his body began to relax. Both my father and I sat next to him, fearful of touching him and triggering another reaction. The minutes ticked by in slow motion as we watched him slowly give in. His eyes drooped, and though he tried to fight it, eventually his body gave in. I got up from the floor beside Toby’s bed and quietly moved from the room. When I entered the living room, I pulled my phone from my pocket. My father stepped into the room behind me. “I’m sure he had a good reason for not being here.” I knew most likely my father was right, but Toby’s actions were still fresh in my mind and at that moment I found it hard to focus on anything else. Breathing in and out, trying so hard to keep my emotions at bay, I dialed Xavier’s phone number. After four rings it went to his voicemail and my heart rate spiked, thinking the worst. With shaky fingers I hit end, immediately followed by redial. After several rings, just when I thought it would go to voicemail, he picked up the phone. “Hey,” he said, sounding winded as if he’d been running or something. There was a lot of background noise, making it hard to hear him. “Where are you?” I asked, and someone screamed out in the background. A woman’s laughter followed right before loud hooting and hollering from someone within very close proximity to Xavier. “Shit,” he mumbled and I could sense he covered the phone. I could hear him talking, yet it was muffled, so understanding the words was impossible. “Xavier.” I said his name, yet he didn’t answer. I was getting anxious and my patience was wearing thin. “Xavier,” I repeated a little more irritated than before. “Sorry,” he said. “Where are you?” I asked again as he told whoever it was near him to be quiet. “At the frat house,” he stated before once again laughing at someone and completely ignoring me. “Did you forget something?” I asked. “What?” “I said, did you forget something?” I repeated, doing my best to remain calm. With each second that passed, it became a little less possible. “Tell them to shut the fuck up,” I barked. I was well aware my parents heard my language and for a moment, I felt horrible for them being witness to my less than lady-like choice in words. But damn him, how hard was it to find a quiet place and have an adult conversation with me? “Babe, let me call you back,” he said and my pulse quickened.

“No,” I said instantly, “go to a different room.” “I can’t; we’re outside and I’m a mess,” he replied. “Give me a half hour, and I’ll call you back.” “Xavier,” I said his name again, only he replied with “Bye” at the same time, ending the call. I stood in my parents’ living room, staring at the wall ahead of me, wondering what the hell just happened. Doing my very best to hold it together, I turned to face my father, who stood only a few feet away. “Can I borrow your truck?” I asked. I figured I should most likely leave my mother’s car, since it was set up for my brother. With the most recent events, I wondered what they would have done had they needed it while I was at work. This left me feeling selfish for using it even though they had insisted. “Maybe you should wait until he calls back,” he replied. “I’m sure there is an explanation.” “I’m sure there is too, I just can’t wait to hear it. Not after what I just witnessed.” I wanted to hear it now. My father looked over at my mother, and together they shared some type of look. Then he offered her a nod as if to answer some unspoken question and pulled his keys from his pocket. “Just be careful,” he added before holding them out in my direction. “I will,” I assured him before turning to leave. *** Driving across town, I kept hoping for Xavier to have the perfect reason for ditching my brother. I don’t know what the perfect reason would be, but I had to hope it wasn’t something avoidable. Cars lined the street in front of his house. Standing along the front porch and stairs were groups of people who were laughing and talking. It looked like some type of party was taking place, which only made my irritation grow. For his safety, he’d better hope a party wasn’t the reason behind standing my little brother up. After finding a place to park, I hurried up the front yard in search of Xavier. A mixture of guys and girls stood around laughing and talking. Some had beers in their hands, others were holding some type of mixed drink. Remembering Xavier saying he was outside, I began moving through the house toward the backyard. Once I stepped out the back door, I looked around to see guys covered from head to toe in what looked like dried mud. I was entirely too irritated to even attempt to figure out what in the hell that was all about, until my eyes settled on one person. There, about ten feet in front of me, stood Xavier, mud caked on his arms and neck, even some on his cheek. He had a bandana tied on his head and what looked like paint

