Red Hot Obsessions (35 page)

“I want to make love,” I whisper.

He chuckles close to my ear, but it sounds more like a groan, too. It turns me on so much I feel the moisture between my legs building.

“As much as I’d like to take you up on that offer, there’s something I need to do at that party.”

I groan in annoyance.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “We’ll get there eventually, and when we do … I’m going to make love to you so hard, you’ll beg for mercy.”

I chuckle, and he lets go of me after a short, hot kiss on the cheek.

“Let’s go,” he says, and he grabs my hand and pulls me to the door.

Chapter 20
Colliding Forces

We drive to the party with Jaret’s car. I’m texting Evie the address, in case she’d like to come. Hunter’s been cracking his knuckles the entire time. I get scared just watching him do it. I wonder if he’s going to beat someone up again tonight. I wish I could hold him back, but I know I probably won’t be able to, even if I did show up in time.

Right before we enter the door to the house, which is a totally different location from last time, Hunter pulls me back and grabs me by the shoulder.

“One second,” he says.

“Mind if I go on ahead?” Jaret says.

“No problem. You go watch them carefully,” Hunter says, and they both nod as if they just made a pact or something.

“Pay attention,” he says, turning his face toward me again.

I frown at the blatant command.

“You wanted to come, but I want you to promise me something.”

“Okay,” I stammer. “What?”

“Do
not
under any circumstance talk with the people I’m involved with. Once I leave your side, don’t come after me. No matter what.”

“Are you kidding me?” I say with a scowl.

“I’m not. I don’t want you to get involved in this.”

I sigh, and he leans forward to look me in the eye. “I’ll spend as much time with you as I can, but once Jaret calls me, I have to leave. Please promise me you’ll just enjoy the party.”

I make a fist with my hand, looking the other way.

“Please?” he pleads, squeezing my flesh. “Don’t make me worry about you.”

“Fine, whatever,” I sigh. “Can we go in now?”

My heart is immediately weighed down by what I just said. I don’t at all intend to just let him slip away. I came here to find out why Hunter’s in this frat, and what he’s up to with Jaret. I won’t let him out of my sight.

“Oh, and one more thing,” he says. “Don’t take anything from anyone. Ever.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. No drugs. No drinks from someone else.”

“Right,” he says, and he winks. “You’re starting to get it.”

“I’m not a little girl.”

“No. You’re my Leafy, and I want to see you safe.”

Somehow the part where he says ‘my’ makes me gloat.

We go inside, and I’m almost blown away by the music drumming in my ears. It’s loud and deafening music. They’re playing Kanye West’s song, ‘Black Skinhead,’ and I’m scowling just from hearing it. I hate these songs. I don’t even want to call it music.

“Jesus,” I say, covering my ears.

Hunter chuckles. “Probably
his
idea of partying.”

With
his
I guess he means ‘the boss,’ whoever that is.

I’m glad when this song is over and the next one is Muse’s ‘Supermassive Black Hole,’ which I think is a much better song. It’s also one of the few songs of theirs I’ve actually listened to.

Hunter greets some buddies of his with a fist bump, and I look around a little in the meantime. I catch a glimpse of Scarlet and Brody near a table. They both seem pissed, and from the looks of it it’s a pretty heated conversation. They’re arguing over something.

It shouldn’t bother me so much, especially not after seeing Scarlet all over Hunter, but something about seeing them fight just makes my skin crawl.

Hunter grabs my hand and steps in front of me, blocking my sight. He pulls my hand up to his face with a seductive look in his eyes. “Wanna dance?”

“B-but what about―”

“It can wait,” he says with a deep, rumbling voice that sends hot streaks to my core.

He brings my hand up to his mouth, keeping his predatory eyes on me like a hawk. When his lips press down on my skin, I shudder.

He pulls me back across the dance floor, licking the back of my hand. He makes me feel strange things in places I didn’t even know existed. He’s so fucking sexy, I can’t resist.

Placing my hand on his shoulder, he drags me closer, pressing my chest up against him. This song is perfect to dance to, and my God … can he dance.

He twirls me around in his arms and puts his hands on my waist, swaying us both. Grinding his hips against my ass, we start to dance. It’s extremely dirty, and I don’t think I’ve ever danced like this before.

His hands are on my belly and waist, slipping and sliding up and down like he’s feeling his way across my body. I can hear him breathing, he’s so close to my ear. His scent is intoxicating, and I bite my lip in a frenzy.

