by Blythe Reid
He walked over to me, and I leaned in close to him. I wanted everyone else to think he was being punished.
“Can’t do it?” I asked softly. He just shook his head. “Come with me.”
He followed me out of the room. A few eyes were on us as we walked, but no one said a word. I glanced at some of the recruits and saw that they looked scared. I smirked to myself, knowing they were worried about their friend. Little did they know, he wasn’t going to be punished.
We stepped into the trophy room, which was just off the kitchen. The kid walked over to a leather chair and sat down. I could see that his hands were shaking, and I immediately felt sympathy for him. I never had trouble making it through my recruitment, but some guys did. This stuff could get rough, and everyone reacted differently.
“So, tell me,” I said, sitting down across from him. “What happened in there?”
“Nothing sir,” the kid squeaked. Calling us “sir” was part of the hazing, but I never found it funny.
“Cut that out,” I said. “You don’t have to call me ‘sir.’ Not in here.”
“Okay,” he said, still shaking.
“I just want to talk to you, that’s all,” I promised. “Everyone out there thinks I’m reaming your ass, and if you ever tell them differently, I will beat the shit out of you. Understood?”
“Yes,” he said quickly.
“Good,” I nodded. “Now listen, I know this stuff can get pretty rough. When I was a recruit, I got nervous, too.”
“You did?” he asked with wide eyes.
It was a lie, but I didn’t tell him that. “Yes,” I said. “But you get past it. You see, once you make it through all this shit, you’re one of us. You’re a brother, and brothers are forever, right?”
“I guess,” he said.
“We are,” I promised. “That’s the whole point of being in Delta, man. We’re all family here, and no matter what, we have your back. This hazing bullshit is just for fun, all right? It’s just a way to push your boundaries, to break you out of your shell. None of it really means anything.”
That wasn’t entirely true either. If a recruit couldn’t make it through most of the hazing, then we asked him to leave. This kid didn’t seem like the type, though. I got a feeling about him when I saw him hovering in the corner. He wanted to participate. He was just scared. After a little coaxing and reassuring, he would be fine.
“Listen,” I said, leaning closer to him. “You don’t have to do any of this. If you want to leave, you’re free to go. No one will think less of you. If we see you around campus, we’ll still say hey. We won’t blackball you from our parties or anything either. We won’t talk shit about you to other frats. We aren’t like that. We’re just looking to find some more brothers, that’s all.”
“I want to stay,” he said firmly. For the first time, he stopped shaking. His face was set, and there was a look of determination in his eyes.
“You sure?” I asked.
I leaned back and studied his face. I knew he was ready, but I wanted to push him a little further, just to make sure he was Delta material. If he caved, he wasn’t ready to be one of us.
“I’m sure,” he promised.
“All right,” I said. “Well, get back out there then. Get it done.”
He jumped up and hurried back to the common room. Once he was gone, I sat back and laughed to myself. It was so easy to play these new recruits. They were so fresh, so young.
By the time I made my way back to the common room, the night was over. Everyone was either leaving the house or heading up to bed. I saw Adam standing by the fireplace, and I walked over to him, shaking my head as I went.
“That kid was just like you freshman year,” I said.
“Really?” Adam laughed. “Think he’ll make it?”
“Definitely,” I said with confidence. “He just needed to be pushed. Once I made it a challenge for him, he jumped up. He’s Delta material, he just needed to realize he wanted it, you know?”
“I know,” Adam said. “Been there.”
“I remember,” I said not unkindly.
Adam had been nervous back then, too. Now, he was one of our senior officers. I knew this new kid would go far.
“Did you think any more about the party?” Adam asked suddenly.
I’d been focusing on the fire in the fireplace and hadn’t realized he was watching me. When I looked up, his eyes were dark with concern.
“I told you,” I sighed. “We’re doing it.”
“I figured,” Adam said. “Just thought I’d ask.”
“We’ll have a meeting next week to get it planned out,” I said. “We should start soon.”
“All right,” Adam said without argument.
I could tell from his tone that he disagreed with me, but I didn’t care. I was the Delta president, and it was my decision to make.
12
Scarlet
As I walked between my classes on Thursday, I hoped to see Lucien hanging around. Everywhere I went, I looked around for him, but he was nowhere in sight. I wondered if he had any Thursday classes. I thought about texting him just to say hi, but I didn’t want to be clingy.
We’d only had one date. I wasn’t sure we’d progressed all the way to texting yet. This was yet another situation in which my lack of experience made things difficult.
By the time Friday arrived, I was giddy with excitement. Lucien and I had a class together today, so I knew I would see him again. I arrived thirty minutes early, not wanting a repeat of Wednesday’s awkwardness. I told myself I just didn’t want to deal with the embarrassment again, but really, I was eager to see Lucien.
I couldn’t wait to talk to him again, to hear his voice and his laugh. I hoped he might kiss me again, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. We would be in class after all. It wasn’t exactly the most romantic environment.
Still, as I took my seat, I couldn’t help but think about the way his lips felt against mine. I kept glancing around the room, desperate for a sign of him. As I looked, I let my mind wander to the other night.
