Chapter 15

fifteen

Cash

They all look at me like I’ve lost my mind. Good. That’s what I want. If the people closest to me believe Wrenlee means everything to me, the world will, too.

So will all the chicks that invade, day after day, syphoning energy like vampires suck blood. So will, all fingers crossed, Alyssa. She’d made three attempts in the last week to get inside my building. Security is on alert and lets me know of every attempt she makes to see me in my home. I thank fuck that she’s older and established enough in her career that she has no excuse to be wandering the halls of the university in search of Wrenlee. The chick is a viper, fangs, venom, and all.

My gaze flicks to my girl where she’s sitting in the hot tub with Candace. She’d wiggled free from the cage of my arms only after agreeing to be mine. If I’m being honest, I’d been surprised to hear the declaration from her lips. Surprised and pleased as fuck.

“Be real, man. How’d this happen?” Tav lifts himself to sit against the side of the pool. On her way back with drinks, Candace turned on the music that now flows from the surround sound. With the music as a buffer, I know Wrenlee can’t hear me speak. I also can’t hear her.

What’s she talking about with Candace?

I tear my eyes from Wrenlee to look at my friend. Steam billows around him, the heat of his body from the warm pool reacting to the cold air in the October night.

“Just did.”

“She’s not the usual,” Ian observes.

“There is no usual.”

“You fuck her yet?” Kane swims back, suspecting right there’s a good chance I’ll cold clock him for that one.

“Not your fucking business.” Any of the other chicks, I wouldn’t care. I’d tell them, then tell them to take their own shot if she was good. Not a chance with Wrenlee. She’s mine. Only mine.

Someone else touches her and I’m not sure what I’ll do.

See red? Definitely.

Spill blood? Damn good possibility.

“Course he’s fucked her,” Tav interjects. “Girl lives here. You really think he’s got ass like that in his bed and he hasn’t had it?” Tav makes a noise of disbelief. “Nah.”

“Don’t know, man.” Kane slides his eyes to the hot tub. “Something about her feels pure. Untouched.” His eyes come to me, probing. “Not sure our man here’s dipped into that honey pot just yet.” Kane earns a sharp slap upside the head for that one, twisting to loudly exclaim, “What was that for?”

I smirk, wondering why he thought he was safe close to Ian.

Ian shrugs. “Seemed to me you were pushin’ for it. Better me than Cash.”

“Fuck you.”

Ian’s lips curl, but he doesn’t take the bait. In fact, all our attention snaps to the hot tub as Wrenlee and Candace stand. Candace is a beautiful girl, but she’s been around so long she feels like a sister. Like one of the guys. She’s just Ian’s girl. Always has been and always will be, far as I can tell.

Wrenlee, though—shiiiiiit. The girl is pure sex on legs. Knowing she’s a virgin only makes it that much more shocking. The way she moves screams sex kitten. Every shift of her body has her full hips swaying in just the right way to have a man dreaming visions of how those hips might move if she rode him, thick thighs clenching around him. Her full, pouty lips are a man’s downfall and those fuck-me green eyes are my kryptonite. Her tiny waist, smooth skin, and large tits turn my mouth dry. A quick look at the guys says I’m not the only one affected.

Normally, I’d feel pride, knowing my guys wanted a taste of what I had. With her, I want to stake my claim. I don’t want them to look. I don’t want anyone to look.

I don’t want to run the risk she’ll find someone else who looks at her to be more than she finds me. Can’t take the chance she might turn and walk away, leaving me for someone else.

I’ve never felt like this before. This possessive jealousy.

I don’t like it. Don’t know what to do with it.

She moves to the edge of the pool, slowly lowering herself to sit beside Tav as Candace jumps in on the move to Ian. My eyes are fixed on her as she settles on the ledge with her feet dangling in the water. She glances at Tav and when she finds him looking, blushes.

Something hot and unpleasant unfurls inside me. That blush is mine. I’ve told her that.

Swimming closer, like a shark on the mission for blood, I don’t stop until my hands are gripping her thighs. I’m so aware of her, I don’t miss the way she pulls in a breath through those pouty lips, full breasts rising. My thumbs start to move slowly against her skin, tracing the gold hoop that holds the fabric of her bottoms in place, and even though she’s trying to listen to something Tav is saying to her, I know I’m affecting her. Her little nipples are hard beneath her swimsuit, and she’s shifted twice, pressing her thighs together in the process.

That’s right, little kitten, feel how your body responds to me.

I want to drive her to the edge of madness. I feel like I’m already standing at the precipice, and I don’t want to fall alone.

I’m seconds from pulling her into the pool with me when she lets out a little yawn, trying to cover it up with her hand. She’s tired and I know it’s well past two in the morning.

That’s all it takes for me to call out, “Party’s over.”

Ian chuckles but it’s Kane who whines, “Already?”

“My girl’s tired.” I don’t take my eyes off Wrenlee, so I see the way hers widen in horror.