under his eyes, much like what football players wore. I could only see one side of him as he was turned away talking to a group of people. They laughed as he lifted a beer bottle up and took a long drink. He still hadn’t seen me, but I was focused on nothing but him. Anger boiled inside me with each second that passed. An arm thrown over my shoulder didn’t even pull my attention from Xavier. “Your boy is a fucking machine,” someone slurred at my side. “Without him on our team, those asshole Alphas would have gained bragging rights, but Xavier took them down one by one.” The guy rambled on and on for what seemed forever, but was really only a second. I looked over at him but he was too drunk to notice my irritation. I recognized him as the fraternity president, Isaac. “He fucked up Britney’s new boyfriend. I think he might have even made the douche cry a little.” I shrugged him off and took a step toward Xavier. I’d heard enough. As I stepped up to his side, I could feel my body vibrating with anger. “Really?” I said, and even I could hear the hurt in my own voice. Xavier whipped around, and I could instantly sense he was a little unstable on his feet, confirming that he had, in fact, been drinking for some time. “Morgan,” he said with a big cheesy smile. “I was just getting ready to go in and get cleaned up so I could call you.” He looked down at himself and then back up. “I’m a fucking mess. We had this massive mud war and we won,” he added cheerfully. Had it been any other day, any other situation, I would have laughed at the ridiculousness these weirdos got themselves into on a daily basis. It was always something so far-fetched you would think it was a joke. But at this point I was so beyond pissed I couldn’t hold back my emotions. “Yeah.” I threw my hands up in the air sarcastically and shook them around. “You were here fucking mud wrestling in your backyard with a bunch of dumb asses, being cheered on while hitting your target, the boyfriend of your ex, might I add, which would trigger some questions if I wasn’t already so pissed off at you I could barely see straight.” Now I had his full attention, not to mention half the group surrounding him as well. “This is what you bailed on my brother to do?” I asked, and the realization of what he’d done hit him like a freight train. He looked panicked as he stepped toward me and I stepped back, holding up my hand to stop him. I took in a deep breath, trying my hardest to understand how he could forget. Although I had no trouble putting Toby before everything else, I also had to understand it was different for him. I looked back at him, his eyes wide as if he wanted to say something, but had no idea what words to use. “You’re in a fraternity, you’re young, and your responsibilities are minimal, I get that,” I assured him. “I understand. You like to party and do really stupid shit with your friends. Okay, fine. I may not like it if you cancel on me or not show up when you are supposed to,

but I’ll get over it.” I stepped closer, lowering my voice, hoping like hell he understood why what he’d done was the worst thing possible. “However, Toby doesn’t understand. If you don’t show up, he’s devastated, because in the end he thinks he’s done something wrong. He looks up to you.” My voice cracked as my emotions threatened to take over. “For some reason, he has this obsession with you. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen from him, and when you didn’t show, I think it broke his heart. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him in the state I found him in tonight. I had to lie to him just to calm him down!” “I forgot, I got tied up in this game and…damn it.” He lifted his hand to his head and yanked off the bandana. I think he just needed something to do with his hands. The simple fact that he forgot frustrated me. “I’ll make it up to him,” he added. The sound of a loud squeal made me jump as some brunette ran around Xavier, almost running into me. I stepped back to get out of her way just as she used his body as a shield. For a moment, he looked away and back toward the girl, a look of surprise covering his face. In that moment I realized just how tired and defeated I felt. I didn’t want to fight any longer, I just wanted to leave. Being here, seeing what he spent the evening doing wasn’t helping my mood one bit. I turned around and started to walk away. “Morgan,” he hollered out, only I kept walking. “Please wait. Let me get cleaned up and I’ll go with you.” I looked back at him one last time. “Don’t bother,” I told him before stepping inside the back door and leaving him to his party. At this point any hope of a rational conversation between us was lost.



Chapter 32 Xavier I sat on the back porch, still holding my phone in my hand. The guests had long ago cleared out. My brothers had pretty much cleaned themselves up, but there I sat, mud so dry and crusted on my body that it made my skin feel tight. Only I didn’t care. My heart literally ached in my chest so fucking badly it felt like I was being stabbed. “Any luck?” Red asked as he sat down on the step beside me. I only shook my head, as I continued to stare out into the empty backyard. I didn’t have to tell anyone what happened; they had been witness to the display. Everyone watched as Morgan let me have it, and I said nothing. I didn’t chase after her when she left, because honestly, I felt like I couldn’t move. The idea of hurting Toby the way she explained nearly broke me. My brothers knew all about Toby; they had heard me talk of him often over the last couple months. Hell, they’d heard me talk about Morgan’s entire family including Marcus, sometimes to the point where they’d tell me to shut the fuck up. “What are you gonna do?” Red asked, only I had no idea how to answer him. “Did you see the hurt in her eyes?” I asked, knowing that anyone who was close enough to her wouldn’t have been able to miss it. “I did that, I put that there.” “You can’t be so hard on yourself,” he told me but I disagreed. “The hell I can’t,” I said, gripping my phone tighter. “I made those plans, me. I set it up and promised him I’d be there. I should have been there, or at least fucking called.” Red didn’t argue because I think he’d figured out it wouldn’t help.

