Chapter 31
GRAYSON
This is turning out to be a huge fucking mistake.
I told Alvarez, “We got this,” when we first stepped out of my car, and I was certain we did, but I’m not so sure anymore. At least I don’t have this.
It was supposed to be a bit of pretending—be seen together, perhaps hold hands—nothing more. Then, she kissed me. Can’t believe she fucking kissed me. All to distract me from beating the shit out of the careless asshole who bumped into her.
Here’s the thing, she didn’t kiss like a fucking inexperienced virgin. She kissed me like she knew what she was doing.
It pissed me off and turned me on. Who fucking taught her to kiss like that? I couldn’t resist not indulging in the sweet taste of her lips, in the hesitant exploration of her tongue that grew confident before I knew what hit me.
I don’t tend to lose my shit, but I was losing my shit.
Part of the blame falls on that fucking little, yellow dress.
Teasing me all night. Taunting me. Revealing yet modest. She looks beautiful and so goddamn sexy.
I didn’t want to have to start punching assholes left and right for fucking gawking, so I gave her my jacket.
When that wasn’t enough, I took her upstairs where no one could see her but me.
Before I locked the door, I realized it was possible my impulsive reaction could work in our favor. If someone walked in on us, they’d take care of the rest, spreading the news we hooked up.
“Ready?” I asked and her cheeks flushed as she replied with a soft yes.
When I heard the footsteps approaching, I pulled her onto my lap. Her thighs parted for me, her knees fell to either side of my hips. Alvarez was straddling my lap, the hemline of her dress slid dangerously high across a pair of smooth thighs. I struggled to keep my breaths even.
Her tits were inches from my face. My mouth watered, my dick jumped to attention, and both hands trembled with a desperation I’ve never experienced.
“I’m going to touch you,” I let her know, my voice rough. “Stop me anytime.”
Panic filled her green eyes, while a deep blush colored her cheeks.
I was ready to release her and move away the moment she needed me to.
But when I snaked both arms around her tiny waist, something shifted.
She melted so completely into me, her legs spread wider as she tilted her head, lining her lips with mine as if considering whether to kiss me or not.
“You can touch me, too,” I encouraged, murmuring the words between us.
With tentative fingers, she caressed my forearms, running her palms up my arms to my shoulders. When I drew her closer, she stiffened.
“Just breathe,” I murmured against her jaw, my lips swept up her throat. I couldn’t resist. I needed a taste.
“Rhodes,” she gasped when I swirled my tongue down the soft skin. Her fingers dove into my hair, tugging me closer. Fuck.
Lines I shouldn’t cross blurred away. It was so easy to forget our reason for being there, until someone turned the doorknob. I needed to stay focused on our purpose, but she was intoxicating and so goddamn expressive.
“Don’t overthink it,” I smirked. “You’re doing so good.”
Her irises flared and my throat went dry. Shit, I shouldn’t have said that. I was tempted to say more. Especially when a tiny gasp escaped past her lips. Her small hands were on my stomach and my dick twitched in my pants.
It couldn’t be helped—she was fascinating to watch. Her features revealed so much of what she was feeling, with each new word I said and every touch we shared. Wondered if she would be as expressive if I was doing more than simply whispering between us.
Running my nose up along the side of her throat, I placed a soft, barely there kiss.
It wasn’t enough. Sucking gently on the sensitive skin below her ear, her head fell back as she let out the most erotic sound, filling the room and something deep in my soul.
I wanted to hear that sound again. I wanted to be the one to make her feel so good, she rewarded me with that sensuous moan once more. I held her carefully in my arms.
“Selena,” I moaned at the same time the door swung open. Immediately, hallway lights invaded our privacy, flooding the space around us.
I wanted to hide Alvarez away, protect her from the onslaught of the inevitable her association with me would lead to. She leaned into me, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
“Fuck off!” I ordered, holding her closer to me. The two people at the door were frozen in place. “This room’s taken,” I growled, a second away of standing to slam the door shut in their fucking faces.
“Holy shit, Selena, you’re fucking Grayson Rhodes?!” The girl’s laughter was hysterical.
“Gray, is that you?!” Why is Troy with her? I watched as he realized who was on my lap. “I owe Trevor fifty bucks,” he muttered, backing away and taking the crazed looking girl with him.