He lowers his head, sinking his lips onto my neck. Leaving long, luscious kisses, he moans softly against my skin, turning me on.

I’m getting wound up quickly. Especially after I feel his bulge poking in my ass.

He knows exactly what to do, pushing my buttons until I forget everything and everyone around me. All I can think about is feeling his body against mine, clothes grazing, hips colliding, clutching each other in a hot and sweaty dance.

God, this is the life.

I feel like a drooling teen around him.

“Hey,” Hunter whispers close to my ear. “Isn’t that your friend? Evie?”

I turn my head to where he’s pointing, and I gasp when I see her dancing. She’s here. She came.

With a girl.

My eyes widen as she glances at me and throws me a look.

I smile, and she smiles back.

Good. I’m glad she’s happy. At least, a little. I want her to have a good time, even if it’s without me.

“What’s she doing here?” he asks.

“I invited her to come. I wanted her to have a good time. You know, relax a little. She really needed it.”

“Are you sure? She looks upset,” he says.

“That’s because we’re in a bit of a rough spot at the moment.”

“How come?” Hunter kisses my temple.

I swallow away the lump in my throat. “I found out she’s in love with me.”

He chuckles proudly. “And you were already pining for someone else.”

I flush. “Yeah, well, it’s difficult,” I say, still feeling a little insecure about the whole thing.

He grins, and a sound escapes his mouth that sounds like a humming groan. “Too bad for her I got you first. Now you’re mine.”

Hunter presses a kiss on my cheek, and he drags it down to my neck, persuading me to close my eyes again. His tongue sometimes dips out, marking me as his. I am his.

I’m squirming against him as he feels me up and then some. It’s hot in here, and I’m out of my mind, out of it because of him.

Suddenly I hear someone scream.

My eyes jerk open, zoning in on the exact spot the sound emanated from. We stop dancing, and Hunter releases me from his grip. There’s a girl lying on the floor. Evie’s standing right next to her, fuming. A guy stands across from her, laughing.

“You don’t want a guy to join in on the fun? Pathetic,” the guys says, and he flicks his wrists like he’s all that.

My mouth drops open. Hunter’s glaring at them, squinting more with each passing second, his jaw clenched tightly.

“Fucking dykes!” the guy screams.

“That’s it,” Hunter says, and he storms toward them.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Hunter says.

“They’re a bunch of dirty fanny bashers. They’re not allowed in here.”

“You don’t get to fucking decide that,” Hunter growls.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” the guy says, and he spits on the floor. They’re both bumping chests now. Hunter grabs the guy by the collar and lifts him up into the air like he weighs nothing.

“You’re a fucking asshole, you know that?” he says.

“Dykes don’t belong in an Alpha Psi party.”

“I dare you to say that word again.”

“D.Y.K.E. Dyke,” the guy repeats in slow motion.

Oh dear.

With one quick punch, Hunter sends the guy flying into the air. His knuckles aren’t even bloodied, but the guy’s nose is. He’s on the floor, groaning, and when he sees Hunter towering over him, he crawls back on all fours.

“Get your fucking homophobic ass out of here!” Hunter yells.

The guy scrambles to his feet and back out the door, holding his hand to his broken nose.

“Dick,” Hunter mutters, snorting.

“Are you okay?” I ask the girl who’s lying on the floor. She nods. It’s Evie’s date, and Evie is squatting right next to her, making sure she’s okay.

Hunter’s face shifts instantly from completely pissed off to kind, and he holds out his hand to the girl. He helps her up, and she straightens her clothes while flushing quite badly.

“T-thanks,” she says.

“Don’t mention it,” Hunter says.

“You girls all right?” I ask, and I look at Evie too.

She smiles, and her eyes flick from me to Hunter and back to me again. “Thanks. Both of you.”

“Can we go home now?” The girl says, looking pretty anxiously at Evie.

“Yeah,” Evie says, and she grabs the girl’s hand. “We’ll go home.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. I feel guilty for having invited her here. I should have known there would be dicks like that guy ruining everything.

“It’s not your fault,” Evie says, and she puts her other hand on my shoulder, smiling.

Somehow it makes me feel a little better about the situation and our friendship.

“See you later, okay?” she adds.

“Definitely,” I say.

They both leave the house, and everything settles down again. People start dancing, and it’s back to partying like nothing ever happened.

Hunter is still cracking his knuckles.

