by Layla Hagen
***
My chance to corner Chase comes the next day after the presentation. I didn't do badly at all. I spot Chase sitting at a table in the cafeteria, eating a sandwich all by himself. He gulps down large bites while reading the textbook lying on the table. Since I am still wearing the red scarf from the presentation, I feel particularly bold.
"Is this how you trick everyone?" I ask as I approach him. "You tell them you don't need to study at all for exams then cram all by yourself?"
He looks up, his nonchalant expression firmly in place. "I do plenty of studying with Hazel, too."
"Glad you brought her up." I pull up a chair and sink in it without an invitation. "I want to talk to you about her."
"Oh, going all bossy on me." He slams the book shut, leaning over the table and giving me his most charming smile. "I'm all ears."
"You like Hazel."
His eyes widen infinitesimally, but otherwise, he displays no signs that I took him by surprise. "I like girls. Hazel is a girl," he says in a clipped tone.
"Don't play mind games with me. I'm immune to your jerkish charm." I lean forward, as if to prove that he doesn't affect me even when I’m close.
"No one is immune." His words are faltering, and he starts eyeing the door as if plotting his escape. Perfect. My instinct was right. I’m onto something.
"You like her more than a friend."
He jerks violently in his seat as if I've just poked him with a needle. I have shaken the great Chase.
"Did she tell you that?" He picks up the pen lying beside the book, twisting it compulsively between his fingers. A vein pulses in his temple.
"No, she told me the exact opposite, but I've seen the way you look at her."
His demeanor changes in an instant. He drops the pen, his usual conceited smile making an appearance again. "Oh, right, and you’re an expert on dating?"
"I’m not, but I am Hazel's best friend."
"Just drop this, okay?"
"If you like her, why don't you ask her out?"
Chase runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "I'm the kind of guy every girl wants to bang and then move on to someone better. Despite my best efforts, it never takes more than a month for me to screw up. Hazel is the only girl who's stuck next to me for more than half a year. I refuse to screw that up by screwing her. Yes, I like her, but she deserves a better guy."
I stare at him for a long time, trying to read him and gauge whether he's telling the truth.
"Well, then stop throwing death stares at every guy she meets."
He jerks his head up, searching me with desperate eyes. "Is it that obvious?"
"Yeah, it is for anyone who pays any attention."
"I can't help it." Chase wets his lips, shaking his head. "Just the thought of her doing another guy makes me want to rip someone's head off."
"Look, Chase," I say firmly. "You either ask her out or step aside and let someone else do it. You have to decide; you can't have it both ways."
My talk with Chase turns out to be a failure of epic proportions. Instead of making a move on Hazel, he ditches her the next evening when they were supposed to watch a movie together, as friends. We start watching said movie in the living room of our quarters and end up doing a movie marathon, ordering pizza, eating chocolate, and calling Chase all the obscenities we can come up with.
It's past midnight when someone knocks at our door.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Damon
When she opens the door, I cradle her head with my hands, kissing her hungrily.
"Hello to you, too," she murmurs, smiling against my lips.
"Hi." I kiss her again, pulling her up close. "Had a rough day. Can I crash here tonight? The guys are having a mini-party back in my room, and my brain will explode if I don't get some sleep."
She pulls away, placing her hands on her hips. "Have you been with James ever since we finished the presentation yesterday?"
"Yes, but—”
"I need to have a talk with my sweet brother. He's completely overworking you."
"We made some real progress on a project, so it wasn't all for nothing."
"Like that's an excuse." She softens a bit. "Come in."
One look at Hazel makes it clear I'm intruding on a girls’ night. "Err, is it really okay if I crash here?"
"Come in, Damon," Hazel answers. "You'd better prepare yourself to be surrounded by so much estrogen, you might grow boobs."
"Ewww, Hazel, come on..." Dani complains.
"I'll take what I can get. If it means I can get some time with my girl." I shrug then notice the open box lying on the floor. "And eat pizza. Can I eat that?"
