That revelation should probably shock me but somehow, that fits perfectly with my idea of Oliver. I don’t have time to ask what are the terms of their wager because we’re interrupted by Erin’s arrival.
The sorority treasurer literally bursts into the room, beside herself with excitement. “They’re here, they’re here! The guys are here to pick us up! They showed up in four limos!”
“One thing I can definitely say about my stepbrother though,” Valeria concedes. “He knows how to throw a party. Ok girlies, have you got everything you need for the weekend? Bikinis? Condoms?”
Erin giggles. “All packed and ready to go, Val. I’m gonna hurry downstairs so I can try and get in the same car as Hoyt.”
“I thought we talked about it, Erin,” Valeria scolds her. “Do you want to be humiliated like last year? Hoyt likes skinny girls and you’re still a long way from there. You can try but I doubt he’ll even look at you twice. So if I were you, I’d concentrate on staying away from the food and stick to skinny margaritas this weekend. You don’t want to ruin all our hard work.”
I really hate the way Valeria speaks to Erin in her misguided attempts to ‘help’ her sister but I decide to stay out of it.
I’m about to pick up one of Valeria’s suitcases, when her bedroom door opens again. I recognize the two guys who enter the room as two Gamma pledges.
“We’re taking care of the luggage, ladies. Follow us please.”
Two black and two white limos are waiting outside with the drivers in smart black suits standing by the doors.
I walk toward the last car in the row but the same pledge who got Valeria’s suitcases, comes to accompany me to the first limo in the row.
“Kaya, you have an assigned seat. This way, please.”
I follow him with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and all my worst fears are confirmed when I board the limo and Oliver greets me with his trademark little sardonic smile.
He’s sprawled on one of the seats and as I immediately make a beeline for the one on the opposite side, his smile widens.
He has a martini glass in his hand, that emerald ring with the family crest shining on his finger.
“Welcome to this year’s pledges booze cruise, darling. Would you care for a car-tini?”
Oliver
I CAN’T BLOODY HELP it. Provoking Kaya and watching her squirm is almost as much fun as it’s going to be enjoying her once I make her mine. And winning my little bet with my stepsister.
I have to tread carefully because despite her pledge position, Kaya isn’t single.
And yeah, I’m the Gamma president and I’m as powerful and popular as one could humanly get on campus but I don’t want to step on Bryce, Parker and Chase’s toes too openly. I don’t know what kind of arrangement there is between the three of them and Kaya and it doesn’t really matter to a certain extent. But let’s put it this way, I’d rather get Kaya without burning too many bridges. Especially because Lord Wellesley seems more than inclined to enter into a business relationship with the Hudsons.
I’ve never felt such overwhelming attraction for a girl in my whole life, Kaya really got under my skin with that stupid party kiss. Now she’s pretty much all I can think about, so much so that after fucking Valeria on Kaya’s birthday, I haven’t even hooked up with anyone.
I’ve never been the patient type but there’s nothing else I can do than pursue Kaya with all I’ve got and the fact that I’m getting horny and sexually frustrated really doesn’t help.
But this is the kicker in the whole situation, I want her to want me. Getting kissed because of a dare just doesn’t cut it. I mean obviously I’d rather get kissed because of a dare than nothing at all but I gotta find the key to the beautiful and intriguing puzzle that Kaya represents.
The fact that Kaya is also smart and profound other than pretty doesn’t help the constant boner I seem to have to fight when I’m around her.
She refuses to drink with me in the car and when I try to strike up a conversation with her, she blows my mind.
For once, I do my utmost to avoid toying with her and we start a debate about Greek culture and the meaning of it in modern society and her opinions are intelligent and interesting.
I let myself imagine how it would be to have her on my arm, to engage in witty conversation with her all the time, show her off at those snooty country club parties my father loves to drag me to. Make love to her at the end of the night, make her come until she passes out exhausted in my arms.
