Contemporary Nights Volume One

by C. J. Ellisson

  He ends the kiss and pulls back, his gaze resting on me. I sigh as I stare into those blue eyes, completely lost. “You taste amazing.”

  “Do I?” My voice is an octave higher than normal. I clear my throat and try again. “And how exactly do I taste?”

  His lips cover mine. Aggressive. Demanding. No concessions or apologies. He’s looking for one thing and one thing only, and right now that’s exactly what I want, too. Inappropriate, hopefully angry, hookup sex. That should help me get over Ryan and the way he screwed me over. I wrap my arms around Brad’s neck and crush my boobs against his hard chest. He pushes me against the closest wall and slips his hand under my skirt. I wrap my leg around his and grind against him.

  He breaks the kiss and licks his lips. “Get to the bathroom.”

  The bathroom? I come to my senses and shake my head. “I’m not having sex where you take your morning dump.”

  “You’re either getting fucked in the bathroom or getting fucked right here. Your choice, sweetheart.”

  The illusion snaps and Brad is back to being the douchebag I hate him for. I can’t believe he just had his tongue down my throat. And I let him. I shudder. I’ll never be able to get that taste out of my mouth.

  “Screw this.” I turn to leave. He grabs me by my shirt and jerks, ripping it right down the back. I gasp and slap at my boobs to hold what’s left to the front of me. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  “What HP never had the balls to do.” He leaps at me, tearing at the rest of my shirt. I scream and punch at him, but he’s too strong. I’m shocked no one runs to help me. Instead, they all scatter, leaving me alone in the kitchen with Brad as he attacks me.

  To hell with that. I’m no victim. I push him back with all my strength. When he charges again, I bring my knee up and slam it into his groin, shoving his balls so far inside him he’ll have to smile to see them. He falls to his knees and grabs his crotch.

  “You bitch,” he whimpers before collapsing to the floor.

  I hold the remnants of my shirt to me as I fight the tears. I can’t believe I wanted to come to this fucking party only to be here for a whopping ten minutes before being attacked by the king of the douches. Covering what I can, I storm out of the kitchen, only to run into the one person I did this all for.

  “Emma?” Ryan’s mouth falls open. An instant later he sets his jaw as something changes in his expression. It hardens as he scans my appearance. I’ve never seen anyone with such a lethal look in his eye. It scares me.

  But then I come to my senses. I hate him. With everything I am, I hate this man. I can’t stop myself as I unleash on him. All my anger. My fear. My absolute humiliation, both over the breakup and now, at my lowest point ever. The tears flow and I don’t bother to stop them. “This is all your fault!”

  “What happened?” He eyes the ripped shirt in my hands and his cheeks glow as a dangerous darkness swirls in his eyes. “Who did this to you?”

  “Things were just fine before our stupid deal, that you backed out of at the last minute, you dick. I can’t stand who you’ve become.”

  “And what, exactly, have I become?” That hard look in his eyes softens, if only for a moment. It tears into me. Instead of me stopping, it only fuels me to keep going.

  “You’re a fucking Delta. I hate you.”

  “Don’t say that.” He reaches for me.

  “Don’t fucking touch me!” I scream at him.

  “I’m only what you turned me into.”

  “Bullshit! You were always a Delta. You just needed me to add the finishing touches. Well, congratulations, Ryan. You’re more of a Delta than I could have ever imagined.” I run out, my head down, my pride demolished. I’ll never be able to show my face on Greek Row again. Shit, at this point I may just take online courses from here on out and move back to Seattle.

  “Emma!”

  I ignore him as I run across the yard. My fuck-me pumps sink into the grass and I fall to my hands and knees. The wetness from the lawn seeps into my skin. The pieces of my shirt scatter and I just stay there on my hands and knees, ready to give up. I’m aware of the snickering around me, of how everyone is making fun of me. Fuck them all. They have no idea the personal hell I’m in right now.

  I can’t get the heels of my shoes out of the ground and it’s the last straw. I break down and blubber like the fool I am. Leaving the pumps, I hurry away in nothing but a bra and skirt, trying not to collapse from the weight of my mortification. I make it back to my dorm and slam the door behind me.

