Give Me Something (9 page)

As I looked into his eyes, now softly focused in on mine, all I could think about was how close I was to crossing the line with Tucker.  I blamed it on the alcohol and the fact that I was already turned on from dancing for Nick.

“You just keep doing what you're doing.  I can tell you're really getting under his skin.  He's been walking around the house with a stupid grin on his face since he met you.”

“
He has?”  I'd be lying if I wasn't a little bit excited that I'd left such an impression on him.

“
Yeah, I'm sure that after the show last night he went right home and took a cold shower.” Nick laughed as he let go of my wrists.  He swung his leg over my body, lay down beside me and pulled my back into his body.  “You're a pretty hard girl not to fall for, Rae.  That's why this job is going to be so easy.  Just a little while longer and we'll get to be together.”

I let out a heavy sigh knowing that time couldn't move fast enough.  I couldn't wait until I could spend every day wrapped up in Nick's arms.  I traced my fingers over the moon tattoo and started to drift back to sleep.

Nick kissed my shoulder before resting his chin in the same spot. “I can't wait for this to be over.”

“
Me too.”

“
Please don't let it go any further than kissing, Rae.  I don't know if could deal with it.”

I felt guilty for even letting Tucker kiss me, but if I was going to convince him that I was in love with him I knew it was something I had to do.  From now on it was going to be strictly PG with him.  I had the love of my life wrapped around my body, and there was no way that I was going to risk upsetting Nick, no matter how tempting Tucker's body was.  I replayed my activities in the parking lot with Tucker.  His hands.  His mouth.  The unadulterated look of desire in his eyes.  It was lust.  Pure and simple.  What I had with Nick was more than that.

“Don't worry,” I assured,  pulling his hand up to my lips.  “I would never do that.”

$ $ $

I'd become accustomed to the dirty looks across the quad and accidental shoulder bumps at parties that came along with dating Tucker Kline.  The female population of college students took one of two stances on me being the newest “it” girl.  The ones who weren't plotting my death were trying to become my best friend.  It was insufferable.  There was a reason that Brynn was my only girlfriend.  Girls were nosy bitches. 

“
How did you land a guy like Tucker?” 

“
What's it like to kiss him?” 

“
Is he amazing in bed?” 

I'd heard it all.  I wanted to tell them to mind their own business, but it wouldn't have boded well for my campaign, which was running smoothly.  Tucker thought I was a nice girl.  I couldn't very well turn into the closeted bitch I was trying to hide from him.  I mustered up a smile and gave them my “I don't kiss and tell” spiel. It must have worked, because I had more Facebook friend requests than I cared to count.  Dealing with Tucker wasn't as easy.  Through meticulous planning, I managed to keep Tucker interested in me and not cross the boundary that Nick had warned me about.  That in itself was a near impossible feat.  Every time I saw his amazing smile, god-like body, and piercing baby blues, I fought the urge to jump on him. 

Tucker was not only the campus's most sought after male specimen, he was also a living legend among his fraternity brothers.  At first I thought it was because he was so popular with the ladies, but I learned that it was more than that.  He was in charge of the fraternity's philanthropy, he was a master at organizing parties, and he genuinely cared for his brothers.  The guys were always asking for Tucker's advice or opinion.  It bordered on worship, but he remained humble.  This, coupled with the fact that he was an exceptional
boyfriend
to me, was making the act of keeping him at arms length almost inconceivable.

I kept our alone time to the bare minimum.  If we studied together, we did it in the library.  We socialized at parties, the coffee house or on group dates.  I expounded on how busy I was with work and school.  It had worked so far but, Tucker was slowly chipping away at me. I was running out of ideas to keep him interested.  The “getting to know you” phase was over.  We knew all the basics about each other and it was becoming painfully aware to me that if I was going to get the money for Nick I was going to have to become intimate with Tucker, at least emotionally, to finally lock down the trust that was needed.  That sucked because I preferred not to know that much about him.  I was scared that if I let him into my life, and vice-versa, I would have a harder time toeing the line with him.

