Changing Hearts Read online

  Dad was clueless. “What’s that?”

  “She wants to be a teacher. Surely you remember,” I prodded.

  “Oh course,” he said convincingly. But he was a lawyer.

  “I know you’ll support her. She deserves this after dedicating her life to this family.”

  Greg smiled at me, giving me a half hidden thumbs-up. But I wasn’t doing this for him.

  “Yes. She most certainly does,” Dad said.

  “Then, I’m sure you’ll pay for her tuition, right?”

  Dad looked on the verge of choking. But all eyes were on him. He was good at his job and knew when he’d been backed in a corner.

  “Of course I will. Send me the bill, Trisha.”

  I wasn’t sure what to think when I left sometime later. My proud Mom invited Dad to stay the night at the house, sweetening the deal with the promise of a home-cooked meal. Greg was so disgusted, he immediately left in a huff with Roy. I had left shortly after when Dad agreed to her proposal. I tried not to judge her. It was her life, her husband. But I couldn’t help the melancholy I felt on the drive to the party.

  On the other side of campus, in a remote neighborhood, rooted another world. Houses the sizes of mansions were spaced out in the former farmland. One in particular, perched on a small hill, had a massive amount of cars on its lawn. Streams of walkers also headed in that direction. I found a spot for my two-door and parked.

  The walk up the gravel drive was hell on my heels. Like a trooper, I marched up, determined to make up for my awkward evening with my parents. From the sounds of music seeping into the night, the party was well underway. I texted Mia.

  Her hand clapping emoji was enough for me to picture her bouncing on her toes in delight that I’d actually shown up. Though I hadn’t told her, she’d guessed I’d considered bowing out.

  The house was more impressive the closer I got. When I walked in the door, Mia ambushed me by hooking an arm through mine and navigating me past the crowd. The house was like a dream. Even with all the people, the furniture was leather and expensive. It would weather spilled drinks and still look good.

  Several walls sported spooky stuffed heads of long dead animals who hadn’t seen the hunter coming.

  “This is Lance’s house?” I spoke in her ear.

  She bobbed her head, her natural curls bouncing. The question of her mood was answered by her wide smile. We passed Brie and Chance sharing a huge chair. Chance had his arms protectively around her even as she giggled at something he said. I waved and continued to follow Mia, hell-bent on some mission. I caught sight of Sawyer, who’d claimed a corner, his eyes everywhere until ours met briefly.

  Mia pulled me into a large brightly lit kitchen. Every inch of counter space was littered with cups and bottles, and people meandered the perimeter.

  A tall and very blond guy with his back to us held court in the center. His hands animatedly moved in wide arcs.

  When Mia moved to face him, his gorgeous face lit up. He swept her in one arm and tucked her at his side.

  Beaming like she’d won the lottery, she said, “Shelly, this is Lance. Lance, this is my best friend, Shelly.”

  When I shook his offered hand, it was as warm as his smile.

  “Any friend of Mia’s is a friend of mine,” he said in a Texas drawl.

  I glanced down and saw his cowboy boots. The only thing he was missing was a wide brim hat.

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  Lance hadn’t spoken. When I glanced at my side, David stood there.

  THIRTY-SIX

  Ashton

  I downed another drink, not sure I was ready to do what I had to do. If I did nothing, Sawyer would end up fucking some random chick.

  Just as I was about to leave the kitchen, I spotted Shelly. There was something very compelling about her. I could see Sawyer’s fascination. That and she reminded me a lot of Julie. As pretty as she was, she didn’t use it as a weapon. She was a puzzle and Sawyer liked that.

  Out in the living room, some girl stood in front of Sawyer. It was now or never. Only as I moved, David came in and cornered Shelly. Whatever he said made her expression turn sour. I had a split second to choose because Sawyer let the girl grab his arm and pull him from his perch.

  Decided, I closed my eyes a second before I walked forward.

  When I reached my destination, I snaked my arm out and snagged Shelly. Her eyes went wide. David’s went flat.

