by V. Vaughn
The engine revs as I speed up on the ramp to I-95. None of it makes sense, but the one thing I know for sure is I'm supposed to get to Maine, and forces beyond my control are helping me make it happen. I'll worry about what to do once I get there.
3
Madison
I watch Josie do her two-minute makeup routine as I fight the jealousy burning in me. I am happy for her, but I can't help wishing I had a boyfriend too. The poor girl deserves to find love. I think she's had a rough past, and Axe is a great guy. But I’m not handling it well. The worst part is that my body insecurities have been heightened over this. Josie has the figure of those girls in memes about attaining your perfect body. Abs that appear effortless, a round bottom, and hip bones you can see when she lies down on her back. She even has definition in her thighs. Plus, she's got that chiseled face that makes her look famous when she pulls her hair back in a high ponytail. She claims its due to working out for hours each day, but so far, I've only seen her go to the gym once. She does run every morning, but still. I let out a heavy sigh.
Josie turns to me. "Are you sure you won't go tonight? Axe said there are going to be way too many guys there."
Axe belongs to the frat known for huge men, and I think it intimidates a lot of girls. Every member is well over six feet tall with shoulders like a linebacker. My kind of men, actually, so I should want to go. But I'm tired of being Josie and Axe's third wheel, and I think her boyfriend is getting sick of me being around too. She uses me as an excuse to keep things from going further than she'd like, and I don't get it. I'm not sure what's up with her, because I initially thought she was the type to think of sex as physical pleasure only. But she's super anxious about sleeping with Axe.
I say, "I don't know. I really should study." I take a sip of the wine Josie poured for me to drink while she gets ready. I'm already a little tipsy and have no intention of studying.
"Oh, come on. It's Saturday night. You can study all day tomorrow." We have dance music on, and she dances her way over to me and sings along with the song playing. "You know you want it. Just come and get it."
I laugh at her as she reaches for my hands to pull me up. The girl I thought was an assassin the first day we met has turned out to be fun. If I go tonight, she'll make sure I have a good time. Do I really want to sit here and sulk on a Saturday night just so I'm not cock-blocking my roomie's boyfriend? "Okay. Okay." I shimmy my shoulders as I dance across from Josie. "I'll go. But only if you do my eyes the way you do yours. It's so perfectly simple."
"Done. Go put on something sexy, girl, because tonight we're gonna land you a man." She turns around to stick out her butt and attempts a version of twerking to make me laugh. It works, and I shake my head at her before walking over to my closet to find a slinky boobie shirt.
An hour later, Josie and I approach Axe's frat house, and my stomach flips with my nerves. I tug at the edges of a plunging halter to cover more of my cleavage. Josie rummaged through the closet of the girl across the hall from us to find me the perfect pick-up shirt. "I'm not so sure about this top, Josie. I feel like I'm popping out of it."
"That's the point. You have incredible tits. Work 'em."
"Josie!" calls out a guy. "Axe said if I saw you to let you know he went on a beer run."
"Hey, Trent," she says as we join him on the porch. "This is my roommate, Madison."
"Mad-ah-son," he drawls as he puts his hand out, and his eyes home in on my boobs like a heat-seeking missile.
I let out a small groan as Josie laughs softly, and I let Trent take my hand. The moment he touches me he flinches a bit, and his gaze darts up to my eyes. His nostrils flare, making me think of an angry bull, and his large fingers wrap around mine like he has no intention of letting go. "Where have you been all my life, darling?"
I tug my hand away, even though I have to admit Trent is very attractive. His green eyes and dark hair are striking, and if he wasn't such a smarmy flirt I'd stick around. Unfortunately for him, I require subtlety. And boundaries, which guys who drawl out names and stare at chests don't seem to have. "Charming, I'm sure." I look at Josie and I pull my top closed again. "Let's go inside."
Once we get away from Trent she says, "Told you that shirt would work. Hell, take a look around and pick your target, because one flash and they'll be yours."
