A Different Side (University Park #4) (17 page)

She bit down on her bottom lip and I about lost it. “Then what would you call it?”

I took the beer from her hand and tipped it back for a drink. This girl had sparked a new flame within me and I wanted to show her the beauty of it. “Harmless flirting.”

A laugh escaped her mouth. “Is that what Marcie…I mean, Macy would call it?”

I shook my head and stared at the floor as I was reminded of the type of girls I attract. Not the Lexi type. The Macy type. I was the world’s biggest loser. I looked at her, dying for one shot. “No.”

“No?” Surprise laced her voice.

I shifted from one foot to the other, knowing I was pushing it. She wanted me, I could tell. But how bad? I need her to make the first move, but with the way she was fighting it, I knew I might have to be the one to kiss her first. I hovered inches from her, inhaling the honey and peaches covering every inch of her body. Her body pressed against the window and her face flushed a bright pink. The heat radiating off her body had my mind burning equally as hot.

“No.” I lowered my lips to hers. “She’s the one that flirts with me. I just play along.”

Her breathing was ragged and she sucked in a quick breath. “Oh, I see. And you don’t call that flirting?”

I shrugged, not paying much attention to what she was saying. I just wanted her lips on mine.

“So, the rumors are all lies?”

I cracked a half smile. “I didn’t say that.” There was no denying girls loved being caught in my trap.

She narrowed her eyes, confusion clouding in. “Then what are you saying? You don’t have to flirt with girls because they philander with you?”

“Basically, yeah,” I said with indifference, drunk on her sweet smell. Couldn’t she tell I was flirting with her?

Damn, just kiss me, Lexi!

She tossed her hair over her shoulder and tilted her head back. “Then why are you flirting with me?”

“Because... I like you, Lexi Thompson,” I blurted, unable to hide it any longer.

Please say you like me, too!

Instead, she threw her head back in laughter. “Stop your foolish antics. You really don’t like me. I mean…I’m nothing compared to the girls you’ve had. Usually, guys want to upgrade, not downgrade.”

Man, was she wrong.

“Believe me,” I raised a brow, “you are an upgrade.”

She didn’t blink or move. Just stayed frozen to the glass. I took one more swig of her beer before I gave it back to her. Lexi gasped as droplets of condensation fell to her chest.
My bad.
Then again…what a perfect opportunity.

“Sorry about that.” Using the tip of my finger, I traced the trail of water leading down between her breasts. If that didn’t entice her or show her I wanted out of the friend zone, then I clearly needed more lessons from Josh.

Her breathing hitched and she swayed, looking almost faint. I prepared to catch her, but she straightened, regaining her balance. Maybe I was going about this the wrong way.

Shit!

She grabbed the beer from my hand and heaved a gulp. Using the back of her hand, she wiped her lips. “Why me?”

Maybe I hadn’t screwed up.

“Let’s see, because you’re not like the other girls, for one, and two, you’re chaste, and that drives me crazy.”

She blinked rapidly and bit down on her lower lip again. Her breathing was erratic and she looked like a hot a mess.

My hot mess.

“Um, okay. You know, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to continue tutoring you.”

My head snapped back. “Really, why?”

“Because I’m supposed to keep a professional relationship with my students and I…um… can think of fifteen other reasons why I shouldn’t be helping you.”

“Only fifteen?” I asked, surprised she didn’t have more. Clearly, if I wanted our status to change, I was going to have to push harder. Slowly, I placed my other hand against the glass, trapping her between my arms.

We stood eye to eye, mere inches between us, breathing in each other. My need to taste her lips grew insistent, but I wanted her to make the first move. I had to know she wanted this. I wasn’t going to screw up our tutoring relationship or my chance to be with her. She placed her hand on my chest and pushed me away. “Give it time and I’m sure I’ll have twenty more.”

I chuckled. Was she serious? “Then I guess I better be on my best behavior since you’re keeping count.”

With her hand still lingering on my chest, I wrapped my fingers around her wrist and dragged her palm down the length of my torso. Heat seared through my polo shirt as her hand appraised the rough terrain. I wanted to rip off my shirt and allow her to explore every block of my six-pack. Her eyes widened with delight. She was fighting to resist me.

