“They know the score,” Ren assures, interrupting my thoughts.
“Okay. If you say so.” They’ve been warned. Most women, even the whores, tend to have feelings that have a direct line to their pussies. Play with it too much, and then the heart gets involved. No, thank you. I quickly fill the guys in on Harlow not feeling well and ask that they let her sleep, but check in on her. I’ll be back in about a couple of hours—right after I get a nut of my own. This makes encounter number three for Rita, so this will be our last fuck. I’ll make it a good one.
Chapter Six
Harlow
I’ve been on campus for about a month, and I’m settling in fine. The adjustment is easy when nobody knows about your past reputation at your other school as the campus weirdo. I just chose to keep to myself and let them assume whatever they wanted from my appearance. Irelyn was the social butterfly and the personality for us both. I know the parties I did get invited to were so that she would agree to go. I didn’t go to many, but I did attend a few. Now that I dress like “normal” people for the most part, I fit in with them. This is a new start for me. I’m determined to be more open-minded. I’ve seen some slutty-look-at-me-I-need-attention women here, but that is to be expected anywhere you go. Some people are just not happy in their own skin. I can attest to this firsthand. They’re just on the extreme ends of the spectrum. They underdress, whereas I always used to overdress. Same difference. Funny how people are willing to accept my introvert nature now since I look like them.
I finish packing my mini suitcase for a weekend stay at the lake house. Irelyn is going away to Atlanta for the weekend with one of our roommates and a couple of other girls from our mutual class. I wasn’t up for a wild weekend of clubbing and drinking. I didn’t want her to back out of going, so I convinced her that I missed Asher and was looking forward to spending some time with him.
It wasn’t a complete lie. I’ve only been to see the guys twice since school started. However, a small part of me is excited to see Phoenix, too. Our friendship was just starting to blossom when I left. He finally let down his guard a bit, to show the considerate and caring human being that he can be in addition to his whorish ways. It’s a part of who he is, but he is single for all intents and purposes. I have my suspicions that things would be different if he had a woman he cared about in his life. He was so attentive to me when I was sick. He showed me a carefree side that I’m sure no other woman has seen in quite some time. I push the excitement that is starting to bubble up inside me aside and wheel my luggage toward the door. Asher instructed me to be waiting on the steps at 4:00 p.m., so he didn’t have to come up. He said he would call if he were running late. It’s a few minutes till four now, so I hurry to get outside. I drop the handle to my suitcase when I see Phoenix sitting on his motorcycle with his helmet tucked under his arm. When he sees me, he places the helmet on the seat and walks toward me with so much swag I have to keep my jaw from dropping.
Fuck me; I forgot how sexy he is. Okay, not really, but damn.
I love how his jeans always hug his muscular thighs, but the fitted hunter green Henley shirt he’s wearing shows off his arms, pecs, and abs—oh, my. He has gotten thicker with more muscle. Any woman would die to get lost in those arms. I bet his cuddle game would be strong if he actually cuddled. Somehow, I don’t think that’s his forte.
“Well, hello, stranger,” he cheeses. “Surprise. I told Asher I wanted to pick you up. It would give me a chance to open my baby up on the highway. It’s been a while,” he mentions, gesturing toward his bike.
“Geez, and he went for that?” Now that the blood is flowing where it’s supposed to—instead of to my lady parts—I remember my fear of the death machine.
“Let’s just say it took some convincing.” He chuckles. “I promised I would be extra careful.” He winks, and it softens my resolve. I use to hate that winking crap, but I guess it’s growing on me.
“Uh-huh.” I fold my arms, but he unfolds them, then waves to someone behind me. I turn to see we have a small audience. Of course, he’s a woman magnet.
“Come on. We need to get you another bag for your things. Unfortunately, that won’t fit,” he says, already picking up my luggage. “Lead the way.” He strolls right past the ogling women without giving them a second look.
“You’ll have to wait here.” Parham Hall is an all-female dorm. He isn’t allowed to come up to the room. I explain this to him, and he is okay to wait in the community living room.
I know he is waiting, so I empty my backpack and shove a few days' worth of clothes, undergarments, and toiletries in it. I left some stuff at the lake house, so this should be enough. I turn to leave, and a girl by the name of Caroline is standing in the doorway. She is usually quiet and prefers to be tucked away with a book, much like myself.
“Who’s the guy, Harlow?” She wiggles her eyebrows, and it cracks me up.
“Just a friend,” I insist. She gives me the “yeah, sure” look. “He is picking me up for my brother.”
“Mm-hmm. I saw the way he looked at you, but if you say so. Hurry and get down there before those women attack your ‘friend,’” she says with air quotes. Phoenix couldn’t be happier to see me. He grabs the backpack from me and says goodbye to the ladies, who had followed him in. When we’re out of eyesight, he makes it a point to tear up a number one of the girls had slipped him. He puts the backpack on my back and tightens the straps. He grabs the helmet off the seat and puts it on my head. I hate that he won’t be wearing one. God. Let’s hope it is a nonissue. He gets on the motorcycle before helping me slide on behind him.
“Remember to lean into the turns with me, like you did last time, okay? And hold on tight. This ride is going to get up to speeds much faster than the last time you were on here.”
Yeah, that little last-minute disclaimer makes me feel wonderful. “I feel so much better now. Thanks,” I say sarcastically.
“I gotchu,” he promises. He kick-starts, and the engine roars to life. I can feel that familiar hum between my legs again. I lean forward and gladly wrap my arms around his waist. I can feel the diligence of his workout regimen through the six-pack I have the pleasure of holding onto right now. This is the best part. We take off, and I rest my head against his back. I can feel his back muscles as he wields this bike so effortlessly down the road. When we get up to the speeds he was speaking of, I bite my lip, but then I relax and melt into him. I don’t know how fast we’re going right now, but we’re whipping by cars. I snuggle further into him—believing that, as he said, he has me.
In no time at all, we’re pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant by the name of Bottega Cafe.
“You like Italian?” Is he kidding me? I pull the helmet off my head to get a better look at the beautiful architecture of this place.
“It’s my favorite cuisine,” I admit. “I don’t have much money on me, though. How much will this place hit me for? Sorry, poor college student here.”
“Nothing because it’s on me.” I open my mouth to argue, but he puts a single finger to my lips. “Hush. No arguing. The guys may have left the house already for tonight’s gig, so there won’t be anyone around to cook. This saves time.”