Ritual: A New Adult College Romance (Palm South University Book 5)

by Kandi Steiner

“Looks like I sold my soul to the devil, then.”

  I turn in his arms, threading mine around his neck. The way the lights reflect in his eyes warm my chest, and I trace his dark features, falling even more for him every second that we’re together. “I’m so happy we found each other.”

  He nods, knuckles brushing my jaw. “Me, too. I can’t believe you thought we weren’t exclusive all that time, until you asked me in the spring after we told everyone at the agency about us.”

  “It’s hard,” I argue. “When you’re my age, everyone plays games.”

  His eyes are darker when they meet mine again. “Do you know now that I don’t?”

  I swallow, nodding, leaning into where his hand frames my face.

  “And do you know that I love you?”

  I close my eyes, fighting back the tears those words drew from me the moment he said them. It’s nearly impossible, though, for the joy that strangles me, the relief, the terror and otherworldly ecstasy that consume me at once.

  “I do now,” I say, opening my eyes and looking into his. “And I love you, too.”

  Brandon’s lips are on mine as soon as I finish speaking, and I breathe in the kiss, the man holding me, the night around us, the moment I’ll never forget. I’m so lost in the way his hands feel on my waist, and the way his lips move in time with mine, that I barely register him lifting me into his arms and carrying me inside.

  The windows that surround the suite are floor to ceiling, still showcasing the breathtaking city view as Brandon deftly turns out every light and guides me to the California king bed. My knees hit the back of it once he sets me back down on the floor, and I press my hands into his chest, smiling against his kiss.

  “I thought you said you wanted to fuck me on the balcony?”

  I’m ready for him to give some smart ass comment in response, or to haul my ass back outside, but instead, he swallows, pressing his forehead to mine. “Not now,” he husks. “Now, I’m going to make love to you in this bed.”

  My heart swells in my chest, my throat tight as I run my fingers back to hold his neck and draw him back to my lips. The kiss is gentle and sweet and unlike any other that I’ve had from this man, and I melt into it, resisting the urge to pinch myself to make sure this is all real.

  He takes his time undressing me, peeling my little black dress over my head before reaching into my hair and slowly pulling out each bobby pin that holds it in place. Next, he unclasps my bra, and helps me step out of my heels before slipping my panties down over my ass, my thighs, my ankles, leaving them on the floor.

  Between kisses and touches and sighs and licks, he undresses himself, too — and then his arms wrap around me, guiding me down on top of the plush comforter of the bed, the down pillows giving way to the weight of my head.

  I don’t realize I’m shaking until Brandon holds himself over me and my trembling fingers wrap around his thick, bulging biceps. I hold onto them as an unsteady breath slips through my lips, and Brandon kisses me gently, spreading my legs wider with his. Our bodies are hot where they touch — chest to chest, his arms surrounding me, and mine holding onto him, his thighs between mine, his shaft warm and hard where it slicks between my wet lips.

  “Do you remember when I told you on my yacht that the only place I held any power over you was in the office?”

  I nod, still holding onto him for dear life with my heart racing in my chest.

  “Well, I’ve decided that’s now a lie.” He shakes his head, eyes flicking back and forth between mine. “In every possible way, in every place that exists, you are my everything. You hold the power, Ashlei, and I am yours — to bear or to break.”

  Tears flood my eyes, and this time I don’t try to stop them. I have never felt anything in my life like I feel for this man, and I succumb to the feeling of him surrounding me — all of me — now and forever.

  “I will never break you,” I whisper, reaching up to press my lips to his. He answers me with a passionate kiss in return, and then with a flex of his hips, he’s inside me.

  I feel him all at once, all-encompassing, the bare length of him filling me up. I gasp into his mouth, and his hands wrap around my shoulders, giving him a better grip to thrust inside me again. Each time he withdraws and pummels in, his pelvis rubs my clit, and I spread my legs even wider, chasing the building fire ready to catch.

