Ecstasy

8

Zara

“What do you want to talk about?” I don’t wait for an answer, spi

I open the cabinet over the oven as Eli walks in and closes the door behind him. I grab two shot glasses and a bottle of tequila. I’m fresh out of lime, but I’m also fresh out of fucks to give so I pour two shots, pick them both up and turn to face Eli as I shoot both of them back, one right after the other.

Kylie is already off for the weekend, gone to visit her parents in Angier, and therefore I have no shame about getting wasted at two in the afternoon on a Friday. My classes are done for the day, my professors weren’t too hard on me this week considering what happened, and tomorrow is Riha

Even people that didn’t know her. I’d argue especially people that didn’t know her, but whatever.

And Alex is playing the victim too, like he’s torn up about the cheerleader he didn’t give a damn about. Since he’s being a shady asshole, we haven’t spoken since lunch yesterday. He said he needed time to “think” about being with me.

God, he’s fucking a

I slam down the shot glasses and cock my head toward Eli.

He’s been to my apartment before with Alex to pick me up for a party, but it occurs to me that this is the first time he’s been here without Alex.

The realization makes my heart pick up speed. Especially as I flash back to Saturday night, my bare breasts against his shirt as he stood in front of me while Alex fucked with me in the living room.

It feels a little hot in here suddenly, even though I’ve got the windows open.

Eli is in a black t-shirt that shows off his broad shoulders, the veins prominent in his biceps. He’s got a full sleeve on one arm, tattoos that bleed onto his hand and a few of his fingers.

He scrubs that hand over his face, and I see his five o’clock shadow. I prefer it to the clean-shaven look. He’s hot as hell and either the tequila is going straight to my brain, or his coconut-citrus scent is making me high, or maybe I’m just insane because I kinda want to fuck him right now on this counter.

Not a good idea, Zara. If I did that, I’m sure Alex would never forgive me.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” he tells me, quite seriously. His voice is lilting, and when we first met at his and Alex’s house, I thought for sure he was European or some shit. He is technically, considering his mother is from Greece, but he’s actually just from Raleigh. He only went to school at Caven because his uncle owns an auto body shop in Raleigh, and Eli is obsessed with cars.

It’s one of the very few things I know about him, aside from what everyone else does. He’s a wrestler, he’s smart, and quiet. The son of a wealthy lawyer. Has tattoos on his hands specifically so he couldn’t become a lawyer.

Okay. That last part I made up, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

“Are you shitting me?” I ask him, shaking my head and resting my palms against the kitchen counter at my back. For an on-campus apartment, this place is pretty nice. Hardwood floors, marble counters. It’s small, the living room is straight across from the kitchen, Kylie’s room is off from the living room and mine down a tiny hallway. But we each get our own attached bathrooms, and I can have lots of sex in here without worrying about dorm rules.

Eli takes a step closer to me and I feel warmth flood my veins.

I imagine what sex with Eli would be like. What it was almost like, before Alex stopped it.

“No, Zara. I know you like to pretend you’re above it all but—”

“But the girl that died was the same bitch that was trying to suck your cock at the party, so if one of us isn’t okay, shouldn’t that be you, Eli?”

He slides his hands into his white sweats, bites his tongue as he averts his eyes. He’s got long, dark lashes and with those fucking full lips of his, I swear to God he is the envy of every girl getting filler and lash extensions, everywhere.

It’s getting hotter in here.

I’m breaking out into a sweat, and I think about asking him to leave.

He sighs. “I barely knew her,” he tells me, meeting my gaze again. He takes another step forward and I instinctively try to take one back, but the counter is there, and I’ve got nowhere to go.

I cross my arms over my chest.

He stares at me for a long moment and it’s as if all the air has gone out of the room. I can’t breathe.

Then he places his hands on either side of me, on the kitchen counter.

I smell that coconut and citrus scent and resist the urge to inhale deeply. To touch him. To run my hands over his shoulders, up his throat. To press my lips to his.

Not a good idea.

This is not a good idea.

He leans down close to me, his eyes searching mine. “You’re not upset about it? I know you have feelings, baby girl.”

A shiver slides down my spine at those words.

I swallow, hating the way he’s making me feel everything right now. “Why are you even here, Eli? You need to leave.”

He smiles, his eyes flashing. “That’s not what you want.”

“I’m with Alex. I’m not… We don’t even—”

He grabs my waist, his hands wrapping around my sides as he pulls me close to him, cutting off my words. I plant my hands on his chest as I look up at him, my breath coming out in a rush. “Are you with him, Zara?”

I shake my head, my heart beating a nervous rhythm in my chest. My mouth goes dry. I’m not really sure what the hell is going on here. Eli has never flirted with me. He’s barely even spoken to me.

And yeah, maybe I’ve fantasized about fucking him a few times because he’s hot as shit and he was unattainable and—

No.

Alex will never forgive me for this.

“What do you want?” I ask him, a little breathless. I wonder if he wants to finish what we started Saturday night.

He’s staring at my mouth and I wonder if he’s going to try to kiss me, but instead he just asks, “What happened to your mouth, baby girl?” He brings one hand to my lips, ru

I flinch, the cut from that tequila bottle still healing.

“Eli—”

“Did Alex do that?” He drops his hand from my mouth, and his fingers dig into my sides, the thin material of my tank top suddenly too much for me. I want his hands on me. I want him to yank down my shorts, spin me around and fuck me against this counter.

I am insane.

“Eli,” I whisper, his name shaky from my lips. “What are you doing?”

He pulls me closer to his hard body. I can feel his cock throbbing against me, between us. I want to touch him there, but I don’t. Instead, I grab his arms, feel his muscles beneath my fingers.

“He hurt you.” It’s not a question.

“I don’t know what you think is happening here, Eli, but—”

“Was he really in bed with you all night, Zara?” he whispers, pressing harder against me, the counter digging into my back. “Do you know that for a fact?”

My mouth drops open, alarm bells ringing in my head. “Are you trying to fuck over your own best friend right now? Is that what this is?”

The corners of his mouth pull up into a smile. “I’ve watched you the past six months, you know that? I’ve watched you fight with him. Heard you fuck him. I’ve watched him hurt you.”

His dick is throbbing against me and I’m panting being this close to him, our bodies pressed together.

But I can’t do this.