5. Ashley
CHAPTER 5
ASHLEY
I ’ve been on campus for a few days, and I’ve seen my roommate only once. I suppose I got the golden ticket in that department. After doing the long-distance thing for a year, Tallulah—my roommate—reunited with her high school boyfriend and rarely spends the night here. Her boyfriend is a sophomore and lives in an apartment off campus. I’m happy to have my own space. Now I can invite friends over without worrying about disturbing her.
I kept my décor simple because I want to display my art on the walls as I create it. My duvet is my favorite color—teal—and I have a few fluffy pillows on my bed, and a fuzzy white blanket Kenzie got for me in London.
Kadence and Scarlett, two freshmen I met at the Arts Program mixer yesterday, are sitting on my bed, chatting about all the hot guys they’ve met so far while I get ready for a party hosted by one of the said hot guys. R something, I already forgot this name.
“Your pink hair turned out so good,” Kadence says for the second time tonight.
I chuckle. “You said that already, but thanks.”
“It complements your dress, which I love, by the way. You have such good taste, Ash,” Scarlett adds.
“Thanks. I’ve had it for years. The dress, I mean, not the good taste.”
Especially when it comes to guys.
They laugh, and then Kadence asks, “Are you saying you don’t have good taste?”
I shake my head, not willing to get into what prompted my comment. “Never mind.”
I have the worst luck with guys, but whenever I’ve said that in the past, it motivated my friends to prove me wrong by setting me up with randoms. All the guys I dated in high school were either assholes, losers, or both. I refrained from dating any of the guys on the football team, and that’s why I was good friends with some of them. Maybe I should have broken my rule and tried dating them, instead of going for the artsy types. Oh well. At least some of my boyfriends didn’t suck in bed.
The dress Scarlett is so enamored of is a snug, deep blue velvet with long sleeves and an open back. It’s one of the sexiest dresses I own. It might be overkill to dress up for a college party, but tonight I want to feel pretty. My enthusiasm has taken a hit since I found out Sean was here. Now I know Kenzie and Mom had no idea, only Chris knew, and he didn’t say anything because Sean asked him not to. It was a low blow from Sean, but I wasn’t surprised. Once an asshole, always an asshole.
“God, I don’t fit in any of my old clothes. I gained so much weight in my senior year. I’m a stress eater.” Kadence eats another potato chip.
“You’d better see a therapist for that, then. Hannaford U is hard core,” Scarlett replies.
“It’s okay. I’m not complaining about my current size. I never had any boobs before, but look at the size of these melons now!” She squishes her boobs together, making me laugh.
“I think you look stunning,” I add.
“You’re sweet, but I agree.” She winks at me.
I grab a leather jacket from my tiny closet and put it on. “Remind me again who’s hosting this party?”
“Ryder Westwood. He’s like a god on campus. Comes from an uber-rich family. My father works for his dad’s company. Oh, and he plays hockey.”
My stomach drops. Fuck me. If a guy on the hockey team is throwing this party, then surely Sean will be there. After I told him to stay far away from me, how am I going to show my face at a party on his turf?
Hell. There’s nothing for it. I won’t let him mess with my social life on top of everything he’s done to me already. This won’t be the last event on campus where he’ll be around. I’ll have to get used to seeing his stupid face.
“Okay. I’m ready,” I announce.
“Hold on. Let’s have drinks first.” Scarlett pulls a small flask from her jacket.
“What do you have there?” I ask.
“Tequila, obviously.” She unscrews the top and takes a big gulp.
Kadence drinks next and then passes the flask to me. I’m not used to drinking tequila straight, but there’s a first time for everything. I expect the drink to burn my throat, but it’s surprisingly smooth. I take two big gulps instead of one.
“Damn. Someone is ready to party,” Scarlett pipes up.
The tequila works quickly, melting some of my tension. I smile from ear to ear. “You betcha.”