I laugh. "So what you're saying, is never underestimate the power of the boobie shirt?"
"Exactly." She glances over my shoulder. "Don't look now, but Trent is about to be persistent."
I smile at her. "I've got this." I turn on my heel to face him, expecting more grand gestures and prepared to knock him down a rung or two.
"Hey," He stops at a respectable distance. "Sorry about coming on strong like that. You took me by surprise."
"Really? First time seeing cleavage?"
Josie snorts and tries to cover it up with a cough.
"No. That was pretty obnoxious of me. I'm sorry."
His expression does appear remorseful and damn it, he's even more gorgeous indoors where the lighting is better. My heart skips a beat as the urge to reach out and touch him is strong. "Fine. Apology accepted."
I begin to turn away when he says, "Madison. I..."
"Yes?" I stare at his mouth. His lower lip is full and juicy looking, and I wonder what his kiss would be like. Jeez, Madison! I have no idea why I'm doing a one-eighty when it comes to my assessment of this guy.
Trent shakes his head. "Nothing. Have fun tonight."
I really want to know what he was about to say, but I don't ask. "Thanks. I plan to." I take Josie's arm and begin to walk. "Let's go see if there's beer yet."
When we get to the kitchen, Josie says, "Aww, you just broke his heart."
I chuckle, "Funny. Guys like that don't have a heart. They're just after one thing."
"And you don't want some of that?"
I frown, because I'm not so sure what I just said is true. Trent's apology seemed sincere. "Not any more than you do. I want a relationship too."
The kitchen door to the outside bursts open, and Axe walks in carrying a keg on his shoulder. "Beer's here!" he yells before he notices Josie. And then his grin becomes all about her. He sets the keg down as if it's a bag of groceries and walks over to us. "Hey, babe," he says as he leans in to give her a kiss.
"Hey, Axe," I tease before he looks at me. "Nice to see you too."
"Madison. Glad you changed your mind."
"Thanks." I look over at the crowd gathered around the keg. Since I'd like to leave Josie and Axe alone to go cruise the party I say, "I don't suppose you can cut that line for us, can you?"
Axe winks at me. "On it, ladies. Be right back."
"He's so into you," I say.
Josie sighs. "I know."
She flashes a smile at me, but I sense it’s fake. I don't say anything, though. Whatever is going on with my roommate, she doesn't want to talk about it, and it’s up to her to figure it out anyway.
When Axe hands me my beer, I excuse myself to walk around. I notice Trent and stop to watch him. He's laughing with a couple of guys as I study him. I take in his broad shoulders and powerful arms before I check out the way his jeans hang low on his hips, allowing a flash of his taut stomach when he lifts his arm. I smile. Very nice. As I move my gaze up again, I find Trent is looking at me. And when he sees me notice it, he grins. Damn it. Heat flushes my cheeks, because he totally caught me checking him out. I'm no better than he is. He begins to walk toward me, and since I can't deny what I just did, I don't turn away.
"I see you got a beer," Trent says.
I lift my cup. "That I did."
"Having fun yet?"
"I'm working on it." Well, aren't we awkward. What happened to Mr. Suave and Charming? The way Trent is shifting from foot to foot makes me think he's nervous. So not what I expected from the guy who drawled out my name.
"You must be a transfer like Josie," he says. "Are you settling in okay?"
I nod and decide to help the poor
guy out. "I am. My mother actually went here." His eyes widen, making me curious about why he finds that interesting. "What about you? What year are you? Why did you come here? Did you come from far away?"
Trent chuckles at my rapid-fire questions. "I grew up close by. I know it's lame, but it was easy to come here instead of going to school far away."
"I can see that. What are you majoring in?"
"Engineering."
"Whoa. You must be smart. I've heard the program here is tough to get into."
He shrugs. "It's a good one. Made it easy to stay. What are you majoring in?"
"English." I sigh. "Boring. I know."
Trent says, "Not at all. Do you want to be a writer? Teacher?"
