Page 48 of A Lesson in Deceit
“He’s good. Still graduating on time and still annoying the fuck out of me.”
“And his girlfriend? Boyfriend? I don’t want to get it wrong.”
“Riley’s his girlfriend. Still together and I guess they’re fine. I rarely ask the details of his relationships, besides if they're legal and not a completely horrible influence.” As much as I wanted to just let it be and treat her like an everyday student, her face wouldn’t leave my fucking mind.
I heard my empty glass whine from me holding it too tight, so I let it clang against the wood of the bar.
“Is she pretty?”
“How would I know that?”
“I’m sure you’ve looked at her once or twice, Asher.”
“She’s just fine. It doesn’t matter if she’s pretty. I don’t have to date her.”
Graham snorted. “You should try to date someone. I love my time with you, but you know interaction with a female could do wonders. Even if it’s not for mutual sexual pleasure, but then again, you could also use that too.”
I groaned, jumping off my stool and heading for the bathroom.
I was alone with the porcelain sinks and wood interior. The low music could be heard from outside the door, but I could at least think straight. I pressed my hands to the sink bowl, looking at myself in the mirror.
I had no interest in talking about my brother tonight and especially not his girlfriend. Her work in my class had been superior, which had me second guessing that school wasn’t a priority for her. She had to be an excellent multitasker because she was up to something, but I was on the fence about giving a flying fuck about what it was…unless it involved my brother.
I hated insufferable students who argued and talked back. She didn’t really raise her voice, but she did have a sass to herthat I found myself wanting to entertain. We’d hardly spoken since she happened to find her way to my office, but that didn’t mean she didn’t find ways to antagonize me, even when she didn’t know it.
The genuine laugh she let out on occasion when her and her friend left my class. The way she threw her braids over her shoulder to expose the column of her neck. The way she bit her fucking lip.
I ran a hand over my face, walking backwards and into one of the stalls. I pressed my back against the wall. I thought about that mouth of hers and all the things I could do to it. I was professional in class, so calling me Asher just wasn’t right, but when she called mesir…when she said it in that way that told me she was trying to get under my skin,fuckit made my dick hard.
I imagined what it would sound like when she was whimpering and doing as she was told. I wondered how she would look saying it on her knees. My hand was starting to reach for my zipper, but I stopped. She was River’s girlfriend and this was a line I wouldn’t cross. My brother and I had shared girls before, but none of them were ones he or I dated long term, if we ever really dated them at all.
Something like this would be a delicate matter and would need to be spoken about, but…I didn’t want that. I had to stop picturing her bent over my desk and just keep her upright and several feet away from me across the room.
My cock was screaming at me to let it out, think about all the filthy things I wanted to do to her so I could wrap it in my fist and relieve the ache, but that couldn’t happen. I wanted another drink tonight, but I said no to that. I’ll say no to this too.
My phone buzzed and I dug into my back pocket pulling it out. My dad was calling, but I hit ignore. He was going to ask me if I’d talked to River about the meeting. ‘You’re his big brother,Asher, let him know it’s the best thing for him.’ I wasn’t in the mood for his shit tonight.
Speaking of fathers…. I let my mind wander back to Riley, but for a more honorable reason. Her dad died a few months before she transferred and now, she was at the university. She looked like she was searching for something outside of the academic building and I still highly doubted she was coming to see me when we ran into her.
They may be small things, it could be small pieces to a bigger puzzle. I may have been correct about her being a good multitasker because as much of a good student as she may be, I think she might be masquerading as an amateur detective.
24
Riley
Isnuggled with River in the backseat as Grayson drove me home to San Jose. After what happened last night, I honestly didn’t want to be away from either of them, but Grayson had told his parents he would visit, and he was dragging River along with him. My mom had been overly excited when I informed her that I was still coming and I could hear Beau in the background panting as if he’d just run a marathon.
We’d spent the rest of the night cuddled on the couch, watching my favorite movies while they each fed me tiny pretzels. It was like all the big sexual energy had dissipated and we were back to how we used to be. We discussed one thing in particular though.
“So how does this work exactly?”I asked, pulling my knees in while the guys settled on either side of me on the couch.
“How does what work, gorgeous?” River dumped the pretzels in a large bowl.
“So, are we not allowed to just have sex…you and me?” I looked over at him, chewing on my lip.
River pushed his bottom lip out in thought. “Interesting. What do you think?” He gestured towards Grayson, who scratched his chin.
“What doyouwant, Riley?” Grayson tilted his head towards me.
