by Blythe Reid
“Good morning,” he said.
“Morning,” I said back, keeping my voice flat and steady. I didn’t want to give away how badly I still wanted him.
Lucien frowned and considered my face. His eyes trailed from my own down to my mouth. I knew I looked horrible. I could feel how puffy my eyes were, and my mouth tasted terrible. Last night was the first time I’d ever had alcohol, and the aftertaste was the worst thing in the world. The beer tasted great at the time, but now, I wished I’d never drunk it.
“Don’t worry,” Lucien said softly. His tone was soothing. “We didn’t have sex, I promise. I wouldn’t do that, not while you were drunk.”
His words surprised me. Here I was, thinking he would want me to leave at any moment, while he was just worried I didn’t remember what happened. I laughed softly with relief.
“I remember,” I assured him. “I wasn’t that drunk.”
“Still, you were too drunk for anything big to happen between us,” he said.
“I was,” I said with a nod. “Thank you for being such a gentleman.”
Our eyes met and neither of us looked away. In that moment, I thought about everything that happened since I first met Lucien. Ever since that day in the Paris airport, my mind had been occupied by thoughts of him. I fantasized and dreamed of what it would be like to be with him. When he first kissed me, I didn’t think it would ever go further, and now, I was lying in his bed.
“I wasn’t a total gentleman,” he said softly. His voice was rough from sleep and it made my stomach clench nervously. He looked and sounded so sexy that I found it hard not to kiss him right then.
“I remember that, too,” I said just as softly.
Our eyes were still locked on each other’s. My desperation to feel his soft lips grew with every second that passed. I wanted to feel close to him again. After last night, I never wanted to stop being near him. Still, I didn’t know what he was thinking. To him, last night could have just been a casual thing. This was college, after all. Casual hookups were common between friends, right?
I didn’t know the protocol for a morning like this one. Lying in his bed felt nice. Looking in his eyes felt amazing. Remembering last night reignited desire inside me. All my emotions were clear, but I didn’t know how to act. Again, I considered whether I should leave. My eyes darted to the door and then back to Lucien’s face.
“Do you need to go?” he asked politely. His tone no longer had the same, sexy quality, and I suddenly wished I hadn’t glanced at the door. “Will your grandmother be worried about you?”
“Maybe,” I said with a shrug. “She wants me to enjoy myself though. She’s big on telling me to live my life.”
“Wow,” he said with a chuckle. “That doesn’t sound very grandmotherly.”
“Well, my mom is really strict,” I said.
He nodded. “I remember you saying something about that before.”
“I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life until now,” I continued. “And my grandmother doesn’t agree with it. She thinks my mom is too hard on me, so I think she’s trying to overcorrect.”
“Lucky you,” he said. He grinned wickedly and my stomach flipped.
He was gorgeous, and I knew the longer I laid there, the more I would want to kiss him. Besides, he was right. As understanding as Grandmother was, she would be wondering where I was. I stayed out all night without even calling. I knew I should get home before she really began to worry.
“You’re right, though,” I said with a sigh. “I should probably get going.”
I sat up slowly, feeling a slight pounding in my temples. My stomach felt a little weak, but I felt okay. After my first night of drinking, I expected a killer hangover, but it wasn’t bad. I just needed to eat and get some fresh air. Then I would be back to normal.
When I climbed out of Lucien’s bed, he sat up quickly and watched me. I searched for my shoes and then slipped them on my feet. There wasn’t anything left to do except leave, but I didn’t know how to say goodbye. I stood there for a few seconds, feeling awkward.
“I’ll see you later,” I said lamely.
“Wait,” Lucien said. He jumped out of bed and walked over to me. “I’d like to take you out again.”
“What?” I blinked, sure that I’d misheard him.
“On a real date,” he clarified. “If that’s something you want.”
I was shocked. From everything I’d heard about the Delta Pi fraternity from Lexie, I thought this would have been the end of my fling with Lucien. One night and then, nothing. Lucien’s invitation was more than welcomed, but it was the last thing I expected.
I smiled. “Of course. I would love that.”
“Great.” He smiled like he was relieved by my answer. I couldn’t imagine why. Like I would have possibly said no to that offer. “How’s tonight?”
I nodded. “Sure. What time should I be ready?”
“Seven,” he said firmly. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Sounds perfect,” I said. I was still smiling and I couldn’t stop. Lucien had that effect on me. He could always ensure I stayed in a good mood.
“I’ll see you then,” he said.
I nodded and turned toward the door. When I reached it, I turned back to wave at him one last time. As I walked through the frat house, I was still smiling.
I hurried out of the house and down the street. My grandmother’s house was more than a few blocks away, but I wanted to walk. The fresh air felt great on my skin. Plus, it gave me more time to relive the events of last night. I bit my lip and blushed to myself as I remembered the look in Lucien’s eyes right before he went down on me.
17
Lucien
“Hey, man,” Adam said, poking his head in my room. “You up?”
“Yeah,” I said. I pulled myself to a sitting position in bed and gestured for him to come inside. He had that look in his eyes that told me he wanted to talk. “Come on in.”
