Forbidden Attraction (Forbidden Trilogy) (4 page)

Bailey leads us away from them and introduces us to a couple of Grayson's old college buddies—Matt and Chris. Both guys gaze over my body without shame before doing the same to Jordan.

"You guys are such pigs," Bailey grunts.

"Just enjoying the beauty that has been bestowed upon us," Matt speaks up.

Matt is the taller of the two. He is about Grayson's height so I am guessing he’s around six foot three. He is lean, definitely less muscle, but still sexy.

Chris is shorter and stockier, but can hold his own in the looks department. Together they are a handsome duo.

"Hmm, the charmer," I reply before being pulled to meet the other two girls that are friends with Jordan and Bailey.

Angie is the most exotic looking of all. Her caramel skin is smooth; her green eyes are catlike. She is about my height minus the curves and appears to be on the shy side. Meghan is outgoing, funny, and pretty in the girl-next-door sort of way—thank God. Being around all these gorgeous women will give me a complex. It is not that I think I am ugly, but I know I am not extraordinary. The breakup with Liam is not doing any favors for my self-esteem.

"Ooh look. The guys have set up a volleyball net in the pool. Let's play," Angie squeals.

I take another shot of tequila before agreeing. The alcohol has loosened my inhibitions immensely and I’m now pulling off my shorts and tank since I am the only one still covered up.

That ... and I would look like an idiot getting into the pool with my clothes still on over my swimsuit.

"Damn baby," I hear Matt say.

I look his way only to find he’s not the only person staring. Grayson and Chris both have their eyes roaming over my curves, but it’s Grayson’s attention that’s surprising. Vanessa gives him a slap across the chest and he looks away. The moment passes and we pick teams for volleyball. Bailey, Jordan, Grayson, and myself are on a team while Matt, Chris, Angie, and Meghan team up. Vanessa has decided to sit out. No surprise there. I doubt she would want to risk breaking a nail.

BOTH OF OUR teams have won one game each and this is the tiebreaker. Chris serves the ball and I’m so determined to return it, I back into Grayson hard enough to lose my balance. I blame it on the alcohol like the Jamie Foxx song. Before I can lose my footing, Grayson catches me. I feel his strong hands splay across my stomach brushing against the underside of my breasts. The heat from his torso is radiating onto my back. My butt is pressed firmly against his powerful legs as I melt into him. His hardness has stolen my breath. Bailey suddenly gives us a small cough and he realizes he has held on a second too long and lets me go.

I look around for Vanessa, but she has disappeared into the house. I thought my moment with Grayson might have been the reason until I see her return from inside carrying a drink, unaffected. I continue the game in a haze, but we win. After the game, I head into the house for a cold glass of water and a moment to gather my composure. I’m at the refrigerator when two masculine hands appear on either side of my head, blocking me in.

"What are you doing here?" Grayson asks.

"I was invited by Bailey. I didn’t know she was your sister."

“Stepsister, hence the different last name," he replies in way of explanation.

"Why did you pretend not to know me?"

"Because it’s a conflict of interest with you just being here. I am not supposed to interact socially with my students. Especially not half-naked students," he deadpans. "Where is the rest of your swimsuit?"

Feeling bold, courtesy of the alcohol, I reply "Do you like what you see?"

"Baby, if I wasn't here with someone else and you weren't my student, I would show you just how much I like it, right here against this refrigerator," he growls next to my ear. He is pressed against me and I can feel his erection against my stomach. Desire shoots through me and I lose myself momentarily as I allow my hands to caress his abs. He jerks away from me like I just burned him.

"Don't ... " he says. "We can't." With that he storms away.

How embarrassing. I just tried to molest my professor who has a girlfriend. I need another shot. As if reading my thoughts, Matt appears at my side with shots in hand. I take one and shortly after, I know I’ve exceeded my limit. The music is thumping and the world is spinning so I lie down on the chaise lounge, attempting to get my bearings. Matt isn’t having it though and has pulled me up to dance with him. I’m holding on to him for dear life so I don’t face plant. Minutes into the song, I’m yanked away and Grayson is telling me that it’s time for me to leave. No one hears him say this, except Jordan, who’s at my side in seconds. She looks between the two of us and senses the tension.

Shit
. He is mad at me for my earlier indiscretion and now it looks like I have moved on to his friend. He offers to take me home, but Jordan says she’s ready to leave anyway. He’s about to tell me something else, but then Vanessa walks up.

"You girls leaving already?" she coos.

"Yes. We have family coming in early tomorrow, but it was nice meeting you," Jordan replies. This lie rolls off her tongue with ease so I know she understands my urgency to get away.

