Raging Hard(135)

I knew I had nothing to worry about. I was just being stupid. He didn’t want to go on that date.

But there was still that nagging sense of jealousy looming over my shoulder. He must have sensed it, too. Before he left, he found me in my room, pointedly trying to ignore everything around me.

“How do I look, Brie baby?” he asked with a grin.

I glanced up. He looked amazing as usual, especially dressed up in his suit.

“You look fine,” I said.

“Playing it cool. I like it.”

He walked across the room and sat down on my bed, pulling my body against his. He laughed and kissed my mouth and my neck.

“Don’t you have a date?” I asked him.

“Am I sensing a little jealousy?”

“Not at all. Just reminding you.”

“Don’t worry. You’re the only thing I want.”

I pushed him back. “Cut it out.”

“Really. Hey.” He grabbed my face and pulled me toward him. “I’m not happy about this thing, either, but it’s only a few hours.”

“I know. It’s not a big deal. You’ll be on camera, anyway. So it’s not like you can screw up too badly.”

He grinned. “You’d be surprised.”

“Okay, go annoy someone else.”

“You mean, go annoy my date?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

He kissed me one last time and stood up.

“See you when I get home.”

“Sure. Whatever.” I gave him a wave and went back to checking Facebook.

He laughed as he turned and left.

And later that night, after the house was quiet and everyone was asleep, he snuck into my room. At that point, he had gotten me off a dozen times. But that night, for whatever reason, he was insatiable.

Which is why I woke up sore the next morning. It was a bittersweet soreness, the kind of dull pleasure you got from hard work. All jealousy had been completely and thoroughly banished.

I stretched and climbed out of bed. The hardest part about my relationship with Lincoln, or whatever we were calling it, was that he could never stay over. Everything between us was hidden, secret gestures and looks during the day, and sweaty and rough touching at night.

Even then we had to be quiet. As much as I wanted to scream his name, I had to settle for digging my nails into his back and whispering it into his ear. The last thing we wanted was to wake up his mom or my dad.

I slowly got out of bed and walked out into the hall, heading to the bathroom. I went through my usual morning routine, my mind still lingering on the night before.

Lincoln’s arms wrapped around my body. His tongue between my legs. His strong hands grabbing my hips as he thrust himself again and again into me. The sheets grasped between my hands. My face pressed down into a pillow, trying not to moan too loudly.

I finished brushing my teeth and washing my face, pushed open the bathroom door, and nearly jumped out of my skin.

“Hey, Aubrie. Good morning,” Jess said.

“Jesus, Jess, you scared me.”

She was standing across the hall, leaning her back against the wall. Under her right arm was a gray plastic square that I didn’t recognize.

“Sorry about that. I was just looking for you.”

“What do you need?”

I glanced around the hall. No cameras. That was good at least.

“Well, I wanted to show you something.”

“Can it wait? I haven’t even dressed yet.”

“It can, but I think you’ll want to see this.”

“What is it?”

“Footage. From Lincoln’s date last night.”

I blinked at her. “Why would I want to see that?”

“I’ve noticed how close you two are getting. I figured you might want to know what kind of guy you’re dealing with.”

I stared at her, my heart suddenly racing. Did she know about Lincoln and me? No, there was no way she knew anything. She couldn’t possibly know.

“Sorry. I don’t really care, honestly. We’re not that close.”

She smiled. “I know. I have to admit, I have an ulterior motive here. I was hoping you’d give me your opinion on it.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell if it’s a little too much. And everyone else around here is afraid to say no to me.”

She gave me a big, winning smile, and I sighed. I had to admit, I was pretty damn curious about the footage, but I was finding it hard to believe that she gave a shit about my opinion. Still, if I really didn’t care about it, then it might be best just to sit through it anyway. Just to throw her off my scent.

I had nothing to hide. Or at least that’s what I was telling the world.

“Okay. Fine. Let me get dressed real fast.”

I moved past her and walked into my room, throwing some clean clothes on.