The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (8 page)

“Was that necessary?”

“Completely.” He opened up his door and
switched on the overhead light. I looked around. The main furniture
in the room was a double bed pushed against the wall, a dresser,
and a desk under the window. Everything was neat and orderly. It
was exactly the opposite of Reed’s room. The background picture on
his computer was from the beach at Kiawah. Nervous as I was, it was
comforting to see a familiar image.

Dylan closed and locked the door. “Finally, I
have you to myself.” He didn’t waste any time. His arms wrapped
around my waist, and he leaned down to kiss me. I groaned as his
tongue once again pushed its way into my mouth. He moved a hand
under my tank top and bra. He squeezed my breast harder than I’d
expected.

He didn’t seem to notice. He used his other
hand to unbutton my skirt and tug it down over my hips. By the time
it hit the floor, he had his hand moving underneath the cotton
fabric of my panties. I definitely hadn’t worn that pair with the
intent of having sex. They were light purple and definitely not
sexy. I don’t think he noticed them before pushing them down as
well. He stopped kissing me long enough to pull off my tank top and
to unclasp my bra. He took a step back and watched me. I
instinctively covered myself with my arms.

“Nuh uh. No covering yourself.” He pulled the
hair tie out of my hair.

I’d never felt more exposed. I was completely
naked, and he was completely dressed. Something snapped. “I can’t
do this.”

I started getting dressed.

“Juliet, no. Stop.”

“No. I’m going.”

“Why? You were totally into it.”

“I—”

“Wait, you’re not self-conscious about your
body, are you?”

I looked down, relieved to at least have my
underwear and bra on.

“Aren’t you the girl who was skinny
dipping?”

“Not really. That isn’t what I’m normally
like. Plus, it was dark out, and I was caught up in the moment by
the time we got to your room.”

Dylan turned on his lamp and turned off the
overhead light. He walked over to the bed and pulled back the
blanket and sheet. “You’re not getting away with this every time,
but I want you comfortable.”

“Oh. You still want to, then?”

“Are you crazy? Of course I do. You get me
all worked up and then try to run out on me.” He reached out and
took my hand. “Now please, can we get back to where we were?”

I nodded.

“Good.” He led me over to the bed.

I sat down while he took off his shirt.

“You want to help?”

I unbuttoned his pants and unzipped his
zipper. He stepped out of his jeans and then his boxers.

“It looks like I get to undress you a second
time.” He reached around to unclasp my bra, leaning over me so I
had to lay back. He pulled off my panties, tossing both garments
aside.

“Look at me, Juliet. You have an amazing
body. Don’t be embarrassed to let me see it.”

I nodded.

He picked me up to move me to the center of
the bed, resting my head on his pillow. “I need you, Juliet.”

He put his mouth on my breast and his hand
between my legs. It didn’t take long to get me back in the mood. I
was so close to complete satisfaction when he moved his hand. “Not
until I’m inside you.” He ripped open the wrapper of a condom.

My body wanted to argue with him, but it
didn’t have a chance. With one thrust, he was in, and then a few
more and it was over. It was even worse than the first time.

“You’re so perfect, Juliet. You’re absolutely
perfect for me.” He moved off me and reached over to turn off his
lamp. Was he seriously going to bed again? After that?

He lay down on his back. “Put your head on my
chest, baby. I want you close.”

I did as he asked without meaning to. I was
still trying to accept that the first time wasn’t a fluke—Dylan
sucked in bed. Either he didn’t get the concept of satisfying a
woman, or he didn’t care. The only thing he had going for him was
foreplay, and he didn’t even finish what he started.

“Juliet?”

“Yeah.”

He ran his hands through my now tangled hair.
“You don’t have to worry about being quiet. No one cares, and I
don’t want you holding back. I want to hear how good I make you
feel. ”

What could I say to that? “Okay.”

“Good night.”

“Good night,” I mumbled.

At least his bed was comfortable. That’s what
I kept telling myself as I tried to fall asleep. If you’ve got to
recover from unsatisfying sex, at least do it on nice sheets and a
good mattress. It was a lot better than the dorm-issued one I
usually slept on.