On this particular day, I let Tucker stop by my dorm room between classes.  He said he had something important to ask me.  I felt Tucker's hand start to inch under my sweater.  “We have to stop,” I said, pulling my lips from his.  The kissing limit had been met for the day.  “I've got to get ready for class.”

Tucker removed his hands and placed them by his head as he fell over on the other side of my bed. “Okay, buddy,” he chuckled.  I was pleasantly surprised by how respectful he was.  Sex hadn't come up yet and he didn't push the issue, which was nice.  I actually enjoyed making out with him. 
What girl wouldn't?
  It was no secret that I was attracted to him, and kissing him was my way of satisfying the lust-filled urges.  At first, I would picture Nick and remind myself that I was going to be with him when this was all over, but it was becoming harder and harder to concentrate on anything other than the perfect body that was pressed against mine. Whoever said “absence makes the heart grow fonder” didn't have Tucker Kline to occupy the absence.

I sat up on the edge of the bed and let my feet hit the floor.  I heard him sigh, then felt his hands on me again.  I rolled my neck down as he began massage my shoulders with his strong hands. “I know we've only been together for a few weeks now, but I was wondering if you'd like to go home with me for the weekend.”

I perked up and looked over my shoulder at him. “Really?” I asked with a smile.

“
I have a few things I need to take care of with the family business.” He dropped his mouth to my neck and nipped the skin lightly with his teeth.  “Plus, you'll get to see where I grew up.”

This was perfect!  He trusted me enough to take me to his home.  I had to take this opportunity.  It was also the perfect chance for him to confide in me.  We hadn't discussed the whole parents issue yet, and I knew that it would come up.  I needed him to feel vulnerable with me.  What better way was there talking about dead parents?  If I could show him that I truly cared about his feelings it would add some major points.

“Okay.” I answered quickly and kissed him on the cheek.

“
Great!”  The excited smile on his face was extremely cute.  He pulled me into a crushing hug before leaving.  “I can't wait to show you Harrington.”

“
I can't wait!” I said with one last peck before shutting the door. 

When I turned around, the girl smiling back at me in the mirror appeared to be pleased with the idea of going away with Tucker for a whole weekend. “Knock it off.” I pointed at myself like a crazy person.  “This is strictly business.”

Chapter 7

“This is going to be awesome!” Brynn said as she drove me to the Sigma house.  “A romantic weekend with Tucker.”  The day-dreamy look on her face was ridiculous.

“
You are aware that I'm the one going, right?”

She quickly turned to look at me. “Don't take this from me.” She waggled her finger in my face as she pulled up in front of the house.  Throwing the car in park, she continued, “I'm living vicariously through you.  If you haven't noticed, my sex life has been pretty null and void lately.”

“That's not true.  You've been out with like five different guys this month,” I remarked, opening the car door and got out of the car.

“
What happened to that older guy you were dating?  What did he do again?”

“
He owns a local construction company, and he's long gone.  Too needy.” She rolled her eyes.  “And just because I've been out on a few dates doesn't mean I'm sleeping with them.  Dates and sex do not always go hand in hand, my dear.” She quickly exited the vehicle and followed me around to the trunk.  “And I'm not that kind of girl,” she defended.

“
I didn't mean it like that.” I sighed, pulling my bag out.  “But you most definitely are that kind of girl.”  She let out a boisterous laugh and pushed the trunk closed.  Brynn was far from a slut, but she had been with her fair share of guys since I'd met her.

“
You're so right.  I am that kind of girl.  I guess what I mean is I haven't stumbled across one worthy of all of this,” she motioned her hand down her body, “in a while. Vicariously speaking, you need to get busy with that hot piece of ass before I freaking explode.”

“
You have issues,” I chuckled over my shoulder while rolling my small suitcase up the sidewalk. “And what exactly makes you think this is going to be a romantic weekend?  I'm pretty sure he lives in the middle of a cornfield.  I doubt there are any candles and rose petals.”

