Nothing More

Now that I have my own place, I could take her in my bed and do everything I’ve longed to do since we were teens. I remember how amazed I was the first time she wrapped her lips around my cock. I think back to the many times she wanted to try things. It all felt so experimental then, it felt exciting, otherworldly, and our list of favorite things to do quickly became sexual. That’s all we did for a while, all we wanted to do.

Dakota’s hands move to the front of my body, circling around my belly button, her fingertips slipping into the top of my briefs. I grow under her touch, hard now, and I can’t begin to fight it. It’s biology, after all. I haven’t been touched, save for that one kiss and a few touches from Nora, in months. Dakota proves that she still remembers my body when she rubs her index finger over the sensitive skin above my hipbone. I jerk away from her tickling, and she laughs, pulling me closer.

She’s in a much better mood now, but this feels an awful lot like throwing a blanket over a raging fire. Eventually, it will burn up just the same.

Eventually, but not right now.

Chapter Fifteen

DAKOTA TAKES MY HANDS and pulls me out of the kitchen. I follow her like the lost puppy I am.

“Don’t forget your water,” I remind her, and she pouts at me, but I point to the water on the counter. She really will need it.

With a sigh, she removes her hands from mine and goes back to grab her glass. While she’s doing that I grab the TV remote and turn it on for Tessa, hitting mute. I always make sure she has some light when she gets home later than me, and the lamp on our end table has a blown lightbulb that I keep meaning to replace.

But as I put the remote back down on the couch, I hear the ominous sound of voices and a key ring jingling.

The lock finally clicks and the door opens, bringing Tessa inside . . .

. . . with Nora.

As I stand there somewhat dazed, Tessa takes off her purple beanie and closes the door behind her. Nora pulls her jacket off and her cleavage nearly spills out from her shirt as she shakes her hair.

Then both of them look over at Dakota and me, suddenly realizing they’re not alone.

Please, dear God, let Nora think I was looking at her face at least.

And more importantly, where is that damn portal?

“Landon?” Tessa starts.

“Hey, I didn’t know—” Nora begins, but stops as soon as Dakota walks out of the kitchen, seemingly unaware of her.

Dakota approaches me and, walking between me and Tessa and Nora, wraps her hand around mine. As her fingers play with my own, Nora’s eyes stay fixed on me. She doesn’t look down to Dakota’s and my joined hands, though I get the feeling she wants to.

“Let’s go to bed?” Dakota says, pulling me toward the bedroom with her, without looking at either of them.

When I look again, Nora’s eyes are on our connected hands and Tessa is staring with her lips sucked in against her teeth and her eyes wide.

I turn to Dakota. She’s giving me a look. One that says, You better not stop and talk to that girl instead of coming to your bedroom with me.

I look at Nora again and then at Tessa. I’m confused, and seemingly without my permission, my mouth says, “Uh, yeah. Good night, guys.”

I follow Dakota into the room and she closes the door behind us.

Dakota is fuming when she turns to face me.

“She has some fucking nerve!” she roars. She tosses her hands into the air and then presses them to her temples.

I step toward her and cover her mouth with my hand. “Hey, be nice,” I softly advise.

Dakota talks under my hand and I bring my free hand to her neck. I spread my fingers wide and cover her shoulder. I rub at the tense muscle there and she stops talking.

“She knew who you were all along,” she half whispers. “I know she did. She had to remember your name.”

I try to be the voice of reason. Maybe she did, but she honestly seemed just as clueless about my connection to Dakota as the rest of them.

I shrug. “Are you sure you said my name? Do you have our pictures out anywhere?”

I wince after that last question; I kind of don’t want to know the answer.

I don’t know Nora very well, but I don’t see her as the type of person who would purposely go after her roommate’s ex, knowing it would all blow up sooner rather than later. Plus, it’s not like