Page 45 of Frat House Fling

Her voice was low and rumbly. “Me either,” she whispered, and her eyes closed.

That was my cue. I pulled her in closer and noticed the faint freckles on her soft cheeks as I tilted my head down. Her hair smelled faintly of something sweet, maybe vanilla or coconut—I wasn’t sure, but it was her, and it was perfect. I slid a hand up to the back of her neck, my thumb brushing lightly against her skin there, and I felt her body shiver against mine.

When I met her lips, she stilled, and I could practically feel her hesitation. Though gorgeous, she struck me as a very inexperienced young woman. That wasn’t too surprising, given the hard knocks she’d had in her life.

Her warm little body was motionless for a long moment, but then she relaxed, leaning into me as some of the tension faded away. She slid her hands up my arms and then linked them behind me, drawing us closer. I angled my head slightly, deepening the kiss without rushing her, my hand in her hair. She tasted sweet.

She moaned, and the throaty sound made my cock jump in my pants. I teased her lips open with my tongue, letting my bodytake over and my mind still. Kissing her seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

After another long moment of bliss, Hailey nipped lightly at my bottom lip, and then I felt her lips twist into a smile. I pulled back, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t want to overwhelm her. When I opened my eyes, hers were still closed, and I drank in the sight of her, with her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly swollen.

She was so fucking beautiful, and she didn’t even know it. I would’ve bet anything, with the hard life she’d lived, that no man had ever worshiped her body the way it deserved. The way I would if the circumstances were different.

Her dazed eyes opened, and she smiled up at me. Reluctantly, I let go of her, letting her take a step back. But I reached up and traced her lower lip with my finger.

She held my gaze, but she took a step back, catching her foot on her book bag. I grabbed her arms, steadying her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Her voice was low and slightly hoarse. Then she smiled. “My day started off badly, but it’s getting better.”

That made me grin. “My day started off just fine, but then it got even better, too.” I picked up her bag and handed it to her. “Can I walk you back to the house?”

“Yes, please.” She sounded like a little girl accepting ice cream, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder as we headed out.

The building still interested me, but now I had something much more fascinating to think about.

14

THEO

Two days after the party,the house had finally gotten back to normal. As was our policy, we brought in a team of cleaners yesterday, and they whipped things into shape. Of course, in the fall, we’d have the pledge class to do that. Either way, I was glad it didn’t fall on Hailey. It would’ve taken her years by herself.

Now that I knew she was a student, I could see how little time she had to herself. The poor girl. I didn’t know how I’d keep up in my classes if I had to work as hard as she did.

It was Sunday, and I didn’t have all that much studying to do, so I treated myself to an extra-long workout in the basement gym. Sometimes it felt really good to push your body to the limit, to really test what it could do.

Of course, that was more fun when you had a woman in your bed and could explore what your bodies could do together.

After a long shower and lunch, I decided to go see what Ian was up to. Well, besides studying. That was a given. But sometimes my old friend could be coaxed into taking a break. I found that that was more likely to happen when I showed up with food, so I raided the kitchen and brought him some snacks.

I paused at his door, grinning at that ridiculous music he listened to. Then I pounded my fist against his door. “Police,” I shouted in a deep voice.

After a long pause, the music stopped, and Ian appeared, looking tired and grumpy.

“If you’re here to arrest me, good. I could use a break.”

“I figured you could use a snack instead.”

“That works, too.” He took the plate from me and spun his desk chair around, so he could talk to me while eating.

As he wolfed down half a sandwich in a few bites, I wondered when he had last taken a break to eat. I sat down on the bed, which was the only other place to sit, and looked around. “This room hurts my soul.”

Ian rolled his eyes. He’d heard this before.

“I like it like this,” he said. “It’s clean. Clear. Open. And sterile, like an operating room.”

I’d heard that before, too. I sighed. My friend was not personality free, but this room sure as hell made him look like he was. “One of these days I’m going to tie you to your bed and force you to watch while I hang paintings, drape some blankets over the bed, and find a matching rug.”

“Keep your perverted sex games to yourself.”