Page 37 of Sacred Vow

“Ugh. Do you really have to call him Daddy like that? You’ve ruined step-mom porn for me.”

Chloe laughs and leans around me again, looking at Zeph in a new light, and I can almost see the thought running through her mind, wondering if perhaps she’d judged him too quickly.

“So, if loosey goosey ran-through coochie here is done choking on your particular appendage, then who are you going home with tonight?”

Zeph shrugs, and I see the very moment he decides to quit being a scared little bitch and shoot his shot. “I don’t know, but if Tilly is out, that only leaves you and me.”

Chloe’s face flames, but she smirks at him, calling him on his bullshit. “Oh, so I’m the consolation prize? Nice.”

Zeph gapes, horror blasting through his stare. “Fuck. No. That’s not what I mean. I—”

“Chill out,” Chloe laughs. “I’m screwing with you, but assuming Tilly wasn’t lying about just how good you are at slamming a woman up against a wall and making her scream, then you might just have a chance.”

My brow arches as I gape at my best friend. She’s not usually this bold, but then, she’s not usually talking to men after smashing four shots of straight cherry vodka. She’s more than buzzed, and judging by the wicked grin across Zephyr’s face, he’s more than okay with that.

“Oh, I wasn’t lying,” I inform her. “You should see this little trick he does with his fingers that his daddy taught him on the dining table.”

“Fucking hell,” Zeph mutters as I make the chef’s kiss signal with my fingers. “I’m never going to get used to the idea of you and my dad.”

“Just don’t think about it,” I tell him. “It’s not as though that’ll be hard. You don’t strike me as someone who does much thinking anyway. You’re a bungalow.”

Zeph just stares at me, his brows pinching. “A what?”

“You know, a bungalow. A one-story house. You’ve got nothing upstairs.”

He shakes his head, blowing out an exasperated breath. “Why the fuck did I agree to this shit?”

I lean right into him, my lips barely a breath away from his ear. “I think it’s got something to do with the hottie next to me,” I tell him, only I forget to whisper, and as Chloe glances at us with her brows furrowed and a deep suspicion in her eyes, all Zeph can do is shake his head.

“Fuck me,” he says. “This is gonna be a shitshow.”

A few hours later, I stand on the kitchen table of the Kappa Sigma frat house with half of the swim team, shaking my ass and having the time of my life with my new forever besties while Zeph devours Chloe up against the wall.

And judging by the look on her face, she’s more than experienced that little trick that Caesar taught Zeph with his fingers.

She can thank me later.

Better yet, Zeph can be the one to thank me later.

After all, if he really is crazy in love with her like he thinks he is, then technically, his wildest dreams are currently coming true, and he has nobody to thank but me.

Though he should be aware that I only take gratitude in the form of expensive gifts such as luxury sports cars and condos.

I’m busy shaking my ass when a familiar face steps up in front of the kitchen counter with his arms crossed over his wide chest and an expectant expression stretched across his moronic face, instantly killing my vibe.

“Ugh, who let you in?” I groan, my ass-shaking momentarily paused as I stare down at Jordan. Tonight was supposed to be about forgetting that I’m in a Caesar-induced coma. I was supposed to be having a good time, but suddenly I’m no longer feeling it.

My mood instantly plumets at just the look on his stupid face, and along with it comes the hurt I’ve been trying to swallow after hearing how easily Caesar reinforced his boundaries this afternoon.

I don’t know what I was hoping to get out of that conversation with him today, but I know that I wasn’t emotionally prepared for that.

He made it more than clear that it’s only about sex, and I don’t know why I was holding on to hope that it could possibly be anything different.

He laid out the ground rules from day one, and I shamelessly agreed to them.

I vowed not to get emotionally attached to him, vowed not to fall in love.

And while I don’t actually know if what I’m feeling right now is love, I know that it’s something, and that could only mean that I broke my vow.

I have officially forged an emotional attachment to Caesar Di Rozé, and now I have no choice but to avoid him like a plague. The moment he finds out, he’s going to send me on my way, and I don’t know if I have the strength to handle that.

“It’s time we cleared the air, don’t you think?” Jordan questions.

I let out a heavy breath and roll my eyes. “I’m not going to fuck you, Jordan. And neither are any of my friends, so if that’s what you’re hoping for, you can go right ahead and fuck off.”

Jordan scoffs. “You certainly think highly of yourself, don’t you?”

“If I ignore you, will you eventually go away?”

“Unlikely.”

Shit.

Crouching down, I reach out, and Jordan takes my hand, helping me to jump down off the counter in a rare display of chivalry.

The moment my feet hit the floor, Jordan hastily releases his hold on my hand as though it burned him, and he waves me through the crowd.

