Love, Lies, and Deception(21)

Hoping I was doing the right thing, I sighed and began, “Okay, since we’re best friends and we never keep things from each other, I thought I’d share some information I found out today.”

Perking up, Emily asked, “Ooh, what is it?”

Smiling, I took hold of her hands, making the pair of thongs in her grasp fall to the floor. “I don’t know if this is a definite yes on the matter, but Kristian told me today that Justin was thinking about moving to Wilmington with us.”

I waited for her to scream, but she sat there frozen with her mouth wide open in shock. Slowly enunciating each word, I asked, “Um … do you understand what I just said?”

After a few moments, once the shock wore off, she squealed and tackled me to the floor, hugging me tight. “Holy crap, this is the best news ever! Thank you so much for telling me. I can’t believe that dumb ass hasn’t told me yet.”

“You have to keep this a secret,” I choked out, trying to breathe with her weight pinning me to the floor. “Promise me.”

Delighted, she reassured me, “I will. I will. Oh, Rissa, thank you so much for telling me. Maybe he hasn’t told me because he wanted to surprise me with the news.”

She let me go and stood, holding out her hand to give me a help up. “That’s what I was thinking, but you looked so sad over it I thought I’d tell you.”

“Thank you, I needed it. How did everything go with hottie from downstairs last night?”

“Oh great,” I admitted wryly. “At least until someone tried to murder our wall outside.”

Gasping, her eyes went wide. “So that’s what that’s from. I meant to ask you about it. Do you know who did it?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t, but Alec stayed here with me all night just to make sure I was safe even though I had my trusty Smith and Wesson beside my bed.”

Emily’s eyes had a gleam to them when she asked, “Did you two have sex last night? Please tell me you let your prudish self go and have fun.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not even going to answer that. Speaking of which, I’m going to go downstairs and see if Alec wants to join us tonight. I’ll be right back.”

I was about to leave, but Emily’s smirk stopped me. “Take your time. We’re not leaving for another four hours. I’d say that’s plenty of time to get a little afternoon delight in, wouldn’t you?” She waggled her eyebrows and shooed me out the door before I could make a comeback. “Now go and have fun.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I muttered, ambling out the door.

Or was she?





I knocked on Alec’s door and waited for a few minutes for him to answer. I was about to turn around and leave when the door finally opened, revealing a dripping wet Alec, clad in only a blue towel wrapped around his waist. I stood there gaping, unable to take my eyes off the slick planes of his body.

Alec placed his hand on the door frame and smiled. “Would you like to come in? I’m sure you’d have much more fun ogling me inside.”

“Ha ha, very funny,” I said. “But yes, I’d like to come inside.”

He stood back and let me enter. His apartment was the same, all neat and tidy, and I could feel the steam emanating from the bathroom where Alec had taken his shower. The room smelled of bodywash and aftershave, and I took a deep breath, letting it linger and fill my lungs with its heady scent.

“Do you want anything? Something to drink?” he asked politely.

You, I thought. I want you.

“No, thank you. What did you do at your aunt’s house today?”

He smiled. “Let’s see … I worked in her garden and cut fire wood. Even in the spring and summer, my aunt still likes to keep a stove burning at night. I guess being old and frail makes you cold all the time. Then I strolled around campus in hopes of seeing you, which I did, and went back to fix her light fixtures. Is that all you came by to ask me?”

“No.” I chuckled. “I actually came by because I forgot to ask you if you wanted to go out tonight.”

His eyes sparkled and he prowled toward me. “Are you blowing off your study group to be with me?”

I bit my lip. “Not exactly. I’m kind of blowing off my study group tonight. A group of my friends are going to go out and I thought it would be fun if you came with me.”

The heat from his body as he sidled up to me was enticing and the smell of his fresh, clean skin was intoxicating. I wanted to run my tongue all over every crevice and protruding part of his body.

“And where are you and your friends going?” he purred, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. My eyes fluttered shut as I leaned into his touch.

“We’re going to the dance club and bar over off of King Street. Would you like to come?”

His hand stilled on my face and he sighed. “I would love to go just to be with you, but I don’t go to bars … not anymore. Me and bars just don’t mix.”

My face fell. “Well that sucks, I hate to hear that. Kristian needed some cheering up, so he thought it’d be fun to go out and party.”

Alec narrowed his eyes. “You know he’s hard up for you, don’t you?”

“Who? Kristian?” I asked in disbelief, shaking my head. “No, he has a girlfriend, and never once since I’ve known him has he ever tried to put the moves on me.”