Page 69 of The Pact

16.

Protect Me

Ausra

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I’M TRYING.

I’m trying really hard to remind myself that we’re friends with benefits until the end of the summer. There’s a definite clock ticking on our game and I must never forget it.

But how easy is it to forget the “no strings attached” clause to our deal when the guys make me feel so good?

When they make me feel like I belong with them.

When the physical proximity is confusing to my body and to my mind. I experience that confusion once again as I wrap my arms around Kelley’s waist on the back of his bike.

His solid body against mine feels right and comforting. The more the guys get to know my body and the more I experience theirs, the easier it is to forget that this is a game. Just a game.

When Kelley pulls into Ashton’s driveway, my eyes widen in shock.

Calling that a driveway is a real stretch of the imagination; private road seems a more appropriate term.

Ashton’s house is perched on a hill and I notice a few other mansions as we ride up the winding road. The houses are all spaced out, each is far from the others, all are surrounded by high gates and extensive gardens.

“Yeah, Ashton’s old man is loaded.” Kelley supplies as he helps me take my helmet off. “Crazy how he isn’t a pretentious motherfucker, isn’t it? He never flaunts his family’s money. If anything, he’s always offered to help whenever any of us has been in need. He even convinced his dad to sponsor our team and pay our coach’s wages when that fucking asshole preacher convinced the school’s principal to fire him.”

I try my hardest not to flinch at the mention of my father. I feel guilty and relieved at the same time that I didn’t tell Kelley that we’ve met before. I know I’ll have to find a way but definitely not today. The hard edge to his tone when he mentioned Dad fades away as he takes my hand and guides me to the front door.

He finds it unlocked and as he turns the knob, a wave of music reaches us, loud enough to make the walls vibrate even in the huge mansion.

We make our way into a huge foyer and through to a huge living room. The expensive looking leather couches have been pushed to the side to create a makeshift dance floor and the full-length patio door that leads to the backyard is open.

“Hey, the birthday boy is here!” someone yells and a few people come to hug Kelley and wish him a happy birthday.

“Ausra!” Ashton is standing by the door frame, looking positively drool worthy in a pair of swimming trunks.

My eyes follow the strong line of his forearm all the way up to his broad shoulders as he grips the door jamb, beckoning me over with a smile.

It’s impossible to miss the taut, bulging muscles under his golden tanned skin and it doesn’t matter how many times I see him shirtless, but I think calling his abs a six pack would be insulting. Ashton has at least an eight pack.

I walk toward him as Kelley is still busy greeting all the people who want his attention.

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