4. Harper
4
HARPER
Royal
You sneak out early?
You were passed out
I didn’t want to disturb
T hat’s mainly the truth. Royal slept on the floor, leaving me the bed in his room, and I tossed and turned all night. I stole a pair of boxers from his dresser to wear, then didn’t bother giving them back when I tugged my jeans on at eight o’clock this morning.
The door to the room across the hall was shut when I scurried out.
Now, I brush out my hair in my room, fresh out of a scalding-hot shower. I scrubbed my skin until it was red, washed my face a few times, and then just stood under the stream. No amount of bar soap in the guys’ shared bathroom was enough to rid me of the sensation of cum on my face.
And the lingering humiliation.
Why did I let that happen?
Why didn’t I just…
I exhale.
Someone knocks on the door, interrupting my train of thought. My roommate and her boyfriend were gone when I returned, but she wouldn’t knock.
I glance down at myself. Everything is secure—my body, I mean—under a towel. My wet hair hangs over my shoulder.
The knock comes again. Harder.
I go and crack it—and freeze.
The guy from last night reaches out and shoves my door in, immediately filling the space and slipping inside.
“You—What are you doing?” I catch the door and hold it open. “Get out.”
He stops in the middle of my room and turns in a small circle. Analyzing everything, from my roommate’s messy side to my made bed. The rows of pictures attached to strings and lights on her wall. My relatively empty shelves, minus the textbooks I’ll need this semester.
There’s noise in the hallway, and I release the door automatically. It swings shut before anyone can see me in my towel… or him.
“It smells like sex in here.” He raises an eyebrow.
My face heats. “That wasn’t me.”
“No?”
“No.” I cross my arms.
His gaze drops to my chest, then slowly rises again. A wicked smile curves his lips, but it slips away. His sudden seriousness makes me straighten.
“Royal Lawson is your brother.”
I wince.
He glowers at me. “A detail you failed to mention last night.”
“Listen. I don’t know you?—”
He scoffs.
“I don’t . All I know is you were using that room to get laid?—”
“My room,” he interrupts. “I was using my room. You barged into my room.”
And you didn’t give me any choice once I was inside.
He turns away, drifting over to the made bed. He reaches out, letting his palm coast across the purple bedspread. He reaches my pillow and presses his fingers into it.
“What are you going to tell your brother?”
His back is to me. He’s focused more on the pillow and the singular photo I taped to the wall next to it. It’s of Royal and me after my high school graduation.
But… what am I going to tell him?
“Nothing,” I say. “You think I want him finding out about… that?”
He lifts a shoulder and faces me once again. “I don’t know what you’d be inclined to share with him.”
Is he…
Royal’s initial introduction—and subsequent threat to his teammates about me—floats to the front of my mind.
I didn’t know this guy was a hockey player, but he obviously is. He lives in the hockey house. He’s got the ass of a hockey player. So he’s worried about my brother finding out he basically forced himself on me.
Well.
The fact I liked most of it is notwithstanding.
And complicated.
“What will you give me to keep this little secret between us?” The words are out before I can stop him.
His expression sharpens. It’s like every bit of him tunes in to me. “What will I give you?” His tone is dangerous.
“Yeah.”
It’s official—I’m losing my mind.
Why am I baiting him?
I don’t even know his name.
He steps forward, and I go back. Back, back, back, until I hit the wall. He’s right there, and too fast to stop, he tugs my towel.
It loosens and falls to a heap around my feet. I belatedly cover my chest, but he stares only at my face. He leans in. Leans down . His lips are inches away.
Is he going to kiss me?
My head moves, tilts back. Waits for him to come just another hair closer.
“I can give you mercy,” he breathes. “Or I’ll drag you into ruin. Your choice.”