“I take it you don’t want to find a quiet place to talk? ”

“Oh, I’ll talk,” I tell him. “I have more than enough things to say to you, but there’s no chance in hell you’re getting me alone in a quiet place. Whatever you want to say to me can be done in front of witnesses.”

I can practically hear him rolling his eyes. “Outside then?”

I nod. The front yard and the street are littered with people, and while the party is more than raging out there, the music isn’t quite as loud.

We weave through the throng of people, and when we stride past Zeph and Chloe up against the wall, Jordan goes out of his way to point them out. “Trouble in paradise, huh?” he questions, stepping in so close behind me that I feel his lips against my ear. “What happened?”

I pull away from him and scrunch my face. “What are you talking about? Zeph and I aren’t anything. We were having fun. There’s no trouble at all. Besides, that’s my best friend. I practically forced them together tonight.”

His brows crease, and he glances back at the couple, more pointedly at Zeph, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s somewhat jealous. “What’s your deal, huh? Have you got a thing for Zeph? Is that why you’ve been such a dick to me?”

Jordan glares at me and steps ahead. “Come on.”

I follow his lead, trailing after him as he walks outside, all while rolling my eyes at his back.

If it weren’t for Zeph, I wouldn’t bother trying to patch things up with Jordan.

He’s a prick, but Zeph is amazing, and if Jordan means something to him, then I owe it to Zeph to at least give him a chance.

Who knows? Maybe Zeph was right and Jordan truly is a great guy.

I doubt it, but I suppose I’m about to find out.

We make it out the door, and I weave through the people lingering on the front porch, and after making my way down the few stairs, it quickly becomes apparent that there’s nowhere good for a conversation out here.

There are people everywhere, and after quickly scanning the yard, Jordan begins to lead me around the corner of the house.

I follow without question, but it’s not until we step into the shadow of the house that I realize just how quiet it is around here. All those witnesses I had wanted are nowhere to be seen, and I’m suddenly more alone with Jordan than I ever intended to be.

I come up short, keeping distance between us as I keep a close eye on him. “So, you wanted to clear the air?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he says, digging his hands into his pocket. “Why are you being such a little cock tease?”

My brows practically hit my hairline as I stare at Jordan, having absolutely no idea what to make of that. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t start acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about.

The other day, you were acting like you didn’t want me to fuck you, and I get it, you were trying to save face with Zephyr.

But now that’s over, and you’ve been up on that table dancing for me like you were fucking begging me to come and fuck you right there in front of everyone. ”

“Holy shit. Are you serious?”

He just stares at me.

“Wow. You really are delusional,” I tell him.

“Let me make this really clear, because you’re obviously not understanding.

I have no interest in you. Zilch. Nada. Your little pin dick has no appeal to me.

I don’t want to get on my knees for you, and I sure as fuck don’t want you screwing me in a room full of strangers at some shitty college frat party.

I don’t know what to tell you. I wasn’t dancing for you.

I didn’t even know you were here until you were standing in front of me. ”

He scoffs, shaking his head as he takes a step toward me.

“Give up the fucking act, Tilly. Nobody’s here.

It’s just you and me. I saw the way you were looking at me at Zephyr’s place this afternoon.

You’re fucking hungry for it, and now that Zeph is in there fucking that other slut, nothing is keeping you from spreading your thighs for me. ”

The audacity of this man.

I don’t even bother to entertain the conversation anymore, just simply turn on my heel and start walking away, only his hand locks around the back of my throat, yanking me backward until I’m slammed up against the side of the house.

“Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you,” Jordan growls, pressing his body into mine and keeping me pinned with his hips.

I glare at the bastard. If I hadn’t drunk so much, I’d probably be terrified, and I know on some level that I should be screaming for help and trying to get away, yet all I am is pissed.

This asshole dares to have the nerve to grab me like this?

To slam me up against the house and demand I spread my legs for him?

He’s lost his fucking mind.

Today is not the day, and I am not the one, and unfortunately for this motherfucker, he’s about to find out the hard way.

I clench my jaw, ready to give him hell when his hands reach for the front of my pants, trying to get them undone. “The fuck do you think you’re doing?” I demand, shoving my hands against his chest and giving a brutal push, only he’s too big and not nearly drunk enough to be caught off balance.

“Stop trying to fight it.”

I see red.

My knee comes up with everything I’ve got, slamming straight into Jordan’s balls, and as he doubles over, clutching his crotch, I hastily put distance between us. “No means no, you fucking twat.”

I barely get my sentence out when a hand grabs Jordan’s shoulder, pulling him back, and then in a moment of pure beauty, my gaze snaps up just in time to watch as Zephyr’s fist flies through the air, nailing Jordan right in the temple and knocking his bitch-ass out cold.