  Pulling her close caused needle pricking sensations to crawl up my arm. I tucked her closer and pressed a kiss at the top of her head. David got the message and walked away. I counted to thirty in five-second increments before I let her go.

  She glanced up at me. “Thank you.”

  I let go of the breath I’d been holding and nodded my head.

  “I have to go,” I said quickly. “You’re okay?”

  She nodded and I tried to breathe. Physical contact always made me ill. Though it wasn’t as bad as it could be.

  With purpose I navigated the crowded rooms, heading for the back. I managed to brush against a few people as I tried to escape.

  “Hey,” a guy called out. He said it a few times until I met his eye. He waved me over, toward a doorway he stood in.

  The room beyond him looked empty. I took the opportunity and went over. He walked farther in and reached around me to close the door, blotting out the noise of the party. We stared at each other before he introduced himself.

  “I’m Kent.”

  Clueless as to why he locked us in the room, I continued to stare at him.

  “What do you want?” I finally asked.

  His mouth hung open and he stuttered his next words. “I thought we had something in common.” I almost turned when he blurted, “My brother Lance is hosting this party. I’ve seen you around and thought you were looking for that guy.”

  “What guy?”

  “I think his name is Sawyer or something like that. He has quite the fan club.”

  I still didn’t get it. “What about him?”

  “I’ve seen you watching him and he left with some girl.”

  His eyes searched mine…for what, I didn’t know.

  “And?”

  He sighed. “You’re into him. I get it. He’s hot.”

  Kent moved closer and it started to hit me what was happening.

  “It’s not like that,” I denied. Sawyer would hate for people to think he was anything but straight. I wouldn’t stand a chance in hell if this asshole started a rumor.

  “Isn’t it? You want him, but you have options,” he offered.

  “Options?”

  Was he talking about other girls?

  Then his lips were on mine. I gasped and the dude stuck his tongue in my mouth. Later, I would attribute my behavior to an automatic response. I punched him, catching the side of his mouth. His cry of pain went well with the horror on his face. He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth and I spewed out the apology.

  “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

  And I fled the room.

  Sawyer

  “You know, you were in my women’s study class.”

  “I was.”

  What I was, was bored. The girl could talk, which would have been a relief except I’d been watching over Shelly. When I saw her ex walk over to her and she didn’t walk away, I’d let this girl lead me away, not wanting to see Shelly with someone else.

  “It was a shame when you stopped coming.”

  You mean when the professor hit on me and told me she could help me get an A as long as I put in the effort.

  “Don’t you think you should get back to your friends?” I asked.

  We were alone in a gazebo out back.

  “Not yet,” she said, scooting closer. “My friends haven’t seen us yet.”

  That stopped me. My next words weren’t so friendly. “Why would your friends need to see me?”

  “I’m pledging, of course. And you’re the infamous Sawyer. If they see me, they’ll
assume—”

  I stood and she tumbled over a bit, having practically crawled in my lap.

  “You know what they say about not to assume?”

  “What’s that?” she snapped.

  “It makes an ass out of you, not me.”

  That wasn’t exactly the saying, but she got the message.

  She jumped to her feet. “Really, you’re turning me down?”

  “Sorry, sweetheart. It was never going to happen even before you said that dumb shit. My dick had already tried to crawl into my balls when I sat next to you. And that’s a cool fucking trick considering how big my dick is.”

  I left her spewing curses at me. Had my life really come to this? Was I now relegated to being some party trick for girls? Freshman, I thought. She had to be a dumb ass freshman.

  Inside, I grabbed a drink before searching for Shelly. Time to stop playing games and go for what I wanted. If that asshole David was with her…The thought made me smile.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Shelly - Present

  Mia had disappeared and I’d gone in search of a bathroom. The encounter with David and Ashton had rattled me. Ashton…He’d wrapped me up. I’d felt too damn safe in his arms. What the hell? He’d saved me.

  I’d just found a bathroom when someone shoved inside.

  “What?” I glanced up to see him. “Get out, Sawyer.”

