Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(62)

My smile falls when bits of conversation float my way.

“I have no idea who she is” and “You don’t think they’re actually together, do you?”

“Definitely not.” It’s Cybil’s voice that cuts through the others. “She’s so—”

Her friend elbows her before Cybil can finish her sentence. They both look at me. I muster a smile and hurry down the hallway.

Jordan’s sitting in the same spot. He has one leg propped in my chair, saving my seat, and it gives me the most ridiculous rush. Who cares what they think? Maybe we don’t make sense to them. I thought the same thing at first, but they don’t feel what I do when he’s around. Besides, some of the most interesting things defy logic, sometimes even physics. I figure Jordan and I are among them.

He smiles when he sees me and shifts his leg back to the floor. I take the seat because it’s mine, and I kiss him for anyone that cares to see, but mostly I just kiss him for me.

I pull back breathless and find him smirking at me.

“Is that for saving your seat? Because I hate to admit it now, but it was also serving as a pretty bomb footrest.”

“Just wanted to kiss you,” I say.

He drops his mouth to mine. “If I kissed you every time I wanted to, I’d walk around permanently attached to your lips.”

It hadn’t occurred to me that he was holding back for my benefit.

“That doesn’t sound so bad.” I run my fingers along his cheek. He’s shaved recently, but the skin is rough where the hair threatens to reappear. “I’d have to learn to skate, though.”

“I could teach you.” His legs shut around mine, and he pulls me closer. Now that I’ve made the first move I seem to have broken some invisible barrier in his restraint.

“Thatch, are you and your girl in this game?” one of the guys at the table asks him.

He looks at me for an answer.

“Maybe we sit this one out?”

He stands and hauls me up and onto his shoulder.

“Jordan!” I squeal. “I’m wearing a dress.”

He places a hand over my ass and holds the material down as he walks. Giddy laughter bubbles in my chest as I hang over his shoulder.

When he sets me back on the ground, we’re outside on the deck.

“I forgot our drinks,” he says, and I swear he looks like he’s going to pick me up again.

“What if we skip the drinks and go back to your place?”

“I thought parties like this were part of the charm of hanging with me.”

“How do I put this nicely,” I tease, placing my hands in front of me like a steeple. “You’re more charming naked.”

He barks a laugh into the night air.

“Fair enough, but first I wanna make out with my girl where everyone can be really, stupidly jealous of me.”

My back presses into the railing, and he steps between my legs. My heart is pounding in my chest as his mouth drops to mine.

Our kiss is interrupted by someone calling Jordan’s name.

He growls playfully as he pulls away.

“What?” he barks.

Brad McCallum laughs as he approaches us. “You two want to play flip cup?”

“Nah,” Jordan says as I say, “Yes.”

“You know I won’t be naked, right?” he whispers in my ear.

I laugh. “It’s finally a game I’m not bad at.”

Which is true. Flip cup might be the great universal equalizer. Jordan and I line up with Brad and Dallas against four others I’ve met but can’t remember their names. A rush of adrenaline hits me when it’s my turn. I chug like I’ve never chugged before and flip over the cup on the first try. Jordan’s grinning so hard at me, it slows his start, and the other team wins.

We play two more times before it breaks up, and everyone wanders off from the table. It’s getting late, but neither of us mentions leaving again. I see Cybil as we’re taking seats outside. She’s making out with a cute guy that I assume is on the hockey team. When I check to see Jordan’s reaction, he barely seems to notice. I guess it’s then that I realize he might have hooked up with her, but it wasn’t like us. I don’t care much about what Cybil thinks of me after that.

We stay until the party has died down and the music is off. Jordan and I walk the few blocks to his dorm, talking and laughing. It all feels so easy and fun.

Liam’s not here. I didn’t see him at the party either, but Jordan doesn’t seem concerned, so I don’t bring it up.

He flips on the light in his room.

“Do you want a drink or something? I still have some Fireball.”

I shake my head, remove my coat, then my boots and socks.

He sits back on his desk, watching me. Reaching behind me, I pull the zipper of my dress down and then let it fall over my shoulders and pool at my waist.

He doesn’t move even as I push the material past my hips and to the floor. I take a step closer and unhook my bra. I let the black lace hang from my fingertips before dropping it too to the floor of his room.

His gaze never leaves me. “Damn, you’re sexy.”

I close the space between us, stepping between his legs. His arms go around me and palm my ass. He hooks a thumb through the string and tugs until it wedges in front, biting into my already aching clit.