CHAPTER FOUR
RIPLEY
Before I even opened my eyes, I knew that I wasn’t in my own bed. My head throbbed. My mouth was dry. After a moment, everything that happened the night before came flooding back to me.
My eyes popped open. Spotting Auryn asleep beside me brought me wide awake. Oh shit. He was still here. I laid there frozen in place, not sure what to do with myself. Needing a few more minutes for my brain to catch up with my body.
An ache between my legs confirmed that we had, in fact, fucked all night.
I wasn’t sure how many rounds we went before passing out.
Auryn had rolled onto his side, facing away from me.
His broad muscular back was covered in deep red scratches.
Most of them disappeared beneath the blanket he’d tugged up to his waist.
Feeling embarrassed now that I was no longer high and merely hung over as hell, I decided I needed to get out of there before he woke up. Afraid to wake him with my movements, I moved slowly. Gently pushing the blanket off me. Inching my way to the edge of the bed.
The mattress dipped slightly as I rolled myself off the bed. My feet hit the floor, my knees threatening to drop me. As my head swam, I grabbed onto a nearby dresser to keep myself upright until the moment passed. This was going to be a hell of a day.
Standing awkwardly beside the bed, I cast a frantic glance around for my clothing.
Items had been strewn about. Spying my skirt on the floor at the end of the bed, I tiptoed over to it and pulled it on.
As I pulled it up over my thighs, my gaze fell to the scars marking my skin.
I was glad it had been too dark for him to notice.
Next I found my bra. On the floor on the other side of the bed. I would have to bend down close to where Auryn slept to fetch it. Keeping a watchful eye on him, I gingerly picked it up off the floor and slipped it on.
I caught my reflection in the mirror over the dresser.
My hair was in disarray, my hair clip missing somewhere.
Eyeliner and mascara had been smudged beneath my eyes, giving me a haunted appearance.
What little lipstick I’d been wearing still remained almost perfectly in place.
A testament to the staying power of that particular brand.
If I hadn’t been in such a rush to get out of there, I would have taken a moment to be impressed.
When I couldn’t find my shirt or underwear anywhere on the floor, I knew they had to be lost somewhere in the bed. Shit. Trying not to rouse Auryn, I carefully lifted the blanket here and there while I searched.
Suddenly a strong hand wrapped around my wrist. I let out a surprised yelp as Auryn jerked me off my feet, pulling me onto the bed with him.
“Trying to sneak away?” Pulling me against his hard body, Auryn pressed sleepy kisses to my face and neck.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” I said, nervous now in the light of day. “And I really need to get home. My roommate is probably worried sick.”
“Don’t you live with Athena?” Auryn raised a brow. “If anything, she’s probably still passed out with her hookup from last night. I’m sure you don’t have to rush away.”
He was most likely right about Athena. She probably wasn’t even home yet either. Still, I couldn’t shake the sudden need to get away. Looking him in the eye after everything we’d done last night felt daunting.
“I really should get going.” I made a halfhearted attempt at pushing against his chest. “It’s probably late. I don’t even know what time it is. I left my phone downstairs.”
Auryn grinned. “What’s wrong, doll? Are you afraid of me? You weren’t this skittish last night that’s for sure. Look at this mark on my chest. I can’t even tell if that’s from teeth or nails.”
Inwardly, I cringed. Feeling my face flame, I averted my gaze. I hated how attracted to him I was. I’d hoped it was the drugs.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I be afraid of you? I just have to go home. I have to work tonight. I have a lot to do before then.” That wasn’t a lie. I really did work later tonight.
Gripping my chin in one hand, Auryn turned my face toward his. He kissed my bruised lips, softly at first, then more intense. “One more round for the road. I have a killer morning wood, and I would hate to waste it.”
His sexy chuckle was stupidly irresistible. It took strength that I didn’t possess to keep from giving in.
“Is that your idea of sexy talk?” I mustered a laugh. “That doesn’t quite do it for me. Maybe some other time.”
Despite my words, I found myself kissing him back when he pressed his lips to mine again.
