Alluring Ties (2 page)

Finally, I see her silver Mustang pull up and I meet her at the car, opening her door. Laughing, she gets out and kisses my cheek. “Damn Erik, you’d swear it’s been a month since you last saw me and not last night.”

Chuckling, I pick her up and swing her around and she squeals and throws her head back. I squeeze her before setting her on her feet and we just grin at each other. “I’m so glad you’re finally here, love. We always talked about doing this together and now we actually are. Let’s get you moved in.”

She pops her trunk and I start loading up on boxes as she takes some things out of the back-seat. We chat as we head up the stairs.

Suddenly, she bumps me with her shoulder as we get to the front doors. She mutters, “Two o’clock, the hot blond is seriously checking you out, E.”

I swivel my head and see Joe. I smile, but shake my head “no,” as he starts to walk over. He frowns and stops. I can see him sigh.

Lexi catches the silent conversation. She always was an observant little thing. “What’s up, E? Who is that? He can come over. You know I don’t mind.”

Shaking my head, I pull on the door and we enter the dorm. She pulls out her paperwork and we double check the number for her room and floor, which is right below mine, and we head up.

Once on the stairs, I break the silence. “Lex, that was Joe. He’s a casual
friend
. We hang out sometimes, but he wants a relationship and I just don’t know if I’m ready to be so open about it all yet.”

I feel her stop behind me and then she calls my name to make me stop too. “Erik.” I hear some shuffling and then her small hand is on my back. She forces me to look at her. “Erik Garrett Jenson.” My brows raise at her use of my full name. “I know you are not hiding who you are. Why would you do that? You are you and you are flipping awesome. If anyone has messed with you here, let me know. I will handle that shit right-quick-in-a-hurry.”

I have to laugh at her. She’s so little, but such a spitfire. I love my Lexi. Bumping her and leaning down to kiss her forehead, I wink at her and say, “No one is messing with me and if they did, I can handle myself. Hello, do you know how big I am?!”

She looks me over from head to toe and grins. She zeroes in on my crotch and winks. “No, actually I don’t know. You’ve never shown me.” Then she sticks her tongue out.

Somehow, I manage to speak through my laughter and without dropping my armful. “I could break half of the people on this campus if I needed to.” Still laughing, I lean on the wall, and watch her. “I love you for wanting to protect me though. Now, these boxes are heavy and we need to get the rest of the stuff out of the car, so let’s get a move on, shorty!”

As we pass a few more floors, Lexi and I chat about all that’s been going on lately and we make plans to head to Micah’s fraternity party tonight. She’s hung out with us a lot over the past year. Everyone is friendly on the way up and I see a lot of familiar faces.

Once we reach her door, she scoots around me and checks the knob. It’s unlocked, so she pushes it open. I follow her inside, concentrating on not dropping the boxes. As I look up, my mouth hits the floor. I’m overwhelmed. It looks like a zebra threw up in limes and pinks on the other side of the room and in the center of it is a pin-up model looking at me like she wants to devour me.
Ohmygod…

Lexi sees it too and starts giggling. She introduces herself to the blonde bombshell, who is stripping me naked with her eyes. “Hi, I’m Lexi. Lexi Sloane.”

The blonde finally takes her eyes off of me.
Thank God.

Then she takes me for another ride, as she asks if I’m Lexi’s boyfriend.
What the…
After getting out that I’m neither Lexi’s boyfriend nor brother, I decide to tell her the truth. “I’m her best friend and I’m gay.”

Her jaw goes slack and I see her eyes harden. Then she rails at me and basically calls me a liar.
Oh, hell no. Who does this chick think she is?!

After assuring her that she is in fact gorgeous, but that I don’t care. She gets it into those blonde strands that I am not lying and am in fact gay, then, she drops another bomb on me by propositioning me.

My God, this chick is too much. She’s wild! But, damned if I don’t like her.

We chat and I tell her about the frat party tonight. She claps excitedly and exclaims, “Hell, yes! This is what I want to experience! I’m so in! So, tell me about this roommate of yours, Erik. Is he as dreamy as you? Does he like dick too?”

