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“Tracy told me something before I went to class.” She shifted in the seat.
Steve’s stomach growled and he pulled into Joe’s, the local burger joint on the corner across from the university’s main campus. He ordered a burger, fries, and a milkshake, and looked over at Je
Je
He ordered her a chocolate shake and drove up to the window to pay and collect their food. He handed the bag to her, pulled into one of the far parking spaces, and put the car in park. “Go ahead,” he said as he took the food. “Tell me.”
“Tracy said the initiation for the pledges is the same thing every year. They tell the pledges about the legend of Paradise Cove and send them there. They’re supposed to get a picture of their reflection. That’s all that is required to get in, but there is a bonus as well. If you follow the stream and get a picture of where it ends, you don’t have to pay dues.”
Steve processed this information. That could explain some of the disappearances, but it still didn’t explain the girl they found this summer.
“Tracy told me to tell you not to do it if they make you go through initiation.” She offered him a sip of her milkshake and he shook his head.
“If they ask, I’ll go. It’s part of the cover.” He shrugged. “Was Tom in the fraternity?”
Je
Steve offered her a french fry and she declined with a shake of her head. “So he must have gone through the initiation.”
“That’s what Tracy said. I know Tom didn’t do the second part because he bitched about the dues to me for two years.” Je
Steve nodded as he crumpled the empty fry container, dropping it in the take out bag, and crumpling that as well. He pulled himself up and tossed it into the garbage barrel in front of the car, raising his arms in victory as it circled the rim and fell in. He gri
Je
Steve laughed. “You’re something else.”
They pulled into the apartment parking lot and Je
Je
The slow sexy smile appeared. “I didn’t say that.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “I didn’t say that at all.” The doors opened and he pulled away, stepping out of the elevator ahead of her, looking both ways out of habit.
“Looks like you’re still working,” Je
“Old habits die hard.” He shrugged. “And they happen to keep me alive.” He fit her keys into the door and swung it open.
Tracy jumped when the door swung open. What Lies Beneath played on the screen and she sat alone in the dark.
Je
“You know I like scary movies.”
“But alone in the dark?” Je
“That’s the best way to watch them. Are you go
Steve shook his head and he looked at Je
“I think we’ll pass,” Je
Steve looked around. An amused smirk found its way to his lips.
“What?” Je
“Girly,” he remarked, and walked to the second door leading to the dressing room. Closing it, he flipped the lock, smiling back at Je
“Girly?” She looked around.
He nodded, approaching her. “Satin and lace.” He stopped in front of her. “Silk and cream,” he said, his voice smooth and raw at the same time, his eyes hungry for her. He ran his hands down her bare arms.
Je
Steve reached and flipped the light off, then moved her toward the bed, peeling his shirt off and discarding it on the floor. He kissed her and pulled away as he gently pulled the dress over her head. “Reasonably sure?” he asked in a low, sexy voice. He kissed her neck, unhooking her bra and dropping it to the floor at their feet. “Show me reasonably sure,” he whispered, and flicked her ear with his tongue before finding her mouth again.
Je
“With your sweet mouth.” Steve licked her lips and took her hands. He put her index finger in his mouth and pulled it out slowly. “And your soft hands,” he whispered, tilting his head and flashing a brief smile. He moved his hands lazily over her bare torso. “And your delectable body.” He yanked her to him, crushing her with an insistent kiss.
Je
He leaned back against the bed, his chest rumbling, purring his approval as she kissed her way down his bare chest, slowly removing his shorts. He kicked the shorts aside and his eyes closed, his hands ru
Je
Steve sat on the bed, dropping on his back, his arms out wide and his breath heaving in his chest. “God damn, girl,” he whispered in awe, propping himself on his elbows. He sat up and reached his hand out tugging her into his arms. Steve looked into her eyes and traced her face with the tips of his fingers. “You have no clue what I’d do for you, Jen.” His kiss was still insistent. “Please tell me you feel the same,” he said, looking more vulnerable than she had ever seen him.
“I do.”
He squeezed her a fraction tighter. “I could get used to this.”
Je
“So, what are you doing for the rest of your life?” he asked, his voice light and joking, but his heart was more tied to the words than he wanted to admit. He could see forever with this woman, and wondered just how far he could play this without asking outright and putting her in a position to say yes or no.