“It can be; but, Jessa, baby, I make those guys work and work hard for a reason. Not just to make them better, but for job security,” he grins.
The smile on his face makes me break out into a giggle, and his arms pull me closer to him as he lifts his head and presses his lips against mine. “I want to do something for you,” I whisper against his lips.
“You being here, coming undone against my mouth, and just lying here with me—that’s all I need for today,” he states.
“Cole.”
“Baby, I want all of you and I’ll have you. But this is more than a few minutes between the sheets. When I have you, and I will, its going to last for hours,” he grunts as his nose slides alongside mine.
Sucking in a ragged breath, I press my forehead against his. “I want that. I want so much more of you, it scares me,” I admit.
“You got me, Jessa.”
We lie together for a few more minutes, our tongues tangling together being our only conversation. My phone sounds with my reminder to get ready for work, and I reluctantly break away from him to dress.
“When can I see you again?” I ask once I’m fully clothed.
He shrugs as he rests his forearms on his thighs from his sitting position on the side of the bed. “Sunday?” he asks. “Stay with me all day, Jessa.”
I bite on the inside of my cheek, trying to decide if I can do that. Something inside of me switches. I don’t care if I can pull it off, because my desire for him is stronger than my self-preservation. Having his hands on me, that feels more important than hiding and covering my tracks. I need his touch more than not getting caught.
“I have to do my homework all day, usually,” I say slowly.
“Bring it here, spend the day here. I’ll be happy if you’re just with me.”
I nod. “Okay, yes. I’ll be here by ten,” I state. His mouth curves into a small smile.
COLE
I WATCH HER leave and curse the fact that she can’t stay. I curse the fact that she isn’t mine. We’re just playing when she’s here. None of it is real. Sunday is going to be another false reality, and yet, I can’t wait for it to get here.
Just thinking about this afternoon, having her beneath me, writhing against my face, and the look of surprise and bliss that crossed over her features as she came—it causes my cock to harden against my zipper.
Sunday cannot come soon enough.
I close my eyes for a brief moment and think about how tight her pussy was around my fingers, and how she squeezed them with her climax. I groan, wrapping my fingers around my dick.
Licking my lips, I think about how that tight cunt is going to feel around my cock. Then I think about having her look up at me with that same awe-like expression as she comes on my dick.
Fuck me.
I thought this girl was trouble before, but now that I know what she feels like, what she looks like, and how she unravels beneath my touch, she’s not just trouble. She’s fucking—trouble.
Sunday cannot come soon enough.
My phone rings and I jump before I smile at the caller ID. “Mom,” I murmur.
Grabbing my keys, I jog toward my garage and head back to the school. I have practice to conduct. Unfortunately, that means I have to see fucking Trent fucking Keller for the next few hours. I talk to my mom on the way, filling her in on my new students and the practices, but I don’t tell her about Jessa.
Not yet, at least.
JESSA
“WHAT SHOULD I wear?” I ask Ines as I look through my closet.
I don’t really care what I wear, but Trent has been so excited about this party that I know I need to make a good impression for him. Ines arches a brow from the spot on her bed, where she’s sitting cross legged and reading a text book.
“Are you asking for you or him?” she asks.
My phone beeps with an incoming text. Turning to grab it, I answer her, “For him, you know that. Parties are so not my thing,” I admit.
COLE: Tomorrow ten. Can’t wait to taste you again.
My face flushes and heats immediately. I try to hide it, but Ines is down from her bed and snatches my phone before I realize what’s happened.
“Who the fuck is Cole?” she asks as her mouth hangs open slightly. I reach for my phone, but she’s taller than I am and her grip is iron clad as she holds the device up. “Seriously, Jessa, what is this?”
“Nothing,” I lie.
She shakes her head. “Trent is a dick. I’m going to be the last person to judge you, so what is this?” she asks again.