“I’m not!” She shakes her head in denial. “I’m fine.”

Tav peers down at her. “Your man’s ready to be alone with you.”

“Pussy whipped.” Kane pouts, but he lifts himself from the pool.

Wrenlee starts to shift, so I tighten my hold on her. She protests, “We should walk them out.”

“They know the way.”

“Cash.”

“Kitten.”

Candace calls out with a flippant wave. “You kids have fun now.”

“Later,” I call over my shoulder, and then it’s quiet. Nothing but the sound of her breathing and mine in the space between us. I like it this way.

No, I don’t like it. I love it.

Her hands move to cover mine when I move them from her hips to the dip of her waist. “You have a beautiful body.”

Her cheeks flush apple-red. “Thank you.”

“I like this swimsuit.”

“I know.” She wets her lips. “That’s why I picked it.”

She wants to please me. Why does that feel so good?

“You have a good time tonight?”

She nods sweetly. “It was fun.”

“Yeah?” I want more. How did she feel?

Her hands fall from mine, finally allowing me to touch her without her innocent resistance. She pushes a wet strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t make friends easily. I had a couple girls back home who I was close to, but we all went separate ways. We still text from time to time, but it’s not often.” She lifts a shoulder. “I haven’t really made any friends since I came here. My closest would have been Marley, but neither of us had time to make much of that relationship between work and class and studying.” She inhales, full tits rising. “So tonight was nice. I really like Candace.”

“She likes you too.”

“She does?”

So sweet. “Yeah. She doesn’t always play nice with other girls.”

I remember Candace with Alyssa. She’d hated her right off the start and had avoided her whenever we all spent time together. There were times Candace would even refuse to join us in group gatherings. Ian once told me it was to avoid Alyssa. Ian hadn’t liked her, either. I should have taken the hint and listened to them.

“Well, she plays just fine with me.”

I chuckle deep and low, surprised by how easily this girl makes me laugh. Makes me smile.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” She tips her head, gazing down at me in a way that makes me want to pull her into the water and devour her mouth. Invade her body. Possess her.

I resist. Just barely.

“For being everything, I need.”

Her brows furrow like she wants to ask questions but doesn’t know how. Finally, voice low and hesitant, she asks, “What do you need?”

“You.”

Her breath hitches, and I can’t help it, my fingers pulse against her skin. Her eyes drop to where my hands hold her waist, and her little tongue pokes out to wet her lips. There’s a flush in her skin I know from experience is arousal, and I feel my dick twitch in my shorts.

I want this girl. I want her like I’ve wanted nothing else in my life, with an intensity I can’t seem to cool.

I wonder if, after I have her, the need I feel now will linger.

She starts to shift away from me, pulling her legs from the pool. “I’m um—I should really go to bed.”

She’s not ready for a repeat of what happened the last time we were alone up here.

That’s okay, I’ll wait.

I pull myself from the pool, rising to my full height beside her. She’s so little, so delicate, she makes me feel big and strong.

I want to be big and strong for her. Safe for her.

Jeez, I need another drink. Something to wash away the insanity she makes me feel.

She bends to wrap a towel around her body before she lifts my sweater into her arms. Her face flushes red as she looks down at the heap of black material in her arms. Then, cute as hell, she declares, “I’m not giving this back to you.”

My head cocks to the side. “Why’s that?”

“I like sleeping in it,” she admits, lifting her chin in adorable defiance. “It’s comfortable.”

Why does that feel so good?

Why does the thought of her sleeping in my sweater make me want to pound my chest like a crazed gorilla?

This girl.

“Then it’s yours,” my voice hits the space between us gruffly.

The small smile I get is worth everything as she turns, clutching my sweater in her arms like it’s her most prized possession, and walks into my house. I follow her all the way to her room, leaning against the wall opposite it as she opens the door and slips inside. Just as the door is about to latch, I ask huskily, “Where’s my goodnight kiss, Kitten?”

Her eyes lift to mine. Her lips part. “Is that what you want?”

I don’t answer. I push off the wall and close the space she put between us. Hand pushing between her mass of honey-gold hair and the smooth skin of her neck, I grip her gently as I draw her in. She tilts her head back in offering and my mouth covers hers, fitting like a puzzle piece. I want to deepen it, to push her beyond what I know she’s ready for, but I don’t. I kiss her softly and slowly until her breaths come quick, and then I pull back.

Her lips are swollen and red, her green eyes bright. Beautiful.

My thumb drags the line of her jaw, and her body trembles. Slowly, I lean down to press a kiss to her forehead. When her eyes drift closed and she leans into me, something in my chest unravels.

I’ve never kissed a woman on her forehead before. Never had the urge.

“Sweet dreams, Kitten.” With those words, I release her. I watch as she gathers herself, turns and closes the door between us.

Then I release my own breath. Scrubbing my hands down my face, I think for the first time she might be more than I can handle.

But fuck it, I’m not letting her go.