Текст книги "Lucky Number Four"

Автор книги: Amanda Jason

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

11

Four hours later, I sneak back into my room. Julie and Kevin had their first fight since being hitched. It lasted all of one hour, and then they made up. Unfortunately for them, I refused to leave until I felt it was safe to return to my room. Make-up sex probably started right after I left. I know it was mean of me to make them wait, but hey, how many sleepless nights did I endure because of them?

“So, the prodigal daughter returns.” Jeff’s voice startles me. “I’m irked at you for leaving me to entertain your guests.”

I squint, trying to see where he’s located, when a light suddenly comes on. He’s lying on my bed in his pajama bottoms. How many times am I going to mention how terribly sad it is for the female population that he’s gay?

“Oh, I’m sure it was such a chore hanging out with three models. Wait a minute while I play the world’s smallest violin for you,” I say in my snarkiest voice.

“You’re right, it was fun. They aren’t at all what I expected. Shallow, self-centered, or big on themselves is how I imagined them being, but instead they’re just average guys.”

“You do know that shallow, self-centered, or big on themselves is basically saying the same thing three times, right?” Again snarky. Love it when I’m right.

“I’ll give you that one. So, what was the big emergency with Jules?”

“First post-marriage fight, lasted about an hour,” I answer.

“You made them wait for make-up sex? That’s an all-time low for you, Red.”

“Yep. Payback for all those sleepless nights. So, spill.”

“Spill what?”

“What did you guys talk about? Anything interesting?”

“Nope. They tried to pump me for info regarding a hot little redhead, but I’m not a telling kind of guy. All your secrets are safe with me. Two of them kept looking at their mega-expensive watches, like they were wondering where you had run off to.”

“Was one of them Colin?”

“No. Liam and Drew,” he says, his grin pure evil. I march over and smack him on his shoulder. “Ow, that hurt. I’ll probably have a bruise in the morning.”

“Quit being a wuss. So, Colin wasn’t upset that I’d left?”

“I didn’t say that. I only said that Liam and Drew checked their watches. They all stayed for about two hours and then bounced.”

“Quit trying to be cool. You sound super lame,” I say, plopping down on the bed next to him. “Jeff, I need a man.”

“Sorry, my dear, not this man.” Jeff’s look of mock horror makes me giggle.

“Not you, moron. A nice, straight guy. He doesn’t have to be uber attractive or anything, just nice,” I say, biting my lip.

“What about Drew or Colin? They seem smitten with you.”

“Smitten. How archaic. No, not them. I’m so out of their zip code. So who else?”

“Honey, you literally live in their zip code.”

“You know what I mean,” I say dryly.

“No, I don’t. I’ve never seen you like this before. You’re always so confident. You’re so beautiful, and you have two men that know that.”

“You don’t understand. I don’t want to be attracted to a pretty boy. I want regular. Relationships with stars never work out. I’m just a novelty, which will wear off quickly. They want a taste of something average, and they’ve picked me.”

“So, have sex with Colin and scratch your itch.” He pats me on the head like I’m a puppy.

“I don’t want just casual sex, I want … oh, I don’t know what I want. Just help me find me an average, nice guy so I can stop thinking about penises. Okay, one particular penis. Not that I’ve seen it or anything though.”

Jeff pulls me into his arms and I begin to sob jokingly at my situation. Oh, hell. My mom will definitely call in the morning.

I wake up snuggled in Jeff’s arms—him in only his pajama bottoms, and I’m still completely dressed. I don’t want to wake him, but I have the sudden dire urge to pee.

I move carefully, and then I feel the stare. Jeff is awake and watching me. If I have to make a guess, he’s trying to gauge my mood.

“Thanks for last night. Do I look as bad as I feel?” I ask, dreading the answer.

“You look beautiful. Now let’s get up and go for a run. I think you need it.”

“First, I have to use the little girls’ room. Bladder is about to burst.” I jump up and make it just in time. Sitting on the pot, I study my reflection in the mirror-laden walls and see Jeff is right. I don’t look so bad. Beautiful? No, but at least my eyes aren’t swollen slits.

Time to stop feeling sorry for my no-sex-for-a-long-time, frustrated self and get a move on.

Jeff and I quietly exit my door and take the stairs. I don’t want company this morning, what with my nerve-endings still raw.

Brad is at his post, but to my dismay, he has company, and they look like they’re waiting for us. How do I know? They look at us, smile and are dressed for running. At least they’re wearing long pants and sweatshirts, like us. They must have checked the weather, as today is supposed to be thirty degrees colder than yesterday.

