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Nearly irresistible. The last week, I had been doing it—resisting—though it was nearly costing me my fucking sanity.
But this Emmy? This captivating temptress who was flirting with me, saying teasing words with those full, pouty lips that made my mouth dry and my dick hard as a rock?
I was fucked.
I wrapped my arm around her waist, sliding my fingertips up the exposed skin of her back and heard her gasp, the moan slightly. My hand landed on her nape, and I watched her tongue reach out and swipe her soft lips, leaving a trail of wetness behind.
That was it. I was pulling her toward me, ready to throw my stupid fucking vow out the window, take that sexy mouth and do all the dirty things she wanted me to. My mouth was hovering over Emmy’s when Laney walked up and shoved a beer in Emmy’s face, drunkenly oblivious to what I was about to do.
I pulled back and shot Laney an aggravated scowl, but she was oblivious to that as well.
“Ivan you were sooooo right about Drew. What guy would let me come here by myself? Do you know how many guys have been hitting on me tonight? Tons!” she practically bellowed.
I shot a look at Emmy and was frustrated to see her previously seductive expression transforming to one of concern. “I’m sorry, Laney. Do you want to go?”
Laney shook her head with more force than necessary and nearly toppled herself over. “No, it’s okay, Emmy! You were right—I can’t let Drew ruin my fun. You’re so sweet to ask, though, I swear. I’m soooo glad you’re my roommate!” she said, an overly sentimental look on her face, as if she and Emmy had been friends for years rather than weeks.
I looked over at Emmy and was shocked to see the same expression on her face.
“Me too! You’re so funny and fun. I feel lucky we got paired together,” she said.
“No, you’re the awesome one! You put up with my messiness and my crazy boyfriend. Do you know when he comes over, he wants to lay on your bed instead of mine. He hates that I’m so messy…or maybe he likes your laundry detergent?” she asked, then paused to consider that possibility. “Whatever! I’m done with him and his bullshit,” she pronounced.
“Don’t worry about him, Laney, you can do so much better,” Emmy said reassuringly.
“Thank you,” Laney warbled out, sounding shockingly close to tears. Then she and Delaney collapsed into each other’s arms as if they had just reunited after a lengthy separation.
What the hell? This had to be some weird combination of female hormones and alcohol.
Laney’s comment about her boyfriend nagged at me. What the fuck was he doing laying on Emmy’s bed—a bed I hadn’t even sat on, let alone laid on? Who the fuck did this asshole think he was? However, I saw Laney’s side of the room and the girl was a total slob, so maybe it was self-preservation. I still didn’t like it.
I shook my head and took a sip of my stale beer, spotting Will over the rim of my glass and nodding at him to join us. He smiled and walked over, brought up short by Laney and Emmy.
“So, Ivan, is this what happens at all frat parties?” Will said, gesturing to the two hugging women next to me. “I should really reconsider enrolling in college.”
Will had had a rough year. He and another Bratva soldier, Boris, had been assigned to protect Katya. Boris had become embittered at his assignment and decided to help Yuri take back control of the Chicago Bratva, betraying, and nearly killing, Will.
Will had recovered physically, but his personality had changed. He’d become bitter, naturally, but a lot of anger was directed toward himself for not seeing who Boris really was. When he wasn’t on assignment, his main way of coping was drinking and fucking anything that moved. That wandering dick was the main reason I didn’t want him guarding Emmy. He was a regular down at The Trinity Club, plowing through strippers as if he was getting paid in pussy.
“They’ve been drinking,” I said, shrugging. Maybe he understood this behavior better than I did.
He nodded as the girls broke apart and Laney frowned at Will. “Who are you?” she asked, her eyes taking a slow inspection of him.
I guess Will was a decent enough looking guy—he looked young enough to pass for a college student but was tall and built making him look a lot tougher than the other guys standing around the basement. He had dark hair and light-colored eyes…. blue, maybe? Gray? Hell, I didn’t know, I never really inspected them before. However, Laney looked more than willing to give them a closer look.
“Will. A friend of Ivan’s,” Will replied, giving Laney a similar appraisal.
Emmy blinked at him as if he were an apparition, her brow puckered in confusion. “Will? What are you doing here? Are you in this fraternity?” she asked, indicating she was still quite drunk.
Will snorted. “No, malen’kaya kukla, you know the only fraternity that I’m a part of,” he replied and gave her a wink.
I gave him a sharp stare and a sharper punch to the arm. Little doll, my ass. I wasn’t sure if Will was sincerely attracted to Emmy or just like fucking with me.
Laney squealed in delight, grabbing onto Will's arm. “Was that Russian? Do you speak Russian, too? What did you call her? I don’t think it was the same thing Ivan called her.”
Will raised an eyebrow at me. “What did Ivan call her?” he asked with avid curiosity.
“He called her ‘sweet girl’ in Russian.”