The Impact of You (6 page)

I would
giggle at this, if not for the intensity radiating from Jase. “No. I made my own choices.”

He’s silent while he studies me –
his blue eyes looking for answers. Answers I can’t possibly give him.

“You were young, too trusting, fell for the wrong guy…”

I clear my throat. “Something like that.”

He reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Hey, it’s okay.”

I manage a nod, arranging my mouth in a smile. If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t be sitting here, being so kind to me. My heart is thudding against my ribcage. “This tutoring thing…When do we start?”

He glances at his naked wrist. “Now would be nice.”

I roll my eyes to avoid chuckling at him. “Fine. What’s my first
assignment
?”

Jase

Avery is unlike any girl I’ve hung around before. She keeps me in a constant state
of curiosity and mild arousal. It’s an interesting combination – both my brain and my dick are engaged, which is something new for me. I can easily see this becoming addicting. I want to challenge her to kiss me, but I know she won’t. I can’t push her that fast. We’ll have to work up to that. But I know if she let me touch her, I could own her. Christ, that’s a tempting thought. I never felt a possessive spark with Stacia, but something about Avery makes me want to possess her in a way I never have before.

“I’ll go easy on you your first time.” I pause, keeping my eyes on hers, to let my deeper meaning set in. She blushes, right on cue. “
Come to my party this weekend.”

“That’s it?”

I
nod, still holding her eyes.

She bites her lip, thinking about it. “You know I’m not really into the party scene.”

“I know. But it’s kind of an annual party and the guys will freak if I’m not there. Having you there will actually help me. And we’ll hang out, talk, like last time. Getting outside your comfort zone might be good for you.”

She considers it, still chewing on her bottom lip.
“How would me being there help you?”

I fight off a smile. Clearly she has no clue about the theme of Delta Sig’s next party. “Oh, it will, don’t worry.”

“I suppose I could. I’m sure Madison and Noah wouldn’t mind coming too.”

“Of course.
Bring your friends.” With my next meeting with her already secured, I feel at ease. Avery has me smiling more than I have since my mom’s suicide attempt. Thank fuck for that. I was like a walking zombie for a while there. “Should we discuss our journaling assignment from class?”

“Sure.” She shrugs and pulls out her syllabus.

My ploy to get her to open up her journal – the one where she wrote a freaking novel about me – is foiled. It remains safely tucked inside her bag.

She slides the sheet of paper toward me and points. “We have to write entries on our own body image,
what attracts us in the opposite sex, and an entry on sexual preferences and orgasms.” Her eyes dart up to mine and she drags her teeth across her bottom lip.

Fuuuck
, that’s sexy.

Avery stuffs the paper back into her bag, muttering to herself,
“A section on orgasms -- that’ll be a short chapter…”

Holy shit.
“What?” I can’t help but react. Has no one touched this beautiful girl? Sign me up. Right fucking now.

Her head snaps up. “
I’m just going to shut up now.”

“That’s probably wise.”
Otherwise I can’t be held responsible for bringing her to orgasm myself. Under the table. Immediately.

Avery collapses, bury
ing her face in her hands.

I can’t resist reaching over to rub her back between her shoulder blades. “Hey, it’s okay.
If you need tutoring in the bedroom too, babe, just ask.”

Avery lets out a groan, and I can’t be sure, but I think a string of curse words too.
Once her tirade is out of her system, she takes a deep breath and sits up straight. Her expression is still pinched, like she can’t believe she told me that.

I push her coffee toward her again, trying to downplay it, and Avery accepts the cup, taking a sip.

“Hey, it’s nothing to be ashamed of, but no wonder you’re so cranky. I would be too without regular orgasms,” I say.

Avery sp
its her coffee across the table, choking and sputtering. I scoot my chair closer and pat her back, nursing her back to health until she can clear her stubborn airway.

She
grips the table and sucks in a ragged breath, her eyes watering with the effort.

“
I’m sorry, Whistle.” I continue rubbing her back. “I shouldn’t have said that. I meant every word, but I’m sorry you got choked up.”

“I didn’t get choked up. I choked.
Big difference. And don’t call me Whistle.” Avery stands, grabbing for her backpack. “We’re done here.”

My hand on her wrist stops her.
Maybe I went too far. But I think she secretly likes me pushing her. I lift the bag and place the straps carefully on her shoulders. “Remember, Saturday. You already agreed.”

“I’ll be there.”

Avery

I stand before the full-length mirror in my dorm, Madison and
Noah grinning like idiots at my reflection. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m going to get arrested wearing this in public.”

Madison rolls her eyes. “First, it’s not
public; we’ll be in the Delta Sig house. And second, it’s a pimps and hoes party. You won’t get in if you’re not dressed the part.”

Of course Jase had left out that vital little piece of information when he challenged me to
attend. Madison and Noah were game for going and had filled me in on the party’s infamous theme. They helped with my outfit: a black corset top that I am spilling out of – keeping me on constant nipple patrol – and a tiny pair of black boy shorts that show off generous portions of butt cheeks.
Awesome
. My main problem, though, is that the girls are on full display.
Good Lord
.

“
That’s a lot of boobage,” I say, attempting to tuck them further into the corset.

Madison slaps my hands.
“Don’t you dare. You’re one of the few girls who can actually pull this outfit off.”

“Tell that to my
jiggly ass.” I make a point of looking behind me, like it’s somehow offended me.