I bite the inside of my cheek and look at her. Guilt swims throughout my entire body just thinking about the words I’m about to say. The actions don’t make me feel nearly as badly as saying the words aloud. Not once have I felt anything but giddy at the prospect of seeing Cole again. The afternoon we shared was amazing, and I’ll never regret it a day in my life.
“I met someone. His name is Cole,” I whisper as my stomach turns.
Ines hands my phone back to me as her eyes widen to the size of saucers. “And Trent?”
“I can’t leave him,” I state.
Ines nods. “I know you think you can’t. I know you think you owe him everything; but Jessa, you don’t deserve the way he treats you. Babe, you deserve happiness,” she states.
“That’s the thing—I do owe him everything, and you know it.”
She sighs. “What about Cole, then? What’s happening there?” she asks, lifting a brow.
I shrug before I let out a heavy sigh. “He makes me feel good. He makes me smile, and he’s nice. I’m drawn to him. I know it’s wrong, but I don’t feel guilty and it doesn’t feel wrong,” I whisper the truth.
Ines grins. “I’ll watch your back, Jessa. But girl, you do know that this shit never ends well. Trent will find out. When he does, it doesn’t matter how much you owe him, he’ll never forget; and he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that forgives, either.”
I press my knocking knees together as I think about her words. I have no idea what his reaction would be. Up until this moment, I haven’t really cared. I should care. I should want only him, and I should love him, but I don’t. I have a duty to him and to his family, but I’m not in love with him. I’m not sure that I ever was.
“He would never forgive me, not for this. I would never expect him to,” I confess.
Ines walks over to her closet and pulls out a miniscule dress. She pushes it toward me with a smile. “Wear that, make the asshole happy. But Jessa, know that whatever this is with this Cole guy, it will blow up, and huge. Your best bet is to just end what you have with Trent. As much as I can’t stand him, he deserves the perfect girl for him. And you deserve the most perfect guy for you, and that is not Trent.”
“Thank you,” I murmur as I quickly change into her too-tight, too-short, strapless dress.
I’m not wearing panties or a bra, and I hate it. This is so not my style; but one look in the mirror, and I know that this is exactly what Trent likes. I slip on the cheap, solid black, high heel pumps I have and smooth down my wavy hair.
“I’ll cover for you tomorrow so that he can taste you again,” she giggles as she raises her eyebrows. My eyes widen and she laughs a little harder. “Seriously, I’ll cover for you—but Jessa, you cannot let this go on for too long. Trent is dumb, but he’ll figure it out, and you should be happy with the guy you want.”
Nodding I text Cole back quickly.
I can’t wait to taste and feel you. Tomorrow ten.
I hit send and then shove my phone into my purse as a knock sounds on our door. “Showtime,” Ines announces as she reaches for the door and opens it.
Turning toward the door, I see Trent standing there. He’s wearing a pair of dark washed jeans that fit him well, some converse on his feet, and a skin-tight t-shirt that shows off his larger muscles.
He’s been working out a ton since coming here, and his upper body has already doubled in muscle bulk. I asked him a few days ago how he was getti
ng so big so fast, and he told me it was supplements. I don’t know if I quite believe him, but I didn’t question him either.
“Hey,” I call out as I take a step toward him.
His eyes rake up and down my body as he grins. “You look smokin’. Glad to see you actually put some effort into your outfit tonight,” he grunts.
Trent wraps his fingers around my wrist and tugs me toward him. Ines waves her fingers goodbye and gives me a wink as I’m being dragged out of the door. Trent doesn’t say anything as I quickly walk beside him.
The last place I want to be is this party. No, that’s not true. The last place I want to be is after this party, where he’s made it crystal clear we’ll be fucking all night long.
“You’re drinking tonight,” he announces as we walk up the steps of the frat house.
It’s the same house we went to for the last party. I let out a sigh at the sight of it, wishing that this night was already over and done with.