“Are you hurt?” I say, grabbing his fingers.

“No,” he says. “I’m fine. Pussies like him can’t even graze me.” He smirks at me.

Suddenly Jaret comes up from behind him, and I frown when I see him. Bad news always follows him.

“I found a distributor willing to talk.”

“Awesome. It’s time to go then,” Hunter says.

“Wait, what? You’re leaving?” I say.

“Not the party. We’re gonna talk. See if we can find out who the courier is.” Hunter kisses me on my forehead, and turns around.

“Okay …” I say, but the guys have already walked away. They’ve disappeared into the crowd.

Crap. What am I supposed to do now?

All this fighting and hip-grinding has gotten me thirsty, so I look around for a punch table. Instead, I find a bar in the corner with a few empty stools in front of it.

Brody is in the only occupied one.

I’m not really into talking with him right now, but it seems I have no other choice. Well, if he’s in the same frat house, which he has to be, then maybe I can ask him some questions about them. Work out what the deal is.

Sighing, I make my way to the bar and sit down next to him.

“Hey, Brody,” I say, swallowing away the lump in my throat.

“Hey,” he says with a rather dull voice.

“Scarlet’s not with you?” I say, curious and trying to stir up a conversation.

“Nah. Stupid fight.” He picks up his drink and takes a huge sip. “Anyway, what’s up?”

“Nothing, just thought I’d get a drink,” I say, and I order a lime coke, just to stay on the safe side this time.

He muffles a laugh. “It surprises me you’re even here. I reckon it’s Hunter’s doing.”

“Yeah, well, seeing as you guys are both in the same frat club, I don’t think it’s that weird.”

“True.”

There we have it. A confession. It’s a small one, but it’s a good step in the right direction.

He takes another sip, and his face contorts, probably from the high amount of alcohol that he’s spiked his drink with.

“So, what do you do exactly?” I ask. “Just deal drugs or … something else?”

“Something else?” Brody laughs. “You mean the fighting?”

“Yeah.”

“No, only the freshmen do that.”

No wonder Hunter’s always drummed up like a slave. I wonder why he lets them order him around like that.

“Okay … But what about you then?” I ask.

“I’m a distributor.” Brody picks up his glass again and drinks up the rest in one go. He scowls, and then lets out a huge breath as he puts down his glass again.

“What is your boyfriend looking for exactly?”

I gulp when he says that. “Uh … What?”

“I heard some distributors talking about him, saying he wants information.”

I don’t know if I should tell Brody, or if I’m even allowed to, but at the same time I want him to tell me more. If I don’t say it, he probably won’t trust me with more. I should take the chance and hope for the best.

“He’s trying to find out who the boss is.”

“Why?” Brody’s leaning on his hand, looking terribly bored.

“I don’t know,” I say, taking a massive sip of my coke, almost choking on it. “Why are you so interested? I thought you guys didn’t even know each other,” I say.

“Who? Me and Hunter?” he says, swaying his glass back and forth.

I nod.

“I’ve been in Alpha Psi for two years. Hunter’s a freshmen. Of course I hadn’t met him before.”

“Oh, well that explains it.”

Brody puts down his glass and leans forward, gazing at me with an intent look on his face. “You know … I still wouldn’t trust Hunter. He seems to be hiding an awful lot from you.”

“What do you mean?” I say, my heart throbbing in my throat when he says that. How does Brody know that?

“Jessie, his brother, was a dealer for our frat house for years, too. Outside the grounds, of course. He wasn’t in college.”

I gape at him. “What? Are you serious?”

“Yep. Why do you think the guy’s in jail now? Wasn’t careful enough,” Brody says. “There’s a lot more Hunter probably isn’t telling you.”

“I can’t believe this …” I mutter to myself, but it slips out of my mouth too, making Brody chuckle.

“And you know what else? If Hunter goes on the way he does, doing things out in the open, he’ll surely end up there, too.”

My lip starts to quiver.

No. It can’t be.

Hunter can’t end up in jail. He can’t.

Can he?

Just the thought of it makes my heart go wild. I don’t want him to be put behind bars because of this. I don’t care why he’s doing it, I don’t want to see him in there.

He said it himself, jail was a hellhole. No way would he be okay in there.

“I have to go,” I stammer, and I get off my seat.

“See ya around, I guess,” Brody yells after me, as I stumble through the crowd to the exit of the building.

Tears well up in my eyes.