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I knew better than to associate myself with him, he had bad written all over him. For God’s sake, my father was an FBI Agent! If he heard half the shit that I did away from home, he would probably force me to move back and finish my last year of college being locked away in my childhood room.

Coming to a halt and squeezing my eyes shut, I took in a breath. Ugh, Gia just calm your tits. He will never find out. There is absolutely nothing to worry about, I told myself as I opened my eyes and continued my walk across campus. I was just about where I needed to be when my phone started ringing extremely fucking loud.

“Fuck,” I huffed, struggling to pull the slim device from the pocket of my shorts. Taylor’s name showed across the screen and excitement filled my belly as I pressed the answer key.

“I’m so excited that I’ll be seeing you soon!” she squealed into the phone. This was her first year of college, a time where growing was something that she would truly experience. I was glad that I would be that one true friend here for her when she needed it the most. I didn’t have that my first year, hell I barely had that now, but in a few weeks we both would have something we’ve been missing since I left for college.

“I’m pretty sure that I’m way more excited. I have to start packing up my stuff at the dorm this week,” I confessed. I hated packing, anything that involved moving was something that I was against.

“Oh speaking of, I found a place for rent. I’m going to call the number on Craigslist first thing Monday. Hopefully, we can rent it. It’s close to campus and they’re offering the lower rooms in the basement. Two bedrooms with spacious closets, one bathroom, and our own laundry room. We’ll have to share the kitchen and living room with the owners, though.” A smile formed on my face as I crossed the grass to my dorm room. I slid my key into the lock gaining access into the building as Taylor filled me in.

“You’ve sure done your research. That sounds amazing. The only issue is price.” I hated to be the bearer of bad news, but I wanted to be realistic.

“They only want eight hundred a month.” She sounded just as shocked as I felt, so much so that I almost tripped walking up the first flight of stairs.

“Well shit. Then it’s a given, as long as everything checks out and they aren’t some serial killers, then of course we’ll take it.” My voice bounced off the empty hall walls as I jogged up another flight of stairs, keeping my eyes focused on every step as to make sure I didn’t actually trip.

“Yes, you bet your ass we will.” I could hear her moving around her bedroom and then her mumbling ‘I’m coming, Dad’ as the low speaking voice of my Uncle Devon filtered through the phone.

“I have to go, Gia, but we’ll talk later.”

“Okay,” I said, saddened that our conversation had to end so soon. It had been three horrible long years in time that we were separated. We’d grew up together, our parents like siblings, so not only did I consider her my best friend but a cousin as well. Being without your partner in crime for three years was a long time to miss someone, but we would finally be together again, doing what college kids did all across the country.

“Sorry. Dad wants to take me out to dinner. I’ll text you when I get home. Love you, bye.”

“Okay, love you too. Bye, Tay.”

I pulled my phone away from my face just as I made it to my room.

208.

I sighed into the air. There was no one here, no one to talk to, and no one to do anything with. I realized that the highlight of my day had already come and gone as I threw myself onto my bed. Now I was free to do nothing the rest of the afternoon.

Sigh. College life.

Gia King would be my damnation. We failed to see eye to eye, even on the same air we breathed. She could say the sky was blue and I would disagree just to see her scrunch her nose up at me. I loved that she hated me, even more so it made my cock harder than steel to see the anger in her eyes, the hate in her blood fighting to be unleashed against me.

She was the only thing worth touching on this campus, yet I told myself that keeping my distance was the right thing to do, and damn if it was. I needed to be leveled headed when I was around her. Otherwise, we would head down a path that neither of us could come back from.

I knew it and was sure she knew it. Therefore, I drew that boundary in the sand, making sure neither of us crossed it. No matter how much I wanted to, and now-a-days I wanted to a lot. I had to tell myself no as she walked away, as I headed home, and as I forced her from my mind. The days since I had last seen her passed in a flurry between the gym, girls wanting to catch a chance with me, and getting ready for my party, I had failed to remember what day it was.

Then she showed up in a pair of jean shorts that were ten times too short and a shirt, if you could even call it that since it showed her belly, on my doorstep looking for my brother. Of course I was shirtless, with my baseball cap on backward. I had three parts whiskey, one part coke in my Red Solo cup, and I was two sheets to the wind having been drinking all afternoon. She looked like a temptation I could no longer resist.

“Where is your brother?” she asked, her voice was full of energy which told drunk Chase she was a challenge, something that needed to be broken. Sober Chase would’ve declined, knowing that there was a boundary that needed to stay in place, but sober Chase was long gone.

“Around,” I gestured to the whole area. It wasn’t a lie. He was around, I just wasn’t sure where ‘around’ was. Her eyes flickered to the room behind me, to the people I had invited who were too busy drinking and talking to notice us at the door before moving back up to my face. They were a beautiful mix of cocoa and caramel, like a decadent dessert that I’d never get enough of.

“We made plans to meet up today to study, but it’s evident that none of that is taking place here.” She tried to hide the anger in her voice and even portrayed herself as cool, calm, and collected. It didn’t work, though, I knew better. In fact, I had grown to know her better in the last few months since Chance started tutoring her.

“Well, those plans have been shot to hell. Don’t cha’ think? I mean, I kind of figured that you wouldn’t even show.” I paused, wondering if that was a dick thing to have said, then again I was always a dick, so this wasn’t anything new.

She rolled her eyes, and by God did my cock grow ever harder. She had an angry streak that I wanted to control. Her emotions were clearly written on her face, and I wanted to reign them in. Take every part of her and taste her, lap her up until she was nothing but mine.

“Clearly, I’m failing to see what your brother tutoring me has anything to do with you.” Her tone was defiant, and that was the one thing that pulled me from my thoughts. I leaned into her body, her smell overwhelming me. She smelt like vanilla beans, her skin was covered in a dark tan, almost a hazelnut color, and her hair was dark as night. God, I wanted to wrap my fist around her locks and pull on them as I drov–

“I’m just going to find him.” She shoved past me, interrupting my thoughts as her shoulder slammed into mine. It was with that friction that I felt electricity flow between the two of us. A mutual understanding, which made me wonder if fucking her would get her out of my system at all. Could you even fuck someone from your conscious? I didn’t know, but I wanted to try.

“Wait!” I yelled, causing her to come to a halt mid-step. Her body language turned stiff as I circled around her like a shark stalking its prey, only stopping once I came face to face with her.

“Who do you think you are? You didn’t even ask to come in,” I spoke, my voice deep. It was my turn to be angry and defiant. After all, she had shoved right past me in my own home, showing anyone who was paying attention to us that she clearly thought lower than the dirt beneath her shoes of me.