Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
I stepped forward and hugged him. He sighed, his body relaxing as he wrapped me up in his arms. “I don’t forgive you,” I told him. He didn’t deserve to be forgiven right now for what he’d so carelessly blurted. “But I don’t want to fight. It’ll just take me some time to come to terms with the fact that the one person I trusted most in this world blurted to everyone in that frat house that I’m ruined.”
Vincent tightened his arms around me. “You’re not ruined, Meg. You never were,” he said quietly, but I didn’t believe him this time. “I’m so, so sorry that it came out like that.”
I blew out a soft breath and pulled back from him. “I really need a shower,” I said, not wanting to talk about it anymore.
He nodded and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, leading me back towards the frat house. I looked up to the porch where Julian said he was going to be, but he was heading inside, his bare back taut with tension. I blew out a soft breath. “Vince, you do realize that one day, you won’t be around to protect me all of the time, right?” I asked him quietly.
He gently squeezed my shoulders. “I know,” he grunted. “But I’m going to protect you for as long as I can, Meg.”
* * *
✶ ✶ ✶
* * *
Desiree grabbed my other hand in hers and began painting my thumb with a dark, maroon-colored nail polish. I scowled at the character on the TV screen. “I really don’t understand everyone’s obsession with this movie,” I grumbled, referring to the newest movie that had come out. Desiree and I had rented it because of all the great reviews it got, but I was beginning to regret wasting my money on it.
“Yeah, I know,” Desiree agreed. “Like, seriously, how does she go from hating his guts to all of a sudden falling in love with him just because he rescued her?”
I rolled my eyes when they began sleeping together. “How can she even sleep with him?!” I exclaimed as I threw my free hand in the direction of the television screen. “He let another woman suck his dick right in front of her!” I yelled, so fed up with this stupid movie already.
“What the fuck are you two watching?” Vincent asked as he stepped into the room.
I scowled, glaring at the television. The two actors didn’t even have chemistry on screen. “A stupid fucking movie,” I bitterly replied. “I’m so fucking aggravated that I wasted my four dollars on this movie.”
Vincent looked at the TV and let out a low whistle. “Damn, that’s hot.” He looked at his girlfriend and let a smirk twist his lips. Desiree’s cheeks tinted pink. “Want to give it a try, babe?”
I grabbed a pillow and threw it in his direction as I shot him a look of disgust. “You’re disgusting. Get out,” I ordered.
Vincent barked out a laugh as he picked up the pillow and set it back on the bed. Julian chose that moment to step into the room, and a mischievous twinkle lit up his eyes as he looked at the television screen at the exact same moment the female character let out a loud moan and dug her nails into the male character’s back.
He looked at me, and my cheeks turned scarlet. Vincent scowled at him as Julian got ready to open his mouth to say something. “Don’t,” Vincent warned him. “She’s off limits. Stay the fuck away from her.”
Julian rolled his eyes and completely ignored Vincent. “We’re all thinking of jumping in the pool for a late-night swim,” he announced, but his eyes were still focused on me. He ran his eyes over me, his eyes sensually darkening as he did so. I felt like he could see right through the clothes I had on to my naked body beneath it all. I squirmed slightly, my heart pounding in my chest as my belly tightened. “You guys want to join?” he asked.
“I’m down,” Desiree said, drawing my eyes to her dark ones. She gave me an encouraging smile. “Come on, Meg,” she begged, her eyes pleading with me. I sighed. “I even have a one-piece you can wear,” she encouraged.
I sighed, looking at Vince. He shrugged at me, letting me make the decision, but I knew it was only because he would be there to keep an eye on me and to make sure the other guys stayed away from me. Otherwise, he would argue with me on this to get me to stay inside.
I shrugged. “Sure,” I caved. Desiree squealed as she put my hand under the little nail dryer she had. Julian smirked at me before he nodded once at Vincent and slipped out of the room without another word.