“Hey, Dora, did you take care of Julie’s emergency? We missed you last night,” Drew says, giving me one of his delicious smiles.

“Yep, took longer than I thought. You guys going out?” I ask innocently.

“We’re just waiting for you. Jeff mentioned that once you start running again, you try not to miss a day. We need the exercise, and we know you don’t mind us tagging along, right?”

What can I say? If I say yes, I look like a bitch, and if I say it’s okay, I’ll be near Colin, and that’s not good right now with my emotions all over the place.

“We’re happy to have you run with us, right, Dora?” Jeff prompts.

“Sure, try and keep up.” Good thing I stretched in the apartment. I start running, hoping they need to stretch. But no, they take off with me, four tall trees and me, the little sapling.

Jeff stays with me and the others are close behind. I need to forget they’re there. Of course, that’s not going to happen without a little extra effort. I start thinking about my upcoming exams, and then I engage Jeff in some problems I’ve been having while studying. Before I know it, I’ve completely occupied my mind enough to forget the three models are behind us …. Yeah, right.

We get to a stretch of park where there is more room and Liam moves up beside me. He makes eye contact with me while smiling and I smile back. My mom’s statement that I needed to help him and Drew makes me focus on that. I think I know what Liam’s secret is, but Drew … maybe it’s his family. I know money doesn’t always buy love, and maybe that’s what Drew’s problem is—a lack of love. Anyway, I need to take care of this soon.

The park is full of people again. As we near the fountain, I spot a crowd of young women. One of them looks our way and screams. They all look at where she’s pointing and then rush forward, blocking our path and circling like vultures. They’re carrying notepads and pens.

“Can I have your autograph, Drew?”

“Liam, I need your autograph.”

“Colin, I want to have your baby,” a tall curvy blonde yells, pushing me aside and making her way to her target.

What the hell? How dare that little skank push me! I grab her arm and pull her away from Colin. She goes to hit me with her bag and Jeff saves me from being clobbered with it by pulling her not so gently away from me. Jeff then grabs my hand and pushes his way through the crowd until we have a moment to catch our breath.

“Come on. They can take care of themselves, and here comes the cavalry.” He points to a group of policemen making their way to the crowd.

“What the hell was all that?” I say as we jog back to the loft.

“I guess we were spotted yesterday and someone told someone, and then someone else, and thus, the mob formed.” Jeff shrugs his shoulders. “I’m so glad I’m not famous,” he says, slowing down as he realizes I’m not keeping up with him.

“See? How can I compete with that? It’s a lost cause. That woman who wanted Colin’s baby was beautiful—crazy as hell, yes—but beautiful.”

“But—” Jeff starts.

“Don’t you dare say I’m beautiful on the inside and any guy worth anything would see that.”

“I’m so happy you put words into my mouth. I was going to say, before I was rudely interrupted by a petulant child, that woman doesn’t hold a candle to you,” he comments.

I groan. “Jeff, why don’t you like girls? It would be so much easier for me.”

“Even if I did, you wouldn’t be my type. I’d go for the average ones.” He gives me a devilish grin and a side hug. “Let’s go finish our run in the gym. First one there gets the deluxe treadmill.”

He takes off, leaving me behind. I look back at the crowd and the police trying to control them and then follow Jeff, not caring for once if I win.

I’m dripping wet. My hair, clothes, socks, shoes and underwear are drenched with sweat. A shower is desperately needed, and I leave the gym hoping I don’t bump into anyone. Jeff went up about half an hour ago, but I needed to work off my excess frustration. I hit the elevator button and hear the doors opening behind me. Please don’t let it be them. Let it be Brad, Julie, or even Kevin, who will tease me, I can handle that. I don’t turn around but hear footsteps behind me. They sound like sneakers.

“Dora, what happened? You look like you’ve been caught in a downpour,” Drew asks.

“Nope, just good old-fashioned sweat. I had an awesome workout in your fabulous gym. Did you guys get to finish your run?” I ask as I enter the elevator and turn around, seeing the three looking me up and down. “Haven’t you ever seen a person sweat before? Are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to get on? I need to take a shower. Some people have stuff to do today.”

They all grin at me and then move forward before the doors shut. I have a great view as they stand in front of me, and my eyes focus on Colin’s physique, which is still visible, even with his sweats on.