I laugh so hard I choke. “I don’t know if he’s dreamy. He’s not my type. The ladies seem to like him and he certainly likes them. He’s a good guy. I think he’d get a kick out of you. I’ll introduce you to Micah tonight.”

She rolls his name off of her tongue. “Micah. I like it. It sounds sexy. Oh yes, I must meet this Micah tonight. But right now, I have to pee and I need to nap. Looking like this,” she gestures to her face and body, “takes work you know, hot stuff. Now, get out! I need to get to know my new roommate!”

Laughing, I hug Lexi and tell both girls I’ll pick them up at eight. I head back to the room to see if Micah is awake, so I can prepare him for the vixen that is one Bradi St. James.

Bradi

Seven years ago

T
he frat house is packed and there are muscled, gorgeous, preppy guys everywhere. I talked Lexi into a cropped shirt and she looks fabulous in her tight jeans with the top showing a peek of her peaches and cream stomach. Not as gorgeous as me of course, but then again, I’m used to playing up my face and features to get what I want. We’re in the corner of the main room surrounded by guys, but I’m just not that interested.

Erik was at our room at promptly eight o’clock and he had his smoking hot roommate with him. Micah has been looking at me all night. His eyes popped when he first caught a glimpse of me and I’ll admit, he kind of took my breath away, too. As soon as I saw him, I felt like there wasn’t enough air in the room. His wavy, dark hair and those dark brown eyes made my stomach clench and my girl parts get all excited.
That’s never happened just from looking at a guy before!
It was more than that though. As my eyes traveled his tall, firm body and checked out just how well he filled out his clothes, my heart took to galloping. My heart doesn’t gallop over men. Ever. So, of course I feigned indifference.

I can’t help following him with my eyes though and through the corners, I can see him watching me. He’s near the doorway to the kitchen, talking to two other guys. Both of the guys with him are incredibly good-looking. One is practically undressing me with his eyes, though he’s almost leering, and none of me is reacting to the perusal. I’m too damn distracted by Micah.

Why do you fascinate me so?! You’re not that hot. Ok, yes, maybe you are. But why is my stomach in knots and why the hell can’t I go sixty seconds without glancing at you?! Dammit Bradi, he’s just a hot guy! This room is full to the brim with hot guys. Why is that particular one so fucking interesting?!

Suddenly, Lexi laughs loudly and it catches my attention. Turning away from the kitchen, I focus back on her and our crowd of admirers. Some guy has been talking to me and I’m murmuring answers, but not listening. I have no idea what the hell he’s going on about. Not that he seems to notice. He apparently likes the sound of his own voice.

A very cute guy has his arm around her waist and is whispering in her ear. She’s laughing a bit too loudly though and looking at her closely, I can see that it seems forced. She has a hint of something in her eyes and it sends a warning up my spine. Stepping around “Mr. Not That Interesting”, I grab her arm as I exclaim loudly, “Lexi, I need to pee. Let’s go find the bathroom.”

She turns and looks at me with something like relief on her face. Smiling, she turns back to the guys and says, “Sorry fellas, you know we travel in pairs. Have a good time without us!” We head down the hall in search of the bathroom, but my eyes once again stray to the tall, dark-haired guy near the kitchen. He’s watching me. I hurriedly look away and pull Lexi into the next room. Thank God, it’s a bathroom.

Closing the door, I lean on it and try to catch my breath. What the hell is happening?! Why is he affecting me like this?

Lexi smirks and crosses her arms. “Are you ok? Why are you so worked up?”

I stand up straight and flip my hair while pinning her with my green gaze. “I’m not worked up. What are you babbling about? You looked like you needed to get away, so I saved your ass. What was that look in your eyes about back there?” I nod my head towards the living room of the house.

She gasps and clutches her chest. “Wha- what do you mean? What look? I was fine…”

“Right. And I’m the fucking Queen of England.” Propping my hip on the counter and drumming my hot pink nails beside it, I stare at her. Daring her. “What’s your story, Lexi?”

