Obligation, page 18
Carissa: Hey. Got a new phone. Headed back to campus. Be there soon.
Tiffany: Yay! I have so much to tell you!!
Carissa grinned. She could only imagine what gossip Tiffany had to share. Whatever Tiffany needed to say, Carissa couldn’t wait to hear it.
Tiffany: And I want every little detail about your night, too! I mean it! Bradley is way too hot to keep that to yourself.
This time, Carissa laughed out loud, and her cheeks heated even more, though for a completely different reason than before.
“What’s so funny?” Bradley asked. Those were the first words he’d spoken to her since they left the penthouse.
“Nothing.” She tucked her phone under her leg and shifted to stare out the passenger window.
What would happen when she got back to campus? Would she once again forgive Danny, forget his bad behavior, and move on like nothing happened—exactly like she always did? Would Bradley still be around, or had she completely destroyed any hope of a friendship with him? She no longer had any doubts that he wanted a lot more than just friendship, but she couldn’t give him that. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
One thing was for certain—she and Danny needed to have a long, serious talk about their relationship, because even though she loved him, she couldn’t keep going on as she had been. Things needed to change if they had any hope of a future.
She reached for her phone and sent him a text before she lost her nerve.
Carissa: Needed some time away from everything. Be home in a couple of hours. We need to talk.
Danny: Happy you’re okay, and yes. We do need to talk. Call me when you’re back.
Her stomach twisted, and she re-read his message a few times. His response was so… cold and detached. Then again, he had been with another girl last night. Maybe he was still with that other girl and couldn’t text. The thought of that didn’t have much of an effect on Carissa. She was just so numb from having been through this with Danny before.
Once again tucking her phone under her leg, she shifted so her body was angled toward Bradley. They were stuck in this car together for another couple of hours, and she couldn’t handle the silence a second longer.
“So, do you like California so far?” she asked.
He sliced a look at her, brow raised. “Yes.”
“I’m curious… Why are you sharing campus housing with three other guys when you could easily afford your own place?”
He shrugged one shoulder in that lazy but confident way he had about him. “Regardless of where I live, I wouldn’t be alone. Jeremy and I always agreed to live together when we moved here.”
“Okay. Still doesn’t explain why you’re living where you are with two other guys you don’t know. I mean, there are much nicer places not too far from campus.”
“I’m sure there are.” He glanced in the rearview mirror, flicked on his turn signal, and switched lanes. “And you’re right. I can afford to live wherever I want, but I left Texas to get away from things. Out here, I just want to be a normal college kid and have a typical college experience.”
Carissa mulled over his words and nodded. “So you’re pretending you’re not rich.”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing, too? You don’t need to live in a residence hall on campus, but you are. Why?” His expression held a challenge, and a spark of competitiveness shot through her.
“Because my father can be very controlling, and I needed to get away from that. He offered to pay for me to live off-campus, but doing so meant continuing to live under his rules, and I don’t want to.”
“Fair enough,” he said, then turned on the radio.
Clearly, he was done talking. Carissa blew out a breath, rested her head on the window, and closed her eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Five
After dropping Carissa at her residence hall, Bradley headed home. Danny’s piece of junk SUV wasn’t in the driveway. Good thing because Bradley wasn’t sure he’d be able to bite his tongue and not start a fight.
“Hey, man.” Jeremy nodded from where he lounged on the couch, one leg draped over the arm. “Good night?” He grinned knowingly.
Bradley grunted and sank down into one of the armchairs. He rubbed his hands over his face. “Not sure good is the word I’d use. Definitely interesting, but things didn’t go quite as I had hoped they would.”
Jeremy sat up straight, feet on the floor. “Sorry to hear that. You should’ve been here for the after party. It was insane.” He laughed. “I’m still the reigning beer pong champ.” He pumped his fist in the air. “And I hooked up with an amazing girl.”
Bradley smiled, genuinely happy for his friend. “Good for you, man.” He stood. “I need to shower.”
And maybe sneak in a nap, too, because he hadn’t slept much last night. He’d been too preoccupied with thoughts of Carissa, and the fact that she’d been sharing a bed with him had kept him on edge. Not that he expected anything to happen, but that thought had given him some pretty incredible fantasies.
“Just so you know, Garrett and Cory are having a small gathering tonight. Apparently, they like rival football teams that are playing later. I think it’s just a handful of people,” Jeremy said.
A party—no matter how small—was the last thing Bradley wanted to do tonight. He really just wanted a quiet night at home to figure out his next move. While he now knew how Carissa truly felt about him, he had no idea what her feelings meant. Were they strong enough to make her leave Danny and be with Bradley? Or were they so strong she’d remain afraid of them to the point she wouldn’t give him the time of day?
“Thanks for the heads up.” Bradley went into his room and kicked off his shoes.
He emptied his pockets onto the dresser. A new notification flashed across his phone screen. When had he gotten a text? His phone never made a sound. He checked, and the name that popped up had his heart racing.
Carissa: I just wanted to say thank you again for everything. You’re a great guy, and I’m sorry if I did or said something to ruin whatever friendship we were building.