Standing in the cold shower—yes, cold—which I have to take since I’m so overheated from daydreaming for the few seconds it took the elevator to reach our floor. In my imagination, Colin had stripped naked in front of me before wrapping me up in his arms and pinning up against the wall of the elevator. We were a hot mess together, and I couldn’t tell where his mouth stopped and mine began. After the ding of the elevator snapped my from my dirty thoughts, I suddenly realized how wet I was between the thighs and had to rush into the shower immediately in an attempt to quell my urges.

I know I’ve said it many times before, but I have to find a sensible guy to hook up with. Not just for sex, but for a real relationship. Someone who could totally rock my world and make me forget the dream guy down the hall.

Jeff is lying on my bed when I open the bathroom door after my shower. I toss the towel I’ve been drying my hair with at his head.

“What was that for?” he asks.

“The smug look on your face.”

“Tell him how you feel, then.”

“I don’t feel anything.” He grins and I stick my tongue out at him. “Okay, I have feelings. Like the feeling of drool running down my chin when I see him, or the feeling of a totally dry mouth when I think of him naked. But that’s all. I need a nice guy though.”

Jeff stretches, his body again only clad in his pajama bottoms, a visual delight for both males and females. “Nice guys are boring. You want me to ask him if he has feelings for you? I know Drew does.”

“Don’t you dare. As far as Drew is concerned, he’s flighty, and not serious at all. Enough of this talk. We need to do what you’re here for.”

“To lie on your bed and look hot,” he says with a smexy smile.

“No, to study, silly. Now get your butt up and get dressed.

His breath is hot on my neck. His tongue runs from my ear down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. A hand cradles my face as his tongue moves slowly back up my neck, and his lips meet mine. His tongue probes and gently forces my mouth open and then—oh my sweet heaven—our tongues meet, and I swear my blood starts to boil. His hand skims down my arm and then moves inward, caressing my sensitive stomach, drawing lazy circles as his lips dance with mine. His hand moves upward, and I feel my stomach plunge as he stops just beneath my right breast. I hold my breath, waiting for his touch, silently begging for the torture to stop. I want him to run his hands all over me.

His naked body pushes against me and I feel his hardness. Oh my, his hardness. I reach for the pulsating flesh as his hand finds its target, and my senses go on overload. I moan in his mouth and his kiss intensifies, filled with a passion I have only dreamed of.

“What the hell are you doing in that bed? Are you in pain?”

A voice pierces the haze, making me feel as if I’ve been doused with freezing cold water. It was a dream, just a dream. I’m all hot and bothered and drenched in sweat and filled with frustration.

“Cat got your tongue?” Jeff asks. “I swear, you wake me up from an awesome dream where I’m eating a piece of the best cheesecake I’ve ever had, only to hear you moaning. Menstrual cramps?”

“Something like that. Go back to sleep.”

I jump out of bed and close the bathroom door, resting my head on the cool wood. The dream was so real. I can still feel his hand on my breast and his tongue caressing mine. I move from the door and turn on the shower. I feel like a horny teenage boy.

12

“Dora? Dora?”

Jeff’s chipper voice snaps me out of my daydream. Not really a daydream, more of a recap of my night dream.

“It’s time to go to our institute of higher learning, and you don’t want to be late for your art final.”

“Don’t remind me,” I moan.

I thought art would be a safe class to take. I draw pretty well and I love the teacher, but he can be a little out there at times. Last week we did pottery. Not ordinary pottery, but abstract. Easy, right? No, it had to have depth. So I made a deep pot. Not what the teacher wanted though, and I ended up with a C. So my final, which is half my grade, needs to be outstanding. I wish I knew what he had planned, but when asked, all he did was smile. Darn professor.

A ringtone from my phone heralds a call from my all-knowing mom. She must have heard me think that cuss word last night, or should I say early this morning?

“Hi, Mom. I can’t talk long. I’m off to take my art final.”

“Are you sick, Dora? I sensed last night you were feverish. Darn Henry wouldn’t tell me why. I hate this no-family clause.”

“No, Mom, I’m fine. Everything’s fine. You have nothing to worry about. How’s Dad?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Don’t change the subject. Something is brewing and I know I’m right. Tell me if I’m interfering, okay?”

“Mom, you’re interfering.”

“I only care about you and want what’s best for you. Maybe I need a trip to the city,” she rambles. As usual, she hasn’t heard me. “I’m so stressed right now. Your grandma is reading that new adult book, something about graphic sex. I’ve heard it’s not for the faint of heart. Of course, she’s read racy stuff before, but you know she’ll talk about it at Sunday dinner, even though I’ve told her it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Yeah, that’s an understatement. Grandmother would be all high and mighty and call her—well, I don’t know what she’d call her—but it wouldn’t be nice.

