Chapter 5 : Temptation.

ZANE’S POV

I just couldn’t think straight anymore after what Alessia said to me after lunch. I mean, it was something I had actually wanted to hear from her since the first day I set my eyes on her.

Defying all rules, I couldn’t help thinking about her and stroking myself every damn night. If only she knew what was coming her way, she wouldn’t be so sure of how much she wanted me. Every time I thought I had finally pushed the conversation from yesterday out of my head, her voice came back to me.

What if I don’t want to be just your interviewer or Adrian’s little sister to you again?

I still couldn’t decide what bothered me most. The fact that she had said it herself or the fact that I possessively wanted her to.

Crap… This was not sitting well with me like I had initially thought it would. I tossed my phone onto the bed and stared at the clothes I’d picked for the party. I was a freaking party animal. Black jeans, a Northbridge hoodie and a jacket. Nothing special. It was just another Friday. Another frat party and another excuse for half the campus to get half drunk and make stupid decisions.

And I had already made one myself.

Brittany Tyler.

She was hot as hell and screamed model wherever she went. Unfortunately for me, and a lot of other guys, Brittany wanted me. Despite knowing I wasn’t the least interested, well, I could make do with her availability for a while. She’d been around more than most of the girls I had been with, and sometimes most people on campus thought I’d eventually ask her out.

But Brit was a no. As much as she gave herself to me, she was also around half the guys and girls on campus. I grabbed my keys and phone and headed for the door, thoughts of seeing Alessia still in my head.

Hell be damned. Was I ever going to stop thinking about her?

——-

The obvious answer was no.

Alessia Bennett was everywhere all over the house, moving so gracefully, smiling and flirting.

Yes, she had been flirting since I’d walked in with Brit. And the attitude wasn’t lost on me. Every now and then, she sent me one of those looks of hers that spoke louder than words could.

She knew what she stirred in me.

How stupid of her to be making this kind of move.

I had gotten interested in what Mason and Jace were talking about, with Stephanie hanging on my arm, when my eyes went across the room, locking on Alessia’s eyes. She held mine too. And I could read the mischief playing around them.

She was now dancing with a guy from the football team.

And trust me, it was not just a dance. Her hips movements caught my attention, and the bastard placed his hands on her hips. I searched the room for Adrian to put an end to this madness, but the idiot was nowhere to be found. I’d have done it myself, but I was with a date, and I knew better than to disrespect Brittany Tyler in front of everyone and her friends.

Alessia didn’t stop, though. And while playing stupid, her big doe eyes were locked in mine.

To me, Jason and Madam were now sputtering nonsense. I needed to calm down before I lost it.

I found my tumbler and took a sip from it.

Alessia smiled.

She fucking smiled at me.

She knew what she was doing to me. How tempting and annoying.

Her eyes finally left mine, and now frat boy was saying something to her in her ear, stirring up a laugh from her.

Why the hell was she laughing like he was the only guy in the room?

And where the hell was my stupid best friend when you needed him?

I should have known better than to ask. He was probably with one of Brittany’s friends.

I took another slow drink of my beer.

Her eyes caught mine again.

Fine.

Two can play at this game. After all, I was with the hottest date on campus. Let’s see who survives the tension.

And speaking of dates, Brittany smiled at me.

“You having fun, Captain?” she asked with one of her French accents. Something that had stirred me when I first met her.

I smirked back at her and held my bottle of booze to her lips to drink. Brittany got the memo and drank from the bottle.

“How much longer are we going to be here for, Zane?” she asked, and sure, I knew what she meant. But I was suddenly uninterested. My greatest interest now was to go across the room and drag Alessia back to her dorm.

I shook my head. “Don’t know when, Brit. But I think soon. How much longer can you wait?” I teased, smirking at her, and she chuckled.

“I can definitely wait. I’m going to go dance, Zane. You wanna join?” she asked, walking slowly to the dance floor.

By mistake, my eyes caught Alessia.

She was no longer with frat boy and now looked like she was suddenly irritated.

I smiled at her and looked back at Brit.

“Not in the mood, Brit. I’ll be here waiting for you. Go have fun,” I replied.

I’d have loved to give Alessia a taste of her own medicine, but I wasn’t really in the mood.

Brittany left, and I looked up at Alessia again.

She was no longer looking at me. Now, she was suddenly interested in something Kendra was saying, but she looked far from the conversation, like she was deeply thinking about something.

I knew the girl too much, and it bothered me.

Almost half an hour later, Jace, Adrian, Mason and I were at the pool table arguing about something on hockey when Alessia walked in.

I knew what she wanted, and right now, I prayed Adrian picked me.

Kendra didn’t follow behind her, which was definitely a good sign. She’d have another guy drop her off.

Alessia whispered something to Adrian. He whispered back and looked towards Mason.

Damn it.

He wanted to ask Mason.

And what was worse was how Alessia avoided my eyes.

“Mase, can you help me with Alessia? I still have a lot left to do,” Adrian asked.

Mason gulped the rest of his beer and slammed it on the table.

“Fine. We are now your drivers, Alessia. Lemme get my car keys,” Mason said, reaching for his keys when he looked at me.

And I gave him a glare that said, don’t.

His eyes widened with realization and mischief.

I knew I wouldn’t hear the end of this after tonight.

But I was also glad it was Mason and not Jace.

The idiot smiled and nodded, then winked at me.

Asshole.

He looked back at Adrian.

“Um… that reminds me. I’m still going to be needed at the pool in like five to ten minutes. And Jace is busy too. Whereas Zane is not,” Mason said convincingly.

Adrian was no fool, though, and I hated it that nothing went under his nose. He shot me a nervous look, looking between me and Mase.

Then he cleared his throat.

“Alessia, Zane would take you home,” he said quietly to her.

She looked at me as if silently cursing that she had to drive alone with me for the next half hour.

And I was inwardly smiling in triumph.

She brought this upon herself.

As if reading my thoughts, Adrian looked back at me in a warning glare. Of course, he knew enough to know this was a bad idea, and he was not okay with it.

“Behave,” he warned.

I tried to hold in my laugh but failed. It came out as a chuckle.

“Sure,” I replied and grabbed my keys.