“So you make it up to him,” he offered. “How?” “He’s a kid. He may have disabilities and struggles, but he’s still a kid. They’re forgiving,” he assured me. “From what I get, Toby idolizes you. He may be upset with you now, but he will forgive you.” “What about Morgan?” I asked as I looked back down at my phone for the hundredth time. “Will she be able to forgive me?” “Morgan may be a little harder,” he chuckled. “That girl is a fireball.” He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. She was a difficult girl, but it was one of the reasons why I loved her. She was strong and resilient. She wasn’t some weak link that relied on anyone to solve her problems; she looked for ways to solve them herself. She challenged me. “At this point, I know you’re thinking the worst, but give her time,” Red told me. “She’s pissed and hurt. But you’ll think of something, and if you need help, you know we’re all here for ya.” He gripped my shoulder and offered a reassuring squeeze before standing up and walking back inside. Not often did Red have a serious conversation with any of us. The guy was a cut up, a hassler, but I knew if I was ever in trouble, he for sure would have my back. Lifting my phone one last time, I slid my finger across the screen and opened up the ongoing thread of text messages I had been sending to Morgan. Xavier: I’m sorry Morgan, I swear I never meant to hurt him. I will make it up to him, I promise. I hit send and never expected to get anything in return. After all, she hadn’t replied to the last twenty I’d sent. My stomach tensed when my phone vibrated, indicating a return message. Morgan: It’s not me that needs the apology. Though I am severely pissed off at you, he is the one that’s devastated. Well, the good news was she didn’t tell me to fuck off. Xavier: I will apologize to him, and more. You being pissed means you still care, and that is all I can ask for right now. I hit send and I could almost imagine her rolling her eyes as she read my message.

She never responded, but honestly I didn’t expect she would. Getting what I already got was more than I deserved. *** I woke up feeling hopeful. After I spent more than an hour on the phone with my dad, I had a plan of redemption set in motion. Yes, I would need the help of my brothers, but I knew they’d offer it. Anything was better than seeing me mope around looking lost. I moved through my day, missing most of what took place in all my classes. I spent most of the time hiding my phone in my lap, shooting off one text message after another. I left Morgan alone for the day, even though I wanted to text her so many times. Marcus suggested that it was for the best, and I figured he’d know. Marcus was my ally though, and I needed him on my side. The minute the professor dismissed my last class of the day, I practically ran toward the exit. As if on cue, my phone rang and I didn’t even have to look to know who it was. “Yeah,” I said as I hit answer and lifted it to my ear. “I just had Mike drop off the supplies you asked for,” my father told me. “He said that her father helped unload everything, then insisted on paying.” I stopped walking as my stomached tensed at the thought of Mike taking any money from Ed. “But Mike told him it had been taken care of,” my dad added. “Said he didn’t look happy about it, but offered his thanks just before Mike drove off.” “Thanks, Dad.” I took in a deep breath as I pictured her father doing exactly as he’d said. “He’s prideful and determined. Morgan is just like him, so I can imagine how hard it was for Mike to remain in control. But tell the guy thanks from me.” I paused at the side of my car with my keys in hand. “And thank you too, Dad.” “I really like Morgan,” he said, and the mention of her name made my heart race. “She’s a good one, Xavier, and I understand why she was upset. I also know that she feels pretty strongly about you.” “Yeah?” “It’s the look she got in her eyes when you two were over. The way she watches you, the smile that covers her mouth. You can fix this,” he assured me, “but be prepared to go through hell and back to do so.” He chuckled. “Women have a way of making a man do things they’d not normally do.” I couldn’t imagine Morgan making me jump through hoops for forgiveness, but what did I know? It took a lot of convincing to get her to date me in the first place, so I could definitely be wrong.

