3.

Lori

A dark gleam flashed in Lucas’s eyes. His smirk widened. He threw a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. He guided me out by placing his palm firmly against the small of my back.

The heat from his touch burned straight into my skin through my denim jacket.

His dorm room did not look like a typical college boy's room. There was no mess. It smelled clean, like cedar wood and laundry detergent.

The moment the door clicked closed behind us, his casual look disappeared.

Lucas rushed toward me. His large frame blocked out the hallway light. His hands framed my face. His thumbs wiped away my smudged mascara.

"You are still thinking about whatever made you so angry," Lucas murmured. His dark eyes looked right through me. "It is a guy, isn't it?"

"You are not wrong," I breathed. My heart slammed against my ribs. "But I want to forget. I want to wake up tomorrow with a different thought."

Lucas leaned down. His lips brushed against mine in a slow tease. The touch made me whimper. I pulled him closer and wrapped my arms around his neck. I needed the distraction.

He tasted like whiskey and dark promises. His hands slid to my waist. He lifted me onto the edge of his desk. Suddenly, a wave of panic cut through my anger.

I pushed against his hard chest. "Lucas, wait."

He stopped instantly. His breathing was heavy. His eyes were hooded. "What's wrong?"

"I need to tell you something," I said, biting my lip. "I have never done this before. I am a virgin."

I expected him to pull away. I thought his playboy reputation would kick in and he would ask me to leave.

Instead, his whole mood changed.

The air in the room grew thick. The patient hockey captain disappeared. A dominant energy took his place. It made me shudder. His fingers dug into my skin, tightening his grip on my hips.

"A virgin?" Lucas pushed closer. His thighs parted my legs. A wild hunger flared in his eyes. "Why are you telling me this now, Lori?"

"Is it a problem?" I whispered. He felt huge compared to me.

"No," he growled.

His lips took mine with a feral intensity. The rough kiss stole the breath from my lungs.

"It is not a problem," he muttered. "But it means you are mine tonight. Entirely mine."

An hour of intense sensations followed. I was completely unprepared. Lucas was nothing like Travis. Travis was hesitant and selfish. Lucas was a force of nature. He dictated exactly how I moved beneath him.

It felt like a total surrender. He marked his territory with every touch, leaving me breathless and trembling. He whispered dark, possessive commands that made my blood run hot and cold.

When it was over, the room was silent except for our ragged breathing. Lucas lay beside me with one heavy arm around my waist. He closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling.

I stared at the ceiling. My body ached in new places. My heart pounded a frantic rhythm. The anger that brought me here was gone. It was replaced by a terrifying realization.

Who was this guy?

On campus, Lucas wore a golden boy athlete mask. But the man next to me was unpredictable and intense. He was far too much for me to handle.

I had wanted revenge, but I had jumped into the deep end of a dark ocean.

I carefully lifted Lucas’s heavy arm off my waist. He grunted but did not wake.

My legs felt like jelly and my heart was in my throat as I scrambled off the bed. I gathered my crumpled dress, underwear, and jacket from the floor. Shaking violently, I threw them on. I did not dare use his bathroom to fix my hair.

I grabbed my keys from his nightstand. I took one last look at the sleeping hockey captain. He looked peaceful, but the memory of his wild grip made me shudder.

I quietly unlocked the door, stepped into the empty hallway, and bolted down the stairs into the night.

---

I sneaked into my apartment around three in the morning. I showered and scrubbed Lucas’s cedar scent off my skin until I was raw. Then I collapsed into a restless sleep.

I gave my virginity to a stranger. A notorious playboy. Elena’s ex.

Realizing the truth made me want to hide under the covers forever. I wanted revenge, but I had handed total control to a guy who looked at me like a prize. His heavy hands and rough whispers were fresh in my mind.

"I think she is awake. I heard her groaning."

The door opened and Jessica strode in. She looked entirely too energetic for a Saturday morning.

Ann followed close behind, holding black coffee and ibuprofen.

They both sat on the edge of my bed. Their faces showed a mix of fierce worry and curiosity.

"Drink this," Ann said, handing me the pills and the mug.

I swallowed the medicine gratefully.

"Now, talk," Ann demanded. "Yesterday you ran out like the place was on fire. Then we saw Travis leave your room looking like he’d seen a ghost. Lori... what the hell happened?"