Palm South University Season 1 Omnibus (18 page)

“You look great tonight,” Ashlei says to Bo quietly. The three of us are sandwiched in the very back of the van and I adjust our air conditioning vents, trying to keep my hair from frizzing out in the hot October air. I swear it never gets cold in South Florida.

“Thanks,” Bo replies, offering Jess a glittering smile. Her hand reaches out for Ashlei’s knee and she squeezes it lightly. “Although, I think we both know I look a little more than just great.”

She says the last part as a whisper, but I still hear her, and I can’t help but notice she doesn’t move her hand from Ashlei’s leg. I don’t have time to overthink it as Skyler thrusts a flask into my hand. “Drink up, Little Nug.”

Ralph’s is always packed, being that it’s the closest bar to campus, but tonight it’s on an entirely new level. The entire parking lot is sealed off by a makeshift fence for the block party and there are laser lights bouncing in time with the music thumping from the large speakers by the entrance to the main bar. Fog machines, cobwebs, mechanical monsters and mummies bring the Halloween theme to life and I finally understand what all the fuss is about.

Jess, Ashlei and Bo immediately sprint to the makeshift dance floor and start grinding on each other and every guy around them while Erin scampers off to find the rest of our family. Skyler and I just make a beeline for the bar.

Priorities.

Just as we down a lemon drop shot and chase it with our fresh drinks, large hands wrap around my waist. “I was right.” The butterflies that have been lying dormant in my stomach since the IM football game Monday night suddenly burst to life and flutter around manically. Adam sidles up beside me, one of his hands still lingering on my hip as he throws me a wide smile. “You do look cute in a little purple shell bra.”

He looks absolutely delicious. His dark hair is gelled in a 50s style twist and black-framed Ray Bans hide his eyes but accentuate his strong jaw. The white shirt he’s wearing blazes against his tan skin and stretches across his hard chest muscles. Paired with a black leather jacket and tight dark jeans, he’s the entire Danny Zuko package and I imagine him giving young John Travolta a run for his money.

“Almost as cute as you in your little leather jacket,” I retort, cringing once the words leave my lips.
Really? Did I really just call him cute?

Adam just grins wider.

Suddenly, Skyler bursts into a fit of laughter and both of our heads snap in her direction. “I’m sorry,” she says, trying to control herself.

I’m still confused but Adam seems to catch on to the joke because he lets out a loud spurt of laughter, too. “Well shit. I guess I picked the wrong costume, huh?”

Skyler nods. “Yeah. I mean, unless we’re doing a really terrifying mashup of Black Swan and Grease.”

Adam grabs his chin between his finger and thumb and looks up at the ceiling. “You know, that might not be half bad.”

Clearly, I missed out on the joke.

“Dance with me?” Skyler asks, but it doesn’t really sound like much of a question as she grabs Adam’s hand and leads him toward where Jess and Bo are still dancing wildly. As soon as they reach the floor, Skyler runs her hands up through Adam’s hair and grinds her body against his. He bites his lip and pushes his sunglasses up onto the top of his head so he has a better view and my stomach flutters again, but in a completely different way.

Quickly, I drain the rest of my drink and order another one.

“Hey you.” Clay appears right behind me and wraps his arms around my middle, pulling me flush against his chest. It’s a bold move for having only met me a couple of days ago. “I can’t find room at this damn bar. Order me a drink?” he whispers.

I peek over my shoulder at him. “What’s your drink of choice?”

“Hmm…” he thinks, still holding me tight. “How about whiskey on the rocks. That always gets me in the mood.” I gulp at his suggestion, but he just chuckles in my ear. “To party, that is.”

I smile nervously and order his drink before turning to face him. His hands stay on my hips as I swivel around. When I notice he’s dressed as a lifeguard, I swallow. His abs are on full display
.
Every single freaking
ripple
of his body is on display, actually, in the tiny red board shorts he’s donning. His dirty blonde hair is wavy and messy and the bright blue hues of his eyes contrast with the bronzer he’s clearly applied to pull off the beachy look. I didn’t realize how tall he was on the field Monday, but the way he’s towering over me now makes me feel six inches tall.

The corners of his mouth curl into a devilish grin as my eyes wander across his skin. “You think a mermaid could dance with a lifeguard?” he asks, quirking a brow.

“Well, I did pass over the part where I have a tail and skipped straight to the legs.”

“And what incredible legs they are,” he husks, allowing his own eyes to devour my body now. Clay grabs my hand and pulls me out onto the dance floor before I have the chance to say anything further. As I turn away from him and we grind our bodies to the beat, I catch Adam staring at me from where Skyler and the girls are gathered. His brows are furrowed, his mouth pursed, and he looks like he wants to either kill me or save me.

Suddenly, the butterflies are back.

“I HAVE TO PEE,” I slur, finishing my drink before slamming the plastic cup on the bar. “Be right back.”

“Want me to go with you?” Ashlei asks, her eyes wide at the thought of me going to the bathroom by myself.

I giggle. “I’m fine, Lei. Keep my Little company and order me a shot. Be back in a sec.”

Ashlei’s eyes find Bo’s and she smiles. “I can do that.”

The bathroom is packed with girls just as drunk as me waiting to pee. I pull a bitch move and tell them I’m just going to use the mirror as I pass until I duck inside the first empty stall that opens up. After I relieve myself, I really do check my reflection and thank sweet baby Jesus for the waterproof makeup Ashlei let me use. My eyes still look awesome and after a quick touch up of gloss, I’m ready to go.