The entire drive over to Morgan’s parents’ house I was a nervous wreck. I had no idea what to expect, for all I knew they could both be as pissed off at me as their daughter. Marcus reassured me that though they wished things had gone differently, they didn’t hold a grudge. For what I planned I had to have their okay. It was their house, after all. I may have added a few more ideas in the mix other than what I initially mentioned, but in the end I thought they’d love it. When I rounded the corner and saw the familiar cars lining the street in front of the Mathews’ home, my nerves kicked up a notch. This was it. Slowing to a stop, I was momentarily shocked. I knew that Red, Isaac, and Brent had agreed to help without hesitation, but what I didn’t expect was to find every brother from the house there. They had already begun working on the outside of the house, and Edmond stood back, scratching his head as he stared at all of them. At the sound of my car door slamming, he turned to face me and instantly began to walk in my direction. “You do all this?” he asked, and I hesitantly began to nod my head. I wasn’t sure if he was pissed or thankful. I was hoping for the latter of the two. “I don’t know how I’m gonna pay for…” I cut him off immediately. “There is nothing to pay for.” Again he lifted his hand to his head and began scratching along his hairline. I figured it must’ve been some type of nervous twitch. “I’m not good with this type of thing,” he stated. “I need to pay for something, somehow make this right.” “I screwed up,” I confessed, regaining his attention. He lowered his hand, yet remained silent, so I continued. “I made a promise to Toby, and the fact that I broke that promise and disappointed him is inexcusable. So you allowing me to do this, to make up for my wrongs, that’s payment enough.” He stared at me as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know how. So instead I continued. “She won’t talk to me, and I can’t say that I blame her. But I’ve gotta make things right with Toby. He deserves to know the truth about why I wasn’t here.” I looked toward the house and watched as Red and Isaac worked on hanging the new screen door my father had brought over. “Marcus told me what Morgan told him,” I continued, still unable to look at Ed. “I know lying to him wasn’t easy for her. She’s always honest with him, even when it’s hard. The fact that she lied for me just makes a bad situation even worse.” “I told him you were coming over today,” Edmond said. “He lit up like the fireworks on the fourth of July,” he chuckled, but when I looked back at him, his eyes were glossy. “There is nothing a father wants more than to see his kids happy.” He paused, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “You, Xavier, seem to be able to make both my kids happy. So you’re all right by me, and the rest will just fall into place.” I hoped he was right. His daughter was one stubborn woman. I left the guys to do their thing outside. They all knew what needed to be done. Any

person could look around and see the things that were in desperate need of repair. The shutters were hanging crooked and a few of the gutters were falling off. My mother had told my father to deliver a variety of different flowers and bushes. She said everyone should have a little color, and Morgan’s family deserved to have beauty on the outside that mirrored the beauty on the inside. She was poetic like that; her heart was forever thinking of others. I moved inside and found Kathy, Marcus, and Toby sitting in the living room. The moment I entered they all turned to face me. I didn’t even get a chance to speak before Toby started squealing and laughing. The excitement in his eyes caused by me simply walking through the door was overwhelming, but then I remembered how I let him down. “Hey pal,” I said, stepping around the couch and walking closer to him. I was well aware that I was being watched, but I didn’t look at anyone else but Toby. “Listen, bud, I’m really sorry about last night. Morgan told you that I had car trouble, but the truth is, buddy, I was selfish and I forgot.” Toby looked over toward his mom, then to Marcus. “Do you think that maybe you could forgive me?” I asked. “You’re one of my best friends, pal, and if I didn’t have you in my life, I know I’d miss you like crazy.” My heart raced, but I hoped more than anything that not only would I gain his forgiveness, but his mother’s as well. Though they’d never admit it, I was sure both Kathy and Edmond had to feel a little disappointed in me too. When Toby looked back at me and gave me the biggest toothy grin ever, a huge relief washed over me. “We still friends?” Toby nodded and said “Yes” at the same time, only it sounded more like a “Yesh.” “I got a favor to ask,” I told him. “I’ve got a surprise for you, but in order to give it to you I’m gonna need you to stay in here for a while and let me in your room. Does that sound like something you could do?” Again he looked to his mother as if asking her for permission. “You choose,” she told him, a smile on her face. She already knew my plans. When he looked back at me and gave me a quick nod, I stood, excited to get started. Had the guys known that I spent a few hours on Pinterest, at my mother’s direction, they would have ammunition to tease me for years. I wanted to deck out Toby’s room like no other. To create a unique Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle room would take some major imagination. “So where do we start?” I spun around to find Marcus standing behind me in the doorway of Toby’s room. “I’m here for you, use me.” He wagged his eyebrows, making me laugh. “Beware, because when I’m done with you, you’ll be wishing you didn’t offer yourself up so easily.” His crazy innuendos and remarks didn’t bother me one bit. I knew the guy taunted me because he actually liked me in a friendship kind of way. It was his way of showing me I had been accepted. So now I threw it right back at him.

I opened the notebook I had in my hands and showed him the things I had printed out. “We’re making that?” he asked, leaning in closer. “We’re gonna do our best,” I told him, “and this too.” “Is that a sewer backdrop?” he asked in awe. “And those glow in the dark?” “Yeah, now you see why I need to get started,” I said, looking around the small space. “There’s not much in here, but I think we can make it more roomy. I gave Red and Isaac a list of the things I needed and from the looks of it, they got everything I asked for.” “Well, roll up your sleeves, Pineapple Man, and let’s get started.” He offered me a smirk just before he winked at me, and all I could do was shake my head at the guy. I realized in that moment everything I had gained over the last few months. A beautiful girlfriend and a great kid who thought I was amazing. I got two great people who reminded me a lot of my own parents, and I got Marcus too.