Blimey, what the hell is happening to me? I love Valeria, I really do but even with her, I’ve never even thought about that kind of relationship. About wanting her to look at me like I’m all she’ll ever want and need.
I had a plan, a very good plan. If Kaya didn’t agree to go out on a date with me, I’d find a way to make her. I know that she feels the same pull toward me that I feel for her and that she’s fighting it.
I was determined to resort to any means to make her mine, including having her date me in exchange for my silence about her fucking her stepbrother.
But all of a sudden, that thought puts a bad taste in my mouth. If I want to really have her, I have to make her want me without any form of duress.
I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge and this time is no different but I honestly feel an edge of anxiety at the idea that the outcome might not be what I want. I’ve never had my heart broken because I’ve never bought into the sappy idea of ‘love’ but right now a huge part of me fears what will happen if I get too close to Kaya.
“Sir, we’re at our destination,” the driver informs me and I push my hesitation to the side. I’ll definitely put the first part of my plan into action and then figure out the rest as I go along. After all, the Wellesleys have always been excellent strategists.
Oliver
“BROTHERS, ZETAS, WELCOME on the Queen Rena,” I smile enjoying the dropped jaws and the gasps of my guests at the sight of the super yacht we’ll spend the next two nights on.
I own my own yacht but at eighty feet, that can barely be considered a little more than a small cruiser. The Queen Rena is my father’s admiral, his own personal boat and it’s the largest super yacht in the world at six hundred feet.
Not counting the crew quarters below deck, the Queen Rena has twenty-five guest cabins, five of which are large staterooms with their own living rooms and private balconies.
There’s about forty of us here today but there should be enough beds for everyone, considering that most people will find a companion or two for the night. I assigned a cabin to all the fully fledged Zetas and the brothers didn’t mind because we made it a little challenge among ourselves to be able to find hospitality for the night. I obviously kept the master cabin for myself and I’m not worried about the pledges. The girls will find a bed one way or the other, the guys will crash on the myriad of couches that adorn the many reception rooms on board.
I’ve carefully debated what I should do with Kaya. She’s still a pledge and of course I’m hoping that somehow she’ll end up in my bed but I decided to assign her the ‘consort cabin’ right next to mine on the top deck.
I couldn’t give a rat’s arse what the other guests will think, this is my father’s boat and I make the rules. Plus the Hudsons are now family friends, so I know Lord Wellesley would expect them to be treated with white gloves.
After a formal champagne reception where my guests meet the captain and the rest of the crew and after everyone has found their own accommodation, we all convene to the main deck for a five star meal cooked by our Michelin starred chef.
When the dinner table is cleared, the chief stew brings a multitude of white bedsheets for the toga party I have planned for tonight.
“Brothers and sisters,” I address my guests when they return to the sky-lounge in their togas, “as you know, this is a pledge event. So throughout the weekend each fully fledged brother or sister can challenge any pledge to any number of dares. Dares must be completed, pena
lty as usual is the exclusion from the pledge ranks.”
I look at my chief stew giving her the OK to start giving out flash cards with numbers on it.
“First, we’ll have a catwalk show. Show me your moves, pledges. The losers will have to pay a penalty.” I sit on one of the couches looking at the brothers and sisters as they’re clamoring to encourage the pledges to show us some moves. I grin at the spectacle the girls are offering, I swear to God, women are way wilder than guys. Especially when alcohol is flowing. Obviously the game is completely rigged. I have some of the crew in the judges panel and I specifically instructed them to make sure that Kaya has the lowest score.
I made sure to observe her during dinner and I saw that she’s barely touched any booze. God knows I’ve never had a problem hooking up with a girl before even if she was drunk, as long as she looked sober enough to consent. But with Kaya I want things to happen when she’s completely aware of them and I want her to remember me. That’s the whole point of this whole event. I would’ve never organized a whole cruise if I weren’t trying to get close to Kaya.
As planned, she’s one of the bottom two pledges after the judges have cast their vote.