  And then I really do collapse as reality crashes down around me.

  Ryan

  I can’t control my rage and search room-to-room for the person responsible for Emma’s appearance. It doesn’t take a leap of faith to figure out who attacked her. Brad has hated her since that night in the bar. It’s why he had me talk to her, knowing she’d use her snarky attitude to humiliate me.

  I find Brad in the kitchen, leaning against the wall, a drink in his hand. He spots me and the son of a bitch offers me a smile. “Hey, HP.”

  “It’s Ryan and you know it.”

  “Right.” He stands up straight, towering over me by several inches. Bullies like Brad don’t scare me. He’s pushed me around long enough. When he touched Emma, made her cry, he crossed the line. “Your little bitch turned you into a whole new man, didn’t she? Too bad you couldn’t turn her into something a little friendlier.”

  I’m going to kill him with my bare hands and take a step toward him. I slap the drink out of his hand. “Did you touch her?”

  He glances down at the drink now all over the floor, then back at me. “What can I say? I guess we all have to slum it sometimes.”

  I charge and slam him against the wall, my forearm against his neck, holding him in place. “Did you attack her?” When he doesn’t answer me, I slam him to the wall again. “Fucking answer me!”

  Brad squares his chest and pushes me back. The tension in the kitchen thickens. People back away to give us room, all eager to watch an alcohol-induced rumble. “You dumped her, dude. I was offering her a little support. You know, rebound action.”

  “Is that what you call it?” I point in the direction she disappeared in. “Does your rebound action involve assault? Did you see what she looked like? Why was her shirt ripped, Brad?”

  “She was asking for it.”

  Fuck that. I throw the first punch, hitting Brad in the face and splitting his lip. Jesus Christ, he has a hard jaw. I hope I didn’t break anything, but even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. This animal touched Emma. He hurt her. I’ll kill him.

  He stumbles back but doesn’t fall. Touching his face, he pulls his hand down and sees his fingers covered with blood. “You son of a bitch.”

  “Leave my mother out of this,” I quip and even smile. I have no idea why I’m baiting him, only that it feels good. I channel Emma’s beautiful snarkiness as I continue to provoke him. “Come on, Brad. Let’s see how much of a man you really are. You’ve already shown that you have no problem attacking a woman. Can you hold your own against a man?”

  Brad laughs in my face. Fury bubbles in my veins. “Man? We all know what you are. You’re a product she created. You weren’t a man before and just because she made you look normal, you’ll never be a real man. You’re only a Delta because of your daddy. Stuart Ryan has a lot of pull, enough to get you into a house were you’ll never belong.”

  Several people gasp and I tense. So much for keeping my father’s identity a secret. Not even that matters now. Making this asshole pay for hurting Emma, that’s all that matters. “Are you done?”

  “Let’s face it, HP.” Brad grins, showing off blood in his teeth. “You are, and always will be, a fucking nerd.”

  I see red. My father. My brother. Now Brad. Everyone telling me I’m not good enough, that being a nerd is somehow a bad thing. I’m done. I’m done listening to everyone tell me what I’m not. I know who I am. I’m a man, and it’s time to prove it.

  I charge B
rad. He does the same. He takes a swing and I go flying back, dazed from the blow. I stand and come after him again, only to have him connect his fist with my cheek. It explodes in pain and I slam into the wall behind me. I stagger upright and step toward him. He thrusts me back. I hit the wall again. When Brad punches me, once in the eye and then in the temple, the room spins and I slowly slide down the wall. I try to push myself up but I don’t know which way is up. My vision blurs and little black dots take over. I fall back down.

  That doesn’t stop me from trying to stand. Brad needs to know he can’t do this, especially to my girl. I’ll kill the fucker for even thinking he had the right to touch her. I’m using the wall to push me up when hands on my shoulders easily hold me down. I glance up to see Brittany, her brow crinkled in a frown as she looks at me. She pulls tissue out of her purse and wipes at my face.

