Page 56 of River of Deceit

Blaze’s Bitch

Somehow, I don’t believe you.

I really left an impression with the knife, apparently. If River can get over a whole finger getting cut off, Asch needs to pull up his big boy pants and let go of the tiny cut I gave him.

Pandora

k. omw. I’ll blow and/or stab the first frat douche I see.

I put my phone away and head toward the Kafka Alpha Omega Loser frat house. It’s already late afternoon by now, and if I’m lucky, Blaze will be at the house too.

I wonder if he told Asch about our fuck by the greenhouse.

My phone dings with another text, but I don’t bother to check it.

When I get to the house, I try the door. It’s locked, so I knock on it, and eventually, one of the frat douches answers it after taking his sweet time getting there.

“Hi!” I say brightly. “This is a booty call for Asch. Can you point me to his room?”

The guy—he’s tall, a bit skinny but with decent muscles—gives me a once over. “You want me to believe Asch called anyone for a booty call?”

“Uh, why wouldn’t he?” I try to get past him, but he stands in front of me. I sigh and take a closer look. He must be at least a sophomore, if he’s staying here, and I think I might have seen him at theparty that first night. I can’t be positive though, especially since most of my attention got stolen by Asch and Blaze and Carly.

“Asch doesn’t invite people over,” the guy says. “I mean, I wouldn’t either, if I lived like he does.” He extends his arm out and smiles at me. “But if you want to fuck, my room is available, and in livable condition.”

I have no idea what that means, and I’m itching to do some violence. Because of Rachel, because of Carly, and even because of Asch.

Does Asch need me defending his honor? He’s already got Blaze doing that.

“Okay, you’re saying that your cock is at least as good as Asch’s?” I ask. “You know how to use your mouth, your fingers, and you’ve got experience bringing women to orgasm? If you can’t do that, I’ll have to treat you like the last guy who left me hanging after he came within two seconds.”

“Did it involve a knife?” a familiar voice asks.

I glance behind the guy at the door to see Asch, whose expression is stormy.

I wave to him and smile. “I assume it did. Or a bone saw? It’s a bit unclear at this point.” I look at the guy. “What’s your name? Unless you want me to call you limp-dicked frat douche.”

The guy scowls at me but removes his arm from the door frame. “I’m Declan. Maybe you can use your knife on Asch’s dick, then. He doesn’t really need it.”

“Fuck off, Declan,” Asch says. “If anyone needs to lose their dick, it’s you.” He flashes Declan a brittle smile, then turns his attention back to me. “I saidIwasn’t down to fuck, Pandora. And Blaze isn’t here.”

“Good thing I wasn’t looking for Blaze,” I answer, stepping around Declan and toward Asch.

Declan scoffs loudly. “Still taking all of Blaze’s hand-me-downs.”

I drop my flirtatious smile and turn to glare at him. “What’s your problem, asshole? I’m here to bother and-or fuck Asch, and if youcan’t be happy for your frat brother, what are you even doing in a fraternity?”

“Don’t worry about him,” Asch says. He stares at me, his expression still standoffish. “Am I the one who’s going to end up roofied if I try to tell you no?”

For some reason, that makes Declan scowl harder, but he flips us off and walks down the hall.

“Jeez. What’s he got against you?” I ask. “Did you murder his puppy?”

Asch crosses his arms against his chest. “Worse,” he deadpans. “I’m ascholarshipstudent.”

I gasp loudly. “No! Not a scholarship student! I met one in a dark alley once, and you know what she did?”

“Went down on you?” Asch asks with a touch of snark I hadn’t been expecting.