  His eyes were a little glassy.

  “Why? You’ve been baiting me all night. Now you have my complete attention.”

  The nerve of him. I’d thought we’d almost become friends, but now this.

  “You’re delusional. Do you want me to get Brie to help you with your diagnosis?”

  His snappy reply shouldn’t have shocked me.

  “If anyone’s delusional, it’s you. Dating my friends to get to me isn’t cool.”

  I wanted to deny his statement, but I had dated Kelley briefly, and I’d gotten close to Ashton. Still, I hadn’t done it intentionally. They were both super-hot guys. Any girl would have gone for them.

  “Close your mouth, Shelly. That’s how you catch flies.”

  “You are an asshole.” I jabbed a finger into his damn solid chest. “I swear you think you’re God’s gift to women.”

  “Aren’t I?”

  He took my finger, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.

  I may have called him a rich douchebag or something like that. But he was crowding me against the door and words lost meaning even though I responded to his every taunt. He’d scored a blow with his jab about Kelley. I’d really liked the guy and thought he’d liked me until Lenora came around. Sawyer only managed to remind me how I’d never be any guy’s first choice.

  “Let me out of this room, Sawyer.”

  His eyes went flat. “I will when you promise to stop playing games with Ash.”

  Had he seen what had happened earlier? It didn’t matter. I was done. I wanted away from him and it was time someone told him the truth.

  “Games. You’re one to talk. If anyone is playing games, it’s you. Everyone can see that Ashton is in love with you. The question remains: Are you in love with him?”

  I couldn’t have predicted him kissing me. As much as I wanted to deny our connection, I melted against him. His lips were as rough and demanding as his hand, which hooked under one leg to lift it. Thankfully a knock stopped me from making a mistake.

  It was Ash demanding to come in. A part of me may not have wanted him to stop and deny Ash entry. But Sawyer confirmed the rumors as he pulled me forward, giving Ash entrance.

  I was right. There was something between them.

  He leaned in and whispered in my ear, shocking me. “Go to him, if he’s what you want.”

  A chill raced over me as I remembered Ashton’s hands around me. They were both too damn gorgeous. Where Sawyer was all heat, Ashton was cold fire. I started to understand why girls let them do wild things.

  Ashton cursed and they traded barbs. I was lost in them both, taking in their beauty, imagining what it would be like to be sandwiched between them. Was I crazy? Did it make me a slut to think that way?

  When Ashton stepped aside, my brain crept back online. I needed to leave before I did something stupid.

  “You can drop the act. You can stop pretending this would be the first time we’ve been together.”

  I spun around to face Sawyer. “You remember?”

  He’d always acted like he hadn’t. Like me, he’d been drunk, so a part of me always hoped that maybe he hadn’t. But knowing he had didn’t help my self-esteem. It only made me feel unwanted.

  “Of course I do. There is little of you I could ever forget,” he said.

  His gaze was heavy on mine, letting me know he was completely serious. Before my inner self could do a happy dance, I snapped my head around to see Ashton. Last thing I wanted was for him to get hurt.

  “Make your decision, Shelly.”

  What decision? He’d said something. What had I missed?

  “Of course, you can always choose option four and walk right out that door.”

  I didn’t want to leave. But this wasn’t fair to Ashton or me.

  “No, Sawyer, it’s time for you to choose.”

  Sawyer cupped my throat and gave me a kiss that could turn steel into liquid as I was backed into the counter. Ashton at some point had sat on it. In the cradle of his legs, I felt his heat at my back.

  “Relax,” Sawyer said. “This is going to happen.”

  My breasts felt larger than life even though they weren’t. The fabric of my dress rubbed at my nipples, heightening the need between my legs.

  “Sawyer,” I begged.

  He covered my mouth and suddenly we were plunged into darkness.

  “It will make things easier in the dark. Let go. Just enjoy. I promise you, it will be worth it.”