  “Get up, you fucking coward.” Brad is just getting started and dances from foot to foot, his fists at the ready to deliver more blows. I’m not an idiot. If I get back up and go after him again, the next punch will knock me out. I probably already have a concussion. Jesus Christ. Why do guys do this to each other? I’m in a lot of fucking pain.

  “Come on,” Brittany says and helps me to my feet. When Brad takes a step toward us, she points at him. “Don’t you fucking dare, douchebag. You so much as take another step and I will not only mace your ass, I’ll tie you to a fucking tree in the forest, cover you with peanut butter, and let the rats finish you. Got it?”

  Brad stills and blinks at her. I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming, either. Brittany has a dark side. A really dark side.

  No one says a word as she helps me out of the house. That is until Brad calls out. “You’re done, Ryan. I’ve been waiting for you to snap. You think your daddy’s power will save you from this? Think again. Not even the great Stuart Ryan has enough money to sway the Greek council on this one. You’re out. You’ll never be a Delta.”

  Fine by me. I don’t want to be part of a house where someone like Brad is in charge. Let my family hate me for not wanting to be a Delta.

  “Ignore him,” Brittany tells me. “Let’s get you home. Which mod is yours?”

  I barely nod in the right direction. Everything hurts, but I’ll live. The pain in my chest would eventually dull, but it’ll never go away. Brittany gets me inside and lowers me to the couch. She then disappears, only the reappear with ice in a towel. After placing it on the side of my head, she kneels in front of me.

  She has the most stunning blue eyes. She’s like a young Marilyn Monroe, with a witchy, captivating beauty about her. It’s obvious why guys fall at her feet. But I only see one woman when I close my eyes. Red hair. Hazel-green eyes. A husky laugh and crazy sense of humor. My chest pinches at the way Emma looked at me right before she ran off. She hates me and I don’t blame her.

  I stiffen when I feel lips on mine. I open my eyes. Brittany’s kissing me. I push her away. “What are you doing?”

  “I promised Em you had to pass the Britt test.” She licks her lips. “Since the obvious test is out…”

  “What’s the obvious test?”

  “Sex. But you’re clearly in love with her, and she thinks she’s in love with you. How in the shitting fuck did you two get to be so goddamn messed up in only a week? It usually takes months and sometimes years to reach this level of ridiculousness.”

  And I thought only Emma had weird sayings. These two were peas in a pod. “She hates me, Brittany.”

  “Call me Britt.” She sighs and rests the ice against my head again. “And no shit she hates you. You totally played her.”

  Goddamn it. I’m really sick of Emma accusing me of playing her. And now her best friend, too? “What does that even mean? Why does she think I played her? Because I like kissing her? Because I go to sleep thinking of her and wake up excited to see her? Because when I’m with her, nothing else matters? She’s my everything, Britt. I thought she knew that.”

  She tilts her head and smiles. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re the first guy she’s ever been with who makes her actually want to be with him. I know that sounds weird, but it’s Em we’re talking about.”

  I can’t argue that one.

  “She’s not an easy person to get close to. Believe me, I know. She’s pretty much been on her own since junior high. Her mom works all the time and her dad is, well…”

  “They’re divorced. She hasn’t seen her dad since she was twelve. She told me”

  Britt drops her jaw. “She told you that? She’s never told anyone else except me. It’s taken me since the seventh grade to earn the title of best friend, and yet, in a matter of a week, you’re closer to her than I am.”

  I sit up, but she pushes me back down. I stay.

  “She’s my best friend, Ryan, and I love her like a sister. Do you have a sister?”

  “A brother.”

  “And you’d do anything to protect him, right?”

  Despite how much I dislike my brother, I’d still protect him to the death if it came down to it. “Yes.”

  “That’s Em to me. If anyone does anything to hurt her, I will go bat shit crazy on his ass. Got it?”

  “I, uh…” Did she just threaten to kick my ass? She’s ninety pounds soaking wet. Still, my respect for her jumps because of it. I’d protect Emma with my life. Clearly, Britt feels the same way.

  “Got it?” She removes the ice and sticks a finger in my face, her blue eyes blazing.

