Chapter 6
Jonas
T here’s a gentle rapping on the door that can only belong to our Kitty Kat.
I check my watch and can’t help the grin that snakes across my face.
It’s five sharp. Little Hilary is punctual.
It’s a shame that won’t have any bearing on her future.
Neither will any of the hard work she’s put into making her life better to escape the slums she was born into.
“Time to play.” Jensen rubs his hands together like a kid at a party, eager to unwrap his presents.
I place my glasses back on and take my time stepping over to the door. I glance over my shoulder and give the guys a wink. It’s time to put on a show.
I grip the handle and turn, pulling it open just as Hilary lifts her hand to knock again. Instead of hitting her knuckles on the door, she hits my chest.
“Oh, crap, Jonas, I’m so sorry.”
I can’t help but chuckle internally at how badly she’s freaking out. Does she really think she hurt me?
Her face is white as a ghost. Maybe I should be calling her a mouse instead of a Kitty Kat because of how scared she is. My thoughts drift to chasing her through the woods as she screams.
“I’m really sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to open the door as I was about to knock,” she blubbers again. She knows we’re the kings and what she did, touching me like that, is punishable.
“It’s fine. I won’t kill you this time.” I give her a wink and chuckle. Well, not today anyway.
“Okay, thanks.” Unsure of what to do, she rocks back and forth on her heels.
“Well, come inside, Kitty Kat. We have lots of work to do.” I stand back, holding my hand out, gesturing for her to enter.
She’s wearing the same frumpy clothes from earlier.
You’d think knowing she was coming to our house, she’d at least attempt not to look like a sack of potatoes.
But nope. Still in the oversize sweatshirt that hangs down, nearly covering her ass, and baggy jeans.
The same messy bun from this morning now has more hair spilling out of it.
Her glasses sit low on her nose, and she’s wearing fucking ratty ass tennis shoes.
Hilary James is a hopeless, pitiful mess.
I shut the door and turn around, but she stops dead in her tracks and I nearly knock her over.
“I… I thought we’d be alone.”
“Nah, my buds live here. I’m not just going to kick them out. Besides, they can be our soundboard for the project.”
I step past her into the living room and take a seat on the couch. I can’t help but grin, knowing how uncomfortable she is. It’s fucking orgasmic. I pat the cushion beside me as she nervously chews on her lip.
“Well? Don’t just stand there. Join us.” I glance at the guys and see the glimmer in their eyes as they look back at me. Yep, they’re loving this too.
“I’m going to go take a shower. Order some pizza for the four of us,” Jensen says apathetically. Her lip quivers as her gaze drifts between all of us. I love the sight of how nervous she is—how nervous we make her. “I’m starving. I’m sure Hilary is too.”
Jensen stands, moving towards her, gripping her arms with his hands, moving her to the side as he leaves the room, heading up the stairs. She lets out a squeak and my cock twitches from the sound.
“Come on, Hilary.” I deepen my voice, tired of playing around with her. Friday will be a different story. She can play coy all she wants then, but I need to win her over so she’ll be exactly where I want her to be.
She shuffles her feet as she crosses the room, but instead of sitting on the couch, she lowers her bag off her shoulder and places it on the floor, kneeling in front of the coffee table across from us.
Well played, Hilary. Well played.
“There is a couch, with a spot right beside me that’ll be more comfortable than the floor,” I remind her.
She doesn’t look at me, instead, she keeps her head down, the loose strands of hair falling in her face, and pulls a spiral notebook from her bag. She opens it and places it on the table before taking a pen out.
“So, umm, I was thinking we could look at the similarities between William Shakespeare's body of works,” she announces.
Huh? Not the path I would take. It seems to be far more work than I would ever place into getting a grade. I already know that I’m getting an A regardless, but her idea feels like it would require us to spend an increased amount of time together. I wonder if she thought about that.
“Shit man, you ain’t smart enough to do that,” Hals jokes as he doubles over, laughing. “Good thing you got a brainiac for a partner.”
“Like you know anything about Shakespeare, either. If you don’t have any intelligent input, get the fuck out of here, dickhead,” I bark at him before turning my attention back to her.
“We can just look at the bullet points first, then divide them up. I can make a plan and we can do the work on our own, then meet up to finalize the final report.” Her voice squeaks as she starts scribbling away in her notebook.
Oh no, Kitty Kat. You’re not getting away that easily. It’s cute that you think that, though. You’re stuck to my side until Friday. Then, well, you’ll be the girl people don’t even wonder about.
