Broken and Screwed 2 (BS #2)(36)

“Whatever,” Jamie’s voice came through the door, muffled. “You ditched the picnic. Not cool.”

Jesse’s head fell back to the pillow with a groan. When I started to get up, his hand held me in place. He murmured in my ear, “The door’s locked. He can’t get in.”

I relaxed. Slightly.

“Come on, man,” Jamie whined now. “Listen, we’re doing an after-party. You coming out of your hole for that?”

“No.”

I lifted my head enough to get a good view of Jesse. There was no regret in his voice, but he was giving up time with his friends for me. He had never cared before, but this was college. These were his roommates and teammates. I needed to make sure. When his gaze caught mine, there was nothing there. No hesitation. No torn emotions. Nothing. He just looked back and asked, “What?”

I shook my head as something close to relief spread in me. Then I laid back down where I’d been in the first place. My head went to his chest and his hand cupped the side of me again to hold me in place. As his fingers started to rub behind my head, my eyes closed and I felt real relief go through me now. This was the type that went to the bone, it mingled closely with feeling content. I should’ve stirred as I realized that, but I didn’t. Jesse was weaving a spell for me, one that felt intoxicating. I was being pulled down to the abyss and I didn’t want to fight it. It felt good. It felt right.

Jamie wasn’t taking no for an answer. He banged on the door again. “Come on!” His frustration came across loud and clear.

“Jamie, what’s your deal?!” Jesse sat up again. He had a bit more bark this time. “Leave me alone.”

“What the hell! What are you even doing in there? Come to the after party.”

“No. Leave it alone. You’ve never given a damn before. Why today?”

“Because—” He stopped abruptly. Then mumbled, “Never mind. You’re right.” There was a moment of silence before he asked, “You got a girl in there?”

Jesse leaned over, picked up a shoe, and hurled it at the door. It smacked against the door with a resounding thud.

We heard a mutter from the other side, “Shit. Fine. Jeezus. Have it your way.”

When we finally heard him leave, I bit my lip from laughing as I saw Jesse’s stormy expression. My hand splayed out over his chest where I could feel his heart beating fast and I frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Hmmm?” His eyes jerked to mine. “Yeah, I’m good. You?”

“I’m fine.” Why was he asking me? It was obvious he wasn’t good. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. You sleepy?” He didn’t wait for my response as he slid out of bed and grabbed some clothes. “Want to get some food or something?”

“Uh...” I was confused. Something had occurred that I wasn’t privy towards. He hadn’t cared about Jamie waking us up, but then it changed. It was swift and sudden and now he wanted to get out of there. But I swallowed my words. His movements were precise and quick. I knew this Jesse. This was the one that didn’t want to talk about whatever was bothering him. He’d get snappy, even a little bit rude with me, but he’d be fine later. It had taken me two years to understand that he still wanted me around him, even though he didn’t like to voice whatever was bothering him.

There was nothing left for me to do except shower and change. Jesse had hopped in first and was out within record time. I had only grabbed half of my clothes by the time he strolled back out. Toweling his hair dry, his chest glistened with water and his jeans were pulled haphazardly over his lean hips. They weren’t zipped so they hung open, exposing his black boxer briefs underneath.

“Are we racing someone?”

The corner of his lips curved up. “Sorry. If Jamie’s here, that means the rest are too. I just want to get away.”

“Okay.” Trailing into the bathroom, I couldn’t tear my gaze away as he turned and grabbed his phone. His back was bare to me. It was curved and muscular. A droplet of water slid down the middle of his back, all the way until it disappeared under his boxer briefs. We’d spent the entire afternoon in bed and lust was stirring in me again as I couldn’t look away from where that water had vanished.

Then his back stiffened. “What is it?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “That feast is going on tonight. You want to go to that?”

“Feast?” My stomach rumbled, but food was the furthest thing from my mind. “I’m not that hungry.”

Not for that.

He caught my meaning and his eyes darkened from response. A slow grin came over him, curving until it promised me so many sensual things. The lust kicked up a notch. The guy was going to be the death of me.

“Remember that band?”

Braille. How could I not? I cleared my throat and nodded.

“Remember they invited us to the Feast? It’s a small private event with a bunch of local bands. They’re playing, but it’s a quiet thing. They only told some of their biggest fans. And there’s going to be a ton of food. You want to go?”

“Sure.” Food. Bands. Jesse. I’d be stupid to pass that up. Hurrying into the shower, I couldn’t break Jesse’s record of cleanliness so it took me longer. He had made the bed and tidied his room by the time I emerged from the bathroom. His head came up from where he sat on his bed and he put his book aside. He licked his lips as his eyes trailed all the way down to my toes and back up again. He lingered on my lips as he stood and drew near. In a husky voice, he murmured, “You’re going to kill me, Alex. I want you already.”