Damn him. I knew better than this. Auryn Brewer was nothing but a womanizing criminal.
Everything I did not want in a man. Last night had been a drug and alcohol fueled romp. A crazy good time. Now it was over.
Auryn held up a finger. “Hold on. Let me try this again. My cock is hard as hell, and all I want is to bury it in your sweet, wet pussy while you beg and plead like you did last night. How’s that? Better?”
He wiggled his brows and smiled. Breaking down the walls I tried to build by managing to be both goofy and sexy at the same time.
What was I thinking by letting this man get so close?
A weird twinge in my chest warned me that I needed to escape him now.
Before it was too late. Before that smile made me come apart in ways that I would surely regret.
I hated the way his words gave me a twinge between my thighs. Remembering the way I had begged for more of him, I felt overcome with embarrassment. A different version of me had been present last night. Now that she was gone, I needed to vacate.
“As tempting as that is, I really do need to get home. My boss will kill me if I’m late.” That wasn’t a lie. My boss was a cranky old fucker who was all too happy to replace employees. I wasn’t sure how I’d managed to avoid getting fired this long.
Auryn ran a finger along my leg, up under my skirt. I hastily shoved his hand away. When he pressed his lips to the side of my neck, I almost came undone. Where was my resolve? Although I enjoyed men as much as the next hotblooded straight female, I usually had much more resistance to them.
Shoving against his chest, I groaned. “I can’t do this right now. Besides, after the pounding I took last night, my poor pussy probably needs a break.”
A self-satisfied smirk stole over his face.
He released me with a sigh. “Fine. Run away. I’m not sure why you’re running scared this morning after being such an animal in the sack.
I guess I’ll have to take care of myself.
You gave me plenty of masturbation material last night. I’ll be good for a while.”
I shoved off the bed, casting an unimpressed glare his way. “That’s something you could have kept to yourself. Now would you help me find my shirt and underwear? I think they’re lost in the blanket somewhere.”
Reaching under his pillow, Auryn produced my pink panties. “These are mine now. A little token of the hottest sex I’ve ever had. You can have mine too if you like.”
He chuckled, enjoying my discomfort. Not in the mood to fight him for the underwear, I waved a dismissive hand. After searching the bed, I found my shirt under the blanket. I pulled it over my head, snatched up my purse, and headed for the door.
“That’s it?” he called after me. “I don’t even get a thanks for a good time? No have a nice day? So this is what it feels like to be used for my body.”
Auryn seemed to have no problem entertaining himself. When I glanced back to find him grinning, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Maybe you should be thanking me.” I paused with my hand on the door knob.
“Thank you, Ripley,” he said, playing along. “Any time you feel like using me for an orgasm or five, I’m happy to help out. And if you need me to keep being your fake boyfriend, I think I know what I would like in return.”
Shit. I’d almost forgotten about Jamie. Hopefully, last night’s little show for him in the kitchen would be enough to chase him off. Although if he didn’t see Auryn and I together between now and graduation, he would know we weren’t really dating.
“I’ll let you know. I’m sure Jamie won’t be a problem anymore. Thanks for that.” Needing to make my escape before he convinced me to stay, I left the bedroom, finding my way back down to the main floor.
A few people were passed out in the living room, sprawled across the couch and on the floor. Thankfully, my phone was where I’d left it on the coffee table, next to a stack of empty bottles and cups. My friends were all long gone.
It was just before ten in the morning. Not as late as I’d thought. After ordering an Uber, I waited in the entryway, hoping Auryn wouldn’t come down until after I’d left. When I got into the car, I released the breath I’d been holding.
What a night. I ran my hand through my tousled hair, doing my best to finger comb it. I desperately needed a hot shower, an even hotter coffee, and the pills in my purse calling my name.
Athena surprised me by already being home when I walked in the door. She sat on the couch in the living room, clutching a steaming mug of coffee. She’d already showered, wearing her bathrobe and a pair of fuzzy slippers.