Chapter 33 Morgan I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. For a moment I sat in the car looking out the window, wondering if I was daydreaming. The house I left in the early hours that morning had somehow been transformed. No longer were the gutters falling off, and the broken screen door wasn’t leaning against the side of the garage. Nope, all of that had been fixed or replaced. There were flowers, bright, colorful, cheerful flowers. The sun was beginning to set and the glow was still barely peeking up over the tree line, highlighting the house and making everything appear spotlighted. It had been years since I had seen it look even half this good. The fact there were guys camped out all over the front yard made it even crazier. Guys I knew. The last time I’d seen them was when I was yelling at one of their brothers while they all stood around looking at me like at any moment I would explode. Now they were all laughing and carrying on with my father and Marcus. Isaac, Red, and the twins, all behaving as if they had known my family forever. I exited the car and moved across the now trimmed front lawn looking around in awe, just taking everything in. “Looks good, huh?” I looked up to see Marcus smiling back at me. All eyes were now on me. “How did this all happen in one day?” I asked, still feeling like at any moment I might wake up. “We’re badass like that,” one of the twins said confidently, and I couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled in my chest.

“We got skills,” the other one added, only making me laugh harder. I don’t know what was funny—if it was because I was in a state of shock, or that I was just extremely tired and the idea that a bunch of college guys showed up at my parents’ house and revamped the years of neglect. I just know I felt I couldn’t control my reaction. “That’s not all we’re good at,” again one of the twins said. I honestly needed to figure out which one was which one day. “We tricked out Toby’s ride too, check it out.” I spun around when I heard a little beep of a horn. I fully expected to find Toby sitting behind me, but instead I found my mother in Toby’s wheelchair. Or at least I think it was Toby’s chair. “Isn’t it great?” she said with a huge smile. A bigger smile than I had seen on her face in, well, I couldn’t even remember seeing one that big. The play chair no longer could be classified as plain. They had given it turtle power, so to speak. It even had a matching ninja turtle flag, which stuck up about three feet above my mother’s head. The armrests were covered with a faux fur, green no less. The foot pegs were now two oversized turtle feet and there was even a plaque, Boy Ninja Toby, in big bold letters. More laughter spilled from me. “It’s amazing, I bet he loves it.” “He drove it around the yard until the battery was almost dead,” my dad added. I could feel the lightness around me. Like years of tension and stress that was weighing on my father had been lifted in a matter of one afternoon. It was overwhelming. “Where’s Toby?” I asked, because I honestly wanted to see the happiness on his face from his new gift. “He’s sleeping,” my mother said as she carefully climbed out of his chair. A feeling of disappointment hit me. “But there’s more,” she said as she waved me toward the house. I followed her, wondering what else there could be. “You have to be quiet,” she said in a hushed tone as she walked toward the hallway that led to Toby’s room. As we got closer, I could see green lighting that I knew wasn’t something he had before. I imagined his lamps were swapped out and replaced with green bulbs or something. Never, though, did I expect to see what I saw once I stepped inside. Scanning over the room, I felt as if my legs had weakened and I used the doorframe to brace myself. One wall had been transformed to look as if it was made of brick. In the center was a huge three dimensional hole. One that looked as if it was dripping water. “It’s the sewer entrance from the Ninja Turtles,” my mother whispered. I could see it now, and she was right. It was the neatest thing I had ever seen. Toby’s flatscreen had been mounted on the wall and his old television stand had been removed. In its place was a desk with shelving units on both sides. The desk was the perfect height so his chair would slide right up to it. Green lanterns were hanging throughout the room, and I looked closer, trying to figure out just what they were made of. “It is actually a light fixture. Xavier and Marcus hooked it up, and instead of keeping