“Asses are supposed to jingle.
Shush.” To demonstrate, she grabs a fistful of my behind and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Damn girl, I want to skin you and wear you.”

A giggle escapes despite my nerves.
“That’s a really disturbing visual.”

Madison and
Noah, ever creative, are doing a role-reversal thing. Madison is wearing a leather jacket, black pants, pimp cap with a feather and several heavy gold chains. Noah, her ho, dons only a pair of bedazzled briefs and a glittery bare chest. It’s actually hilarious, despite the fact that I’m having a panic attack.

I tug
the little shorts lower on my hips. I’m willing to show an inch of stomach if it means my butt is contained.

Noah
laces up his red running shoes that happen to look ridiculously adorable with his sparkly briefs. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy we’re doing this. But why are we going to the Delta Sig party tonight?” he asks.

I hadn’t exactly told them about the whole Jase thing, but now might be time to come clean. “Jase invited me. We’ve been hanging out a little.
Plus, I’m trying this new fun, carefree side like you guys have always wanted.”

“Avery 2.0. Nice.”
Noah nods.

Madison’s head whips
in my direction. “What do you mean you’ve been
hanging out
with Jase-the-manwhore-Owens?” Of course that’s the piece of information she zones in on. She adds a few more gold chains to her outfit. “Girls don’t just hang out with him. If said hanging out involves getting in a good mattress workout, then yeah…” She waves her hand in my general direction. “But this…not so much.” 

“God
. Madison, those romance novels have corrupted your brain. Guys and girls can just hang out.”

Her eyebrows
dart toward the ceiling. “So he hasn’t tried anything?”

I shake my head.
“Nope.”
Is that so strange?

“
Nothing? Not even like accidently brushing your boob with his arm?”

“
No Madison. And I don’t want a guy whose sole mission is to get in my panties. That’s
not
a turn on.”

She look
s at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Then what is a turn on for you?”

Intelligent
conversation, healthy debates…those are the things sure to kick start my libido, if my time with Jase is any indication. “A guy trying to get into my
brain
,” I return.

She laugh
s. “So the question is…who’s occupying space in that brain of yours?”

Good
question indeed. I remain quiet, unwilling to acknowledge, even to myself, that my friendship with Jase might be a bit unconventional. That I might want a tiny bit more. Of all the guys to be interested in…Dumb, Avery, I silently curse myself.

“
Noah, seriously…help me out here?” Madison pleads.

He shakes his head.
“Sorry, babe. It’s true. You’re in uncharted territory here. Jase isn’t exactly known for keeping his dick in his pants this long.”

They’re ridiculous. I’ve hung out with Jase a handful of times – one of them in a class
room. Do they really think he just whips it out whenever, wherever? And why does the thought of him handling himself make my stomach do a little flip? Sheesh. I need to pull myself together if I’m supposed to face Jase in this…outfit. Who am I kidding? Outfit is too generous a term for this. A few scraps of fabric covering the important bits do not constitute an outfit. Yet, I dutifully slip into the heels Madison has supplied and teeter out the door after my friends.

Lord
help me.
I’m going to fall on my ass. And then my ass will fall out of my pants. Disaster city.

When we reach the party,
the line to get inside wraps around the side of the house, and I see that my outfit isn’t so outlandish after all. It’s like each girl took it upon herself to reveal her inner slut tonight. It’s disheartening, but since I have no room to talk, I huff my exposed ass up the front walkway and wait at the door to be let in. Unlike the last time, there’s a bouncer manning the door. I recognize him as Jase’s friend Trey, but considering he’s only looking at my chest, I doubt he recognizes me. He steps aside to let me and Madison inside, but stops Noah at the threshold. “Whoa bud. Sorry. You’re not getting in.”

Noah
’s outfit is certainly untraditional, but Trey isn’t budging, not even as Madison launches in to a tirade about sexism and equal rights.
Good Lord.

“Hey, I don’t make the rules
; I just enforce them.” Trey smiles at Madison. “Hot chicks only.”

I remember Jase punching his number into my phone at the coffee shop and fish it from the tiny handbag Madison secured to my wrist. “Guys, let me call Jase.
He’ll get us in.” The fact that I have his phone number earns me another suspicious glare from Madison.

I step to the far end of the porch, distancing myself from the dull-roar coming from inside. It rings several times and just
as I’m about to hang up, Jase answers.

“Whistle?
Is that you?”

I ignore the idiotic nickname.
“Yeah, it’s Avery. We’re here, but we can’t get in.”

“
Shit. I’m in the back removing a couple of over-drunk assholes. Don’t leave. I’ll be right there.”

Seconds later
, Jase appears at the door just long enough to exchange a few terse words with Trey. Trey barks something back in response, and Jase’s eyes flash to Noah. Ever the drama queen, Noah cocks a hand on his hip, daring them to comment on his outfit, or lack thereof.

“
Whatever, just let them in,” Jase says, then turns to me. “Find me later,” he calls before disappearing back through the sea of bodies.

* * *

It’s been fifty-four minutes since I last saw Jase. I hate that I know that. I hate how aware I’ve become of his presence in a matter of a few short days. I nurse a cup of beer, mostly to keep Madison and Noah off my back, and stand with them in the crowded living room. My ass has been grabbed at least half a dozen times and beer spilled down the front of my corset twice. I want to leave. But first I want to see Jase again.
Traitorous body.

The music’s too loud for real conversation, so I sway next to Madison,
trying to ignore the way these heels pinch my feet.
Who needs all ten toes anyway?