"Honestly?" I chuckle. "I have no idea. I guess I'll figure it out once I graduate."
Trent flashes me a smile that spreads to his eyes. "Don't tell anyone, but I'm the same way. I have no idea what I'm going to do once I graduate. My dad thinks I should backpack around Europe." He deepens his voice to mimic his father. "Living on next to nothing would be good for the boy, Janet."
I smile. "What does Janet think?"
Now Trent's voice gets high. "Hugh, we just poured all this money into his education. Why would you suggest he waste it?"
I laugh, and a sobering thought comes to me. "I don't have that problem."
"No? Your parents are cool with you not knowing what you want?"
Sadness fills me, but I push it away and blurt out, "I never knew my father. All I know is that he went to college here at the same time my mother did. And—" I stop talking when I realize I've probably said too much.
"And what?"
"This will probably sound crazy to you, but I think I might know who my father is. He seems like a really nice guy, but my mom said it was best if I didn't know him. It's weird."
"Does your mom know you want to meet him?"
The sorrow I was trying to avoid feeling crashes over me like a wave, and tears burn in my eyes. "My mom died recently."
"Madison." Trent takes my hand. "I'm so sorry."
I shake my head in an effort to keep my tears at bay. "Thanks." I take a deep breath. "Wow. Sorry I took you there." I glance down at our hands. It feels natural to be doing this, and I thread my fingers through Trent's. "Tell me where you'd go on your trip to Europe."
He steps a little closer to me. "Venice to see the glass. Italy for the wine. And Paris."
"Paris, huh?" I look at the mouth I imagined kissing earlier before I return my gaze to his eyes. "I'd love to go to Paris someday."
"You'd have to fit everything in a backpack." Trent glances at my mouth too.
"Uh-huh." I'd love to blame what I'm about to do on alcohol, but I'm not drunk. I reach up to hold on to his shoulders and kiss him. Or he kisses me. It doesn't matter who initiated it because both of us get swept away, and I experience the most sensual, mind-blowing kiss of my life.
Trent may think so too, because when we break apart to catch our breath, he says, "Wow." He narrows his eyes as if he's figuring something out. "I think I know why your mother thought you shouldn't know your dad."
"You do?"
Trent grimaces like he's in pain. "I shouldn't have said that. Forget I did."
"What?" I laugh. "C'mon. You don't get to say something like that to me and then tell me to forget it."
Trent grips my arms lightly and smiles. "Let me rephrase that. I will tell you what I'm talking about, just not now."
"Why not?" I pout. "I didn't take you for a tease."
"We need to know each other much better, Madison. I think we have something really special, and I don't want to ruin it by rushing." He bursts into laughter. "I think that was supposed to be your line."
"You're not talking about my dad anymore, are you?"
He shakes his head and grabs my hand. "Let's dance."
I follow him to the dance floor willingly even though I'm insanely curious about what he said regarding my dad. But while Trent may think this conversation is over, for me it's just begun.
4
Josie
Axe has his arm around my shoulders as we stand around talking to his friends. One of the guys is telling us a story about something that he thinks is impressing everyone, but instead it’s making us all struggle to keep from rolling our eyes. I smile as if I'm listening and scan the room looking for Madison. If I'm lucky she'll be standing alone, and I’ll have a reason to leave the confines of Axe's affection.
What I find is so not what I expected. I see Madison making out with Trent. Trent! I swear, girls confuse me. The guy practically drooled all over her tits when he saw them and made no attempt to hide it. Now, less than an hour later, she's kissing him. I squint my eyes to focus better. Really kissing him. Jesus, come up for air, girl, before I have to come revive you.
I let out a sigh.
"Josie? What's wrong, babe?"
I return my focus to the group I'm in and realize everyone's looking at me. "Oh," I shake my head. "Nothing. I was worried about Madison, but it seems she's just fine."
Axe looks around before he chuckles. "Yeah. It sure looks like it to me too. So what's wrong?"