  A hand landed on my thigh, pushing up the fabric of my dress. Because I couldn’t see, they must not be able to see either. Thus, I didn’t need to be ashamed of my body. Fingers rubbed over my covered slit. I was pretty sure it was Sawyer. I didn’t think Ashton had touched me yet, though I felt his dick hard and long against the crease of my ass.

  “Take off her dress.”

  That had been Sawyer. So when the fabric began to lift, I raised my arms to allow Ashton to free it from my body.

  “Her bra.”

  I felt the press of his fingers releasing it, but he hadn’t yet touched my skin. I didn’t know how this would work if Ashton wouldn’t ever truly touch me. When Sawyer’s mouth covered my nipple, I didn’t care.

  My body was a furnace. I’d never felt this hot before. When David touched me, I’d felt awkward and unsure. Now, I’d never been more certain in my life. They made me burn with a need until I clawed him for more.

  “It’s not fair. I’m practically naked and you’re not.”

  Although my eyes had adjusted some to the darkness, seeing hints of shadows, I didn’t know Sawyer was shirtless until he pressed my hand to one of his pecs. Greedily, I let it slide down every muscle of his abs until I met the waistband of his pants. I wedged my hand in.

  “Greedy, aren’t you?”

  He stole the next words from my mouth with another searing kiss. The tips of my fingers glided over the head of his cock, pre-cum coating it. He growled in my mouth as I managed to wrap my hand around it.

  Help came to save the day, unzipping his jeans and pushing them aside. I started to bend in half, eager to taste him.

  Sawyer chided me. “Not yet. My turn.”

  He pried my hand free from him and then his warmth was gone from my front. A wet mouth on my core took away any shivers I might have felt. His tongue swiped up and down my slit before plunging deep in my core.

  “Fuck,” I cried out.

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing,” he said teasingly.

  I raked my nails through his hair and pulled him back where I wanted him.

  “Stop talking and kiss me,” I demanded.

  He
chuckled before he tongued my clit. The feeling was so intense, I pointed my shoe covered toes toward the ground. The back of my shoes clicked against the cabinet doors.

  Halfway to the moon and back, I felt my hair shifted to my other shoulder as lips met the delicate skin at the juncture of my neck and shoulder. Ashton.

  His kiss was featherlight and tickled the sensitive skin there. I bowed my back, my ass rubbing against his cock. His lips moved, but a cool stream of air blew across my nipple. I dripped with excitement as two fingers shoved inside me. I forgot myself and leaned my head back on Ashton’s shoulder. I moaned up at the ceiling until his lips again brushed across mine. I didn’t have time to comprehend Ashton had just kissed me before my pussy contracted around Sawyer’s fingers.

  I bit my tongue in order not scream as a hand squeezed my breast and tweaked my nipple. My orgasm went on forever until I was limp against Ashton’s chest.

  “No time to rest. It’s your turn,” Sawyer announced.

  I was helped to my feet and we shuffled around. By the time we stopped moving, I had no idea who was where.

  A hand cupped my chin as lips met mine. I was pretty sure they were Sawyer’s. It ended with a tongue tracing the seam of my mouth.

  “This is your last chance to leave.” When I said nothing, he continued. “Good, you’re going to suck one of us off while the other fucks you.”

  I squeezed my legs shut, not understanding how those words pushed me close to an edge I’d already dived over.

  “That’s my girl,” Sawyer whispered.

  Then they moved around me again, making me dizzy. I had no idea whose lap I landed in when a hand bent me forward. I didn’t worry about it either even when I heard the sound of a condom wrapper opening. I focused on the task at hand.

  I swallowed the head. A hiss of air filled the room as I swirled my tongue around it, tasting the drops beaded at the top. Someone didn’t like me teasing. They used a hand on the back of my head to guide me to take more length into the depths of my throat.

  Air sucked in my lungs as the guy behind me glided his cock over my sensitive nub and nether lips, coating the head before he pulled back to probe at my entrance. He didn’t tease, just thrust inside me, bumping against my ass as my inner walls stretched. Every nerve in my body lit up like fireworks as he stroked in and out of me.