“If you think I’m going to let you screw me like all of those other hoes, you are sadly mistaken.”

That was it. She was scared I was going to use her, but I couldn’t blame her. I had to erase my past actions and prove to her this new flame burning inside of me was capable of so much more. With my finger, I caressed the top of her hand and lifted it to my lips, reveling in the softness of her skin. She was so silky smooth.

Staring deep into her eyes, I said, “Lexi, I’d never do that to you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”

The honesty behind those words hit me hard, but I wasn’t giving up. “Girls like you are very rare.” I turned her hand over and placed soft kisses on her palm. She had me doing all types of weird stuff, but I liked it. I didn’t want to stop.

I’d kiss her.

Caress her.

Love her.

Worship her night and day.

Anything to make her feel like the queen of my world.

I continued pressing my lips against her skin, making a path up her arm. “You must be treated with dignity and respect.”

“Are you even capable of that?” Her breaths shortened.

Turning her hand over, I kissed the top of it. “What do you think?”

“I…I don’t know.”

I released her hand and cupped her face with both hands. “I guess I’ll have to prove it to you.”

“If you say so.”

My lips lingered on the edge of hers, waiting for her to make the next move. I had done everything I could possible think of to prove I was serious about not taking advantage of her. I was freakin’ dying for her to kiss me. It didn’t even have to include tongue. I stared deep into her eyes, releasing my soul into hers. “But know this, Lexi, I won’t do anything, unless you ask me to do it.”

A whimper escaped her throat. She was struggling with her decision. As much as I wanted to kiss her, I wouldn’t do it unless she asked me to. I refused to screw up our relationship. Lexi had to give me the okay. I had to know she wanted this. Otherwise, things would be messed up between us. The need to have her clawed at my insides, threatening to rip me apart if I didn’t satisfy my desires. I fought them one by one. These demons had gotten the best of me and I wasn’t going to let them fuck this up. Not this time.

“Raven.” My name was a soft whisper across her lips.

I held my mouth steadily to hers. “Yes?”

“Take me back to my dorm, please.”

Damn!

Σ

Chapter 11

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it,

move with it, and join the dance.

~Alan Watts

“Shit!” I hit the steering wheel and my head fell against the headrest. Lexi was driving me crazy. In a good way.

I hadn’t tried to tempt her anymore, and I wouldn’t. Her message was clear. She wasn’t ready to change our status — at least, not yet. I had done and said everything to indicate I wanted more. Either she was scared I’d use her, like she’d said, or she needed to resolve what happened at her dorm. Whatever her hang up was with me, I’d be patient and do what I could to put her at ease.

I did a U-turn and headed back to the stadium with ten minutes to spare before practice started. My parking spot in the front was open and I pulled into it. Even though it didn’t have my name on it, everyone knew it was mine. I quickly shoved a few pieces of gum in my mouth, sprayed cologne all over me, just in case I smelled like beer, and ran toward the locker room, watching the second hand on my watch. The last thing I wanted was to be late for practice. Coach would have my ass.

I opened the door, immediately greeted by Coach Stevens.

“Davenport.” He looked at his clipboard, tapping his pen to it. “You did make it to my workout session today.”

I shouldered past him and tossed my duffle bag on the bench in front of my locker. I let the air out through my nose, trying to keep calm. Stevens was wearing me out. Every week he accused me of missing practice, telling Coach I hadn’t turned in my workout logs when I had. Apparently, he had something against me or was suffering from severe brain farts.

“Did you forget I have tutoring on Tuesday and Thursday?”

“And some tutor she is!” Shawn hollered. I wondered how he knew about Lexi. I looked around for Josh, but he was nowhere in sight. I made it a point to ask him later. A few of the other guys joined in, yelling and hooting.

I flipped Shawn off and he turned around, showing me his bare ass.

“See what you started now?” I shook my head and kicked off my shoes.

Coach Stevens pressed his palm to his forehead. “Sorry. I keep forgetting.”

“No worries.” I shrugged off his pathetic excuse. “I’ll make sure to get my workout in after practice.” I pulled off my shirt and hung it on the hook.