"Yep."
I gulp down the pizza, looking from Hazel to Dani and back.
“So what kind of progress did you and James make today?” Dani asks.
“Some investors came to us today with a shitty offer. I told them I can smell bull from miles away, and they stink so bad, my eyes are almost watering.”
Dani gapes at me. “And James is okay with that?”
I nod. “He knew their offer would be shitty, but he must remain diplomatic. He gave me the go to call bull when I see it. That way, it won’t impact his relationship with them on the long term. After all, I’m just an intern with a big mouth—”
“And even bigger balls,” Hazel says. “Is this sort of a ‘good cop, bad cop’ thing?” She raises an eyebrow.
“Exactly like that.”
“And it works?” Dani asks.
“Yes. They sent us a higher offer a few hours later. James is considering it.”
Dani bursts out laughing. “I can imagine you in James’s office, playing off your bad boy charm with women and telling off anyone who crosses you.”
“No one bosses me around,” I say. “Not even your brother’s trying it.”
“Yeah, well, James is smart. I’m glad you two are getting along so well.”
The conversation fades after that, and Dani and Hazel exchange glances.
"Whatever guy troubles you're having, spill it, Hazel," I say.
"What?" Hazel sputters.
"Is it that obvious?" Dani asks.
"Now you just confirmed it. Maybe he was bluffing," Hazel says, elbowing her.
"He wasn't bluffing."
"I wasn't. It's written all over you. Don't you want a guy's opinion? I'm here anyway." When Hazel still looks unsure, I add, "Is this about Chase?"
Slumping her shoulders, she pulls her knees to her chest, leaning her head on the backrest of the couch. "Great."
"I think Chase likes you." At her surprised look, I add, "Wasn't that obvious?"
"That's how guys treat a girl when they like her? How do they act when they hate her? And they say girls are hard to understand." Hazel huffs.
"I don't know him well, but I bet he's never been in a serious relationship. He just doesn't have the balls to ask you out."
"This might be a good time to tell you that I talked to Chase yesterday and told him exactly that," Dani confesses, looking miserable.
Hazel pales. "You...why did you do it?"
"He needed to hear it. I thought I was helping. Sorry."
Several minutes pass in awkward silence, and then Hazel says, "I'm going to bed." Dani opens her mouth, but Hazel cuts her off. "I'm not mad at you, Dani. It's been a long day. Are you coming to sleep, too? Damon, do you need a pillow or something?"
"I don't need a pillow," I say. "Dani, can you stay with me a while longer?" I crack a knowing smile, my gaze dipping to her nipples, which have turned to hard nubs, pressing against her flimsy t-shirt.
"I'll be wearing ear plugs," Hazel announces from the doorway.
"Hazel," Dani says, mortified.
"It's because the hotties above us snore loudly sometimes." By the way Dani narrows her eyes, I can tell no one above them snores. "So, in case you two...you know. No need to worry about me." With that, she disappears into the room. Dani looks after her, stunned. Well...I suppose their friendship has just reached a new l
evel if Hazel pre-emptively uses earplugs.
"Come here," I beckon, moving from the floor to the couch, and Dani immediately straddles me. I wait all of two seconds before sliding a hand under her shirt and cupping her breasts.
"I thought you were tired." A deep throb starts in my jeans. She moves her legs to sit more comfortably, and as she settles over me, she feels my erection pressing against her.
"For this?" I push her shirt up, uncovering her breasts, then take a nipple between my lips, running my tongue over it. "Never." She shudders in my arms as if an electrifying tingle strikes right through her center.
I push her on her back, and she loses her balance for a split-second, but then firmly lodges her feet on the couch as her back lands on the soft cushion. I run my tongue from one nipple to the other, then descend to her navel and linger at the hem of her shorts. She arches her hips, eager for more. Unhitching my lips from her skin, I stand on my knees. I caress her ankles in a sensual gesture, my head tilted to the right. I lift her right leg up, pushing it toward her, my eyes not leaving hers. Then I plant my wet lips on the skin behind her knee.