the regular clear globes, they painted them with a green paint. When the lights are out, it gives off that green glow.” When she mentioned Xavier, I began scanning the room until my gaze landed on the bed. It had also been changed and was adorned with a Ninja Turtle comforter that matched the bedroom. Only it was the body that lay curled up next to my brother’s that I couldn’t look away from. Xavier looked huge in the double bed. His broad shoulders and wide frame made Toby seem so tiny in comparison. The image took my breath away, I swear. “He did all this,” I said without looking away, “didn’t he?” “Yes,” she said, telling me something my heart already knew. “He’s been here since a little after lunch, and so have his friends.” A silence settled over us, allowing me a few moments to gain control of my emotions. “I know you’re upset with him,” my mother began. “Yesterday was rough, but he did all this not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Not everyone goes to this extreme to make up for one simple mistake.” Again a small silence before she continued. “I know Toby is your weakness, because he’s mine too, but do you think it hurts more because he let you down too? Because you expected more from him?” “I did expect more,” I said without hesitation. “Sometimes being hurt by those we love hurts so much more than if it was someone you barely knew.” The realization of what she said hit me. “I do love him,” I told her, feeling the burn in my chest. “I know you do,” she assured me. “But does he?” I shook my head as I remained in the same spot leaning against the door jamb. “Maybe he should,” my mother said just before she leaned in, offering me a sideways hug before stepping out of the room. She was right. I knew she was. I carefully pushed off the doorframe, moved toward the bed, and knelt down at Xavier’s side. For a moment I just watched him sleep. He took a deep intake of breath, followed by a gentle, relaxed exhale. It made me second guess interrupting him, but I knew I needed to. I lifted my hand and slowly traced the top of my finger over his jaw. He began to stir. When he repositioned himself and started to breath evenly again, I decided to take it one step further. I leaned over him, my mouth hovering above his, and pressed my lips to his, offering him a soft kiss. As I began to pull back, his hand cupped the back of my head and he brought his lips back to mine. I gave in, letting him control the kiss. Our lips moved with one another’s as if they had been doing that very things for years. “I love you,” his words vibrated against my lips and my own began to tremble. “I’m sorry I disappointed you. That is something I never wanted to do, and I can assure you I will never do it again. You mean so much to me.” I

lay my head on his chest, tucked my face against his neck, and took a moment to calm myself. I was so very close to crying. “Thank you,” I finally spoke, my throat burning, “for everything.” He rubbed my back soothingly as I continued to keep my face tucked in closely to his neck. His chest rose and fell beneath my cheek, deep even breathing that I found also soothed me. “You should have seen his face when he rolled in here after Marcus and I finished,” Xavier whispered softly. I lifted my head and rested my chin on his chest looking up at him. The glowing light of the lamps above made his face completely visible. “I get it now,” he confessed, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “I understood before, but now I truly get it. The joy from his happiness.” He lifted his hand and brought it to rest over his heart. “I felt it, that deep uncontrollable ache, from simply witnessing his happiness. It was an amazing feeling.” I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking of the look Toby gets when he is happy. That wide eyed, open mouth expression. His arms moving up and down as if he’s trying to fly away followed by that screeching squeal of delight. Though some might find it too much to handle, I thought it was one of the very best sounds in the world. It meant he’d been reached, that place deep down within him had been found and that uncontrollable excitement had taken over. My heart ached, so deep, and I loved it. “I love you for doing this for him,” I said as I opened my eyes. I found he was looking back at me, with a look of awe on his face. “I love you for being the man you are, and for loving my family as much as I love them.” Before he could reply, I leaned in once more and pressed my lips to his. No amount of thanks could ever touch the depth of what he’d done. Not only for Toby, but for my parents too. There was absolutely no way to explain just what his actions meant to me.



Epilogue 2 Weeks later Xavier I tried to keep a straight face, but the idiots sharing a table with me were making it almost impossible. Here I sat in a booth at Porter’s pizza, surrounded by Isaac, Red, and Corbin. We’d just been led to a booth by a girl that Red couldn’t seem to take his eyes off. She was a petite little thing, and the thought of the two of them together was odd to picture. I think one of his thighs was as big as her waist alone. She was quiet, timid maybe, and she kept averting her eyes toward the floor each time one of these jackasses made some type of crude remark. Not necessarily toward her, but in general they just had no filter. Normally Red was the same way, but today it was like he was mute. Shit like that was like seeing a fucking unicorn—very rare. “You okay, Red?” I asked and he only nodded his head. Over the last couple of months the guy had started to let his hair grow out. It no longer bushed out like a crazy afro but hung more past his ears. Most days he pulled it back and had this crazy ass fucking ponytail on the back of his head. I had also noticed the color seemed less red, more of a brownish tint now ran throughout. At times I wanted to ask him if he’d been dyeing it, but left it alone. The guy was a monster, tall and built. Now it would seem he was heavily intrigued by the sweet girl who couldn’t make eye contact with him. Her cheeks reddened as she took

