Page 127 of The Chase

I don’t miss how she discreetly slips the phone into her purse, as if a part of her is worried Summer might actually try to snatch it from her. And there’s no more discussion after that, because the rest of the guys file into the room and exchange their goodbyes with Summer. Brenna and Audrey announce they’re taking off too, so our front hall turns into a can of sardines as eight people (six of them enormous football players) put on their coats and boots and various winter gear.

“Hey, Summer.” One of the players hesitates at the door. He’s got a mop of curly brown hair and a shy expression. “Are there any tickets still available? I checked online and it said the show’s sold out.”

“It is, but all the designers get a block of tickets to give away. I think I have about five left. How many do you need, Chris?”

“Just one. It’s for my girlfriend, Daphne.”

Summer freezes. And I mean freezes. She was in theprocess of reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear, and her arm literally stops midair. Then it drops abruptly to her side, and at least five seconds tick by as she stares at Chris, whose body language displays some serious discomfort.

“Do you mean… Did you ever go out with a Kappa named Kaya, by any chance?”

Chris shoves his gloved hands in his pockets. “Yeah, I dated Kaya. But that was a long time ago.” He frowns. “I’m with Daphne now.”

“Daphne Kettleman?”

He looks startled. “Yeah. You know her?”

Summer’s entire body seems to vibrate with excitement. “No. I don’t know her.”

Since she moved in with us, I’ve witnessed this girl get excited about many things.

Her Prada boots.

One Direction.

Leonardo DiCaprio.

Sex.

But I’ve never seen her face light up the way it does during this conversation about Daphne Kettleman. Whoever that is.

“Oh my God. Okay. I’m sorry. I’m freaking out right now.” She’s practically bouncing on her feet. “I can’t wait to meet her. Tell her I’m a huge fan. Oh my God, tell her we need to chill at the after-party.”

Chris gives her a strange look.

As he should. I’d be weirded out too if, for no discernible reason, some crazy blonde lost her shit at the thought of meeting my girlfriend.

“Um. Sure. I’ll tell her.” He starts backing away, then mutters a hasty goodbye and flees.

“Because that wasn’t fucking weird,” I tell Summer.

She beams at me. “You don’t even know. Daphne’s reputation precedes her.” And then she babbles on about Daphne and alcohol poisoning and someone stealing Daphne’s clothes, and I follow her up the stairs and try to keep up until my eyes finally glaze over.

We enter my room and I lock the door, shutting Summer up the only way I know how—by kissing her.

But kissing her never fails to lead to a raging hard-on, which she notices instantly. “It’s nine o’clock in the morning, Fitz. How are you always so horny, no matter what?”

“My cock can’t tell time.”

She laughs, a sweet melody that makes my dick sing along with anticipation. I kiss her again, and we’re naked in no time at all, making out on the bed with our legs tangled together and our hands busy exploring.

As her fingers roam my bare chest, she releases a happy sigh. “There should be a law stating you’re not allowed to wear a shirt ever.”

“There should be a law stating you’re not allowed to wear anything ever.” I ease out of her grip and kiss my way down her centerfold body until I reach my favorite place on earth.

I go down on her until she’s clawing at the sheets and begging me to get inside her, but rather than climb on top of her, I sprawl on my back and tug her on top ofme.

“Ride me,” I tell her, and she’s happy to oblige.

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