We say our goodbyes to everyone before heading to the car. Silence permeates the air on the ride home and I’m thankful for the reprieve.

"What the hell? Why was Grayson so ready for you to leave?" Jordan asks once we are back at our condo. I let her in on the sequence of events, including telling her Grayson is the previously mentioned professor that everyone thinks is so hot. I’m embarrassed my drunken state caused me to act out of character. This is why I don't drink.

"Wow Shiv! I wish I could have seen you in action. You are usually so shy in social settings. Not to mention he’s also taken. I’m liking this inner vixen that comes out with alcohol. I should have gotten you drunk ages ago," she jokes.

“Whatever, you don't have face him in class on Monday.”

“Joking aside, I hope the inner vixen seeping out this afternoon wasn’t in response to what Liam said about you. You have nothing to prove.”

Easy for her to say. It hurts to hear how unexciting your boyfriend thought you were. I don’t say this though because I don’t want to see the pity in her eyes. The tequila is doing a great job of numbing the pain. I don’t need her cooking up another intervention. “I know, but that isn’t what happened. Grayson just caught me off guard with all that masculinity and a body that screams sex. Without the alcohol on board I could have lusted after him in private,” I smile. Jordan agrees with my analysis of the situation.

What was I thinking? Rejection twice in one week has to be some sort of record. First Liam and now the professor ... ugh.

I look at the time and it’s only a little after eight. I pull my leftover veal from the refrigerator and heat it up. Surprisingly, Jordan didn’t touch her food either last night and waits for me to finish with the microwave.

“What? I was waiting until you were ready to eat yours so we could share. I ate cereal last night instead,” she explains. “Do you want to watch
Vampire Diaries
on the DVR?"

I am still intoxicated so I know very little attention will be given to the Salvatore bothers, but I agree anyway. Watching television series together has always been our thing. “Sure. Let me take a shower and change into my pajamas."

After my shower, we curl up on the sofa with our blankets and leftovers to watch our missed episodes of
Vampire Diaries
.

I AM AWAKENED by the sound of Jordan fumbling around with pots and pans in the kitchen. She loves to cook and is actually quite good at it. Me on the other hand, not so much. It’s already nine o’clock and I need to get up. The pounding in my head protests. I will not be drinking again anytime soon. The get-together yesterday was supposed to cheer me up, but instead I’m hung over and even more bummed out.

"Rise and shine, Shiv," Jordan sings as she enters my room carrying a breakfast tray. She’s made my favorite: French toast, scrambled eggs, and turkey sausage. She even has orange juice and Tylenol for my headache. "Scoot over. We’re going to have breakfast in bed."

"Thanks, Jordan. You’re the very best friend a girl could have. You and a book boyfriend are all I need," I say jokingly, trying to earn a smile from my friend, although the underlying truth of this makes me sad. Jordan embraces me with a hug and I know she sees through my futile attempts at humor.

"What are your plans for today?" she asks.

"I think I will make some soap and then study." I make handmade natural soap using vegetable oils, butters, and essential oils as a hobby. My grandmother taught me natural soap making when I was growing up.

I now make soap as a stress reliever and Jordan loves it. She refuses to use anything else.

"Great, because my stash is getting low," she quips. “What scent are you making today?"

"Chocolate mint." I know this is her favorite. "I'll make you a loaf to cut as needed." She squeals in excitement and informs me she will be leaving shortly to meet Bailey and the girls from yesterday for a day of shopping and dinner.

TRUE TO MY word, I catch up on my reading for marketing and economic classes. I decide to study first. I was guilty of sorrow-induced procrastination earlier this week. After having my fill of supply and demand curves, along with SWOT analysis, I make a cup of Earl Grey tea and gather my soap supplies. I place my iPhone on the iHome docking station and select my soap making playlist. I crank up the volume, because music is my first love, aiding my much-needed distraction from “my life.” The speakers immediately blare the lyrics of Rock the Casbah by the Solar Twins. I arrange the cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder, peppermint essential oil, sodium hydroxide (lye), and vegetable oils in the order I will mix them. The sodium hydroxide produces fumes so I turn on the air vent located above the stove. After measuring and mixing everything, I put the ingredients in my wooden loaf mold to cure also known as saponify.

When I’m satisfied my soap batch is thoroughly insulated with the quilts I have wrapped around the mold, I heat a frozen dinner, eat, shower, and call it a night. Today was the first time Liam hasn’t consumed my every thought. My love for music and soap making helps bring me a sense of calm. Okay so maybe my naughty thoughts about the professor helped too. I’m kind of nervous to face him tomorrow after my drunken attempt to feel him up, but I’ll worry about that in the morning.