Sitting in Lucien’s car, kissing him, had been the highlight of my week. I hadn’t made any other friends. Lucien was it. So, knowing that I had him made everything that much easier, but also knowing that he was attracted to me felt amazing. I was so worried he would run for the hills the second I told him about being a virgin, but he didn’t. He just smiled and said we could go slow.
Part of me wondered if this whole thing was too good to be true.
Was Lucien really as sweet as he seemed? Or was he just trying to manipulate me into being with him? Would he stick around just long enough to take my virginity and then leave me all alone? I couldn’t imagine he would do such a thing, but I was scared. My mother’s voice echoed in my mind, telling me that all men wanted just one thing: sex.
I tried to push these insecurities away, but they latched onto my psyche with a vice-like grip. No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake them. When the classroom finally began to fill, I shook myself and tried to relax. Lucien would arrive soon, and I didn’t want him to see that I was upset. He would ask me why, and I wouldn’t be able to explain. The last thing I wanted was for there to be any kind of awkwardness between us. We were only getting to know each other after all. There was no reason to let things get too serious too quickly.
When Lucien walked in the room, my stomach flipped. I felt butterflies fluttering around painfully, and I swallowed hard. My cheeks felt slightly warm, but I hoped Lucien wouldn’t notice.
I kept my eyes focused forward as he slid into the seat beside me. I felt it was him, but I didn’t look over right away. Despite my excitement, I didn’t want Lucien to know I’d been waiting for him. That, more than anything, would have been humiliating. So, instead, I waited a few seconds before I finally glanced at him.
“Oh,” I said brightly. “Hey!”
“Hey, you,” Lucien said flirtatiously. “I see you beat me today.”
“Well, I couldn�
�t be late again,” I said. “I think Professor Davidson would kick me out if I was.”
“Nah,” Lucien said, shaking his head. “He’s an old softie. He tries to seem tough, but deep down, he’s mush.”
“Have you taken him before?”
He nodded. “Last year. He’s a good guy. Nice and helpful.”
“That’s a relief,” I said. “I really thought he hated me after last time.”
“He doesn’t,” Lucien said, laughing. “I’m sure he forgot all about it. But it’s good that you got here early this time.”
I laughed and nodded. He was right. Being late twice in a row would make a bad impression to even the most lenient of professors. I was glad I arrived early, but it wasn’t because of Professor Davidson. It was for Lucien.
Being early allowed me to get settled before he arrived. I spent a long time wondering if he would sit by me again. Now that he had, I felt relieved. He clearly liked me, too. If he didn’t, there was no way he would have sought me out today.
We chatted a little before class began, flirting and laughing easily. Not for the first time, I was surprised by how easy Lucien was to talk to. He put me at ease in a way no one else ever had.
Once I started talking to him, I couldn’t stop. For some reason, he just made me feel comfortable. Safe. It was like he truly wanted to know everything about me, like his interest was more genuine than anyone else’s in the world.
It was an amazing feeling, but also one that scared me. I feared he was growing too comfortable with me too quickly. What if his interest faded soon, and I was left alone and heartbroken.
I tried not to let myself think such negative thoughts, but I couldn’t help it. This was all so new to me. I didn’t know how to navigate through any of it.
Lucien had such an amazing personality. He was so caring. As class began, I accidentally knocked my notebook to the ground, and he bent down to grab it without a word. When he picked it up, he arranged it on my desk for me, helping me settle in before class began. It was such a small thing, but it spoke volumes.
Professor Davidson started the lecture, and I did my best to listen. It was no use. Lucien was wearing a tight t-shirt with short sleeves again. I wondered if he owned any other clothes. I was sitting on his left, so I had a great view of his tattoo. My stomach tightened as I looked at him. Whenever he shifted position, his arm would flex, making his tattoo stand out more prominently.
As I looked it over, I noticed the various details of the image. It was a forest, full of wild brush and tall trees. The shading and color were amazing. When I found the wolf’s head hidden in the art, my mouth hung open in awe.
I knew the tattoo was intricate, but I’d never allowed myself to stare so openly before. My eyes trailed down his arm to his fingers. They were resting easily on his desk, and I longed to grab them. I wanted to trace his tattoo with my hand, sliding slowly downward until I reached his hand.
I imagined what his hands would feel like on my body. They were big and strong, just like everything else about him. We were sitting so close that I could smell his scent. It overwhelmed me all over again. He still smelled of lumber and testosterone.
Living in the city, I wasn’t sure how he could possibly smell like trees, but he did. He gave off an undeniable wilderness vibe that was animalistic and sexy. It drew me to him even more than before.
I let myself daydream as class progressed, imagining him being greedy for me, demanding so much of me. He was too much man for me, but I wanted to handle him, to make him insane with desire. His scent filled my nose and left my heart fluttering. My panties were going to be trashed after my daydreams fucked me over. The scent was intoxicating, and I knew, if we were any closer, it would consume me. He would consume me.
My body was on fire as I remembered our kiss. His lips pressed eagerly to mine, his tongue dancing smoothly in my mouth. I swallowed hard and shifted uncomfortably in my seat. With a glance at Lucien, I saw that he hadn’t noticed my discomfort. I was glad he couldn’t read my mind because my thoughts were just beginning.