our drink orders. When she reached Red, she lifted her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear, peering up at him, as she smiled politely. “What would you like to drink?” Her voice cracked. “Why you so nervous?” he asked, and each one of us at the table stopped talking to hear her reply. Actually, I thought it was more to watch Red flirt, because again, the guy was a mystery. He never really displayed his personal shit for the rest of us to see. “This is my first day,” she said in explanation as she looked back over her shoulder. Each of us followed her movements and I noticed Pete standing back near the kitchen entrance watching us all closely. I lifted my hand, offering a wave and he nodded his head. The guy still kept his distance from me, which I found odd. It wasn’t like I threatened to beat his ass or anything for crushing on my girl. I just made sure he understood that she and I were together. I thought I did it in a calm fashion. If you asked Morgan, though, I thought she would disagree. “Well, I think you’re doing just fine,” Red assured her. “The fact that you’re gorgeous is a huge bonus.” Her cheeks reddened further, and Isaac, who sat next to Red, looked back and forth between the two, his mouth hanging open in a bit of shock. He looked ridiculous as his head continued to whip from Red to the girl and then back to Red. “Thank you.” It came out in almost a whisper. “Did you want anything to drink?” she asked again as she tucked her chin toward her chest, an attempt to hide the fact that she was blushing was my guess. “Are you boys harassing the new girl?” I looked to my right just as Morgan stepped up to the table. She leaned her hip toward me, and I wrapped my arm around her waist. “Not at all,” I assured her, “but Red seems smitten.” “I’ll take a Coke,” Red said in a rush, just before the girl hurried off without another word. “Asshole,” he mumbled as he sat back in his seat, still watching the girl walk away. “She is entirely too innocent for the likes of any of you,” Morgan said with a smirk. “Her head would spin after five seconds. Poor girl would crack.” “I’d mend her,” Red said, and I’m not sure he meant for any of us to hear. When I looked back at Morgan, she too gave him a questionable stare. She visibly shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “So are you boys hungry?” she asked and I allowed my hand to slip just a little lower on her waist, cupping her ass in my palm. “Starving,” I assured her when she looked at me with her eyebrow cocked. “Pervert,” she added, but her eyes couldn’t hide that she liked my perverted behavior. Since the night she found me asleep next to Toby in his newly decorated room, things

had shifted for us. The newness of our relationship was still there, but we now had this comfortable manner that surrounded our time together. A playfulness mixed with an undeniable passion. It was something I had never felt before. I loved this woman, more than I had ever imagined being able to love one person. She was it, the one for me. The thought of not having her in my life was something I couldn’t ever face. Just last weekend, after Edmond and Kathy insisted on thanking my parents, we drove to Kissimmee together. We spent the entire day cooking out and swimming. It was another ultimate step in the relationship between Morgan and me. Morgan took our orders and moved off toward the kitchen, and once again I noticed Pete lingering in the dining room. He never came on our side, but he did continue to look toward us on occasion. “I’ll be right back,” I told the guys, but none of them seemed to care that I got up from the booth. They each continued to harass one another as their loud voices carried throughout the restaurant. “Hey Pete,” I said as I stepped up to his side. His shoulders instantly stiffened as he stood tall and turned his body to face me. “Hi,” he said, looking up over my shoulder. “Is everything okay?” Why did he seem so nervous? “It’s great, actually,” I assured him, hoping to ease some of the tension rolling off this guy. “I actually just wanted to thank you for being so good to Morgan.” His eyes widened in surprise. “She loves this job and her last boss wasn’t the greatest kind of guy. From what she tells me, you treat her with respect and in turn she also respects you. That moves you pretty high up on my list.” He offered me a nod and a simple thanks. Still, I thought the guy viewed me as competition. “Is everything okay over here?” I turned around to find Morgan standing behind me, with a worried look on her face. “Everything is great,” I told her as I spun around to look at Pete once again. “I was telling Pete here that I think he’s a decent guy.” I reached my hand out toward him, and he hesitantly placed his in mine, offering a firm shake. I played nice and made the effort to make things peaceful between him and me; the ball was now in his court. But he needed to get used to me because I wasn’t going anywhere. Morgan was my girl, and she always would be. That was just the way things were. *** Morgan

“Hey Marc,” Xavier said as he leaned back in the kitchen chair, his arms stretched out as he ran his palm over the tabletop. The biggest shit-eating grin covered his mouth. “Where’d you buy this table anyway?” I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing exactly what he had up his sleeve. “Why?” he asked as he peeked back over his shoulder at me before returning back to Xavier. “Because I have this deep connection to it,” Xavier replied, his grin growing wider. “It’s this unexplainable liking, I guess, that I can’t explain.” I knew at this point my eyes had to appear the size of saucers. I hid behind Marcus, shaking my head at Xavier. He needed to stop, like now. The last thing I wanted was for Marcus to know just what we had done on his table. Only my evil stare did absolutely nothing to stop him. “You have a liking for my table?” Marcus asked, not sounding convinced. Actually, the skepticism in his voice outweighed any other reaction. “Yes.” Xavier once again allowed his palm to glide over the top surface. “It’s sturdy, built solid,” he gripped it and shook it a little, “like it could easily hold the weight of two people.” I fisted my hands and shook my arms around, trying to indicate my growing irritation. Marcus turned around so quickly I didn’t have time to hide my fleeing arms, as I still tried to stop Xavier from his continuous taunting. I was instantly caught in the act as he gave me a confused look. I tried to play it off as if I was swatting a bug away, but I knew I’d failed. I was busted as reality hit Marcus head on. A look I could only describe as horror washed over his face. “No,” he gasped. Spinning back around, he looked at Xavier and did this little stomp with his foot. “Hell no,” he added. I felt my stomach drop, as if it hit the floor at my feet. Why? Why would Xavier even bring it up? “Oh yes,” Xavier said, and I immediately hung my head to hide the instant blush that filled my neck and face. Marcus looked between Xavier and me as I peeked up through the hair that had fallen to cover my face. He wrinkled his nose as his gaze fell toward the table. “I loved that table too,” he said sadly, “until you two decided to fornicate on it.” I pressed my lips tightly together and did my best not to laugh out loud at Marcus’ reaction. He walked off looking like he’d just been told that pedicures were made illegal and would no longer be offered to the public. Xavier, of course, chuckled, and I reached behind me, grabbed the loaf of bread, and heaved it at his head. It bounced off his