T he party is being held in an old church that was converted into a trendy club. It’s ten minutes from campus. Only someone with deep pockets would be able to afford renting the place to host a party there. At the entrance, Kadence needs to show a QR code to a mean-looking bouncer.
“Wow, this isn’t an ordinary college party, is it?” I ask.
“Apparently not,” Scarlett replies.
Churches usually have a wooden partition before you enter the big atrium, and it’s the same here. Two tall and broad-shouldered guys wearing dark button-down shirts and slacks are standing in front of it. Their faces are partially hidden by simple black masks.
I move closer to Scarlett and whisper, “Is this supposed to be a kink party?”
She laughs nervously. “Of course not. Relax.”
Yeah, I don’t buy her reply. She’s hoping it isn’t. Maybe I should have asked more questions. The tequila I drank before coming here is the only reason my anxiety isn’t going through the roof right now.
“Welcome ladies.” One of the guys smiles broadly. He has a strong jaw and a dazzling smile. Even with the mask, I can tell he’s good looking.
“Ryder? Is that you?” Kadence asks.
“Oh, I can’t answer that. The theme of tonight’s festivities is cloak and dagger. All guests must wear a mask.” He hands a black mask to each of us.
I look at mine but hesitate to put it on.
“Don’t worry. This isn’t a kink party. I promise,” the guy Kadence believes to be Ryder says.
Yikes. He must have overheard me.
“It’d better not be. Mask or no mask, I’ll find you if you’re lying.” I tie the mask in place.
He leans closer. “And then what? Will you punish me?”
He’s flirting with me, and I don’t mind. “Maybe.”
His lips curl into a grin. “Have fun, ladies. Oh, and don’t worry about showing your IDs.”
My face is still warm from that short exchange when Kadence grabs my arm as soon as we walk into the party, and squeaks, “Oh my God. Ryder Westwood was totally putting the moves on you.”
“You don’t know if that was him,” I reply.
“I’m ninety-nine percent sure it was.”
“Who cares if that guy was Ryder?” Scarlett chimes in. “He was hot anyway.”
She isn’t wrong, but I won’t spend the night looking for him. I never had to chase guys before, and I won’t start now.
I take a moment to scan the place. They kept the church’s backbone, but mercifully, no relics are on display. Either way, Mom and Chris would think this is blasphemy. The room is loud and dark. The only source of illumination is the purple and blue lights that change to the beat of the music. It’d be impossible to recognize anyone even without masks.
“Wow.” Scarlett takes everything in with her mouth agape. “I’ve never been to a party like this. Have you?”
“No,” Kadence says, while I reply, “Yes.”
They both look at me, and Scarlett asks, “Really?”
“Yep. I attended a private school in Boston. Some of my classmates were wealthy beyond measure.”
“Wow. Lucky you.”
I’d tell her it wasn’t a big deal, but I don’t want to come across as a snobby bitch. Hanging out with rich kids was my normal, and I forgot that most people don’t experience that.
“Let’s get a drink!” Kadence yells over the music.
“Okay!” I yell back.
Kadence leads the way followed by me, then Scarlett. The place is already crowded, and getting to the bar is a slow process. When we finally reach our destination, I turn to Scarlett to ask what she wants, but she’s gone.
“Where did Scarlett go?” Kadence asks.
“I don’t know.” I rise on my tiptoes, trying to locate our friend. It’s pointless. I’m five foot nothing.
Kadence, who’s much taller than me, looks over my head, and a moment later, says, “Found her. She’s currently busy.”
“Busy with what?”
Kadence smirks. “What do you think? She’s sucking face with a hottie.”
My brows arch. “Oh. Are you sure it looks like she’s having a good time?”
Kadence’s smile broadens. “Oh yeah. I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of Scarlett tonight. What do you want to drink?”
From the corner of my eye, I see a group of girls holding purple-colored shots. “Maybe what they’re drinking? It looks good.”
Kadence turns to the bartender. “Four shots of whatever those purple drinks are.”