In my mind, our kiss turned more passionate, more intense. We weren’t just kissing. We were making out, desperate to taste every inch of each other. When I imagined his lips sliding down to my neck, I felt myself shiver with excitement.
I could almost feel him kissing my neck, biting and nibbling me. Then, he moved lower, sliding his hands beneath my shirt and lifting it over my head. My bra was finally exposed, and he wasted no time in removing it.
Once my naked breasts were free, Lucien attacked them ferociously. My fantasy was so vivid that I felt my nipples harden, as if his mouth was really on them. When I imagined him sliding his hands up my skirt to remove my panties, a flood pooled between my legs.
I crossed my legs nervously, sitting back in my seat and trying to relax. My cheeks were on fire as my mind continued to spin wildly out of control. Lucien’s fingers were between my legs, stroking me slowly. I grew wetter by the second, and when he slid a finger inside me, I bit my lip to keep from gasping.
I’d always had an amazing imagination, and now, it was out of control. I could feel my orgasm building just from thoughts of Lucien. His imaginary fingers moved inside of me, his thumb on my clit. Our lips were pressed together while he brought me closer and closer.
Looking over at him, I saw that his attention was focused on Professor Davidson. Part of me was glad, but a bigger part wished he’d been looking at me. Maybe then, I would be able to tell if he wanted me as badly as I wanted him.
I trailed my eyes down his body, landing on the bulge in his jeans. He wasn’t hard, but I imagined he was. In my mind’s eye, I tugged those jeans off of him, letting his cock slide out and surprise me with its incredible girth.
There were so many sex scenes in my romance novels, and I imagined myself acting all of them out with Lucien. He would take me against a wall, pressing my face and breasts firmly against the cool surface while he pounded against me. Then, we could move to the shower, where the water would enhance every sensation. I thought about riding him, how I would move hard and fast, blowing his mind. I even imagined what Lucien’s cock would taste like in my mouth. I would have loved to give him head right there in that classroom, with everyone watching enviously.
“Hey,” Lucien said. I jumped as hot embarrassment covered me. He was smiling a little too knowingly. “You ready to go?”
“What?” I asked glancing around the room. Everyone was already packing up their things and leaving the classroom. Professor Davidson was nowhere in sight.
“I thought maybe we could get some coffee again,” he said. “Your next class doesn’t start for a while, right?
“Um, yeah,” I said, still trying to return to reality. I thought maybe ‘ready to go’ meant something more like, ‘bend over that desk and get ready for a spanking before I fuck you senseless’. I needed fresh air. “That’s right.”
“So,” he said. “Coffee?”
“Sure.” I smiled.
Lucien returned my smile and helped me pack away my things. He carried my bag for me as we left the room. My hands were shaking at my sides, and I could tell my cheeks were still flushed.
I took some soft breaths to calm my nerves. Between my legs, my body still hadn’t recovered from my daydream. It had been so real, so unbelievably vivid, that I wasn’t able to pull myself out of it entirely.
Walking beside Lucien made my desires even stronger. As I glanced at him, I remembered every single thing about my fantasy. His body looked strong and sexy while he walked, and I found myself checking him out shamelessly. I knew I needed to get a grip on myself. If Lucien knew what I was thinking. I shuddered at the thought.
13
Lucien
It was Saturday afternoon, and the brothers were congregating in the common room. We were playing out another tradition: the telling of the story.
Our legendary party began many years ago for one reason, and each year, we communed to remember that reason. We went over the
rules of the party, laying down the law in a formal ceremony, before we commenced the planning process. After many years of throwing the same party, there wasn’t much to plan, but it was tradition, and Deltas were big on tradition.
As the President, it was my job to tell the story and pass down my headdress. I sat on my bed, admiring the headdress I’d owned since the party last year. Winning the headdress wasn’t always indicative of a new president, but it usually was. If you were successful at the party, then you were almost certainly in line for the presidency.
Seeing the headdress sitting on my desk filled me with a sense of pride, but it also made me sad. This time next year, I would be gone, and a new president would be in my place. Sooner than I wished, my younger brothers would forget about me and move on, letting my memory fade with the other past presidents.
It was a depressing thought, and one I did not want to have. Today was a celebration, the most important ceremony in Delta history. Even our brotherhood ritual wasn’t as old as the telling of the story. The first party was thrown two years after the fraternity was founded. Back then, no one talked about it outside the walls of this house. It was still kept mostly secret, but rumors spread around campus each year. Most people knew what the party was about, but they kept their mouths shut and their opinions quiet.
I was excited for the party this year, more excited than I had ever been before. Having won last year, I felt sure I would succeed again this time around. Even if I won, the headdress would pass on to the runner up, the second-place brother.
The pressure was off. I could just relax and enjoy myself without having to prove anything. Still, my pride often got the better of me, and this time was no different. I found myself mentally preparing for a win, just so I could go out with a bang. If I had to leave the frat at the end of the year, I wanted to do so on top.
“Hey,” Adam said. “We’re ready for you downstairs.”
“Okay,” I said, standing up and taking a deep breath.