Friendship. That single word jumped out at him and stuck in his mind like gum on the bottom of a shoe. He frowned and sat on the edge of his bed.
Bradley: You’re welcome.
He hit send, and then sat there for several moments, unsure how to respond to the rest of her message. He definitely wanted to reply, but he needed to do so in a way that let her know he was more than a friend without pushing her too hard.
Bradley: You didn’t do anything wrong, and we’re good. Promise.
He added a smiling emoji and sent the text before he changed his mind. And then he waited for a response that, after several moments, never came. With a disappointed shake of his head, he tossed his phone onto the dresser and headed for the shower.
With the water turned to the hottest setting he could handle, he stood beneath the spray for a long time, probably too long, but he didn’t care. The questions Carissa had asked him about his living situation raced through his mind. Maybe he should move out of here and find a place for him and Jeremy. If Carissa chose to stay with Danny, she’d be here with him, and that wasn’t something Bradley wanted to witness.
When the water started to turn cool, he quickly washed and got out. He dried his hair, then wrapped the towel around his waist. He’d been so distracted he’d forgotten to grab clean clothes. Oh, well. His room wasn’t that far from the bathroom.
He reached for the doorknob and turned it at the exact moment he heard someone say, “Hurry up! We’ll be waiting in the car.” That was definitely a woman’s voice. Tiffany’s? What was she doing here? And who was she talking to?
Bradley yanked open the door and came face to face with Carissa. His eyes widened with shock, and he was too stunned to move, so he stood in the doorway like an idiot.
“Uh… I’m… I didn’t…” Carissa’s face flushed crimson, and she quickly averted her gaze.
But then her attention drifted back to him, her expression filled with the same passionate want he’d seen and felt when they’d been at the penthouse. Desire filled his veins, and he shifted on his feet to ease the sudden ache between his legs. He lifted a brow, crossed his arms over his still damp chest, and waited for her to say something that made sense.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt…” She waved her hands down the length of his body, her gaze following the motion and lingering on the spot where the towel was secured around his waist.
Yeah, she was totally checking him out. He grinned. “You didn’t,” he said with a small shrug. “I’m finished.”
She lifted her gaze up to meet his. Undeniable longing sizzled between them, and his heart raced. No way in hell she couldn’t feel that. Yet, she seemed able to ignore it so easily. Well, time to test just how long she could deny these feelings that constantly sparked and ignited when they were near one another.
“Garrett and Cory are getting snacks for the game. Tiff and Jeremy are waiting for me in the car,” she said on a rush of breath, as if filling the seconds with words would cool the heat rising between them. “We’re going to go get pizza and beer. I just need to use the bathroom first.”
“Sounds fun,” he said, not moving. “Where’s the boyfriend in all these plans?”
Carissa frowned. “No idea. I thought he was going to meet me so we could talk, but he never showed up.”
Bradley stepped forward, bringing him closer to Carissa. “His loss is my gain, right?” He smiled, and her breath hitched. Not a lot but enough for him to hear the small catch.
“Can you please move so I can use the bathroom?” she asked, sounding only slightly annoyed. “I don’t want Tiff to yell at me again.” She laughed.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a teasing smirk. He stepped forward, then to the side in an effort to get out of her way, and she moved in tandem, her timing too perfect not to take advantage of. In the brief second they were facing each other, he closed the small distance between them, and she pressed her back against the doorjamb.
He flattened his hand on the doorframe right above her head and leaned down. She sucked in a sharp breath, but she didn’t make any effort to get away; nor did she tear her gaze from his. Something about the way she’d do that—hold his intense stare without flinching—was a major turn-on.
“I’m not mad at you, Carissa,” he said, knowing she’d been worried about that. Granted, he hadn’t exactly acted very friendly on the way home.
“Thanks, I guess.” She tilted her head. “I mean, considering I didn’t do anything wrong…”
He laughed. “No, you didn’t.”
Hands behind her, she clutched the wooden doorframe and arched her back enough to almost graze his chest. He couldn’t stop from groaning at the lack of contact. What he wouldn’t give to feel her beneath him again. To get swept away in her kisses. To hear her moans and gasps of pleasure.
Before he could stop himself, he rested his free hand on her waist and flexed his fingers, branding the feel of her to his palm. “I can’t stop thinking about what happened this morning,” he said, his voice raspy.
“Bradley,” she whispered, and he couldn’t miss the undercurrent of need in her tone.
“He doesn’t deserve you, Carissa.” Maybe if Bradley could convince her that he was the better guy, show her how she was meant to be treated, he could change her mind about who she wanted to be with.
“And you do?” she asked, her tone sarcastic.
God, he loved this side of her. “Yes,” he said without hesitation. “And I’m going to prove it to you.”
“How?”
Gently squeezing her waist, he lowered his head and positioned his mouth near her ear. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
He nipped at her earlobe, and she tilted her head, a subtle sign of permission. Her body arched closer, and he took the opportunity to slide his hand around to settle against her back. Then he tugged her forward so their bodies touched, and he kissed the soft spot behind her ear.