“
Who cares where he lives?  You're going to be alone with him for forty eight hours.  Alone.  No fraternity brothers, jealous girls, or Nick.  I'd give it up to him on pile of dirt.”

“
What's that supposed to mean?”

“
I mean, I'd do it
literally
anywhere with him.” She looked at me like I didn't understand her perversion.

“
I got that part,” I deadpanned.  “I meant the part about no Nick?”

“
You know – out of sight, out of mind.”

“
Thanks for the ride, Brynn.”  I shook my head and ended the conversation before she began her Nick-bashing tangent.  “I'll give you a call when I get home and give you all of the
vicarious
details.” She shot me a quick thumbs up before getting in the car and taking off.

I was greeted at the front door by the fraternity president himself.  “Hey, Lila, come on in.  Here, let me,” he said, grabbing my bag before leaning it up against the wall.

“Hey Matt. Thanks.” I smiled warmly.  I'd gotten to know Matt over the past month.  He really was a nice guy.  He was boyishly handsome with a megawatt smile. The best part about Matt was that he had a girlfriend, Jenna.  They had become our favorite double date couple. After meeting her at baseball practice, I'd learned that Jenna was the Sigma's sister sorority's president.  She was cute as a button, had a great personality, and, best of all she was so in love with Matt that Tucker didn't even register on her radar.  It was nice to hang out with a girl who was into her own boyfriend instead of mine. 
My faux-boyfriend, that is
.  Either way, she was great.  “Is Tucker here?  I was supposed to meet him at two,” I inquired, looking at my watch.  Quarter after.  I thought for sure he'd greet me at the door.

“
He told me to let you know that he was running a little late.  Something about an Ethics class project.  Said he'd be here by three.  We're all watching the game.” He pointed to the living room. “You're welcome to jo–  My lack of sports enthusiasm must have spoke volumes. He laughed. “You can wait up in his room if you want.”  His room...
interesting
.  That meant Nick's room, too.  I'd never been up there with Nick and especially not with Tucker.  It was part of my “not too much alone time” method, but this was different.  I would be
alone
with free range to do a little bit of recon on Tucker
and
Nick.  I know, I know.  I said I didn't have girlfriends because they were nosy, but this was completely different.

“
That'd be great.” I tried to hide my excitement.

“
Okay.  It's upstairs, third door on the right.”

“
Thanks again, Matt,” I added before heading up the stairs.

When I walked into the room I had no what I was going to find.  It wasn't terribly small.  It comfortably fit two twin beds with simple wooden headboards.  Each side of the room was identically set up: bed, desk, nightstand and a floor
-to-ceiling cabinet built in dresser and closet combo.  The décor was where they differed.  It looked like a before and after photo from
Hoarders.
  Deciding whose was whose was easy.  Tucker's side was immaculately kept.  A navy down comforter and matching pillows were the only thing on his bed.  The white walls on his side were adorned with fraternity related items, all meticulously spaced, and a poster from
Rudy,
his favorite movie.   Any other traces of Tucker were neatly tucked away in, I assumed, their proper place.

Nick's side of the room, or the before side, was a mess.  Crates of albums were shoved under the bed.  The covers on his bed were a tangled mess, barely hanging on to the mattress.  The
re was a collage of music related posters strewn on the walls with no rhyme or reason.  I walked over to the desk covered with books, papers and losing scratch-off lottery tickets. 
Old habits die hard. 
Nick had sworn that he quit gambling.  I guess he meant playing cards and betting on sporting events.  I suppose I could give him lottery tickets. I smiled when I saw a small picture frame containing a photograph of the two of us.  Bare in mind it was tucked behind the rest of the crap on his desk, but he had it nonetheless.  A familiar looking key chain caught my eye. It was a birthday gift from me to Nick – a small crescent moon that reminded me of his tattoo.  I picked up the key chain and adjoining set of keys.  I missed Nick.  I hadn't seen him in a while and I was starting to have withdrawals.  I took a deep breath, hoping to catch just a hint of his familiar scent somewhere in the room.