Page 29 of Pin-up Girl

Derek watched us with an odd glint in his eyes. “Now, this is unexpected. I thought she was just with you for ahot minute. This seems like something different.”

Elise’s face turned red, but I held her tight to me. I gave Derek my signaturefuck yougrin. “Things change. We’ve decided we like having her around.”

With a gentle shove, I pushed her toward the empty seat. As soon as I stopped touching her, the girls in the class got some kind of alert, because they descended on me like fucking sharks. It wasn’t anything so obvious as that, but I suddenly found myself surrounded by a crowd of potential selects. I made sure to keep my hands securely crossed over my chest. The last thing I needed was a rando showing up at my room.

Don’t ask. It had happened more than once.

“Hey, Emmett. I saw you at Freddie’s the other night. You were looking good,” purred a girl from Stace and Lace’s sorority as she sauntered by. I’d seen her a couple times, and she vied hard for a shot, but she wasn’t my type. The guys might not think so, but I had standards. I was very choosy over my selects. She also didn’t have any well-known connections or information I could exploit.

Elise actively sent death stares at each of these chasers, but she didn’t step up. She just kept her happy ass glued to her seat like she didn’t care if these sluts came on to me. Did I mention she was doling out death stares? She cared.

Pink polished fingertips brushed over my chest. “You around later?” another girl asked. This one wasn’t a sorority girl, but I’d had her last year. Honestly, after a night with me, it never failed to surprise me when they came back for more. Oh, they had a good time, and they left satisfied, but still.

I stepped through the flow of girls and took the seat next to Elise. She rolled her eyes, clearly not over her attitude.

“What?” I scoffed, getting my notebook and pen out. “Would it have hurt you to save me from the treacherous clutches of slutty girls?”

She grimaced, like she was trying not to smile, but mostly lost the battle. “Scaring bitches away actually is a talent, but only for the times when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“What am I? Gum on the bottom of your boot? I’d think after that sizzling moment we shared last night, you’d at least feel a little possessive of me.” I leaned forward and inhaled. That damn cherries scent was going to be the death of me.

Her face lost any humor that was trying to bleed in, filling with a seriousness that almost bordered on sadness. “We aren’t in love, you don’t even know me, just like I don’t know you. How can I feel possessive of someone that is willing to share me with his friends, but only until the three of you tire of me? This is all just a very bad idea.”

Derek poked my back with a pen, but I ignored him. “You’re right, we don’t love you, but you’re ours. Until we say otherwise,you’re ours. We will stake our claim whenever and wherever we feel like it. If you want to do the same, feel free. But don’t try to tell me you’re some romantic girl that’s too caught up in herself to enjoy a few good orgasms before you leave. I heard what you said last night, about needing more than just a one-night stand. And I believe you. I also believe the desire that shot through your gaze and the way your breath quickened, raising these luscious tits with each inhale.” I traced the edge of her bra through her shirt with my pen. “Don’t worry, we’re giving youmore. But don’t throw it back in our faces if you don’t like the way we do it. Just remember, you asked for it. And the next time some random bitch tries to come on to me, you’d better let her know that I’m all yours. Because, Elise, if you don’t, you won’t like what happens.”

The rest of class dragged on. Fuck, I was the easygoing guy of the three of us, the good time guy. I was focused all the time, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know how to laugh or be the life of the party. I’d like to consider myself unshakeable. It was almost impossible to truly rile me up. But Pin-up’s fucking petulant attitude and blasé dismissal really fucking rubbed me the wrong way.

After class, I led Elise out with a soft grip on her elbow. I didn’t speak to her, and she must have felt the same, because her lips were tighter than a virgin’s pussy. A small gathering hovered by the door—wannabe frat clingers and fresh-faced sorority girls. My anger was a living thing, seeming to cloak me in its heat. The lingerers took one look at my face, then backed up, allowing plenty of room for me and Elise to leave.

Her next class was across campus. At least the warm mid-morning air might be good for me. With each street we crossed, the weight lifted off my chest. I loosened my fingers, then moved my hand down to link with hers.

The art building was this modern glass structure on the edge of campus, separated from the “serious” majors. I’d never been sure if that was the doings of the “serious” people who thought art majors were of a frou-frou mindset and should be segregated, or if it were the artists who didn’t want the disparity of the corporate mindset to bleed into their creative juices, polluting what made them unique.

The walking sign popped on and we speed walked to the corner, barely catching it with four seconds left.

“Emmett!” Elise screamed, shoving me ahead of her as a car squealed tires, heading straight for us. I still had hold of her hand, and with a reflexive jerk, we fell together onto the sidewalk.

A black fucking Maserati flew past, rounding the corner on two wheels before disappearing.

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. It was too early. We didn’t have all our fucking squirrels in the same tree yet. Elise’s face was paper white as she scooted back toward the grass, probably trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

“We have to go. No art class for you today.” Jumping up, I quickly checked her over for injuries. Luckily, she wore leggings and a long sleeve shirt today, giving her at least a little bit of protection. Nothing, that was good. At most, she’d have a bruise or two. The bastards had given me a nasty little scrape on my elbow, though.

I hustled us back across the street. We needed to get back to the Shack—or hell, away from town—to think of a game plan. We walked quickly, but not so fast we drew more attention than normal. I studied every face we passed, whether they watched us or not. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Yet everything was. This was the first loose string of our carefully crafted plan, right before it completely unraveled.

Inside the Shack, I raised my hand to the twins, although the greeting was little more than half-assed on both sides. Running up the steps, I kept a tight hold on Elise, in case she got any funny ideas. I doubted she would try to run, but right now, I couldn’t take any chances.

Bypassing my room, I went straight for Milo’s. His was the most secluded, and we had a better chance of this staying private when they arrived and lost their shit. As soon as I shut and locked the door, I texted Jules and Milo in our group chat.

We’re in Milo’s room. You need to get your asses back here now.

“Care to explain what that was? And why you raced us back here?” She yanked out her hair tie, the smell of cherries assaulting me as her hair fell down in waves. That fucking smell must be her shampoo or conditioner. The whites of her eyes were showing as she spun around to face me, and her hands shook about five times worse than last night.

“I don’t have any fucking clue.” I tossed my bag onto the floor, divested her of her own, and shuffled her over to the couch. I needed space to think, and with both of us nervously pacing the floor, that was impossible.

“But you have an idea.” She turned sideways on the cushion and stared at me with unblinking eyes. If it wasn’t so fucking creepy, I’d have laughed.

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