“I’ll come, and set out a place for Jeff. He’s staying with me so we can study for finals. We won’t be able to stay long though.”

“Oh, Dora. Thanks, sweetie. I don’t know what I would do without you. Henry says to tell Liam to go for it, whatever that means, and you need to help Drew. Henry has never been this vague before. Maybe it’s on purpose. Have you fallen for them? Maybe that’s it.”

I really don’t think she’s talking to me, but I’m used to that. “No, Mom, I haven’t fallen for anyone. Besides, I’m not really into threesomes, but now that you brought it up, I might rethink the whole idea.”

“What did you say? Your dad’s calling on the other line and I don’t know how to put this new smartphone on hold. I need a manual for dummies. Anyway, see you and Jeff on Sunday. Love you.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank God. The last thing I need right now is my mom getting my lust signals. Because that’s what it is. Just a case of a plain girl lusting after a totally hot guy. I have to stop thinking about him or I’ll need another shower and I don’t have time.

Yikes, Jeff has already left. I grab my bag and keys and hightail it out the door.

I’m so late—thanks, Mom—my heart is pounding in my chest as I run through the empty corridors. I pull open the door to the art room and…

What the fuck?

Yes, I said it. Sitting on a stool at the front of the classroom is Drew STARK NAKED. Yep, everything is hanging out, or should I say down? He turns and sees me standing in the doorway and grins.

“Hey, Dora. Overslept, did ya?” Drew’s voice sounds so loud, and of course everyone turns to look at me.

“Dora, come on in and take a seat. I was just telling the class that we have been blessed with a live male model to draw for your final exam. You can imagine my shock when he called me up and offered his services for free. Drew makes a great deal of money modeling, and yet he’s gracing our school to further the study of art. Let’s give Drew a hand, everyone, shall we?”

Mortified, and, yes, blushing from my toes to the top of my head, I hurry to my seat, avoiding the looks from my fellow classmates. I put up my sketchpad to block my view of a grinning Drew and the questioning eyes in front of me.

“Sweet Mother of the Universe,” Karen, a New Ager I consider a friend, whispers to me. “You really do know the models, and you moved in with them. I’m right? Right?”

I shake my head and lean toward her. “Shush. I’ll talk to you later,” I say, avoiding looking to the front. Sweet unripe bananas and rotten tomatoes, what am I going to do? I can’t possibly look at him, never mind draw him for two hours.

Karen smiles knowingly and picks up her charcoal. “He’s staring at you. Are you sleeping with him? I’d do him in an instant. How could you have kept this from me? I heard the rumors that three famous hotties came looking for you at the beginning of school and wanted your body, but I thought it wasn’t real. You definitely have a lot of explaining to do.”

Maybe I can copy off of her without actually looking at Drew at all. I hear whispering all around me, but I’m trying to ignore it. I peek around my canvas and Drew waves at me, making me duck back behind my shield. Fuck—yes, I said it again—fuck, fuck, fuck! Oh, it feels so good to yell it in my mind. How am I going to draw him with his one-eyed Willy watching me?

Did I just think that? I mean his penis, of course, and it’s a nice big one from what I saw while peeking around the corner of my blank canvas. He’s definitely a shower.

Karen has started, and her sketch is good, like, really good. Of course she’s started with the penis and is definitely doing it justice. She has a wide grin stretched across her mouth, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts drooling soon.

“Ms. Phillips, is there a problem?” my professor asks over my shoulder, making my head swivel. I’m utterly embarrassed I’ve been caught staring at Drew’s penis on Karen’s canvas.

“Um no,” I mumble and pick up my charcoal from the little shelf on the easel in front of me.

Damn Drew and his grinning penis. I peek again and see Drew has a serious face on and is all business. Maybe without his mischievous grin this might actually be doable.

Time flies, and I’m drawing like a madwoman wanting this torture to end. It’s not as doable as I thought, because Drew has a habit of turning his head and winking at me from time to time.

“Hey, Dora, you better hurry. Not much time left to draw that piece you’re still missing.” Karen giggles as she points to the spot where Drew’s penis should be hanging. I quickly fix the problem and will probably get a bad grade for drawing a loincloth over that area. But as much as I’ve tried, I can’t do it.

“Time’s up. Let’s give Drew a hand for coming in and posing for us.” Everyone claps vigorously, even the guys, which surprises me as I’m sure more than half are not as well-endowed as him. “Leave your canvases on your easels. Everyone, I hope you enjoy your holidays.”

