Page 57 of River of Deceit

I giggle and shake my head. “Damn. That’s a better joke than I was going to make. Mine would have been, she saidhi.” I knock my shoulder against his arm. “Okay, you don’t want to fuck, and I ran out of my supply of drugs. Why don’t you show me where the frat hides the roofies so I can get the party started?”

This time, Iamexpecting a snarky response, but Asch only glances around us. “Yeah, no. Look, Pandora. I appreciate you being horny or whatever, but I have a severe case of ‘I don’t give a fuck,’ and I have homework to do. You know, to maintain that scholarship?”

I wave dismissively. “Then why don’t I help you study? I’m great at motivating guys.” I start walking down the hall. Thanks to the tour Blaze gave me and River the other day, I have a good sense of the layout.

I hadn’t noticed any obvious places where murder-and-decapitation could happen, but we also never stepped foot into the basement.

Asch swears, but he follows me. “Seriously, what are you doing here, Pandora?”

Trying to figure out who roofied Carly, but I have no idea how to even get started on that. I keep walking, taking the stairs up while Ifigure out what to say. “Can’t I want to jump on your dick? You should have more self-confidence, Asch! You’re a hot guy! I bet lots of women want to fuck you.”

“Just go to Blaze’s room, then,” he says, sounding resigned.

That’s disappointing, but I guess I can’t expect him to let me wander around unfettered and go through other people’s rooms.

I’m pretty sure Blaze wasn’t the one who roofied Carly. He wouldn’t have brought us to that bedroom if he had. And Asch didn’t know either, so the two of them are safe.

For now.

I’m surprised to find Blaze’s door unlocked, but I stride in and drop down onto the bed, spreading my arms wide. “How come Blaze gets a queen? My dorm room only has a full-sized bed.”

“Perks of being a Bouchard,” Asch replies, closing the door behind us. He sits down in the chair at Blaze’s desk, looking intently at me. “Now tell me why you’re really here, because as flattering as it is to think that you need my dick that bad, we both know you don’t.”

If I’m honest, my cunt is still a bit sore from fucking Blaze earlier. He gave me a real pounding. I could go again, but I’m almost glad Asch saw through the whole ruse.

“Fine, fine.” I sit up and lean against the headboard. “I just want to find out who handed out the roofies at the party. It’s been bugging me, and if I’m going to spend more time with all of you, I need to be sure I can trust the drinks.”

His expression, which had already been weary, closes off completely. “It’s been dealt with,” he says. “It won’t happen again.”

That’s more than I thought I’d get out of him. I’d thought he’d insist that no one in the frat would ever do anything like that.

“Dealt with?” I repeat. “Dealt with, how? Like, you gave the guy a slap on the wrist, or you kicked him out of the school?”

Asch’s foot taps against the floor. He must catch himself doing it, because he stops almost immediately. “Drop it, Pandora.”

I shake my head. “Nope. I have to know ifthe punishment fits the crime. I mean, I could also start doing real stabbing. Go allFinal Retribution 4on the entire frat.”

“No.” Asch smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

I get off the bed and sit down on his lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. “Come on, Asch. I’ll make it worth your while. Just tell me who did it.” I lean in to brush my lips against his.

He tenses, but then he tangles his fingers in my hair and urges me closer, kissing me for a long moment before pulling back. “Yeah?” He runs his nails lightly along my scalp. “And how are you gonna do that?”

I place my hand over his crotch and give it a light squeeze, eliciting a quiet groan from him. “Hmm. I don’t think I’ve even gotten a good look at you yet. Blaze has been monopolizing me.”

“Mm, true,” he says. “Maybe we could come to an arrangement.” He chuckles. “How about you take the knife out and put it on the desk so we can have something more relaxed?”

I internally roll my eyes, but I do want to get him relaxed enough to spill the beans. I pull the knife out of my pocket—careful not to dislodge the charm at the same time—and hold it up.

“No stabbing, I promise,” I say as I toss the knife onto the bed. I’m not going to put it within easy reach for him.

He laughs again, and this time, it sounds more genuine. “What, you don’t trust me?” he asks. He doesn’t wait for an answer, though. This time, when his lips meet mine, the kiss is demanding, harsh, and his tongue presses insistently at my lips.

I open up for him, groaning when he thrusts his tongue inside like he owns me. I didn’t expect him to be so forceful, not with how he defers to Blaze, but I like it.

Maybe not quite “Blaze’s Bitch” after all.

While he kisses me, and oh my god is his tongue weirdly flexible, I undo his belt and fly.