“Four?” I ask.
“I’m trying to optimize our time. It took forever to get to the bar.”
“Then maybe you should have ordered more drinks.”
“Hold on. Let’s see if we like the purple shots first.”
She should have thought about that before she ordered two shots each. But they turn out to be quite delicious, so we order a second round. By the time we head to the dance floor, my ears are buzzing, and it seems like I’m floating on air. Then “I Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas starts to play, and everyone sings at the top of their lungs. We’re all believers. I laugh to myself, because that thought was ridiculously amusing.
“What’s so funny?” a guy next to me asks, loud enough to be overhead. I think everyone will lose their voice by the end of the night.
I have to crane my neck to stare at his face because he’s so damn tall. He’s wearing a mask like me, but that doesn’t hide his square jaw and mischievous smile. I’m getting all fizzy inside from only staring at his mouth.
“My thoughts are funny,” I reply.
“Oh, yeah? Care to share them?”
I tilt my head, scrunching my nose. “Hmm. I don’t think it’s wise to share my thoughts with a stranger.”
“I disagree. It’s extremely wise. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. No one will ever find out the owner of any ludicrous thoughts.”
“Hey! How did we jump from funny to ludicrous?” I try to sound pissed but I’m smiling. Must be the drinks, or the yummy guy in front of me. Probably both.
He laughs. “It was a wild guess, since you wanted to keep it a secret.”
I want to keep talking to him, but I don’t want to be a bad friend and abandon Kadence. Quickly, I look for her, but she’s dirty dancing with a guy already. Gee, my friends are fast. I turn to the cute guy at the same time he’s leaning down to whisper in my ear. Our lips touch by accident, but instead of pulling away, we both lean into each other.
Suddenly, I’m kissing him, and it feels wonderful. I rise on my tiptoes and throw my arms around his neck. His tongue tastes sweet, and my guess is that he had the same purple shot I did. But there’s nothing sweet about they way he claims my mouth, or how his hand twists a lock of my hair possessively. Flames of desire spread through my body, making me hot all over.
He grabs my ass, digging his fingers in a little as he pulls me closer to him. I can feel his arousal press against my stomach. It’s been months since I hooked up with anyone and now, I can’t think about anything besides how turned on I am.
I pull back a little, out of breath. “Do you want to find someplace quiet?”
His lips curl into crooked smile. “Yeah. Let’s explore.”
He takes my hand and steers me toward the back of the church. I glance over my shoulder, but Kadence has disappeared with her guy. I stare at my mystery man’s back and appreciate the view. His shoulders are wide and, even though it’s dark, I can see the muscles move underneath his shirt. I can’t wait to run my fingers down his back.
After a minute navigating the busiest part of the party, we emerge on the other side of the dance floor. It’s much darker here, and it takes a moment for my eyesight to adjust. “Which way should we go?”
“I have an idea.”
We head in the direction opposite the restrooms and find a hallway that’s been corded off, but there’s no bouncer keeping an eye on it. Mystery man steps over the cord with ease, but I’m much shorter than him, so my intention is to go under. He picks me up before I have the chance, lifting me by my waist as if I weigh nothing.
“Thanks,” I say when he puts me down.
“You’re welcome.”
I can barely see him now, but I can feel his stare, making me burn from the inside out. He pushes me against the wall and pins my body with his. His kiss is much more ardent and wild than before, and I’m one hundred percent on board with it. I’m caught by a reckless fever, so I don’t think twice before I jump into his arms again and wrap my legs around his hips. He grinds his pelvis against mine, rubbing his erection right where I need it most. If we keep this up, I’ll let him fuck me right here in the hallway.
“I think...” he whispers against my lips “... we should continue our exploration.”
“Agree.”
He steps back, and I slide off him and pull my skirt down. He takes my hand again, and we walk at a brisk pace, the urgency to find a private room propelling us forward. He stops in front of a closed door and tries the knob. I expect it to be locked, but the door opens inward.