forehead and landed on the table before him. The asshole looked up at me a gleam in his eye. “Lunch is served,” he said, slapping the table top. “Hop on up here, babe, I’m hungry.” Arrogant, adorable, cute man I’d love to throttle, I thought as I too stormed out of the kitchen after my best friend to soothe his broken heart.



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***SNEAK PEEK***

Just One Taste

Oh, Tequila Series #2 Elijah - AKA Red’s Story



Chapter 1 I rolled to my left and felt something wet at my side. Not just wet, but fucking soaked. As in a pool of standing water that my entire hand was submerged in. As I slowly opened my eyes, I squinted past the bright sunlight peeking up over the trees. I was lying outside, near the pool, and a “what the fuck” moment hit me hard. How the hell did I get out here? I closed my eyes and buried my face against my forearm, wishing it all away. The headache, the body ache, the nauseating feelings in my stomach—I just wanted them all gone. My hair had grown out even more and now produced the perfect shield over my face. Everyone thought red was my natural color. For a while it was fun to let them think so, but it was time for a change. My natural brown was beginning to take over and I had gone to my Aunt Meg to slowly strip out the continuous red I’d put in it over the years. It took a few minutes to calm my rolling stomach for fear of losing its contents. Puking was never good, but puking in or near a pool was fucking nasty. When I was sure I had gotten it under control, I lifted my head. So far, so good, I thought as I carefully pushed off the ground and brought myself into a sitting position. “Still good,” I mumbled to myself. I took in a few deep breaths and went for broke. Crawling off the ground, I stood on wobbly legs. Fearful of falling, I held my arms out to my sides and that’s when I saw it. My right wrist bandaged and taped. For a moment I only stared at it, wondering what in the hell I could have done. It appeared professionally wrapped, so whoever added the bandage obviously knew what they were doing.

I carefully began to tear at the edge, my curiosity getting the best of me. Maybe I shouldn’t remove it, I thought just before peeling back the bandage. This time my legs did give out and I landed hard on my ass in the grassy yard surrounding the pool. There on my wrist was a fucking tattoo, one name in big bold letters. Blake I quickly covered up my wrist, securing the tape. I looked around to ensure there was no one else who could have seen it. Some crazy shit had gone down in this house. Shit that most people wouldn’t like to ever have repeated. But never, and I do mean never, had any of my brothers woken up the morning after a party to have some dude’s name tattooed on them. Well, until now that is. Oh Tequila, what have you done now?







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Acknowledgements

THE CHARMED GIRLS, you are all amazing. The continued support you show me is something I will never be able to express just how much it means to me. Thank you all for sharing my work and for just being you. You are all the greatest bunch of ladies. To Sara Eirew, thank you for yet another gorgeous picture. Such amazing gorgeous images you tease us all with often and make it impossible to resist. Thank you so very much. Thank you, Lydia, because you are a true friend and motivator, always making me laugh and smile. We are an amazing team, and your friendship means the world. Thank you for being one of my biggest cheerleaders. Beta Team, you know who you are. Thank you all so very much for taking this journey with me. Your feedback and encouraging words along the way made this story mean so much. Without you all, it would be what it is now. To my husband and children, thank you for being the best part of my days. For tolerating me when I get lost in the world of fiction and understanding that sometimes dinner may be a little late. Jayden and Tayler, no matter how many books I write, you two will always be my best creations. My readers, I am always so humbled by your support. Those random messages I received after you read my books, whether it be something big or small, I truly love them. Hearing what you think, in my eyes, is one of the greatest things about releasing a new book. I am never too busy for you.



About the Author

C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn’t always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict. She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband of 14 years and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite pass time.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-CA-Harms/354791947956151 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Charms0814 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6895633.C_A_Harms