“What topics of similarity are you thinking about?” Hals asks, scooting closer to me on the couch so he can lean forward and see what she’s writing.
“Well, I was thinking we could discuss the recurring themes in his plays.” She stops writing to look up, her emerald green eyes shifting between us.
“Interesting. And what would those be?” While I pride myself on being smart, Shakespeare isn’t something I spend my time studying. What really gets me is how much Hals is playing along with this. He’s sucking up to her more than he’s ever done with anyone before.
“Yes, Hilary, since this is our project, why don’t you share that with me?” I cut my eyes at Hals. If he scares her off after I’ve gotten her here, I’m going to murder him.
“Well.” She tucks a few stray wispy curls behind her ear before wringing her hands together. Yes! There’s my skittish, timid, awkward girl.
“We could look at the consistent use of tragic heroes, themes, and troubled romantic relationships between his works.”
“That’s good. I like that.” Fuck, I’m actually impressed. I may even want to do this project solo after she’s gone—especially if we get the majority of the groundwork done before Friday.
“There’s more than that, but I figured three is a good number to look at. If you don’t like it, we can go with something else.”
“I agree, Hilary, three is a magical number. I’ve heard great things happen in three.” Hals gives a wink that has her dropping her eyes to her notebook. Her face and neck, turn a beautiful shade of pink.
Hilary keeps fidgeting with her notebook, only maintaining eye contact briefly. Her breathing is raspy and I love the fear that’s permeating off of her.
I stand up, needing to cut the distance between us so I can move this along. She must trust me, to want me. Her keeping the coffee table between us isn’t going to help.
I move to her side and reach down, scooping her into my arms, and step back over to the couch. She lets out a yelp, trying to pull herself from my grasp.
I plop her down on the cushion between Hals and myself and sit back down. She goes to stand up, but I place my hand on her knee, squeezing it tightly as I prevent her from moving.
“Nope, this is better. I can see what you’re writing, and I like you being close to me,” I whisper into her ear, letting my hot breath dance along her lobe.
“You can say that again. She fits perfectly in this spot.” Hals slips his arm along the back of the couch, as he scoots closer to her. “What do you like on your pizza?”
She shakes her head and we both laugh.
“Aren’t you going to answer him? It’ll make me happy,” I tell her, as I rub my hand along her thigh, her body tensing under my touch.
“Really, I’m good. I can eat in the cafeteria when we’re done.”
“Oh, we’re going to be here for a while. Please tell me you don’t like pineapple on your pizza like this neanderthal beside me.”
“I thought I was just going to be here for like thirty minutes max.” With the way she says it, I’m not sure if she’s asking a question or making a statement.
“No, Hilary, I expect you to be here for hours. We can work, eat, and then get to know each other. I’m sure the guys want to get to know Hilary James, the girl who’s caught our attention.”
Her eyes widen, and she quickly shifts her gaze between us. Hals scoots even closer to her, running his nose along her cheek.
“I really want to get to know you.” I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest even through the oversized clothing she’s wearing, and I know her heart is racing.
Jensen chooses that moment to come bounding down the steps in nothing more than a towel wrapped around his waist, his chiseled tan body still glistening with water and his hair damp.
He has a tattoo of a crown just like Hals and I do on his chest above our heart.
My eyes drift over to Hilary and I can’t help but grin.
Her mouth is slightly parted as she bites on her lip, her pupils blown wide with lust. Yep, winning her heart is going to be fucking easy.
“When’s the pizza getting here? I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” He asks as he steps over to the couch, plopping down beside Hals. He spreads his legs wide, the piece of cotton barely containing his cock.
Hilary quickly covers her eyes, her face turning red. “Shit, um, I should go. I don’t want to intrude, and um... yeah.” She stumbles over her words, unable to make a cohesive sentence.
Leave it to Jensen to push the boundaries.
“We haven’t ordered yet, but come on man, we have company. Take your ass upstairs and put on some clothes. Be respectful.” I give him a wink, knowing that Hilary can’t see. He holds his fingers up to his mouth in a V and begins sticking his tongue through before standing up.
“I am so sorry, Hilary. Forgive me for being so barbaric. I’m just not used to beautiful women being in our home.”
“It’s okay,” she mumbles, blushing.
Good save, Jensen, smooth move. We’re going to have her tripping all over every word we say in no time.
Step one complete. Have her believe our lies as we make her think we might actually be interested in her.
“Let’s get back to our assignment.”