Fortunately, the guys we were talking to have moved on to another topic, bored with my roommate concerns, and I can speak freely. "It's just odd. He pissed her off when we first got here, and I'm surprised she's changed her mind so quickly."
"Sometimes chemistry works that way. Kind of like love at first sight."
I smile because I think he's talking about true-mate love. "That's sweet." In the werebear world when you meet your true mate, their scent and touch make it clear who they are to you. But I'm told it doesn't work the same way for half humans. Instead, there is an inexplicable draw to the werebear.
Oh my, god. One that might make a guy you thought was repulsive at first attractive anyway. I can't believe I didn't see it before. I take a hard look at my roommate, who has finally stopped inhaling Trent. She's tall like me with broad shoulders, hips and curves that don't stop. Curves I used to have before I went to assassin boot camp. I think Madison is half werebear. And I bet Trent is her true mate.
"Josie?" My boyfriend pulls me out of my thoughts.
"Huh?"
Axe laughs. "Let's dance so you can keep watching them."
"What? I'm not—" I force out a laugh. "Okay. I can't help it. Madison really wants a boyfriend, and I'm happy for her. That's all."
Axe takes my hand to lead me across the room. "I'm pretty sure she's got that now."
And I'm pretty sure I don't have what she does. Axe grips my hips to pull me in close, and we sway with our bodies pressed against each other. If Axe was my true mate, I wouldn't be so reluctant to sleep with him. It's not like he doesn't get me hot. He's very good with his hands, but the euphoric love of a true mate isn't there. If I were looking for a human relationship, Axe would be great. But I'm afraid if I get in too deep with him I'll miss out on something better. The true mate I’d rather have. Although, Axe would work if he were willing to bite me, and he might be the best I can get.
I'm stuck, and I'd better figure out what to do soon because Axe is getting impatient with me. He tugs on my ponytail as he smiles at me and then moves to kiss my neck. Warmth fills my lower belly as I lean my head back to give him access. I revel in the sensations that feel so good. I don't blame Axe for wanting more than just hands. Most college girls aren't making their boyfriend wait to have full-blown sex for too long. Hell, right now I'm wondering why I am too.
I slide my hands under the back of Axe's shirt and clutch at his back as he shoves his thigh between my legs. I press against him, throbbing with need. And when he leans down to whisper in my ear, I know what he's going to say. Better yet, I want him to say it.
"Josie. Let's go up to my room."
I hate that my gut reaction is to object. I mean, let's be real. I'm physically attracted to this guy, and I want what he's offering. My god, do I want it. But... Axe nibbles on my ear lobe and his hot breath
in my ear sends electric shocks of pleasure through me. I let out a little mewl. It's been a long time since I had sex, and I'm weak. So weak. And that's my justification for saying, "Yes."
The only reason Axe leads the way is because he got the jump on me. We both jog up the stairs, and the moment he slams his door shut, he shoves me up against it. My shoulder blades thud on the hard wood, and the lock clicks as he turns it. I grab the hem of his shirt to lift it up. He pushes my hands away and takes a step back. With the sexiest smirk imaginable, Axe reaches behind his head with one hand and yanks his shirt off. Blond hair tumbles to his massive shoulders as it falls out of the neckline of his tee.
I let out a whoosh of air. "Jesus, you're hot."
He chuckles as he steps forward and slides a finger under the hem of my tight, scoop-neck t-shirt. I automatically flex my abs under his touch, ready to fight, but my knee jerk reaction to defend myself doesn't compare to the way my insides melt. He says, "So are you. May I?"
I shove his hands out of the way and whip off my shirt in the same manner he did.
He lets out groan. "Fuck me, Josie. "
I give Axe a smirk I hope rivals his. "That's my plan." I reach for the button on the waistband of my jeans as I recall how pre-jail I would— whoa. I freeze. Staring into Axe's eyes, I realize I like him. And that's something I shouldn't do. Because even though he's not my true mate, I'm about to commit to him and our relationship. But this is a guy I'm going to betray, and it will be so much harder if I let myself like him as a person.