I had the terrible urge to call him back and explain. I didn’t know why but I didn’t want anyone thinking Alvarez as a one and done type of girl. It shouldn’t matter to me. It really shouldn’t. It pissed me off that it did.
Couldn’t even stand afterwards. Didn’t want her to see the clear evidence of my arousal. Hell no. I would never live it down.
Eventually we made it downstairs and I knew I should move away. I should, but I didn’t.
She’s off-limits. I know this. She’s my best friend’s sister. Of course, I know this too. I do. Even back when I didn’t like her—not that I do now—I would’ve never considered—not that I’m considering it now! Fuck.
This can’t be a thing, I remind myself. It’s the only reason I take the necessary step back to create some distance between us. I ignore how my heart rate picks up and the fact my breathing’s coming too fast—she shouldn’t be affecting me. Not like this. Not at all.
Her chest rises and falls quickly, as if she’s out of breath too. I need to get the fuck out of here.
“We should go.” We made our point after all.
Then, her brother showed up. My best friend. Looking pissed and I can’t even blame him. Now, he’s giving me that brotherly death glare I’ve avoided all these years by not dating.
“Yo, Gray, I need to talk to my sister,” Sam says, looking more upset than I’ve seen him in a long time. “Take my spot with Big Mike, will you?” Sammy grabs her arm as she hands me the jacket she should be wearing. “We’ll be right back.”
“How pissed is he?” Letty asks, jumping into the spot Sammy stood in a second ago. Big Mike is with her.
“Does Samuel not know of your plan?” he asks me. I suppose Letty told him all about it. She gives me a sheepish smile confirming it.
“Sorry, I thought he knew,” she says with a shrug.
“Sammy’s not pissed,” I state. “I’m sure Alvarez will explain everything to him.”
I watch them walk outside. She gets stopped nearly as often as he does.
Selena Fucking Alvarez. Fuck her. Claims she doesn’t party and yet she’s totally in her element. Knows everyone, smiles at everyone, talks to everyone, makes them smile. What the fuck?!
“Thanks for helping me with my homework.” Some douche.
“Thank you so much for covering my shift the other day.” Her coworker.
“Loved book 2.” Another dick. “Thanks for letting me borrow it!”
“Your notes saved my semester!”
Why is she so fucking nice? And smart?
I don’t know why I thought she wouldn’t know anyone at a Gamma party, yet she’s completely at ease. And they all look pretty fucking pleased with themselves knowing her. Hugging her. Touching her. It’s pissing me off.
“Your ass is ringing!”
I turn to Letty.
“It is the phone in your pocket,” Big Mike elaborates and I check. He should know by now I won’t answer.
“Do you need to get that?” Letty asks.
“No.” I slip my phone back.
All the attention Alvarez is giving away shouldn’t bother me. But it’s the fact that she’d likely still be my side if her brother hadn’t shown up, that’s what’s getting to me. Because I shouldn’t be thinking about it as much as I am.
“So...you like her, huh?”
“I like that she’s helping me out,” I reply, voice droll, as I school my expression. Of course a future sports agent would be perceptive. “Did you ask Big Mike if you could represent him yet?”
When I face Letty again, her smile grows even bigger, like she knows something. “I did.”
“And?”
Big Mike’s blushing. It’s a rare sight. Perhaps he’d like her to be more than his agent.
“You’re looking at my second client, who will go top ten, if I have anything to say about it!”
“Congrats,” I tell them and I mean it. He wants to keep playing ball. And he has the option to. Must be nice to have that freedom. I’m happy for him though. He’s a good guy. He deserves good things.
“What about you? Still not playing?” Letty asks.
“No.”
“How about beer pong? Think you can play that?” she grins. “Because you guys got next.”
I follow them to the kitchen, only turning back to see Alvarez looking at me. When our eyes make contact, hers flutter away.
I don’t know what to make of her. She’s been surprising me all night, from being here with me to give Lila a big fuck you for messing with Big Mike, to kissing me and letting me hold her so indecently close.
I could feel her sensuous curves, her rapid breathing.
Her lips close to mine. For a moment, I wanted to erase the distance between us, I wanted to kiss her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life. It was fucking stupid.
In any case, Alvarez is definitely more interesting than I gave her credit for. Wish I could pretend not to have a newfound appreciation for the kind of person she is, but I won’t. It’s not like it’ll change anything anyway.