Adam stepped through the door and pushed it closed behind him. It shut with a snap as he walked across the room and sat in my desk chair. I’d been lying in bed ever since Scarlet left, just thinking about last night and everything it meant. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been with a woman all night and didn’t sleep with her.
“How was your night?” Adam asked pointedly. His eyes were narrowed with suspicion. I rolled my own eyes and sat up straighter. I knew what he was thinking, and I also knew it wasn’t true or fair.
“It was fine,” I said with an attitude. “I didn’t sleep with her.”
“You didn’t?” Adam asked.
I took great satisfaction in the shock on his face. It bothered me that he thought so little of me. “You really thought I would?” I snapped.
“Well, you brought her upstairs,” he said. “What was I supposed to think?”
“Don’t you remember the rules I set?” I asked. I’d been frustrated with Adam lately, but I was more offended that he would expect me to take advantage of a drunk girl.
“I was just asking, man,” Adam said defensively. “Just asking.”
“Well, nothing happened,” I said. “Not really, anyway.”
Adam raised his eyebrows at me. He waited for me to elaborate, and when I didn’t, he sighed and leaned back in the chair.
“I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions, okay?” Adam said.
“It’s fine,” I said. “She wanted to hook up, but I said no. She was drunk, and it was her first time being drunk. So, I didn’t think she was in the right frame of mind to lose her virginity. Plus, I wouldn’t want to win that way. It’s not the same if the girl isn’t really herself.”
“You know that’s what the party has always been about, right?” Adam said. “Taking a girl’s virginity at all costs. You used to defend it.”
“I know,” I said. I didn’t know what had gotten into me, but I was suddenly beginning to see Adam’s point. The party always seemed fun and harmless to me. Until last night. When I saw Scarlet standing in t
he middle of all those guys, I felt a burning rage rise inside me. I couldn’t stand the idea that she would be taken advantage of. And it occurred to me then, for the first time, that every virgin at the party was somebody’s Scarlet. None of them deserved to be a part of our stupid game. The thought made me feel sick.
“I’m just glad it’s over,” Adam said. “And that it was the last one we have to partake in.”
“The rest of the parties will be fun,” I promised. “No more of this bullshit controversy. Everyone can get on board with what I have planned for the rest of the year.”
“I’m sure,” Adam said with a grin. “I can’t wait.”
“Me neither, man,” I said. I leaned back on my bed and exhaled slowly.
It surprised me how much I agreed with Adam. Before, I’d been ready to fight him to make sure the Virgin Party took place. There was no way I was going to let anyone stand in the way. Now, I was glad it was behind us. I didn’t even care which brother won last night. Whoever would be my successor just didn’t matter anymore. I felt like I was the real winner because I was going to see Scarlet again tonight.
Ever since I met Scarlet, I felt myself changing. I wasn’t sure I liked the changes I felt, but I decided to just roll with it. I’d never been the kind of guy to run from a challenge, and that’s what I saw Scarlet as. She was a challenge, an interesting, intriguing challenge.
For a while, I let myself be distracted by the fraternity. After our first date, I tried not to think about her. I threw myself entirely into party planning, never letting my mind wander to Scarlet for too long.
Now, I wanted to rectify that. After last night, I was more enamored with her than ever. I used to see her as slightly awkward and nervous. She was beautiful and innocent. Delicate and unsure of herself. Last night changed things between us.
I no longer pictured her as innocent or delicate. She was wild and passionate, but she didn’t know it yet. I could tell from the way her hips rose to meet my tongue and the way she moaned with abandon that she was looking to be set free. All her life, she’d been shut away and never allowed to experience life. After last night, I knew she would be itching for more.
As I thought about her, I forgot that Adam was still in my room. He was looking at me with a slight frown on his face. I knew he could tell something was different about me, but he didn’t press the issue. Part of me wanted to tell him how I felt about Scarlet, to let him know exactly what was going on with me. I knew that he, unlike most of the brothers, would understand. Still, a bigger part wanted to keep it to myself for as long as possible. My feelings for Scarlet were new and unfamiliar. I’d never let myself get this invested in a woman before. It was my little secret, too personal to share.
When I arrived at Scarlet’s house, I parked out front and made my way to the front door. I knew her grandmother would want to see me before we left. After just one conversation, she seemed perfectly smitten with me. It helped my chances with Scarlet if I was in good with her grandmother. Without that, I didn’t know how long Scarlet’s interest in me would last.
I raised my fist to knock, but the door swung open before my knuckles could connect with the wood. Scarlet was standing in the doorway with pink cheeks, her green eyes sparkling in the evening light. I smiled at her as she stepped aside to let me by.
“Hi,” she said. “Sorry, I just saw you coming when I came downstairs.”
I laughed. “No problem. Is your grandmother here?”
Scarlet nodded. “In the kitchen.” She motioned for me to follow her and I did happily.