Mystery man turns to me, grinning. “Jackpot.”
I don’t move from my spot, letting him go first. “What is this place?”
He uses the flashlight app on his phone to shed light in the room. “A storage room is my guess.” His voice is raspy, just like mine. I can’t believe I lost my voice this fast.
There are boxes piled up against the walls, a desk crammed with stacks of paper, and an old couch. I’d say that’s exactly what we need, but he keeps exploring, venturing farther into the room.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Just being thorough.” He turns around. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re too far from me.”
He reaches me in two large strides and picks me up, fusing his lips with mine. I’m on fire again and dying to touch him everywhere. He walks to the couch, and we both fall onto it. I part my legs to accommodate him between them, and he doesn’t waste time moving his hips, mimicking what’s to come.
Then he leans back, and stares into my eyes. “Mask or no mask?”
Making out without masks would be more comfortable, but I’m afraid that if I see his face, it’ll break the spell.
“Isn’t the theme of the party cloak and dagger?”
“Yeah, so the masks stay then.”
“Yep. Now kiss me.”
He slants his mouth over mine, but the kiss is hard and fast before he abandons my lips to trail hot kisses down my neck. I thread my fingers through his soft hair and yank at the strands a little when his tongue finds my nipple through the fabric of my dress. I arch my back, needing more.
He takes possession of my other breast with his large hand, making me think for the first time that he’s probably huge... everywhere . Oh God. And I’m tiny. Good thing that I’m so horny, my panties are soaked through. I try not to worry about the size of his dick, and instead focus on how good he’s already making me feel just with nipple play. Imagine what he could do with that tongue on my pussy.
As if reading my mind, he moves south, pushing my dress up until my black panties are exposed. I didn’t wear tights tonight.
He looks up, and asks, “Is it okay if I... taste you?”
That small pause is my undoing. I’ve never heard a guy sound so sexy. “Yeah,” I croak.
He slides my underwear down my legs and pockets it. I don’t know if that’s him being considerate by not dropping my panties on the dirty floor, or if he intends to keep them as a souvenir. Both are options are okay by me, and super hot.
“God, you’re breathtaking,” he husks out.
“Then—”
He licks my clit, and I can’t get the words out. My hips buckle, because the intensity of that first swipe is already sending sparks of electricity throughout my entire body. My toes curl inside my shoes, and goose bumps spread everywhere. I was right, he’s a magician with his tongue.
“You taste so good, gorgeous. I can’t get enough.” He presses his thumb over my clit, then massages the sensitive bud while mercilessly eating me out.
I’m soaring before I know it. “Holy fuck! Don’t stop, don’t stop.” I close my eyes, because the room is spinning.
He keeps licking, sucking, and playing with my clit while my body trembles from the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had. I don’t want the sensation to stop... ever . But eventually, I come down from the high and have to catch my breath.
“That was beautiful,” he says.
I laugh. “It was amazing.”
“It doesn’t need to be over yet.” He sounds hopeful.
Oh dear. Does he think I’d let him go down on me then just hang him out to dry? I lean on my elbows so I can see his face. “It’d better not be over. I’m not done with you yet. Now take off your clothes, please.”
He eases onto the backs of his legs. “Only if you take yours off too.”
I smirk. “Are you afraid I’m going to run off with your stuff?”
Shaking his head, he chuckles. “I wasn’t, but should I be?”
I sit up and pull my dress off. When his gaze drops to my breasts, I grin. What’s up with boys and boobs?
“You aren’t moving,” I point out, breaking through his daze.
He shakes his head, then jumps from the couch and gets rid of his clothes in record time. It’s almost too fast for me to truly appreciate the beauty that is his body. He’s like a marble statue, carved to perfection. I scooch closer, and his massive cock is right there in front of me—all those veins bulging around his thick shaft, and the velvety soft head, begging to be sucked and licked.
“Hold on. I need to grab a condom.” He begins to turn.