  Brandon’s mouth roams all over me — my neck, my jaw, my chin and lips and ears and breasts. I feel him everywhere, and I run my nails down his back, kiss his skin in return, praying that he feels me just as much.

  How can it be that this strong, powerful, successful man wants anything to do with me? How can it be that out of all the women falling at his feet, he chose me to stand by his side, to be his queen, to say the three words every woman wants to hear?

  This time last year, I was fighting every urge that begged me to give into my lust for him, and now, he’s making love to me in a city halfway across the country, and everyone knows about us, and nobody dares to tell us we can’t have each other.

  I could never break him, I realize, because we’re unbreakable.

  As long as we’re together, we can’t be stopped.

  Trembling and holding onto each other with slick, hot hands, Brandon makes love to me for hours in that bed.

  And before we leave the next morning, he makes good on his promise to fuck me on the balcony, too.

  THE LAST TIME I went on a date, it was with Jarrett.

  I don’t want to compare. Fuck, the whole point of dicking around with Kade was to distract myself from the fact that Jarrett had pulverized my heart. And the surprising fact is that it’s been working… until now.

  Because now, I’m staring in the mirror moments before Kade is picking me up for our first official date, and for some reason, it all feels wrong.

  It feels wrong to be thinking about the way my stomach fluttered the first time Jarrett took me on a date, or how he made me come home with him when I was sick just so he could take care of me, or how he flew in from New York and hung out with me and my sorority sisters, which made them fall just as in love with him as I was.

  It feels wrong because it’s a past, not a future — and tonight, I start something new with someone new.

  I sigh, rubbing the edge of my lip with my pinky to fix a bit of lipstick smudge. It’s slightly cool tonight — for South Florida, at least — so I landed on my favorite pair of Spanx leggings, a burnt orange crop top, and my favorite black booty heels. I layered a cream, high-low cardigan over the top, and did my makeup mostly natural, except for the smoky eye. My blonde hair is down and curled, falling over my shoulders, and I stare back at the golden eyes in the mirror with a pit in my stomach.

  Because as much as I’m thinking of Jarrett, perhaps what fucks me up most is that I don’t think I miss him anymore.

  I don’t think my heart breaks as much when I think about him. I don’t think I care what he’s doing or who he’s with anymore.

  And more than anything, I don’t think I’m sad that it’s not him picking me up tonight.

  The truth is, I’m excited for my date with Kade.

  And for some reason, that fucks me up.

  That’s what feels wrong.

  Skyler pops her head into the bathroom, dancing a little with her eyebrows waggling like a cartoon character. “He’s here,” she whispers. “And he’s smokin’!”

  “Are you hitting on my boyfriend, Sky?”

  At that, her mouth pops open. “Oh, I didn’t realize he was your boyfriend.”

  My cheeks flame, and I grab the makeup remover wipe I’d used to correct my eyeliner and chuck it at her. She dodges it easy, laughing and teasing me all the way down the stairs. When I hit the bottom one, we both stop, Skyler watching me knowingly as I do everything in my power to keep my jaw from dropping.

  Holy fucking shit.

  The Kade I’m most familiar with is naked Kade. I’m used to seeing his tattoos sprawling out over every inch of his muscular body, his s
hort hair messy and mussed, his grin goofy and playful. But tonight? Tonight, Kade is in dark, form-fitting jeans, an olive green polo that sets off the color of his hungry eyes, and a brown leather jacket, shoved up just below his elbows, showing off his toned and tattooed forearms. His hair is styled, and that grin that’s usually so goofy and carefree is sultry and sexy as hell.

  He looks like a GQ model, a celebrity, a rock star who could fuck me all the way up.

  And I want all of him.

  “Jess,” he says, his eyes roaming over me appreciatively as he shakes his head. I shiver at my name on his tongue, and when his gaze finds mine, that tongue snakes out just enough to wet his bottom lip. “You look gorgeous.” He pauses, lowering his voice to just above a whisper. “You always do.”

  I don’t realize we’re not alone until that exact moment, because a chorus of awww’s and oh my God’s ring out from the sorority sisters clamored in the living room.

