We would, and I would give up every dollar I had stashed in that safe just to get a peek at Brysen Carter naked.
“It’s nice you haven’t lost your ability to dream.”
She laughed in her lighthearted way and told me good night. I tossed my phone next to the sink and stripped down so I could climb under the scalding-hot water. I hissed at the discomfort between my teeth and let the steam and burn work out some of the sexual frustration that was coiled in my gut.
I could feel her. Full breasts, soft skin, silky hair, and a mouth that was equal parts greedy and sweet. She kissed me like she knew just how naughty and raunchy I wanted her to get for me. I winced as the blazing-hot water cascaded over my rising erection. Maybe I should have picked the cold water if X-rated images of her were going to follow me into the shower.
Chapter 3
Brysen
I DON’T KNOW WHAT that guy’s problem is.”
I shoved my latest test adorned with a big fat D on the top of it into my bag and shook my head. I was walking out of my Math Theory class and looking at my friend Drew out of the corner of my eye. I only had one semester left before I graduated with my B.S. in math, at least I did if I managed to get past this class. The professor was fine, but for some reason, the TA he had working under him hated me, and I could see my GPA taking a nosedive after every single exam. I had tried to talk to the teacher about it, but he just assured me that all tests were graded fairly and suggested I looked into finding a tutor.
I sighed and shoved some of my hair out of my face. I wanted to be an accountant. Numbers I understood, had a quick mind for them, and there was no reason I should be failing this class. Drew laughed at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have laughed in his face when he asked you out. I think he might’ve taken it personally.”
I winced involuntarily because he had a point. I hadn’t been laughing at the TA, I had been laughing at the idea of finding time in my life to work in something as frivolous as a date. And if by some miracle I did get a break in my schedule, I wasn’t inclined to spend it with a guy who had greasy hair, acne, and a weird twitch he couldn’t seem to control when he looked at me. I also didn’t think dating him was appropriate, since he was involved in the class and had a say in my grade. Unfortunately, since he was also a student, there were no hard-and-fast rules in place to prevent him from leering at me or seeming to be messing with my educational future. Not without undeniable proof on my end, which I hadn’t been able to produce.
“The idea of a date with anyone is a joke.”
Drew gave me a little squeeze and let me go. I had two more classes and then I was supposed to touch base with Dovie before her night classes started. I worked tonight and then had to get back to the house to make sure my sister’s homework was done and that Mom wasn’t drinking herself into oblivion. It was all getting so tiring and there wasn’t a break anywhere on the horizon.
“Adria told me there was some guy at the party that had you all googly-eyed. What’s up with that?”
Adria had a big mouth and didn’t understand why lusting after Race was my own personal hell and temptation.
I shifted uneasily and narrowed my gaze a little bit. Drew was a nice guy, and he was cute in a very all-American, wavy-brown-hair-and-bright-blue-eyed way. He had mentioned on more than one occasion that if I was interested in taking our friendship to another level, he would have no arguments with it. But again, I didn’t have the time or the space for a guy in my life, and when it came right down to it, even if I did make the space or found the time, Drew wasn’t the guy I wanted.
“Nothing is up with anything. Race is just someone I know through a mutual friend. Why?”
He shrugged, obviously going for nonchalant and failing miserably. He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck while looking at the ground between his feet.
“She just mentioned that you seemed pretty entranced by him, and last I heard, you weren’t interested in anybody.”
It wasn’t any of his business, and this line of questioning didn’t seem nearly as harmless as he wanted it to come across.
“I’m not, and if I was, it wouldn’t be any concern of yours, Drew.”
He put a hand on my shoulder and pulled me to a stop. I looked up at him, ready to tell him to step off and mind his own business, when he gave me a sad smile.
“Look, I know you and I aren’t going to be a thing, you’ve made that pretty clear. But I like you and I care about you, so you need to know that Race Hartman is nothing but bad news.”