I grab my messenger bag and quickly move toward the exit, glad that the professor has Drew’s attention. The last thing I need is to have Drew walk out with me through the campus. I’m humiliated enough by all the stares and whispers I’m already getting. Thank goodness I have only a few more days of exams, and then maybe by January everyone will have forgotten about this.

Yeah right, and hell will freeze over. I see Jeff ahead and quickly run up and slide my arm around his.

“Hey, what’s up?” he says as I drag him toward our next class.”

“Just keep moving and I’ll explain later.” He moves faster to keep up with me, which is a first since my short legs are usually trying to keep up with his long ones.

Have I told you math is not my best subject, and Jeff has done all he can to help me? I only hope all his hard work will pay off. Nobody looks happy as we file into Calculus, and when we see the thick test packet sitting on our desks, we let out a groan. Our professor is a sadist. Jeff squeezes my hand reassuringly and moves to the other side of the room to take his seat. I know you’re wondering why we don’t sit together. Mr. Cramer feels that seat assignment is a necessity in college. He should teach high school. We’re adults, aren’t we?

“So, how do you think you did?” Jeff asks when we’re back out in the stark courtyard. The temperature has dropped at least twenty degrees since we started the test. I shiver, not from the cold but from what my grade will probably be.

“I don’t know. I had problems with the second half, but I think I aced the first. I can’t believe that SOB gave us a freaking booklet to finish in under an hour, not to mention we still have to take the second part of the final that he says most of our grade will be based on. Who has their students take a two-part final … in math? Sadist much?”

“I’m sure you did great. Let’s go get some lunch. My treat.” Jeff puts his arm around me and pulls me close, kissing the top of my head. I love Jeff, and even if I bombed the test, it won’t be because of his tutoring.

“Is he as hot as what I imagine?” Jeff’s grin is contagious as we wait for our lunch.

“I swear he has a twelve pack, and there isn’t an ounce of fat on that body. It’s sickening. Nobody should be that perfect.”

“Twelve pack, huh? So let’s get down to the real grit of the subject: his dick. Well?”

“Nothing special,” I say with a straight face, and I love Jeff’s shocked expression.

“No way. The boy has to be hung. I would bet my daddy’s fortune on that,” Jeff argues.

“I’ve seen worms bigger.” I love that he’s torn between believing me and not.

“Worms? Are you guys going fishing?” A familiar voice makes me freeze, hoping he hasn’t heard more.

“Hey, Drew,” Jeff says. “Take a seat. I was just reminiscing about the last time I went fishing. Dora just told me she hates worms. Despises them, in fact. It’s a girl thing.”

I kick Jeff under the table, hoping he won’t say more. Drew moves in next to me in our booth, his thigh nestled next to mine.

“So, Dora told me about your little volunteer session this morning.” Jeff smiles. “She thoroughly enjoyed having a live model to draw instead of that boring old bowl of fruit.”

I grit my teeth, wanting so badly to smack him upside his goofy grinning head.

“Yeah, it was really fun. When I approached Tim with the idea, he was so excited. I guess this is the first time he’s had a real model come to his class, especially with all the university’s budget cuts.” While gesturing as he talks, Drew brushes his arm up against mine which cause him to grin at me.

So, it probably seems odd that I’m not reacting to him in a positive way. Mostly it’s because I know he’s not really into me, but I also don’t get those funny feelings in my stomach that I get around Colin.

“What’s it like, being naked in front of a class of artists?” Jeff’s question makes me want strangle him. Yes, my blushing mechanism is going full blast, and I quickly grab my cold drink, hoping it helps some.

“It’s something I’m used to, I guess. If you’re shy about nudity in the modeling biz, you don’t last too long. We constantly change in front of a crowd of photographers, makeup artists, directors, agents, and other models. So, modesty is quickly forgotten.”

That wouldn’t work for me. I’ve been naked in front of a select few, but a crowd? No way.

“Dora, how would you feel being naked in front of a group?” Jeff asks, raising one eyebrow, looking all innocent.

“I wouldn’t do it. I’m not a prude, but I like my privacy,” I say in a no-nonsense voice, with thoughts of how I will strangle him running through my mind.

“I wouldn’t want you naked in front of a group, Dora.” Drew nudges my arm, which makes me look up at him. I can tell he’s serious. “There’d be broken jaws and black eyes, and several guys would end up hospitalized.”

“Well, we won’t have to worry about that, now will we?” Why would he be so upset with me naked in front of a group? “Where’s that waitress? I’m starving,” I say, changing the subject as the vision of Drew sitting naked in class revisits my mind.