Page 43 of Scrimmage

“Oh, yeah. Well, nice to meet you, Koda.” Penny gives me that sweet smile again. It almost makes me feel bad. Almost.

I walk slowly in the direction Ashland disappeared to. The art school is this way. I take a few unnecessary turns and then I see her, digging through her bag frantically probably looking for the sketchbook I’ve got in my possession. I almost back away, but my shadow is cast across her face, grabbing her attention.

Her teal eyes zero in on me. “What the fuck do you want, Chance?”

“Why do you keep calling me Chance?”

It seems to catch her off guard. “What?”

“Chance. You’ve called me Chance multiple times now. Do you really not remember people’s names, or do you think it’s cute?”

She shrugs. “A mixture of both.”

“I forget. You’re fucking everyone you meet. You probably don’t have space in your brain to remember them all.”

She crosses her eyes and huffs. “What is it that you need from me? Oh, Koda, your dick wassobig, and you’resocharismatic. Please,please, give it to me again.”

I try to will my dick to get soft.

“So you do remember my name?” I snort.

“Fucking impossible,” she mutters to herself. “Listen, I'm going through something right now, if that isn’t clear. You’re welcome for rocking your world.”

I stare down at her, watching her run her goddamn filthy mouth, and all I can think about is how fucking sexy she would look with my hand wrapped around her throat right now. About how beautiful it would be if her face was red and there were tears streaming down her cheeks. She’s wearing a tank top and the bite mark I left is gone, but I want to mark her again. I want to see bruises on her flesh and my handprint on her fucking face. I want those teal eyes looking directly into mine with hatred and shame and bliss.

“…At least Alexi is funny,” she continues. “You just stand there looking fucking angry and staring at me like a serial killer. I don’t know if you've noticed, but I tried to avoid your boyfriend. He doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. I get that you regret fucking me because it fucks with whatever Golden Boy reputation you’ve got but live with the regret,Chance.Life is full of it.”

Golden Boy. So it is her.

“I don’t regret it.”

She glances up, rolling her eyes. “I have got to start fucking guys off campus. Okay, well, I don’t need to be apart of your sadistic awakening or whatever this is. I’m sure Stacy will be glad to do whatever weird shit you’re into. Did you see my…There was…Nevermind.”

She zips her bag up and gets to her feet, snatching her board. I crowd her against the tree she’s standing next to. “You liked it, too. Admit it.”

Her eyes glance around, but we’re alone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she growls.

I reach my hand up, lightly squeezing her neck. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

She swallows. I can feel it under my palm as her heart races under my fingertips. There’s fire in her eyes; she's trying not to submit. This is all so impulsive, unlike me, but I’m possessed by need.

I bring my mouth to her ear that’s littered with jewelry. “I’d be willing to bet that you’re wet right now just thinking about it. You were such a good girl for me, Ashland. Youbeggedme to make you come.” I reach down and squeeze her ass before sliding her phone out of her back pocket. “When I text you, you answer. We’ll do it again, and again, and again, and we won’t stop until I say we do.” I take my palm and tap her face twice for emphasis before texting myself from her phone.

I toss it onto the ground and back away. “Oh, by the way, you left your charcoal.” I dig it out of my pocket and toss the pieces next to her phone. By the look in her eyes she’s fucking pissed, but she doesn’t tell me no. I leave without another word, saving her number.

After the interaction with Ashland I end up working out, trying to release some pent up aggression. It doesn’t work. I already want her again, but if I try to get to her too quickly she’ll figure out she has the upper hand. When I get home Alexi is on the couch, invading my space, per usual. He’s furiously texting on his phone, laughing every few seconds.

“Jesus, can you take your slumber party somewhere else.” I pull some juice from the fridge, pouring it into a glass.

“I’m just texting Penny. She’s cool as fuck.”

“Yeah? Ashland out, Penny in?”

His answer better fucking be yes.

“I actually think it’s neither. They’re really cool. Not self-absorbed jackasses like everyone else we know.”

“So you got friend zoned?”

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