“So, the losers will have to choose a card from Amy.” I signal to my chief stew who fans out a bunch of flash card in her hands, hiding the part where I’ve had her write some party games.
This is a special set, all the cards say the same thing and this set is just for Kaya’s benefit. Of course I want her to really like me, but I’ll give her all the help she needs to get there.
“Come on love,” I coax her, “choose a card.”
Kaya grabs a flash card and I school my expression into a neutral one, forcing myself not to grin because I know what her card – and all the cards Amy was holding out – will say.
“Seven minutes in Heaven,” she reads and again, I stifle the grin that threatens to appear on my lips.
“I volunteer!” Bryce raises his hand making everyone chuckle but the asshole isn’t kidding.
This time I let a slow smile form on my lips. “Ha ha, Katniss bloody Everdeen. Good try. She has to draw the name of the lucky boy she’ll have to go into one of the bathrooms with. And obviously Kaya, if you want to go with a girl, that’s an option too. But I have to warn you that there’ll be a minimum list of things that have to happen in that cabin.”
She decides on a boy and Amy approaches her with a velvet pouch with the name of all the brothers in it. Or at least, that’s what everyone believes. I got my chief stew to prepare one pouch that Kaya will be offered every time we have to draw names for a game. Everyone else will get a real one with all the names, but Kaya can only ever draw my name if it’s a game that involves any physical contact.
She puts her small hand inside the pouch and hands the little folded piece of paper to Amy, who reads it out loud. “Oliver.”
I keep a straight face, looking a little bored if anything. I’m quite proud of myself for the perfect ‘aplomb’ I’m showing when in reality I’m beside myself with excitement. If I were into acting, I’d deserve a bloody Oscar for the performance I’m giving tonight.
“So,” Valeria states. “You’re gonna go into that bathroom for seven minutes with my brother, Kaya. Here’s a list of the things you have to do to consider the task accomplished.” She hands Kaya a sheet of paper and again, I school my face into a neutral, slightly bored expression as she reads it while standing between Bryce and Parker.
“This is ridiculous,” she complains as she reads the list aloud. “The pledge will have to perform the following: French kissing, for a minimum of two minutes. One of the participants will have to kiss the other at chest level, there has to be some touching, fondling or kissing below the belt for at least three of the seven minutes. The entire duration of the challenge will be filmed to ensure compliance.”
“What the—” Bryce seethes stopping in his tracks when he realizes that this isn’t the first nor the last time we’ve played this game. He must’ve done it countless times and we all know that the stuff that happens during party games doesn’t really count. I mean, I’ve had full blown sex more than once during ‘seven minutes’ but that usually happens only if the girl is single and I doubt Kaya would be up for it anyway. She doesn’t strike me like as that type, unfortunately for me.
“So luv, shall we?” I offer her my hand and don’t do anything to hide my satisfied grin this time when I meet Chase’s furious gaze. The hard light in his eyes and the tick in his jaw tell me that he wants to object but he knows he can’t. And it’s not just because this party game is also a pledge challenge. It’s because Kaya is an adult and people would start wondering why her stepbrother is so mad at the idea of her kissing someone during a party game.
Now don’t get me wrong, technically Kaya doesn’t have to do any of this. Forcing her would constitute hazing and as such would be illegal and could have all sorts of unsavory consequences for the fraternity and the sorority. But while this is all true and we couldn’t kick her out if she said no, it’s also true that a refusal to engage in a pledge challenge would show poor spirit and would be enough reason for her to not be accepted in the ranks of the Zetas. The Greek council is always unanimous in those sort of rulings.
We all know that most of the party games include making out, it’s all part of the college experience in a way and I’m not sorry that I’m using that to my advantage.
