Chapter 9
Charlotte
I wake up about two hours later, dying of thirst. I untangle myself from Ethan's arm draped over my waist and put on my panties and his shirt, which is way too big on me and reaches down to my thighs. I open the bedroom door and peek outside, hoping this Logan guy hasn't gotten home yet.
After a few moments without seeing or hearing anyone around, I head to the kitchen on tiptoe. The little ache between my legs was already making itself known, a reminder of how very well I'd been fucked.
There are glasses in the dish rack and I thank the heavens I don't have to go hunting through the cabinets.
I just drink water straight from the tap and try to make as little noise as possible.
I'm a little bit hungry, but I should have some cereal bar in my bag and that'll have to do.
I was already heading back to the room when I bump into something in the hallway.
Or rather, into someone.
I let out a little shriek, because it's all dark and I can't see clearly who it is. Luckily, I recognize the laugh and the hands that catch me by the waist.
"Sneaking around the place, gorgeous?" Ethan's smooth voice asks quietly, and I let out my breath, relieved.
"You scared the hell out of me, boy!" I complain, giving his arm a little smack, which only makes him laugh more. "I was dying of thirst..."
"Did you get something to drink? Let me fix something for you," he says, already dragging me by the hand back to the kitchen.
"I did, you don't have to!"
"Either way, come with me. I need to quench my thirst too."
Ethan turns on the light in the room, irritating my eyes for a second. He pours himself some orange juice he finds in the fridge and gives me a glass too. While we drink, I notice him looking me up and down, and only then do I remember I'm wearing almost nothing. I blush automatically.
"This top looks a thousand times better on you than on me," he compliments, and I blush even harder, but I return the look, admiring the fact that he'd only put on a pair of black boxer briefs.
Ethan takes a last sip of his drink and sets the glass in the sink, doing the same with mine after carefully taking it out of my hands. Every one of his movements is done with his eyes locked on me. It was seductive in a really good way.
Slowly, then, he stops in front of me, brushes his hand lightly over my face, and lifts my chin to kiss me. It's a series of light kisses, like he's been holding himself back.
"Seems like I can't stop wanting you," he reveals, and I think I murmur an agreement, but I'm completely lost in the soft seduction of that moment.
I run my nails lightly over Ethan's bare stomach and feel him shiver.
His kisses make a trail until they reach my shoulder, where he starts biting slowly.
By this point, my hands are already roaming all over his abs and moving to his back, where I can't resist and scratch him from top to bottom.
Ethan hisses and his hands, before only squeezing my waist, now devote themselves to slowly lifting my top. When his warm fingers reach my butt, the player squeezes me eagerly against his erection and we both moan.
I'm ready to ask him to put me on the kitchen table and fuck me again, when I hear someone clear their throat.
The scare makes us jump apart, and I turn my face toward the sound, coming face to face with a tall man, with hair in a dark blond shade, light eyes, and strong arms that had definitely been on my skin before.
Fuck. Shit. Hell! How can one person be so unlucky?
That was Logan Hayes. Ethan's roommate was that damn Logan Hayes, the only other guy I'd ever slept with besides Johnny and Ethan. And also the guy who saw me have a meltdown in the middle of the dorm and who stopped me from throwing a coin-filled piggy bank at my ex.
Again: fuck! How could I not have caught that when Ethan mentioned it?
Damn it, damn it, damn it! I'm almost certain my face is on fire right now, as I watch him give a little sideways smile in our direction and say:
"Get a room, kids! Or invite me to join, otherwise I'll stand here dying of envy."
Ethan huffs and pulls me by the waist, standing behind me.
"Shut up, idiot, I've caught you in way worse situations," the dark-haired guy shoots back, which only makes Logan laugh harder.
"Can't deny it, but we don't need to get into details in front of your lovely company," Logan says, coming closer to us and holding his hand out to me.
I swallow hard before returning the gesture.
The blond man takes my hand gently and places a kiss on the back of it, like a cheap charmer.
"Hello, Charlotte," he greets in his deep voice, without stopping staring at me.
And it's exactly what I see in his eyes that leaves me trembling inside.
He remembers me. And not just as the crazy cheated-on girl.
Hell.
My last shred of hope is that he doesn't remember that one night a little over a year ago, where we were both a bit drunk and ended up having sex in the bathroom at a fraternity party.
It was right in the first week of classes, and Johnny and I had had a bad fight and decided to take a break.
I was pissed off, thinking about how ridiculous it was that I'd given up my dream university to follow him, only to get dumped right after.