“Look at you doing the walk of shame.” She gave me a curious onceover. “Where have you been? I looked for you before leaving.”
“I was with someone.” Deciding that a coffee felt like a good first step, I slipped into the kitchen to make one.
“I can see that,” Athena called after me. “I hope you have a cute scarf or something to wear to work to cover those marks on your neck. Who’s the lucky guy?”
I cringed, glad that she couldn’t see my face from where she sat in the living room. This wasn’t the kind of thing I usually kept from my friends. Knowing Auryn, he wouldn’t keep it a secret anyway. Might as well be honest.
“Actually, it was Auryn.” I paused, waiting for her reaction. Leaning against the counter, I listened to the coffee maker brew my cup. God that smelled so damn good.
Athena appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. Both brows were sky high. “Did I hear you correctly? I’m pretty sure I heard you say that you were with Auryn last night.”
When I spun around to grab the creamer from the fridge, I caught a whiff of his aroma. He was all over me. “Yep, you heard me. Jamie cornered me in the kitchen at the party. Auryn was in there playing poker. He chased Jamie off. After that, it just kind of happened.”
“Damn girl. You’re really taking a walk on the dark side, hooking up with one of the Kings. I thought you were against that kind of thing.” She gave me a playful nudge before sliding onto one of the kitchen chairs. “Tell me everything. I want details.”
I poured my favorite vanilla cream into my coffee before taking a seat across from her. “We took some ecstasy. Things got pretty crazy after that. We ended up in a bedroom upstairs. I wasn’t thinking straight. I never would have done it if I’d been sober.”
“Of course not. That’s what makes it so juicy. How was it?” Athena leaned in, sipping her coffee while studying me intently.
I stared into my mug, hating the smile that tugged at my lips regardless of how hard I tried to fight it.
“I’m not sure there’s even a word to describe it.
Mind blowing. It was like an out of this world experience.
I’m sure that was from the drugs, but Auryn was…
well he was intense. I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard or that many times in one night. ”
“Nice.” Athena grinned. “How was his cock? Big? He struts around like a guy who has a big cock.”
I almost laughed out the sip of coffee I’d taken. “Jesus, Athena. I almost choked on my coffee. Yeah, he definitely has every right to be proud of himself. Not that he needs to hear that or anything.”
Leaning back against the wall behind her chair, Athena asked, “So is he a one and done? Or are you going to hit that again?”
“I’m not sure that would be a good idea.
” I slowly shook my head, wary of the headache that throbbed behind my eyes.
“You know how I feel about the Kings. I’m not sure I want to get involved with one of them.
And I doubt that Auryn is looking for anything other than a good time.
I’m not interested in being his fuck buddy. ”
Athena considered my words with a nod. “The Kings definitely come with risks. They aren’t bad guys though. You never know. Maybe—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence,” I jumped in to cut her off. “Everyone knows that Auryn is a total player. I don’t intend to give him the chance to play me. Our time together started and ended last night.”
Technically this morning, but who was keeping track? Wondering if I could squeeze in a little nap before my shift at the restaurant this evening, I rose from the table with my mug in hand.
“I’m going to grab a shower and maybe a nap. I work tonight.”
As soon as I locked myself in the bathroom, I pulled the pill bottle from my purse and immediately popped two. The recommended dosage was one every six hours or so. Since I’d built up somewhat of a resistance, I needed more than one.
Stripping off my clothes, I got into the shower, turning on the water until it ran nice and hot. The events of the previous night replayed in my head. A warm squishy sensation filled my chest when I thought about Auryn.
He had this ridiculous jokester vibe. Like he didn’t take himself or life too seriously.
I kind of appreciated that. He also had a way of making me feel like a goddess while I was with him.
Like he’d worshipped every part of me he could get his hands or mouth on.
I doubted anyone would ever make me feel quite like that again.
Too bad Auryn was such a player. I knew his type, and I wanted nothing to do with it. Between graduation being not too far off, my job, and planning for my future, I didn’t have the time or energy to waste on a player. Especially not one who was a known criminal.
Maybe in another life.