Page 68 of The Penalty

I can’t resist her tugs anymore, spinning around to see her wide eyes.

“Did you tell him?”

“No. Remember he saw us after the game? I guess you weren’t hidden as well as we thought. But he’s cool. He promised he’d keep it to himself. And while I wouldn’t have trusted him before this, he’s kept his mouth shut this long, so I think we might be safe.”

“Oh, okay.” Does she sound disappointed?

“You’ve got your own bathroom in your room, right?” My head spins with how fast she flips to a new thought.

“Yeah.”

“Do you think maybe I could use it? I was in the other one earlier and it’s kind of a hot mess right now.”

“Cupcake, are you trying to get in my room?” A shock runs up my arm as I brush her hand with mine.

“Maybe.” She drags her lower lip through her teeth in a studied move, eyes locked on mine. “It’s been too long, and you got me all hot and bothered with all that stalkery energy, watching me from the window.”

“We can’t here. Down the hall from your brother.”

“I won’t tell if you don’t. I’ll leave before he gets up in the morning. But I need this. Don’t make me go home to my vibrator. There are other things I’d much rather have in me.” She leans in, breath tickling my neck she’s so close.

My cock was already waking up. Now it’s straining the denim at my crotch. Good thing my costume includes a fanny pack.

“Please.”

I can’t say no when she asks like that. Begs. All I can picture now is her begging on her knees for me to wreck her.

“Fine. But we’ll go separate. You go first. If no one is in the hall, you can go in. Turn right at the top of the stairs. My room is first on the left. I’ll join you in a few.”

She bounces on her toes, leaning in and I think she’s going to lay a kiss on me, but she pulls back at the last minute as if she remembers why she shouldn’t. Her smiles dips a little, but she turns around.

“Wait.” I swipe my key out of my pocket, slipping it into her palm, then giving it a squeeze. “You’re going to need that.”

She vanishes into the crowd while I move away from the window, circling the room, taking in the crowd. I search for Beau. He’s not on the dance floor, the TV room, the kitchen.

JJ notices me making my pass through the kitchen. “I told you, Beau retired for the night.”

I shake my head, turning my back on him. He must have noticed me scanning the crowd.

“Have fun. Be safe,” he says to my back.

“Shut up.”

Looks like he’s right. He might be annoying, but the place is a Beau free zone. I take a chance. Make my way upstairs. There are a couple of strangers waiting outside the bathroom, but that’s it. My door handle twists under my hand, and I push it open. The first thing my eyes land on when I walk inside is Cece lounging on my bed. She’s still got on her bodysuit, and I can’t wait to peel it off her.

“Hey, Lucy.” The familiar voice sends me into panic mode, and I slam my door shut, turning around.

Beau’s brow is scrunched together, his hair mussed, and he’s got his headphones around his neck. He’s changed out of the intimidating costume into some grey sweatpants, but none of that eases my fear.

“Have you got a private function going on?”

“What? No. What are you talking about?”

He eyes me up and down. “You look like a bouncer, dude.”

“I’m not.” I try to relax, dropping my arms to my sides, but they’re stiff and awkward. At least they feel that way to me.

“I know. I was wondering if you have that accounting textbook you borrowed from me? I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d finish up that work for DeAngelo’s class.”

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