Maddie then convinced me to go to a party and stop licking my wounds for a few hours.
So I went. And Logan Hayes played a round of a drinking game against me. Several cups of cheap beer later, we were making out in the bathroom.
Johnny asked to get back together two days later, but by that point I'd already found out Logan was on the football team and decided not to tell him anything.
I don't think I even told my cousin. And all the other parties where we ran into each other after that, I was with my boyfriend, so Hayes never came near me again.
It had been a relief and I let myself erase that event from my mind.
Not that it had been bad, it hadn't been in the slightest, it's just that I felt like Ross sleeping with the copy-place girl after Rachel asked for a break. It wasn't cheating, but it wasn't exactly cool either.
Then again, with the amount of times I got cheated on, Johnny really did deserve to have that one done to him.
But that wasn't the important point right now! I correct my own train of thought.
The important thing is that, with his huge reputation as a player, I was sure Logan didn't remember even half the women who'd been through his bed, much less me!
Though, of course, life wasn't going to give me that much luck.
And now I was half-naked, at the place of the guy I'd just slept with, and saying hi to his roommate, who I'd also slept with.
How nice. So much fun. So much fun I could throw myself out the window right now.
"Hi, Logan." I finally find my voice to answer him and earn a mischievous smile.
"Great, I don't need to introduce you two," Ethan remarks, running his hand over my shoulder.
"Yeah, we've seen each other at a few parties and games," Logan adds, smiling. I swallow hard, but nod in agreement. "I hope you're both hungry, because I brought pizza," the blond goes on and finally takes his attention off my face to grab a square box left on the counter.
"I'm not really hungry, but I'm not going to turn down pizza." That's Ethan's quick answer from behind me. "And you, Charlie?"
"I'll take a slice, but I'll get dressed first," I answer, watching Logan open the box and bring a slice to his mouth, copied by Ethan. I move to leave the kitchen, but the blond player stops me, speaking again.
"You two relax, I don't want to get in your way.
I'll just grab a plate and eat in my room," he decides, hurrying to put two slices of the pepperoni pizza on a plate and grab a glass of juice from the fridge.
Ethan and I try to get him to stay and eat at the table, but Hayes won't be dissuaded and leaves humming.
Before disappearing down the hallway, though, the guy turns and throws us another teasing little smile.
"Just... please, don't make too much noise so I don't get too jealous, okay?" he says, and Ethan curses at him, but only gets back the sound of his friend's laughter moving away.
"Don't mind him, he's taking advantage of your embarrassment," Ethan says, stopping in front of me and running a finger softly down my cheek. "But you look really cute all flushed like this."
I huff and gently move his hand away.
"Ridiculous pale skin. But thanks." I grab a piece of pizza from the box and bite into it, immediately moaning at the incredible flavor. "Wow, so good! Where does he buy this?"
"At the pizza place a block from here. It's almost too good.
If we could, we'd eat it every day, but the team nutritionist would kill us," he admits, and I let out a little laugh, but the agony I feel inside doesn't fade.
I need to go to my dorm to think and relax.
"Want to take a plate to my room too? We can watch a movie," Ethan suggests, but I shake my head energetically.
"No, no... Thanks, but I need to head out.
My cousin's probably already worried and I have an early class tomorrow," I give as an excuse.
Not that it's a lie, I really do need to get up early and Maddie has definitely already left a dozen messages on my phone, but it's not the main reason I want to leave now.
It's that my head is kind of screwed up. Should I tell him I've already slept with his friend? Or is there no need because we're not boyfriend and girlfriend? But what if we're going to keep this casual sex thing up and I have to run into Logan constantly? And what if Logan tells him?
Damn. I don't know anything. That's why I really need to be alone with the crazy little voices that live inside my head.
The face Ethan makes at what I say, though, is almost one of disappointment.
"Okay. I'll just change and take you," he offers, walking over to the sink to wash his hands.
"You don't have to, I'll call a car on the app and..." I try, but Ethan interrupts me quickly.
"That's not open to negotiation, Miss McCarthy. I picked you up, I'll take you home. I'd never let you get into a stranger's car at this hour," he states, stopping right in front of me and giving me a calm look.
I let out a sigh of defeat. Did he really have to be so perfect? If we couldn't keep this friends-with-benefits thing going anymore because of Logan, I was going to be really upset.
"Okay, Mr. Clarke. Let's get dressed so you can give me a ride, then," I agree, and he smiles.
"Good girl. Let's go," he says, taking me by the hand and pulling me toward his room.
Great, I just had to keep it together for a few more minutes. It was going to work out.