Even with the ultra-comfy sheets, I was still
wide awake an hour later. The worst part was that I really needed
to use the bathroom. Finally, I untangled myself from Dylan’s arms
and legs. I searched in the darkness for my clothes, but couldn’t
find my skirt anywhere. After a few minutes of frenzied searching,
I decided to throw Dylan’s boxers on with my tank. They were better
than nothing, and I really needed to go. I hoped everyone was still
downstairs.

I quietly left his room, relieved when I
heard shouting and laughter from the first floor. I tried to count
the doors on my way to the bathroom. There were no numbers, and
knowing my dumb luck, I’d end up in the wrong bed.

I found the bathroom, and it wasn’t nearly as
disgusting as I’d expected. Clearly, the boys paid for a cleaning
service. I was washing my hands when I heard the door open behind
me.

“Nice look.”

Ugh Ryan. “It is, isn’t it?” I dried my hands
and turned around.

“How’d you convince Dylan to let you out of
bed? I’d have thought he’d have you tied down all night.”

“What?” Oh my god. Was Dylan into bondage and
hadn’t mentioned it yet? Bondage and bad sex? Not happening.

“So you couldn’t run out on him again. Wait,
what did you think I meant?”

“Nothing.” I crossed my arms, wishing I’d put
my bra back on.

“Oh.” He grinned. “As far as I know, he’s not
into that. But if you are, he’d probably go for it.”

“No. And we’re not talking about this.” I
tried to move past him.

“Don’t fuck with him, okay?”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s a pain to be around when he’s upset.
Try not to upset him.”

“Okay…so along those lines, can you move so I
can get back?”

“Sure. Have fun.”

“Not likely,” I mumbled.

“What was that?” he called after me.

“Nothing.” I walked down the hall and back
into Dylan’s room. I took his boxers off, but kept my tank and
underwear on.

I’d just gotten comfortable when Dylan
reached out to me. “Hey, baby. What are you doing all the way over
there?”

I didn’t turn toward him. Maybe if he thought
I was sleeping, he’d go back to bed.

No such luck. His arm wrapped around my waist
as he kissed the back of my neck. “Why are you wearing
clothes?”

I didn’t answer.

“Are you really that uncomfortable being
naked with me? I swear I’m going to get you over this.”

I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing. I
had to put him out of his misery. I rolled over to face him. “I’m
wearing clothes because I went to the bathroom.”

“You went to the bathroom in just this?” He
ran a hand over my legs.

“I wore your boxers.”

“Oh?”

“I couldn’t find my skirt.”

“Can I get rid of the shirt now? It’s in my
way.” He moved his hand underneath my tank and stroked my
stomach.

“You seem to be managing just fine.”

He ignored me, pushing the tank up over my
head. “That’s better.” He kissed my neck, his lips moving down.

“How did you just go from sound asleep to
this?” I asked.

“You have that effect on me.” He moved a
finger under the elastic of my panties. “These are also in my
way.”

“I don’t think so. You might be waking up,
but I’m finally ready to sleep.”

“I won’t—”

I didn’t hear what Dylan was going to say
because his door burst open. I pulled the blankets up around me as
the light burned my eyes.

“Dylan why aren’t—” Kyle stopped
mid-sentence, noticing me in the bed. Could the night get any
worse? “Oh, shit. Hi, Juliet.”

“Hi. Could you just leave for one minute so I
can get dressed? Then Dylan is all yours.”

“No, Jules. You don’t have to go anywhere.”
Jules? No one called me that.

“Kyle, can you hand me my clothes?”

“Oh, sure.” He tossed me my skirt. It had
been stuck under Dylan’s desk chair. He took a little longer
tossing over my bra. My tank was right next to the bed where Dylan
had thrown it.

“Thanks.” I started dressing under the
covers.

Dylan sat up, nearly exposing me in the
process. “Is there a reason you’re interrupting us?”

“Yes, of course. And for future reference,
lock your door when you have company.”

“I did.” Dylan looked at me. “Juliet must
have forgotten when she got back from the bathroom.”

“Oh. Well, I left you two messages. Mom
called. Dad’s in the hospital.”

“What? Is it his heart again?”