As we walked, I noticed Scarlet’s outfit, and my stomach flipped. She wore a tight dress that showed off her hips and butt. With every step she took, my eyes were drawn to her lower half. I forced myself to look away. I didn’t want to be caught admiring her ass, although it was so easily admirable. Instead, I stared at the back of her head, noticing that she had curled her usually straight hair. It made the red look darker, more elegant. I longed to run my fingers through her curls.
We stepped into the kitchen, and I smiled when I saw her grandmother sitting at the table. I walked over and extended my hand.
“It’s good to see you again,” I said politely. “How are you?”
“I’m just fine,” she said, taking my hand in both of hers. “I see you’re taking my Scarlet out again.”
“I couldn’t resist,” I said, glancing playfully at Scarlet. “Just look at her.”
“She is quite beautiful, isn’t she?” her grandmother said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“She’s gorgeous,” I agreed.
“Okay,” Scarlet said. “On that note, maybe we should get going.”
“Oh, don’t be shy,” her grandmother said. “It’s a compliment, after all.”
“I know,” Scarlet said, but her cheeks blushed all the same. I knew she wasn’t used to guys complimenting her beauty, but I couldn’t help it.
“We should go,” I agreed. “I won’t keep her out too late.”
“Have fun!”
“Bye, Grandmother,” Scarlet said, bending down to place a kiss on her cheek.
I took Scarlet’s hand, and we walked back to the front of the house. We stepped outside, and Scarlet sighed loudly.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “She’s just excited.”
“I like her,” I said honestly. “She seems cool.”
Scarlet shrugged. “She can be.”
I opened the car door for her and she slid easily inside. As I walked around to get behind the wheel, I felt my palms begin to sweat. I didn’t know why. I couldn’t remember ever being nervous on a date.
“So,” I said, once inside the car. “I thought we could venture out a little more tonight. Do you like Indian food?”
“Love it,” Scarlet said.
“Great, there’s a place in Brooklyn that will make your toes curl,” I said.
My words were harmless, but once they left my mouth, I saw Scarlet’s cheeks blush. I smiled apologetically but didn’t speak again. Our eyes were glued to each other, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. Nothing could make her toes curl like I had the night before.
I tried to keep my desire in check as I put the car in drive and drove us toward Brooklyn, but it was hard. Her dress was tight and short. I could see the bare skin of her thighs as I drove. It was teasing me mercilessly, begging to be touched.
We made it to the restaurant just in time. My heart was pounding the entire drive. I tried to keep up the conversation, but it was difficult. All I could think about was how good Scarlet looked.
As we stepped out of the car, I took her hand in mine and led the way to the restaurant. We ate dinner, and the conversation was easier. I was still desperate to touch her bare skin, but with the table between us, it was easier to keep my head on straight.
“That was interesting,” Scarlet said with a laugh when we were done eating.
“You didn’t like it?” I asked.
“It was good,” Scarlet said enthusiastically. “Just unlike any Indian food I’ve ever had before.”
“Well, you have an advantage,” I teased. “You grew up much closer to the real thing.”
“This is true,” she said. “But Indian food isn’t as prominent in France as say, England.”
“Think of it as an adventure,” I said playfully. “You’re all for those, right?”
“I am,” she said. Her eyes were dark with desire as she spoke. “I think last night proved that.”
“I would agree.” I leaned over the table, wanting to be as close to her as possible. She followed my lead, leaning forward and exposing her cleavage. I felt myself harden slightly at the sight. God, she was sexy.
“Speaking of last night,” Scarlet said. Her voice was low and husky. It turned me on even more. “I meant what I said about having sex with you.”
My stomach flipped, and I felt my body heat up. Her words were the biggest turn on of the night. When she first mentioned it, she was drunk, so it was eas
y to turn down her offer, but now? With her wearing that tight, revealing dress? It took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to lunge across the table and rip the dress from her body.
“Next weekend,” I said. My voice was weaker than I intended. “My parents won’t be home, so I can take you to their place. It’s upstate and beautiful. We’ll have more privacy there than at the Delta house.”
Scarlet’s smile was both joyful and seductive. She nodded slowly and moved her foot closer to me beneath the table. As she played with my ankle, I felt my stomach flip again. It was so easy for Scarlet to turn me on. Just by looking at me the right way, she could make my erection grow with a ferocity I’d never felt before. I couldn’t think of anything other than getting her alone. She had no idea the effect she could have.
18
Scarlet
I came down for breakfast on Monday morning to find my grandmother at the stove. She was making banana pancakes, and they smelled amazing. I walked over to her and kissed her cheek, inhaling the delicious smell.
“Smells awesome,” I said as I poured myself some coffee and sat down.
“Thank you,” she said. “They’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
Grandmother finished cooking and came over to the table. She set the pancakes down and watched while I helped myself. I ate in silence, waiting for her to join me, but she didn’t. Her eyes were glued to my face. I could tell she wanted to talk about something, but she was waiting for the right time.
After a few minutes, I could no longer take the staring. I smiled and cleared my throat, setting down my fork and folding my hands in front of me.
“What is it, Grandmother?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked, feigning innocence.