Staring back, she mutters, “No story, Bradi. I’m here at college, living my life. That’s it. I want to study, get my degree, and open a bakery. It’s my dream. Stupid boys are not on the list. I have no time or inclination for distractions.” Her voice fades off… oh, there’s more to this story…

“Distractions? Guys are only distractions if you allow them to be. They are a way to pass the time. They buy you dinner, carry your books, and if they’re really lucky, they get some loving; but, you are right. No guy is worth a distraction.” Looking in the mirror, I check my make-up. Still flawless. I look at myself closely. Long, wavy ash blonde hair. Heart-shaped face with deep green eyes, high cheek bones, and full heart-shaped lips. Elegant neck and ample breasts. My waist is small, my hips are round, and my ass is great. I have mile long, toned legs. The picture of perfection. On the outside anyway. Sighing, I meet Lexi’s too observant eyes in the mirror. “What?”

“Nothing.” She shrugs. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.” I click my tongue as I wait. “Go for it.”

“Why do you think like that? Why do you play at being such a hard ass? I’ve known you for like twelve hours and I can already tell that it’s a front.” Her arms are crossed and she’s staring me dead in my face. Most people are intimidated by me, but it seems like I may have met my match in this pint-sized firecracker.

Smiling at her, I bump her arm. “Then you’re smarter than most, Lexi Sloane.” Looking away from her, I gather my thoughts. Finally, I turn back and decide to tell her what no one knows… what I don’t want everyone here to know. I don’t know why, but I trust her. “Ok. I’ll tell you my story. I don’t have a father. Or rather, I’m sure I do, I wouldn’t be here otherwise, but I don’t know who he is.” Hopping up on the counter and leaning against the wall, I continue, “My mom is a whore. Straight up. Not a prostitute and she’s not trashy, but she’s a whore. All my life, I’ve seen her play man after man. She’s a beauty. And she works it. She’s never single and she’s always looking for the next guy…. richer, more powerful… able to give her the life she’s used to living.” Sighing, I stop for a minute. “I’m not complaining. I’ve gotten everything I ever wanted. But she’s a kept woman. She’s never been married and is always the ‘other woman.’ I refuse to be like that. I don’t allow men to use me. I use them to a point, but I’m not like her.
I’ll never be like her.
I know I’m beautiful, after all, I have her genes, but I’ll never be a kept woman. I’ll never be at a man’s beck and call. I am here on scholarship because I worked my ass off for grades growing up. I’m going to make something of myself. I’m going to use my brains to get what I want… what I deserve. Sure, I might use my looks to help me get in the door, but I’m going to be someone. I don’t have time for relationships or distractions. I just want to have fun while I’m here, but I’m going to bust my ass to prove to my mom, and everyone else, that I am
not
like her.”

Blinking, I clear the tears from my eyes. I never cry. Crying is a weakness and I don’t have weaknesses.

Why the hell did I just bare my soul to her?! Hopping off the counter, I refuse to meet her gaze in the mirror as I straighten my shirt and fluff my hair.

“It’s ok, Bradi.” She touches my shoulder and I meet her gaze. “You don’t have to be like your mother. You can be whoever and whatever you want to be. No one’s path is set in stone.” Lexi hugs me.

I freeze. I’m not used to affection. Attention, yes. Affection, no.

There’s a knock on the door and a gruff voice comes through. “Damn, what the fuck are y’all doing in there? Other people need the bathroom. Hurry the hell up!”

We both laugh and the tension is relieved. Checking our faces one more time, we open the door and head back to the party.

When we enter the living room again, my eyes search until they meet a pair of chocolate brown ones. He winks. Was he watching for me? My heart starts racing again.

What the fuck?!

Without reacting, I turn my back to him. I need the distance and time to catch my breath.

For half an hour, Lexi and I charm the crowd around us. Erik disappeared shortly after we arrived with strict instructions for me to “keep an eye on Lexi.” Damn, he’s protective. It’s so sweet though. Be nice to have someone like that in my corner.