So when I shoulder my way into the dorm room, I’m more than a little annoyed when I find it already occupied. Anthony is sprawled across the top bunk, half naked of course, and reading a book I can’t see from this angle. I freeze for a moment, flashing back to last night, watching him jerk off. I’m able to picture that dim scene all the better now that he’s lying in the same spot, and still with his bare chest on full display. Fucking hell, those abs…
I drop my bag on my bed, debating leaving and heading down the hall to try and find a quiet spot where I can call Nita. That’s when he seems to realize I’m there, and looks up from the book, laying the paperback down on his chest to smile at me.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” he says, with a pointed glance down at his naked chest. “I mean… Or not.” With that, he swings his legs over the bunk and jumps down, even though it’s the top bunk. He lands gracefully, already reaching up to put the book away. But not before I catch a glimpse of the cover, and feel my mouth drop even further.
I recognize the book. It’s one of my favorites, in fact. Jeanette Winterson, one of the best feminist authors of all time, not to mention a delicious poet with words.
Anthony follows my gaze and grins. “A bit nerdy, I know, but I just love her writing. Reading her books is like eating dark chocolate. Rich, bittersweet…”
“I know what you mean,” I blurt before I can help myself. “The way she talks about lost love makes you physically ache too, but in the best way.”
“Exactly.” He steps closer to me, being friendly probably. But I can’t help tilting my head to look up at him and remembering what just happened with Vin when we stood in the hallway at this same angle a few hours ago. Anthony looks completely different, blond and blue-eyed and all thick corded muscle. His scent is lighter than Vin’s, more cinnamon and spice, yet it makes me just as hungry to reach out and touch his warm skin, inches from mine. “Do you read a lot, Cass?” he asks, but his eyes are devouring me and I can feel that gaze on my skin, almost tangible with lust.
“I guess so,” I mumble, then shake my head, trying to clear it. “I mean, yeah. Yes. I love books.”
He grins and passes me, reaching for something over my head, on one of the shelves above his bed. “Have you read this one?”
I glance at the cover and shake my head. It’s an author I’ve never heard of, which is pretty rare considering how big a nerd I am.
“Trust me, you’ll like it.” He presses it into my hands with a grin and a wink.
I shiver and drop my gaze, unable to meet his eye. Not after what Vin suggested. Not after watching Anthony last night from my own bed, spying on him in that moment.
I duck my head and take a seat on my bed, trying to get some space. Unfortunately, Anthony drops onto the bed beside me, his blue eyes turned serious and searching. “Is everything okay?”
“Long first day,” I stammer, reaching around him for my bag. He catches my wrist, gently cupping his fingers around my hand. His hand is so much larger than mine, it swallows mine whole. I force myself to lift my eyes, meet his gaze.
He looks genuinely concerned, a frown creasing his otherwise perfectly sculpted brow. “You sure nothing’s wrong?”
“Very sure,” I say, holding his eyes this time. Willing him to believe me.
After a moment, he cracks a smile, allowing the moment to pass. “Let me guess, Vin did something awful, didn’t he? Only he can get a girl worked up this quickly.”
My mouth drops open before I can help myself. “How did you know?” I ask.
He blinks, eyebrows lifting. Oh, crap. “I was joking, actually…” he says, and I could kick myself. But he shakes his head, smirking. “I do know Vin pretty well by now, though. He has a tendency to… unsettle things. Girls especially.” He winks at me.
“I could imagine, if you guys share…” I stop myself dead, face flushing again. Damn. I wasn’t going to mention that. What if Vin was joking? He had to have been, right?
My stomach flutters with nerves, especially when Anthony leans in closer. “Ah. I see. So he mentioned our little fantasy.”
I swallow hard, mouth going dry. It’s hard to think with him this close. My pulse pounds in my ears, distracting me. “Not… in so many words,” I admit.
“He didn’t say that we’d like to have some fun together?” Anthony trails his hand up my arm to brush a strand of hair off my shoulder. A shiver runs through me, unstoppable. “More than fun,” he murmurs, his voice going low and serious as he leans closer. Closer, closer, until his lips are barely an inch from mine, and I can practically taste the mint on his breath. “We want you, Cassidy.”
My belly tightens with desire, and I feel a sharp pulse in my pussy, my thighs tightening as I try to control myself. But it’s impossible with Anthony this close, so focused on me. Especially when I think of Vin, too. Having both of them at once… I shake my head and lean away from Anthony, trying to catch my breath.
He leans back with another laugh, not an unkind one. “I’m surprised you’re so shy, Cass. You’re gorgeous, after all. Guys must flirt with you all the time.” His gaze drops over my body in a long, slow sweep. Savoring every inch of what he sees. It does make me feel hot as hell. Knowing that this gorgeous hunk of a man is as turned on by me as I am him.
But then his smile widens. “I bet you’re a real naughty girl in bed, too, aren’t you?”
Finally, something snaps inside me. He thinks he knows me—the same way I thought I knew him and Vin, admittedly. But still. It sets me on fire, thankfully pushing away the lust to make room for anger instead.
“Of course not!” I snap, jumping off the bed. “Nothing like that.”
Anthony’s eyes widen and his mouth parts, surprised by my sudden shift in attitude. “I wasn’t judging—there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your sexuality,” he protests, guessing that’s why I’m upset.
But I’m already grabbing my bag and heading for the door. “I know there isn’t,” I add over my shoulder, hoping it sounds convincing. Judging by the searching look on Anthony’s face, he doesn’t believe me. He’s starting to put the pieces together, trying to figure me out…