She hesitantly rested her hands on his bare arms, and goose bumps spread across his flesh. But she once again arched into him, and he yanked her even closer, dragging his mouth across her jawline. She tilted her head and moaned so softly he momentarily wondered if he’d only imagined the sound.
“Bradley.” Her tone was full of need, and she gently shoved him away.
He eased back but didn’t release her—and she didn’t let go of him, either, so he took that as a good sign.
“We can’t keep doing this.” She licked her lips, her voice breathless and incredibly sexy.
“Why not?” He raised a brow, his gaze drifting from her tempting lips up to her doe eyes and back again. “You can’t ignore what’s happening between us.”
She sighed and trailed her hands down his arms, her fingernails sending shivers through his body. Everything inside of him tensed. Then, she lightly brushed her hand across his chest, her touch featherlight and wholly devastating to his senses.
“I have to ignore it,” she said and looked up at him, her eyes full of remorse. “I have a boyfriend, remember? This isn’t fair to him.”
“Yeah… and where is he?” Bradley asked a little too harshly. “Look around, Carissa. Who’s here right now? I am.” He pointed to his chest to emphasize his point. “Why do you care so much about him and his feelings when he treats you like shit?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Because I refuse to let him—or anyone—change who I am as a person.”
“A little too late for that, isn’t it?”
She flinched and crossed her arms over her chest, creating a barrier between them. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped.
“You tell me.” He shrugged. “You don’t strike me as the type of person to let anyone push you around or walk all over you. And you sure as hell aren’t the type of girl to apologize for everything, no matter if it’s your fault or not.”
“You know nothing about me,” she shot back, shaking her head, but her voice held no real conviction.
“Like it or not, sweetheart”—Bradly once again leaned closer, their faces inches apart—“Danny has changed you. You may not want to admit it, but I’m guessing your friends would agree with me.”
He straightened. He knew he was pushing her, and that wasn’t what he wanted to do, but he also needed her to see the truth. For some reason, she was in denial about the type of guy Danny really was, and until she faced the facts, she’d be stuck in this dangerous relationship.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He moved away from her, giving her space to walk into the bathroom and slam the door in his face, but she didn’t do either of those.
Instead, she stood there, staring at him. He’d give anything to know what was going on in her mind right then. He was tempted to ask, but he doubted she’d tell him.
“Guess I’ll see you later,” he said with a small wave.
“So that’s it?” She marched up to him and poked his chest. “You think you can just say all that stuff to me and then walk away?” Her eyes blazed with fiery defiance, and he had to bite back a smile. “Just because you rescued me the other night doesn’t mean…”
He waited a moment for her to finish, and when she didn’t, he said, “Doesn’t mean what?”
She huffed and shook her head. Then, in the next second, she had her arms around his neck and her mouth slanted over his. He didn’t hesitate to reciprocate, his tongue teasing her bottom lip until she granted him access. Her heart thundered so hard he could feel it pounding against his chest, and he was certain she could feel his, too.
Tangling one hand in her long, silky locks, he slid the other around to settle against her lower back. He tilted her head and deepened the kiss to the point that he wasn’t sure where he ended and she started. And he didn’t care. All he wanted was her, no matter how or when or where. He’d take whatever she gave him.
“Carissa!” Tiffany’s high-pitched call pierced through the haze of their kiss. “Did you fall in or something? What’s taking you so long?”
Carissa jerked back, eyes wide, and reached up to touch her lips. Her chest heaved with her labored breaths.
Tiffany’s footsteps drew closer, and then she was standing in the hallway. Her gaze bounced from Bradley to Carissa, and a knowing look crossed her face.
“Hey, Tiffany,” Bradley said with a nod in her direction. “Sorry. It’s my fault Carissa’s taking so long. I was hogging the bathroom.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Tiffany said slowly, her words dripping with suspicion.
Carissa didn’t say a word. She simply turned on her heel, walked into the bathroom, and closed the door.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Carissa sat on the far end of the couch and kept her gaze glued to the television. She wasn’t much of a sports fan, but she pretended to be fully engaged in the game on the screen in front of her—for no other reason than she couldn’t find the courage to look at Tiffany, who’d been giving Carissa knowing looks since finding her in the hall with an almost-naked Bradley.
And Carissa definitely couldn’t look at Bradley. Not after she’d practically yelled at him and then kissed him. He must think I’m crazy. But more than the embarrassment of her behavior earlier, she couldn’t get the image of him shirtless and damp from her mind. Bradley was insanely hot with clothes on. With nothing but a towel, he was downright drool-worthy.
The guys shouted and cheered when one of the teams made a touchdown seconds before the buzzer sounded to indicate halftime. Carissa stood quickly and wandered into the kitchen. She busied herself with cleaning up empty pizza boxes and putting leftovers in the refrigerator.
Danny hadn’t bothered to show up, and he hadn’t called or texted, either. She had no idea where he was, or who he was with. Under normal circumstances, that would upset her. A lot. But tonight, she didn’t care. Her thoughts were too muddled, and her emotions were a jumbled mess. Danny ditching her was probably a blessing, all things considered.