“Wait. Let me have a taste first.”
Keeping my eyes locked with his, I curl my fingers around the base of his dick and slowly bring it to my mouth. He sucks in a breath, tensing his abs when I slowly lick his head, tasting the saltiness of his arousal. He runs his fingers through my hair, a caress that sends thrills of desire down my spine.
I swallow his length slowly until it reaches the back of my throat, then ease back until only the head is in my mouth.
He grunts as he grips a lock of my hair. “Fuck!”
I’d smile if my mouth wasn’t occupied. I keep working him, hollowing my cheeks to really taste him. His grip on my hair increases, and for a second, I believe he’s going to take over and fuck my mouth. But he pulls out instead. “I want to come in your tight pussy, gorgeous.”
Damn it. I love a dirty-talking man. “Okay.”
He bends over and grabs a condom from his pants. My clit is throbbing in anticipation, and I’m afraid I’ll have another orgasm just from watching him—which wouldn’t be bad, really.
Condom in place, he nudges me back on the couch and spreads my legs as he settles on top of me. His cock presses against my belly while he kisses me unhurriedly. With each stroke of his tongue, I melt more into him. He’s a stranger, but I’ve never felt more at ease. It’s like I’ve known him for years. I touch his face, then I run my fingers down his back. He feels like a dream, and I don’t want to wake up.
He eases back, lifting my hips as he kneels on the couch. He’s so strong that he can hold me in that position using only one arm. With his free hand, he grips his cock and slides it to my entrance, teasing my clit on the way. I whimper.
“You’re so wet for me, gorgeous. I can’t wait to fuck your tight pussy.”
“Less talking... more action,” I breathe out.
“As you wish.” He thrusts his hips forward, spearing me in one swift move.
I gasp, thanking the stars I’m so slick. He’s stretching me to the max, and it’s glorious.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yep.”
“Good.” He smiles, and then, holding me by the hips, he starts to move in earnest.
I wish I could touch him, but I can’t find the will to complain when his dick feels amazing at this angle. I don’t come often during intercourse, but tendrils of another cosmic orgasm are already wrapping around the base of my spine. The tension is building, making me tingle all over.
“You take me so well, gorgeous,” he rasps. “Your pussy was made for my cock.”
“Or your cock was made for my pussy,” I whisper back. “I’m so close... oh my God. Fuck me harder.”
“You got it, beautiful.” His thrusts intensify, and he’s pounding into me so hard, the couch starts to move.
The orgasm hits me then, a tsunami of epic proportions that fragments me into tiny particles, then builds me up again. I moan loudly, but then he lifts me from the couch, and now I’m straddling him. His mouth finds mine, and he swallows my cries of ecstasy. A moment later, a guttural sound comes from deep his throat. His body convulses, and his cock throbs inside me. Yet he keeps up the pace and doesn’t stop fucking me until both our bodies stop shaking, and we’re breathing hard.
“Wow,” he chuckles, pressing his forehead against mine.
“You can say that again. I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk out of here.”
“If you can’t, I’ll carry you.”
I laugh. “Deal.”
I move, trying to detach from him without causing an accident. Without effort, he helps me off and sets me down on the couch again. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He stands up and removes the condom. “Do you think this place has a trash can?”
“Probably, but good luck finding it.” I search for my dress. In the heat of the moment, I don’t know where I dropped it.
The stupid mask is limiting my vision, so I get rid of it. I don’t see the point of keeping it on now. Besides, I’m sweating under it. I find my dress on the floor and, with my back to my mystery man, I put it on.
“Do you want your underwear back?” he asks.
“Sure.” I turn. “Gimme it.”
“Son of a bitch,” he blurts out.
“What?” My pulse skyrockets. I’m not sure what freaked him out, but it can’t be good, judging by his tense posture.
He removes his mask brusquely, and my stomach bottoms out. I understand his horror. I hooked up with Sean.
Kill me now.