“Hey, come on in. I want to show you guys something.” Dean took Libby’s hand as they got out of the car, leading her toward the frat house.
“No,” Libby protested, looking for support from her roommate, but Elaine grabbed Henry’s hand, following. “Dean, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Oh come on,” Dean said, literally pulling Libby up the stairs. “What do you have to be afraid of?”
“I think Elaine and I should go home.” Libby’s eyes flashed and she glared at Dean as he opened the door.
“But the night’s just starting,” Dean protested. “And I really want to show you guys something.”
“Come on, Libby,” Elaine said, nudging her friend into the doorway. “He wants to show us something!”
Libby relented as Elaine and Henry crowded in behind her.
The house was big enough to hold thirty-five fraternity members, and they didn’t have an empty room in the place. Dean kept trying to talk Henry into living in the frat house with him the following year, but Henry wasn’t even sure he was going to be in school next year at this rate.
There were rules about bringing girls in-but no one said anything to Dean as he led them down a hallway, past the laundry room and through the common area. There were two pool tables at one end and a huge wall-mounted television, but no one was in there tonight.
“Check it out.” Dean opened a set of double French doors and Elaine squealed.
“A hot tub!”
Henry had been on the frat house tour, but somehow had missed this room. “I didn’t know this was here.”
“They just built it over the summer.” Dean flipped a switch on the wall and the hot tub hummed to life, the bubbling water glowing, lit from underneath. “It’s not even officially open. They have to have it inspected or something.”
“So we can’t go in it?” Elaine pouted. “What a tease!”
“Oh hell.” Dean shrugged, then winked at her. “Want to do it anyway?”
“Elaine!” Libby protested as her friend shed her jacket and then her sweater. Henry gaped as she unzipped her jeans and wiggled them down her slim hips. She was in her underwear so fast-a very sweet, white bra and panties with pink polka dots-that no one had a chance to say a word before she was getting into the hot tub. Henry did have just a moment to wonder if she wore a matching set in anticipation of their date.
“Come on, Libby!” Elaine called, and Henry admired the way her panties hugged her behind, the water frothing around her thighs as she waded in.
“If you can’t beat ’em…” Dean stripped down to his boxers and followed Elaine into the hot tub.
Libby stood there, undecided, until Henry started peeling off his coat.
“Really?” She kept her voice low. Dean and Elaine were splashing, laughing, and couldn’t hear them anyway over the noise of the water, he was sure.
“You only live once, right?” He took off his shirt and saw her blink at the sight of him without one. “What are you-chicken?”
She smiled at him. “Is that a challenge?”
His breath caught as she pulled her hoodie over her head. She was wearing a t-shirt underneath. He raised his eyebrows as she pulled her t-shirt off. Her bra was black, and he had a moment to lament the fact that the material wouldn’t be see-through in the water before he felt the first stirrings of arousal when she reached down to unsnap her jeans, wondering if her panties matched.
“Come on in!” Dean called and Henry saw him watching Libby undress. “Water’s great!”
“You coming?” Libby peeled her jeans off, leaving them in the pile of her clothes on the floor. Her panties were black, too, with lace trim and had a red bow in the front. He’d dreamed about seeing this much of her, the long limbs, the peaches and cream skin, and he was inflamed at the sight.
“Now who’s chicken?” She stuck out her tongue, turning and walking toward the water.
He’d never gotten out of his clothes so fast.
The water was warm, steam rising around them, and although Henry wanted to sit next to Libby, it was Elaine who reached a hand out to him, patting the surface of the water beside her, and he felt obliged to slide in next to her instead.
“This feels sooooo good.” Elaine rolled her neck from side to side and then dipped her head back, wetting her normally white-blonde hair and making it the color of wet cornstalks. It also made her eyes seem even rounder and bluer.
“It gets better.” Dean reached back and flipped open one of the benches next to the hot tub, pulling out a brand new fifth of Jack Daniels. Henry wondered if it was the one they’d found for the fraternity’s scavenger hunt.
“Cheers, man.” Dean unscrewed the top and took a long swig, passing the bottle to Henry. He took a sip, the alcohol burning his throat, and handed it to Elaine, who was clamoring for it beside him.
“Oooo that’s strong!” she exclaimed, her eyes watering. She handed the bottle over to Libby, who passed it on to Dean without drinking.
Dean studied Libby for a moment and then asked, “Who wants to play a game?”
“What game?” Elaine inquired. Henry felt her hand on his thigh again, her fingernails tickling him.
Dean held the bottle up to the light, considering the amber-colored fluid. “How about Drink or Dare?”
“How do you play?” Henry asked. He was familiar with a few drinking games, but had never played that one.
“Just like Truth or Dare.” Dean took a long pull from the bottle. “But if you pick Truth, you drink twice. If you pick Dare, you only drink once.”
“I don’t know.” Libby was sitting in the corner of the tub, her arms crossed over her chest as if she was cold, although the water had to be eighty degrees.
“I’ll go first.” Dean ignored her. “Henry. Truth or Dare?”
“Truth.” Henry took the bottle, considering it. “Two?” Dean nodded and Henry took two sips, feeling the alcohol burn again as it went down. He nearly choked, though, when he heard Dean’s question.
“Who was the last girl you had sex with?”
“Oh come on.” Henry blinked, eyes watering.
Dean shrugged. “You want a dare instead?”
“Yeah.” Henry set the bottle aside.
“I dare you to kiss Elaine.”
Elaine’s eyes widened, but she turned her face eagerly up toward Henry in anticipation. Okay, get it over with, he told himself. Don’t look at Libby. Don’t think about her. Better this than her hearing about that night with Val…
Elaine moved into the circle of his arms, clearly expecting a real kiss and not just a peck on the cheek. Henry relented, holding her lean, wet body against his. She was so tiny, he felt like he could break her with one snap. When her lips met his, they parted instantly, her tongue seeking entry, and he tasted her, salty popcorn and M amp;M’s, her breasts mashed against his chest, her leg rubbing between his under the water. She was sweet and light and delicious, and he couldn’t help his response. He just wished she hadn’t felt it against her thigh when she pressed against him, her tongue probing deeper.
“Okay,” Henry breathed, breaking it off. Elaine smiled up at him, eyes half closed, and he knew then that Dean had been right. This girl wanted something-on the rebound, she probably wanted someone to make her feel whole and loveable and attractive again. He saw it in her eyes, felt it in the weight and press of her body against his. She wanted what she wanted and if Henry was willing to offer it, well, that was clearly okay with her.
“Okay,” he said again, clearing his throat, turning back to the other two people in the room. Libby was quiet, watchful. Dean just grinned. Elaine’s hand crept back up Henry’s thigh under the water and he tried to ignore it, but she made that impossible when her hand moved under his boxers. Henry froze, glancing at her. She just gently squeezed and tugged at him. It wasn’t an obvious motion, nothing that would draw attention, but it was clear and intentional. And it felt really fucking good.