A hand clasped my injured shoulder. “You’re excused from your workout session today. I don’t want you aggravating anything.” Coach Anderson said, a firm resolve echoing in his voice.

“Thank you, sir.” I turned around and shook his hand.

“How’s the shoulder?”

I rotated my arm a few times. “Feels okay. I haven’t had any problems.”

“Good. Just what I want to hear.” Coach gave me a firm pat and then removed his hand. He walked to the center of the locker room and looked around as everyone finished getting ready for practice. “We’re going to change it up today.” He circled the room, his eyes narrowing in thought, causing a uni-brow to form.

“No field practice?” Quinton asked with a big smile on his face.

“No,” Coach replied.

Some of the guys cheered and others moaned.

“What are we doing then?” I asked, unzipping my shorts.

“You’ll see. I have something special planned for y’all.” Coach hit his clipboard on the back of his hand, getting everyone’s attention. “Suite up and be on the field in ten minutes, guys.”

We all looked at each other, curious as to what Coach had in mind for us, and started dressing in our practice uniforms. I only hoped it didn’t include a lot of running. I was clearly dragging ass after three beers. Instead of having a buzz, I was ready for a good nap. As soon as my shoes were laced and my helmet was in my hand, I headed to the refrigerator and grabbed a Red Bull.

I needed all the extra energy I could get today. Lexi had left me not only emotionally drained, but somewhat physically, too. And I wanted more.

“Hey, man, hand me one.” Josh came up behind me.

I grabbed two cans from the shelf and handed him one. “Thanks.”

“Yeah.” I shut the door and pulled the tab. “Hey, do you think your dad can get me a ticket to the suite?”

Josh shrugged. “Yeah, probably. I can ask, why?”

I took several gulps. “I thought about inviting someone.”

“Oh.” Josh twisted his lips slyly. “Is that someone named Lexi by chance?”

With a slight nod, I lifted the can to my lips.

Josh slugged me on the arm and I nearly choked. “I knew it.”

I coughed and pounded on my chest. “Just ask him, will you?”

“You know I will.” A large smile spread from ear to ear. “I can ask Shelby to keep her company.”

In between coughs, I managed to say, “Yeah, that’d be great.” I leaned closer to him. “I took her up in the suite earlier today and she loved it.”

“You did?” Josh’s head jerked back. “What happened?”

My head tilted toward the floor. “Not much. We just drank a few beers.”

“Whatever, dude.” Josh pushed me. “Admit it, you screwed her.”

“Screwed who?” Shawn asked, putting on his helmet.

“I swear I didn’t.” I made an
X
over my heart and then held up two fingers. “Scouts honor.”

“You weren’t even a boy scout.” Josh laughed.

I shrugged. “Does that matter? I promise I’m telling the truth. I just took her up to the suite, we chatted, had a few beers, and that was it.”

“Who’s he talking about?” Shawn turned to Josh and then to me.

Shawn and I had been good friends since our freshman year. He and Josh were the only two guys I could trust. We all had each other’s backs no matter what. We were tight like that, and without these two, I wouldn’t be playing for PHU. They’d saved my sorry ass on more than one occasion.

“Lexi,” I said in a hushed voice.

“His tutor,” Josh added before taking a few sips of his drink. “You didn’t tell him about her?”

“I figured you did.”

Josh shook his head. “No, I didn’t say anything.”

Shawn raised his brows. “You serious?” He chuckled. “And I was just shooting the shit with what I said about your tutor.”

“She is hot, though,” Josh commented.

“Really? I want to see what she looks like.”

“Two minutes, guys!” Coach Stevens yelled.

We made our way to the tunnel.

“I’ll show you her Facebook profile after practice,” I told Shawn.

“Hey, invite her to the party tomorrow night so we can meet her.” Shawn sounded more excited than I was an hour ago when I was dying to kiss her.

“Already did, bro.” I finished the last of my Red Bull and tossed it in the trashcan. “I’m going to pick her up and take her myself.”

“There you go.” Shawn wrapped an arm around my neck. “Does she have a roommate?”

“Yes. In fact, she does. It was that girl Luke was with at the last Sigma Chi party.”