I’ve never needed to use such underhanded expedients to get a girl to kiss me and I’m sure I could probably take my time and get to her anyway but what’s the fun in that when we can play games instead? Winning is more fun than actively trying to break whatever weird relationship she has going on with her stepbrother and his friends. Obviously I want Kaya for myself, so if she ended up breaking up with her guys that would actually be brilliant but it’s not necessarily something I’m after. The wager with Valeria was carefully worded. To win, I need Kaya to be my girlfriend but I don’t need to be her only boyfriend. Victory will be sweet, I can already taste it and depending on how things go with Kaya, I might even let Valeria off the hook for her payment of the wager. In all honesty since Kaya’s birthday weekend, the more time I spend with her, the less I even notice other girls, including my stepsister.
This is why I’m beyond excited when she takes my hand and follows me into the small service bathroom and I’m already starting to get hard as I lock the door behind me.
“Your seven minutes start now!” Valeria announces loudly and I immediately take a step toward Kaya, making her retreat as she backs off until her back meets the vanity cabinet by the sink.
“Hello,” I say with a smile, not missing her already labored breathing and the wide eyed look she sets on me.
“Hm, hi.” She’s so bloody cute. She isn’t just smoking hot, she’s adorable all around. With a lot of girls it’s hard to tell what they’re thinking but with Kaya it’s so easy. All I have to do is look into her eyes, they’re like an exact reflection of her heart.
I step closer, until my chest is almost touching hers but not quite. I reach up with a gentle hand, tracing the edge of her jaw. “You look very pretty tonight,” I say softly and what did I just tell you? She blushes. God, I could bite her, she’s so delicious. My other hand settles on her bedsheet clad waist in a light but possessive touch. The idea of making this a toga party was absolutely brilliant, I have to give it to Hoyt. All she’s wearing is a thin bedsheet and probably her panties. Obviously I’m completely naked under my own sheet.
“So, shall we begin?” I say teasingly and see her swallow, the redness on her cheeks spreading now to her neck and chest.
“Yeah, let’s get this over with,” she bites out, trying to sound unaffected by the situation.
“Isn’t it lucky that you drew my name?” I taunt her. “I’ve been thinking about kissing you since rush night.”
Her gaze hardens. “Whatever, Oliver. Don’t make this more of a game than it already is. Remember what we said when we were in t
he lake? You said that you wanted me to want to kiss you. This isn’t it. I’m still being dared. And just so you know, I seriously considered withdrawing my pledge. So this isn’t me wanting you by a long shot.”
This is why I like her. So very well played. But the look in her eyes, her accelerated breathing tell me a whole different story. I can feel the attraction between us like a magnetic field. It’s so obvious that it’s almost palpable and I won’t allow her to pretend that it’s just one sided. “Are you telling me that I’m the only one who can’t stop thinking about that kiss? Are you telling me that you didn’t feel anything?” My voice is soft and viscous like melted chocolate and when I see goosebumps starting to appear on her neck and shoulders, I bring my face closer to hers so that I can feel her sweet breath on my lips.
“It was just a dare, Oliver. Exactly like this one.” My smile widens, she’s even sexier when she tries to be a hard-ass. But she doesn’t fool me, her body tells me the truth she’s trying to hide with her words. She wants me just as much as I want her.
“Is it, darling? The look in your eyes tells me a completely different story. Do you think I didn’t notice the way you look at me? There’s no shame in feeling attracted to me, angel.”
She huffs with mock annoyance. “Ok, whatever! You’re a good kisser, is this what you want to hear? But so is Bryce and so are probably half your Gammas. So sure, let’s play this childish game but don’t tell yourself that I’m kissing you because I want you. It’s a fucking dare.”
Her voice is overly forceful, telling me that she’s trying to convince herself with her own words and she isn’t ready to admit that I affect her just as much as she affects me.
So I stop teasing her and I crush my lips on hers, immediately putting pressure on her soft mouth and she opens for me straight away. Score. I’d stop to say that I told her so but I’ve a better way to show her that I’m right.
Illicit (Perfect for them Book 2) Page 16