  That seems to knock me out of my daze, and I roll my eyes, taking the last step off the stairs and crossing my arms in front of him. “That’s some line.”

  “Not a line,” he assures me, that sexy smirk back in place. Then, he holds out his arm for me to thread mine through. “Ready?”

  Oh, how I want to call him on his obvious show. But then again, I love the way he’s holding out an arm for me, the way he came to the house to pick me up, the way he planned an entire night for us.

  I meant it when I said I wanted a date.

  And he’s delivering.

  I try to fight a smile, but fail miserably, weaving my hand through the hole in his arm and wrapping my fingers around his bicep. I glance back at Skyler and the other girls when we’re at the door, and they’re all holding up their thumbs and clapping quietly with glee.

  “So, Mr. GQ,” I say when I’m buckled into the passenger seat of his hot little Camaro — the one I’ve been driving all semester, thanks to our deal. “What’s on the menu tonight?”

  It’s a purposeful line, one that sets him up to easily say you in return. But instead, Kade smiles, firing the engine to life. “I’m going to wine and dine you, beautiful. Just like you deserve.”

  His eyes find mine then, and then one hand reaches over to hold mine across the console, and he doesn’t remove it the entire drive.

  When Kade told me he was going to wine and dine me, I honestly thought he meant he was going to take me to the equivalent of a fancy Olive Garden downtown. I definitely did not expect him to take me to one of the most expensive restaurants on the water, one that sits at the top of a high rise and rotates.

  No joke — the restaurant spins, giving you a three-sixty view of the city and the coastline as you eat.

  On top of that, they’re known for incredible tapas, of which Kade orders us a dozen, a rare collection of wine, of which Kade orders us not one, but two bottles, and a live jazz trio, to which Kade takes my hand after dinner and leads me out on the dance floor to enjoy.

  It’s the most magical night.

  And it is absolutely not what I expected from him.

  I can’t help but stare at him when we’re back at the table after a few songs, each of us sipping our wine and enjoying the music as we look over the dessert menu. Or rather, as Kade looks over the dessert menu and I study him, instead. He looks even more handsome in the candlelight, with the city glowing behind him, and I have to admit, watching him sip red wine turns me on way more than seeing him chug a beer at a frat party.

  “I feel like I don’t even know who you are.”

  The words blurt out before I can stop them, and Kade lifts a brow, casting me a glance before he’s looking at the menu again. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, who the fuck are you?” I ask, gesturing to where he sits. “The Kade I know lives in basketball shorts and flat-bill hats. I didn’t even know you had clothes like this in your wardrobe.”

  Kade chuckles, setting his menu down and lifting his glass to his lips for another sip. “Are you upset about it?”

  “No,” I answer quickly, shifting. “Just surprised, is all.”

  “I love surprising you.”

  “Seriously, Kade,” I say on a sigh. “This is… a lot. I’m just… where is the kid who annoyed me at Spring Break last year? Where is the kid who thought telling me he wanted me to sit on his face was a good pick-up line?”

  “I was a puppy then, remember?” he says, using the exact words I had. “I’ve been trained.”

  “I didn’t train you to do all this,” I argue, gesturing to the table.

  Kade leans forward, resting his elbows on the table and folding his hands together. “You said you wanted to be taken on a date,” he reminds me. “You also said you wanted to be mine, and wanted me to be yours. Am I missing anything yet?”

  I shake my head.

  “Well, for me, I don’t take any of that lightly. If you’re my girl, then I’m not just fucking you in my dorm room and eating burritos wrapped in foil — though that is a good time,” he adds with a grin. Then, he shrugs. “If you’re my girl, then I’m giving you the best that I can.”

  “Color me impressed.”

  “Oh, this is just the first date,” he says with a grin. “The best is yet to come. And for the record, you may not have liked the proposal when I first gave it, but you know damn well that you love sitting on my face.”