"Damon," she gasps, her legs wobbling so strongly, I might have kissed her directly on her folds.
"You like that?"
"Yes," she says in surprise.
"I know something you'll like even more."
"Oh, yeah?" she challenges. "What?"
"Mmm..." I dip my fingers in the elastic band of her pajama shorts, pulling them down her legs in slow motion. I blow a whiff of air over her dripping slit and she closes her eyes, biting her lower lip hard.
"Oh," she growls when I spread her wetness up and down her slit with my fingers.
"I want to kiss you here." I press my thumb on her clit, prompting her to dig her nails in the cushion beneath her. Need flares through both of us. I open her knees, settling between them, looking up at her beautiful face while I bury my lips in her crotch. My tongue laps up and down her wetness while my fingers pinch her clit playfully, then dance in a rhythmic swing that drives her blind with pleasure. She closes her eyes, as if lightheaded and hoping to pull herself together. I won't give her that chance.
I plunge my tongue inside her while my fingers continue to circle her clit.
"Oh, no, no, no..." She groans. My thoughts scatter as I watch her, my pulse ratcheting up to an impossible speed. I become painfully aware of the tension building at the base of my spine. "Pillow," she mutters. "Need...pillow." She dislodges one of the pillows, pulling it over her face and biting into it hard as her orgasm erupts inside her, making her burn and spasm around my tongue.
A few minutes later, she discards the pillow, throwing it on the floor, drawing in a lungful of air. I watch her chest heave up and down and then kiss my way up to her neck, and then finally hovering over her mouth. I get rid of my clothes. My rock-hard erection presses against her inner thigh.
"I want you so badly," I say raggedly. She palms my erection, pumping her hand along its length. I swallow hard. "I don't have a condom."
"I started birth control pills ten days ago. We don't need a condom," she says. I hesitate, though my entire body is rigid with the effort of controlling myself. "You don't trust me?"
"Of course I do." Tapping my fingers on her shoulder, I plant a soft kiss on her cheek, trailing my lips to her ear. "It's just that I've always used a condom."
"Then this will be the first time. I finally get to be your first at something."
"I had many firsts with you, Dani." I catch her earlobe between my teeth, tugging at it gently. "You are the first woman who made me feel alive, the first one I've fallen in love with. And you will be the last one," I whisper. She tips her head up, kissing me, answering my unspoken question. She wants me to be her last love, too. She guides my erection to her entrance, even though her body is still recovering from the orgasm.
"God." I bury my head in her neck as I slide inside her, cupping her ass cheeks with both hands. "Dani... Oh, fuck." My next words stumble out in an incomprehensive sentence. Dani isn't doing any better. She seems unable to breathe properly, let alone talk. The feel of skin on skin, caressing her inner flesh without barrier, is out of this world. "You feel so good. We are never using condoms again."
"I'm right there with you." Her words come out in such a weak whisper I almost don't hear her. I pull out of her and lift her legs on my shoulders, positioning a cushion under her ass. I plunge inside her again, deeper than ever, making her thighs quiver. My hands graze over her legs, my nails digging in her thighs while I cover her ankles with lavish kisses. Then I tilt slightly forward, changing the angle. It drives her crazy. Sweat forms on my forehead, falling in small drops right above her clit. It's such a turn-on, I almost come this very second, but I force myself to breathe in and out, to last longer.
"Touch me," she begs, looking at me. Her eyes widen, but she is beyond shame at this point. I flick my fingers over her clit, slowly making us both come undone.
"You are so sexy," I growl.
My orgasm hits fast and hard, and I have no time to bite into any pillow before it shakes me. I’m still lost in it all when I hear Dani cry out.
I rest my chin on the crook of her neck, and after a few minutes, she says, "This was..."
"Intense," I finish for her.
"I hope Hazel's earplugs work," she says, giggling. "We should get dressed, though." She collects our clothes from the floor, and we put them on fast.
"Stay with me," I say.
