“And…” Brady says, pulling my thoughts back. He pokes me. “She’s your new tutor.”
“Yeah,” I say, halfheartedly as I run my fingers through my mess of hair. “That’s all kind of fucked up.” Under my breath, I add, “I can’t believe she came tonight.”
“Me neither. Why do you think she’s here?”
“Don’t know.”
“Why don’t you go find out.”
I turn to Brady, and our eyes lock. “You think so?” Why the hell am I asking my best friend’s thoughts on this. Who I’m with is not his business and I don’t need his permission. The fact that I am asking, though, that means even I know I should leave well enough alone. I just wish I wasn’t so goddamn drawn to her. If it was just her body I was after—fuck, I could have her sister, judging by the way she was acting earlier.
“Go.” Brady gives me a shove to set me into motion, and I head toward the door just as she steps back in, alone. At least she was smart enough to ditch douche bag Cameron. Her eyes drift to mine and need slams into me, pounds hard against my chest. What the hell is wrong with me? No girl has ever pulled this kind of reaction from me before. It’s a bit unnerving, really. I take one step, but before I can get to her, I hear someone call my name. Ivy comes running up to me, jumping into my arms, and laughingly wraps her arms around me, burying her face in my neck.
“There you are,” she says and shakes her head to roll her hair to her back. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Been right here the whole time, Ivy.” I try to shake her loose but she tightens her hold on me.
“I guess I haven’t been looking in the right places.” With her dress—one very similar to Ella’s—high on her thighs, she wiggles her body against mine, and I groan as her pussy presses against my stomach. Is she even wearing panties, and what the fuck does she think she’s doing? I’m not her type, never have been, so why all the attention, suddenly?
“Did you know your sister is here?” I ask.
Her eyes go wide, shock registering on her face. “What the hell? This is so not her thing.” She glances around like she’s searching for her sister, and while she’s acting all surprised, I get the strangest feeling she knew Ella was here.
“I was just about to go say hello to her.” I look past Ivy’s shoulder, and my eyes lock with Ella’s. She stands there perfectly still, and a moment later something passes over her eyes, and I watch her transform in front of me. She hugs herself, and takes a small step back, like she’s trying to disappear into the woodwork. I grip Ivy’s arms to release her hold on me, but can’t shake her off. Cameron is back, and he puts his hand on Ella’s back to set her into motion. She stumbles a bit, like she’s unsure, then casts me a quick glance before letting him lead her into the kitchen.
“Fuck,” I grumble.
Ivy blinks at me. “What?”
“Your sister. She shouldn’t be with Cameron. I know him and he’s only after one thing.”
“What guy here isn’t?” she challenges with a laugh.
Okay, so what can I say? She’s right about that. I shrug, and Ivy slides from my body, and goes all kitten like, rubbing herself against me.
“So what are we waiting for?” she asks and when I don’t bite, I catch a hint of anger simmering just below her smile. “Can you tell me why you’re wasting time worrying about my sister? She’s a big girl.”
“Yeah, maybe, but I don’t think she knows what she’s getting herself into.” Christ, I grew up with four sisters, and a mother who is a minister. If I don’t do the right thing here and see to her safety, they’d all kill me. But this isn’t just for them. Something about Ella brings out the protector in me.
She scoffs. “After what she said about you, I’d think you’d want to kick her out of here.”
“You heard about that, huh?” I ask, and take in the sour look on her face.
“Everyone heard about that. She’s the laughingstock on the campus, Landon. Even I’m embarrassed to call her my sister.”
Something tightens inside of me. “Then it must have been very hard for her to come here tonight.”
“Right?” She rolls her big blue eyes. “Why put herself through the embarrassment?”
“Maybe I should go find out what’s going on.”
She runs one finger up and down my chest. “Can’t you go later?” She glances at the stairs. “I kind of want to go up there right now.”
“Upstairs is off limits.” Not that that has ever stopped any of the guys from going up there and fucking in my bedroom.
“This is your house, your rules.” Her whiny voice grates on my nerves. “You can change them for me, Landon.”
She’s not wrong. “I’m going to go check on Ella.” Ivy pouts and tries to pull at me as I move around her. Just then Ivy’s friend Jessica walks past me, and I glance over my shoulder to see Ivy reach for her friend’s cup and take a big drink. Ivy starts bitching to her friend as I enter the kitchen.
Ella’s back is to me, yet everything about her tells me she knows I’m right behind her. Her body tightens as she watches the guys do a keg stand. I step up to her, and I’m about to put my hand on her shoulder when I remember what happened the last time I touched without permission. Instead, I bend and place my mouth near her ear. “You came.”
She slowly turns, and my fucking heart jumps when big blue eyes full of shame, and embarrassment, meet mine. Her smile is wobbly, everything about her on edge when she says, “Can’t fool you.”
I take a long breath as her sweet vanilla scent fills my nostrils. “Nope.” I tap my head. “I suck in English, but I’m not all brawn.”
Color crawls up her neck and into her cheeks as she glances down, and folds her arms, once again retreating into herself. “That’s why I’m here. I…I…”
“Follow me,” I say and lead her out of the kitchen to a corner in the living room that is somewhat quieter. I lean against the wall and she stands there shifting from one foot to the other. “I’m glad you came.”
A garbled sound crawls out of her throat. “Why, after what you heard me say?” She buries her face in her hands.
I make a move to pull her hands away and stop myself. “Uh, can I touch you?”
Her head jerks up, her hands still in front of her. “What?”
“Your hands. Can I touch them?”
She examines her hands, frowning like she doesn’t get why I asked, then her gaze slides back to mine. “Um, yeah, okay.” I take her hands, and I’m instantly bombarded with want as I close callused fingers over her very soft skin. I put her hands by her sides.
“I’m not upset. Not anymore, anyway. I guess I just want to know why you said those things.”
“I was just being stupid. I don’t really think you guys are all brawn. I’m here tonight to apologize to every single guy on the team. I’ve been the victim of name calling and bullying…” She swallows like she’s remembering something hurtful, and without even realizing it, my fingers curl into fists wanting to hunt down and beat everyone who hurt her. “I know how that feels, and what I did was no better. I’m sorry, Landon.”