  “Yes. Yes, I’ve got it.” Jesus Christ, she’s as crazy as Emma. No wonder they’re best friends.

  She thins her lips as her eyes flash. “I’m going to ask you this once and only once. If you lie to me, I’ll know. Now, I know you love her.”

  My heart pinches. “How?”

  “Because you didn’t hesitate to go after Brad, even though you knew you’d get your ass kicked. You’re either an idiot, or you’re in love. Em would never fall for an idiot.”

  I look at her, shock holding my tongue hostage. I finally break free of my paralysis. “She fell for me?”

  “We may have to revisit the possibility that you’re an idiot. Did you not just hear what I said?”

  I stiffen. I hate that fucking word, having heard it way too many times growing up from both my father and brother. “I’m no idiot.”

  She squares her petite shoulders and even smiles. “I know. Now, onto my question. And again, if you lie, I’ll know. Did you play her?”

  I rest my head on the back of the couch, exhausted over the constant accusation. “I don’t even know what that means.”

  “Let me spell it out for you. Did you read anything into it when you talked to her, anything that gave you insight on how to treat her? Poker players call it a tell. Gun fighters call it a sign. Are you a people reader or something? A con artist? What?”

  My insides spin and I just want to give up. Emma hates me. Britt suspects me of being a con artist. Brad already kicked me out of the house after kicking my ass in front of everyone. It’s incredible how a simple deal between two strangers turned into where I am now. “Why is it so hard to believe there are guys out there who just want to be…” I shrug and shake my head. “Normal.”

  Britt narrows her eyes at me and I shrink back. What is it with women and those looks, the ones that make you scared to say anything else? “If you could describe Em in a single word, what would it be?”

  I don’t even have to think. “Beautiful.”

  “Aha!” She puts her finger in my face again. “You’re totally superficial.”

  “Funny. Amazing. Has an aversion to eggs. I know that’s more than a single word.” I laugh. I then sigh as I conjure up Emma’s smile. “Confident, yet insecure. Mesmerizing. Warm. Irritating. More.” I chuckle as I realize how hard I’ve fallen. “I guess if I had to choose one word, that’s it. She’s more. She makes me want to be more.”

  Britt sucks in a breath, pulling my attention to her. I’m shocked to see tears welling in her eyes. She blink
s and a few break free. “You really do love her.”

  “I do, Britt. With everything I am. I love her.” My entire world is darker as I admit that, knowing how she feels about me now and blames me for everything that’s happened. Hell, I blame myself. “None of that matters now. She hates me.”

  “Okay, you pass. I’m going to admit something to you that I’d never admit to her.” She sniffles and wipes at her eyes. “Em is a better person when she’s with you. She smiles now. She’s…more. Don’t give up on her, Ryan. Please.” She wipes at more tears. “Her entire life is built on disappointment and people keep handing it to her by the shit ton. Give her something to believe in. Let her know what she means to you.”

  I grin as it dawns on me. I know exactly what I need to do.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Emma

  I’ve never experienced a worse spring break in my life. Campus was empty except for those of us without plans to star in the next Spring Break Gone Wild type films. Britt left me to go to California with her new Delta. She even dumped Mike for him. It must be love.

  I’m back in the computer lab, Britt’s a no-show, and Nancy won’t stop glaring at me. All-in-all, it’s a typical Monday. I type in my password and frown when the computer beeps at me. I know I have it right. I try again, only for the computer to come up with an error message that my account has been locked and to see the front desk.

  Ryan.

  Ready for the next round, I jump out of my chair and storm to the front desk. As soon as the green vests see me coming, they all scatter. Ryan must have warned them what happens when someone pisses off a redhead. Well, fine. I’ll just wait for him. He’s who I want to unleash on anyway.

  Who in the fuck does he think he is, playing me like that? After everything I’ve done for him, this is how he repays me? As I wait, my anger mounts.

  Lucky for him I don’t have to wait long. He walks out from their little green vest breeding room, spots me, and doesn’t look away. Holy shit. What happened to his face? He’s got faded bruises and the hint of a fat lip. “I tried calling.”