"Okay." She lies down again. "There's plenty of space for both of us." A loud bang comes from the corridor, followed by the sound of someone throwing up. Another few minutes pass in silence, and then she asks, "Have you heard from Gabe lately?"
"No." My heart stings as I feel her tense beside me.
"Maybe that means he's just dropped the whole thing."
"Yeah, maybe," I say evasively. Or maybe not. James is having him watched, but so far, nothing. He hasn’t made an appearance since that morning weeks ago, but I know him. He won’t give up. Not while he’s free, anyway.
"So, how come you didn't stay at the party in your room? How could you say no to that?" she asks, in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here. I love you, Dani."
"I love you, too,” she says. I smile against the back of her neck, giving her a tight hug. She falls asleep, but I remain wide awake, thinking about Gabe and everything that can go wrong.
Whatever happens, I will not let her go again.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Dani
My parents visit me on campus the weekend after the most hellish exams week, which means I have to skip the lazy day at the beach I had planned with Hazel. Chase, who was looking for a way to make up for ditching her last week, offered to keep her company the second I bailed, so I don't think she was too disappointed. They took off for the beach this morning. One hour ago, I received a text from Hazel with strict instructions to get rid of my parents at seven o’ clock at the latest. She and Chase were invited to a party off-campus and she immediately agreed on mine and Damon's behalf. I never thought I'd say that, but a college party feels exactly like what I need right now after exams. When I text Damon about the party, he sends back, Bring it on, along with an emoticon of a champagne bottle. I guess he needs to let loose a bit, too.
My parents arrive at noon, and I show them my room and the campus, then we watch one of Stanford's drama groups rehearse Romeo and Juliet for two hours. We end up in the cafeteria for an early dinner.
"Why is this place so empty?" Dad asks as we take our trays to one of the numerous empty tables.
"It's the weekend and exams are over. Most people are on the beach. Except for Damon. He's working."
"James is not going easy on him at all, is he?" Mom shakes her head as we sit at a table.
"The two found each other. Two workaholics," I say.
"You should save Damon while you can," Dad points out.
"Says the recovered workaholic
." I smile at him, loving seeing him relaxed and happy.
"Better late than never."
"Speaking of workaholics who found each other, I don't know what to do with James and Serena. They left their entire wedding organization to me."
"Mom," I admonish gently. "You love throwing parties. Don't act like you're not enjoying that James and Serena pretty much left you to your own devices."
"You just wait for it." Mom's face splits into a contagious smile. "The wedding will be epic."
"Epic, huh?" I wonder where my mother's picking her vocabulary from these days. "Dad, your food is getting cold."
Dad draws in a deep breath as if bracing himself to eat what's on his plate. His food consists of steamed broccoli and fish. I didn't even know the cafeteria had this kind of food. As my mom goes on and on about the wedding, I watch my father glance over his shoulder, and then under the table with a guilty look in his eyes I know only too well. He hopes to find a way to get rid of his food. I press my lips together.
"How were exams?" Dad asks eventually, after forcing himself to swallow some broccoli.
"I have a good feeling. I have this very interesting business course—”
"Wait, you took a business course?" Dad gapes at me as I nod. "And you liked it?"
"I loved it." I tell them more about the course as we eat, then Mom gives us some more details about the wedding. Dad keeps his eyes trained on her, absorbing every word. I'm not sure if it's the words themselves he's absorbing, or just her presence. From time to time, he drags his hand over the table toward her, as if he’d like to take her hand, but doesn’t quite dare to. Yet.
"Tell us more about Damon," Mom beckons as if reading my thoughts. I gulp, playing around with my fork.
"Yeah, we hear more about him from James than from you," Dad adds.
"This is news to me." I squint. "What's all this you hear from James?"
"That he has an excellent work ethic and is very determined." Mom rubs her chin, pinching her brows together. "And talented," Mom adds.
"I used to think Damon was very bad for you." Dad says this so matter-of-factly, I can't help laughing.