  I roll my eyes, taking a sip of my wine just as the waiter asks us for our order. Kade takes over, ordering three different desserts for us to sample from, and once our menus have been taken and it’s just us and our wine, his eyes land on me.

  “So, you’re graduating soon,” he says. “What are you going to do next?”

  I chuckle. “Why do you care?”

  “Jess, if you want more, you’ve gotta give me more, too.”

  His eyes are sincere, and somehow that scares me more than anything.

  I swallow another sip of wine, staring at the red liquid in my cup. “Hell if I know. I changed my major last year because one thing I figured out for sure, I do not want to go into politics.”

  Kade snorts. “I can’t imagine that ever even being an option for you.”

  “I thought it was at one point,” I admit. “I was a poli sci major, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and thinking — like everyone else in that major — that I could someday change the world.”

  “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure, honestly. I mean, the classes were hard,” I admit, and a vision of Jarrett at the front of the classroom assaults me out of nowhere. I shake it off as soon as it hits. “But I think more than anything, I realized that — like Ashlei — I love to plan and organize events. I think I have more passion for that than anything else.”

  “So, do you want to go into corporate events and advertising like Ashlei?”

  I scoff. “Not a chance. I think… maybe… more like weddings.”

  Kade’s wearing his shocked expression again.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” he says quickly. “I was just thinking how great you’d be at that.”

  “Really?”

  “Are you kidding? Kappa Kappa Beta just had the best recruitment they’ve ever seen, thanks to you. And every time you host a KKB event, it’s the best one. You have a great knack for attention to detail. Besides,” he says, taking a sip of his wine. “If anyone can wrangle a Bridezilla, it’s you.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You should.”

  I smile, still watching him with a mixture of confusion and appreciation. It’s just so crazy to see this side of him when I’m so used to the other.

  “When you blew me off this summer,” I say. “You said there was some family stuff going on.”

  Kade’s smile instantly falls, and his gaze drops to his hands. “Yeah.”

  “What was it?”

  He lets out a long sigh, looking around the restaurant. “Remember how I told you last year that I was practically raised by two rowdy older brothers?”
r />   “I do.”

  “Well… they’re half-brothers. Technically. And their dad…” He pauses, jaw ticking.

  “We don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to.”

  “No, it’s okay,” he assures me, and his eyes meet mine. “I want to tell you. I want you to know more about me.”

  I smile at that, reaching across the table for his hand. And though I’ve touched every other part of him, this — holding hands across a candle-lit table in a room full of strangers — it somehow feels like the most intimate touch we’ve shared.

  “Our mom got sick when I was really little,” he says after a moment. “When she passed away, my brothers went to live with their dad, and I stayed with mine. And let’s just say it put a rift in the family, because their dad was an addict and, frankly, a piece of shit. And my dad, while he took care of me, didn’t really want to take care of my brothers — especially when he found out that my mom had been seeing their dad behind his back once she found out she was sick.”

  “Whoa.”

  Kade grimaces. “I know. Family drama is super fun, right?”

  I squeeze his hand.

  “Anyway, my brothers’ dad just got into some trouble this summer, and they called me and asked me to help.” He shakes his head, eyes lost somewhere in a memory. “It was the first time I’d seen them in years.”

  “That must have been hard.”

  He shrugs. “It was. But our mom was the glue that held us together. Once she passed… we all kind of fell apart.”

  The waiter brings our desserts then — a key lime pie, a cheesecake, and apple pie a la mode — but when I try to slip my hand out of Kade’s to make room for the dishes, he holds fast to me, his eyes begging me not to let go.

  So I don’t.

  We hold hands through dessert, turning the subject to lighter topics and feeding each other sweets and finishing off the last of our wine.

  Kade is a little too buzzed to drive at the end of the night, so we take a cab, and when we make it back to the sorority house, he walks me to the door with his hands in his pockets.

  “I had a great time tonight, Jess,” he says softly when I slide my hands around his neck. His wrap around my waist in the next breath, and he lowers his lips slowly and carefully, the kiss sweet and a little too PG-13 for my liking.