He turns the handle and walks inside without knocking. There is a sea of people crammed into the small living room, and the smell of sweaty bodies, beer, weed and cigarette smoke fill the air. I try not to gag as Trent walks through the room and toward a dining area. The crowd starts to thin out marginally as we approach a keg.
“Hey there, sweet thing,” a guy slurs as he stumbles against me. He smells like stale beer.
Trent thrusts a beer in my hand as he turns to face the guy. I expect him to get pissed off that he’s breathing right in my face, his eyes focused on my breasts, but he doesn’t. “Hey, Russ, this is my girlfriend, Jessa,” Trent introduces. I try to keep the snarl from appearing on my lips as I look up at the stranger.
Russ keeps his eyes trained on my boobs as he holds his hand out for me to shake. When I reluctantly slip my palm into his, he tugs me against him. I stumble on my cheap high heels and fall against his side. My eyes widen as I turn to Trent, who I expect to be pissed. Instead, he’s grinning like a fucking idiot.
“Let me show you around, Jessa. Trent has told us all about you.” Something in the way he says that sends a chill of disgust throughout my entire body.
I shake my head and turn toward Trent. “I’m fine staying with Trent,” I state, trying to sound firm.
“Go on, babe,” he says, lifting his chin.
“Drink that beer, Jessa,” Russ says as he pulls me alongside him.
Russ starts talking, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying. The blood rushes throughout my body, roaring in my ears with each step we take further away from Trent. Not that Trent is necessarily my safe place, but at least with him at my side I know that nobody will hurt me.
“So, how long have you and Trent been together?” Russ asks me when he steers me toward the backyard.
Inhaling the cool night air, I step to the side and away from this stranger. “Four years,” I admit.
“That’s a long time. You know he’s going to be a big fucking star, don’t you? I can see him going all the way,” Russ states.
I face him and tip my head back to look into his eyes. “What’s all of this about?” I ask bluntly.
“How many high school girlfriends really stick around? How many stay while their man fucks sorority girls on the side, then fangirls, and then whoever he wants because he’s fucking famous?” Russ asks.
I narrow my eyes on him and watch as he gives me a cocky smirk, obviously liking my reaction. “Your point is?” I ask, not responding.
“My point is, if you want the good life, Jessa, you have to stay by his side no matter what happens. Is that something you’re willing to do? Even if that means doing things you don’t want to do because it’ll make him happy?”
“Like what?” I ask in confusion.
Russ chuckles as he leans forward, his lips at my ear. A wave of disgust washes over me when he speaks. “Like if he wants you to fuck someone else so he can get ahead, you do it. If he wants you to fuck another chick for fun, you do it. Whatever he wants, you do. Keeping him happy should be your number one priority,” he announces as he lifts his head and grins down at me.
I open my mouth to respond when a blonde in a skimpier dress than mine appears at his side. Almost immediately, Trent is at my side, and his hand slips around my waist. “You and Russ have a good chat?” he asks. I lift my eyes to Russ and he winks.
“We did, buddy. Jessa is cool, man. I like her,” he shrugs as he slips his own hand around his date’s waist. “I think her and Rachel are going to get along fan-fucking-tastically,” he chuckles.
My eyes widen as I look over at Rachel. She watches me with a dazed look in her eyes, and I wonder if she’s even all there. She looks maybe high, possibly drunk, but most likely both.
“Good,” Trent grunts as his hand slips to my hip and he squeezes me.
The guys start talking, and I try to listen to them, but it’s really hard when Rachel reaches toward me and her fingers run down my arm to my wrist. I pull my hand back, but she doesn’t look offended. Instead, she gives me a smile. “Did Russ give you the keep him happy speech?” she asks.
My mouth parts slightly as I nod. “He loves that speech, gives it to all girlfriends of incoming freshman. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Jessa. But he’ll want to do stuff, experiment and have fun. Don’t you think it would be better to do all of it with a friend, rather than some stranger?” she asks with a wink.
I feel my heart start to race and pound against my chest, threatening to escape my body. I must look as panicked as I feel because Rachel’s eyebrows tug together.