Another text message from Josh comes through my phone as I make my way back to the bar and I sigh. The kid just can
not
take a hint.

Suddenly, I’m ripped backward and my phone flies out of my hand and crashes to the floor, splintering in three different directions. I panic as a hand is crushed over my mouth and I’m yanked back into a dark, confined closet.

“I would tell you not to scream, but that defeats the purpose of this,” a deep voice growls in my ear. I recognize it immediately.

Jarrett.

He removes his hand from my mouth and I gasp, my heart still beating rapidly in my chest. His hands move to my hips and he pulls my back against his chest, his breath hot in my ear. “You think those little boys you’re toying with can give you what you want?” His voice is husky, dark, and laced with desire. Instantly, my panties grow wet and I moan as he nips at the skin on my neck. “I think you’ve forgotten what I can do to you, Jess – what I can make you
feel
. I’m here to remind you.”

With that, he whips me around and his mouth crashes down on mine. His kiss is passionate and needy. He discards my cowgirl hat before fisting his hands in my hair as my nails rake his back. I know I should push him away, I should remind
him
that he could get fired for this. But right now, the alcohol swimming in my system paired with the intense way Jarrett’s tongue is moving against mine is crippling my desire to make him stop.

I
definitely
do not want him to stop.

Jarrett grabs both of my thighs in his hands and lifts me, crashing us back against a shelf. I still can’t see anything but I feel product crash all around us as I wrap my legs tight around his waist, using the leather from my cowgirl boots to gain traction and hold my ankles together.

“You walk into class every Wednesday night,” he pants against my skin, letting his hand trail down my neck. I moan when his fingertips dip inside the low-cut v-line of my shirt and graze my nipple. “Looking sexy as fuck,” he continues, his hand sliding up under my jean skirt. “And you just ignore me.” His fingers rub slow circles on the fabric of my lace panties and I buck against his touch. “You
torture
me.” He slips one finger inside the lace and rubs my opening. “Christ, you’re so wet, Jess. You’re so ready for me. Why do you pretend like you don’t want me?”

“I do want you,” I whisper, kissing him again. The music from the bar is muffled inside the closet and every breath shared between us is amplified.

“Are you sure?” he teases, sliding the tips of his two fingers against my core as his other hand works to hold me pinned against the wall. I squirm, rotating my hips to try to get his fingers where I really want them.

“It’s dangerous.”

“Maybe,” he agrees, his fingers stilling. He pauses for a moment and I think maybe he might be realizing what could happen if we get caught. Then suddenly, he slides his fingers inside me in one smooth thrust and kisses me hard, pulling my bottom lip between his teeth. “But it’s also really fucking fun.”

My moans turn to screams as his fingers work inside me. My skirt is now completely bunched at my waist and my hands slide down Jarrett’s abdomen until I feel him through his shorts. He’s just as ready for me as I was for him and I grip him tightly through the fabric.

“Fuck,” he growls, removing his fingers and making quick work of the tie on his shorts. He doesn’t wait for me to ask, he just drops my feet to the ground, spins me around so my hands are on the wall, moves my panties to the side and thrusts into me from behind, making me cry out in a mix of pleasure and pain.

His hands move around to palm my breasts as he pumps into me. Each thrust makes me moan more as I feel him growing harder inside me. When he wraps one hand around my neck and uses the other to push me flush against the wall, I let out another cry.

“Do your frat boyfriends fuck you like this?” he husks in my ear, sliding one hand down and around my hips until he finds my clit. My face is pushed hard against the concrete wall and Jarrett uses his free hand to pin mine above my head. “Do they?”

“No,” I pant.

“What was that?”

“No!” I scream louder.

“Does anyone fuck you the way I do?”

“No,” I whisper again.

Jarrett pounds into me hard, reaching me deeper than ever before. I bite my lip and gasp against the shocking pain mixed with the pleasure still rocking my entire body.

“I’m sorry?”

“No! No one fucks me the way you do!” I scream, not caring if anyone hears at this point. He growls and begins circling my clit wildly, still holding my wrists above my head with his other hand. “I love the way you fuck me, Jarrett,” I pant against the concrete. He bites and sucks at the back of my neck in response. “Don’t stop, Jarrett. Don’t you fucking stop.”

“Quitting isn’t in my vocabulary, princess.”

The combination of his words, his finger working my clit, and his cock thrusting into the deepest parts of my core are too much. The pressure builds until I’m sure I’ll combust before I finally tumble over the edge, screaming and moaning Jarrett’s name as each wave of pleasure rocks through me. Jarrett curses as he releases too, his entire body convulsing behind me. Our breathing slows and Jarrett moves his hands to grip my hips firmly as he plants kisses down the back of my neck and across my shoulder.

After a moment, as our breathing is still steadying, Jarrett releases me and quickly pulls his shorts back on. My eyes are finally adjusted to the dark, but even so I can barely make out his form. He pushes me back against the wall once more after he dresses, his tongue demanding my own.

“Don’t ever fuck around with another guy in front of me,” he commands. “It doesn’t piss me off, it doesn’t make me hate you – it only makes me want you more.”

With that, his lips leave mine and he slips out of the closet, leaving me alone in the darkness. My breaths are still ragged, my thong soaked, and my hair a tangled mess as I try to make sense of what just happened.

Holy. Shit.

MY MERMAID BRAID is sticking to my neck as I fan myself at the bar waiting for my order to be filled. The night has surprisingly cooled down, but dancing with Clay has done nothing but heat me up.