“Yes. He’s going to be okay, but he has to
take it easy. Mom wants you to come home for a few days to
help.”

“Me? Why not you?”

“It’s freshman year, and I’m pledging. I
can’t.”

“Fine. I’ll leave in the morning.”

I finished dressing and pulled back the
blankets. “I’m sorry about your dad.” I found my flip flops and
tried to slip past Kyle, but he stopped me.

“Juliet? Wait. Are you going back to your
dorm? I’ll walk you.”

Dylan patted the bed. “You should stay here.
It’s late, and I’m not leaving tonight.”

“I’m going to go. This was, uh, fun though. I
hope everything goes okay at home.”

Dylan started to get up but stopped. He
probably remembered he wasn’t wearing anything. “Why are you so
against staying?”

“I’m not. I wasn’t. It just feels weird
now.”

“I’ll call you.”

“Okay, cool.”

I walked into the hall but hesitated when I
heard Dylan yell, “What the hell, Kyle? I could kill you right
now.”

“If she was having a good time, she would
have stayed anyway.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

It was time to leave. I knew walking home
alone at night was dumb, but I wanted to get away. I looked
straight ahead as I passed through the first floor to the front
door. I sighed with relief when I reached the street.

“Juliet! Juliet, wait up!” Kyle sprinted to
catch up with me.

“I’m fine. You don’t have to walk me.”

“I want to. It’s really late.”

“No kidding.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there. I
didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“It’s fine. I’m the one who chose to sleep
with him again.”

“I wish you’d choose to sleep with me.”

“What?” My jaw dropped.

He held his hands up in defense. “Sorry, I’m
joking. It’s just the way you said it.”

“Whatever. I just want to get home.”

“You shouldn’t waste your time with him.”

“You’re saying that about your own
brother?”

“Yes. He’s an asshole and doesn’t deserve
you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Want to
do something tomorrow?”

“Like with our friends?”

He hesitated a moment before answering.
“Yeah, exactly.”

“Sure. Just call me.”

“I need your number.”

I programmed it into his phone.

“Cool. I’m sorry again for embarrassing
you.”

“It’s not a problem.” We reached my dorm.
“Thanks for walking me back.”

“My pleasure. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

Tally was already sleeping when I got back to
my room. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and pulled on some
PJ’s. My bed might not have been as comfortable as Dylan’s, but at
least it was mine.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Hey Hey Hey

Dear Juliet,

Kyle’s hot, huh? Well he can’t be as big a
jerk as Dylan, but I’d stay away from both of them. There have to
be some other guys to choose from. Have you met the Kappas yet?
Things are going well here, but it’s busy. Thanks for asking.

Your Sleep-Deprived Cousin,

Amy

“Hello?” I answered as the unfamiliar number
lit up my phone.

“Hey, it’s Kyle.”

“Hey. Do you realize it’s eight a.m.?” I said
groggily.

“Yeah, I know it’s early. A bunch of us are
going floating, and I thought you might want to come.”

“Floating? Like in water?”

“What else would I mean?”

“When you asked if I wanted to hang out, I
thought you meant around campus.”

“Are you in? It’s going to be fun. We have
room for you and one friend.”

“Just one?” How could I invite Cara and not
Mallory? But then again, they were probably both sleeping.
“Okay.”

“Cool. We’ll be by in twenty.”

“Who’s the early bird?” Tally sat up in
bed.

“My friend Kyle. He invited me to go
floating. Do you want to go?”

“What’s floating exactly?”

“You float down a river in an
inner-tube.”

“Oh… I suppose—in theory—that could be
fun.”

“It is, depending on who you’re with.”

“Who would we be with?” She crawled out of
her blankets.

“I don’t know, actually. I’m guessing some
Phi Omegas but hopefully not too many.” I’d seen enough of those
boys last night. I was still embarrassed.

“I’m in.”

“Cool.” Tally and I had gotten along so far,
but we hadn’t hung out. I figured a day together might be good for
our roommate relationship.

I decided on the red bikini again and threw
on a white sundress over it. I picked out my oldest flip flops in
case I lost them. Twenty minutes later, Tally and I were waiting
out in front of the dorm.