She takes my hand, giving it a squeeze as a form of comfort. It isn’t comforting. I imagine this is all coming about because this is what Trent wants, which means he’s talked to other people before he’s said a word to me.
Turning to Trent, I tug on his sleeve. When he bends down slightly, I whisper in his hear, “I need to leave.”
“No,” he grunts. He turns his head and his lips rest against the shell of my ear before he speaks. “You’re staying here, and you’re going to have some fucking fun. You don’t want to do anything, you don’t have to, but you’ll watch at least.”
I suck in a breath as my eyes water. I don’t need to know details, and I don’t want to know them. All I want to do is be gone from him. I ask Rachel where the restroom is, in an attempt to buy myself some time and space to breathe. Trent gives me a warning glare. It’s cold and menacing, and I know not to do anything to make him act on the promise he’s more than willing to deliver.
Rachel takes my hand and guides me up the stairs and toward a bedroom, where she says I can use the bathroom. I lock myself inside and look at my reflection in the mirror.
My eyes are wide, my face is pale and I look as scared as I feel. After using the restroom, I reach for my phone but don’t check it. I can’t. If I do, I’ll beg Cole to come and get me. I need to take care of myself. This is not his problem. I need to save myself.
With shaky hands, I open the door. My breath hitches when I see Rachel, Russ, and Trent in the room. Trent grins, and it’s his cocky eat-shit grin that I hate. “You can either take something to relax, babe, or you can just fucking relax,” he barks. I jump slightly at his words.
“Don’t scare her. We’re going to have a lot of fun. You’re going to be fine, aren’t you?” Rachel coos.
Her voice is soft and floaty, as she tries to soothe me. It doesn’t work. She can’t soothe me. I don’t want to be here. I want to be anywhere else. My eyes involuntarily water as my breathing becomes shallow.
Rachel starts to undress, and I stumble toward the door. I unlock it with fumbling fingers and yank it open, ignoring Trent’s shout behind me. I kick off my cheap shoes, grabbing them quickly before I run. Trent can be pissed off at me, I don’t care even a little bit.
I run all the way back to my dorm, glancing back from time to time to see if Trent has followed behind me, but he’s not there. With each stride of my legs, I breathe that much easier. Once I’ve reached my room, I yan
k my door open and see Ines sitting at her desk.
“What the hell happened to you?” she shouts.
Tears pour down from my eyes, and I blurt out everything through my sobs. I tell her every detail, from the moment we left this room to the second I ran out of that damn bedroom.
“What the hell?” she whispers once I’ve finished.
Shaking my head, I wipe my tears. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Break up with his nasty ass,” she grunts.
Closing my eyes tightly, I shake my head. I can’t break up with him, but I can’t do the things he wants me to. It’s not in me, it’s not me, and I don’t ever want to go there. I don’t want to be with a woman. I don’t want to be with some random guy he’s chosen for me, and I don’t want to see him be with anyone else. Not that I’m extremely possessive of him, because I’m not, but I don’t want to see it.
What the fuck am I going to do?
COLE
I SPENT LAST night with a large hot-n-ready and a six-pack of beer. Not my proudest moment in life, but not the worst, either. I should have eaten the meal prepped chicken, broccoli, and rice in my fridge, but all I could do was think about Jessa. All I could think about was the fact that she was with him—how he was touching her, and he probably fucked her.
She should be all mine.
Not his.
Never his.
Now it’s ten minutes until ten, and I’m standing in my kitchen, making a fucking snack tray so that she’ll have something to eat while she studies.
Fucking fuck.
I’m a goddamn schmuck. I grab onto the edge of the countertop and squeeze, glad that it’s a hard surface and unable to crumble in my hands.
“Cole,” a voice whispers. I spin around to see her standing in front of me.
She looks different. Her skin a little paler than normal, her eyes rimmed in red from what looks like crying, and her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head.
Personal Foul Page 9
