Hooped #3 (The Hooped Interracial Romance Series, Book #3) Read online

  “Water would be nice,” I said, almost asking instead of saying it plainly. Jason stood up and went into the kitchen, bringing back not only a bottle of water for me, but a bunch of other drinks that the other brothers called for.

  “Don’t be nervous,” Devon murmured in my ear, sitting on the arm of the chair next to me. After the flutter of attention, everyone began to relax—even me—and I asked questions about the game they were playing; it was a first-person shooter game, but one I’d never heard of before. I sipped my water and watched as the different brothers in the frat took turns going up against each other.

  What shocked me the most about the situation was how respectful everyone was; I had expected a bunch of guys talking about girls in the crassest terms, comparing their scores—but whether Devon had talked to them about being on their best behavior, or they were just acting polite because I was there, the guys talked about their classes, about the upcoming games—NBA and NHL games, mostly—and the party they would be hosting in coming weeks, without making a single rude remark about girls. Nobody was getting drunk, everyone looked as though they had showered in the last 24 hours, and although they cussed each other out as they played, I got the vibe that they were mostly normal guys.

  I managed to keep myself involved in the conversation, talking a little bit to everyone around me, and enjoying Devon’s comforting presence next to me in the chair as the evening went on; but in the back of my mind I was still thinking about Kelly. I hated the fact that even when I wasn’t hanging out with her, even when I was with a completely different group of people, I couldn’t manage to put my roommate and best friend out of my mind—nor her betrayal.

  Time slipped away from me completely; as it got dark outside, a few of the brothers in the frat went into the kitchen and came out with pizza and other snacks, and I dug in with everyone else. “Good job picking a girl who won’t turn her nose up at such fine cuisine,” one of the brothers commented to Devon.

  “Yeah, Sam’s last girlfriend was always asking if we had any salad or anything like that.” I laughed.

  “I have a stash of junk food in my room that I eat as often as I eat at the DH,” I said. “I’m not turning up my nose at pizza.”

  After a while, the guys started heading to their rooms or to classes, and Devon gave my hand a squeeze. “Feel like coming up to my room?” he asked me in that perfect, not-quite-a-whisper that always sent shivers down my spine. I grinned and nodded.

  “It’s a long way back to the dorms, and it’s already really late,” I pointed out as we went up the stairs to the bedrooms.

  “I think you should stay the night,” Devon told me, pulling me close as we came to his door. He kissed me hungrily on the lips, his hands wandering all over my body, and I could feel the tension in him. More than once in the evening I had caught him looking at me, a little flicker of desire in his eyes, in his smile, a hint of it in the way he squeezed my hand; I had been distracted all night by thoughts of Kelly, but never so distracted that I hadn’t started feeling a little humming buzz of desire myself.

  Devon opened the door to his room and I saw that he had cleared out all the candles from the night before; there was one candle burning on his desk, infusing the room with a heady, warm smell. Devon pulled me through the door and closed it behind me, kissing me once more once we were alone and private. His hands wandered all over my body, touching and teasing and caressing, and after a moment’s hesitation—I still wasn’t entirely sure what to do with myself in Devon’s company—my hands came to life as well, trailing along his back and shoulders, kneading and massaging him where I could feel little areas of tension as we kissed.

  Devon pulled back from my lips, reaching out for something on his bedside table; I chuckled as he found the remote and turned on his stereo, filling the room with the sounds of Frank Turner—one of the musicians I had mentioned to him that I liked. “You didn’t seriously download that just for me, did you?” I asked Devon. He grinned.

  “Well, it started out that way,” he admitted, kissing along the column of my throat. “But he’s pretty good, you were right.” Devon nipped along my neck playfully, his hands slipping up underneath my shirt, tickling my ribs. He brought his lips back up to mine and kissed me until I was breathless, his hands gliding over my skin, moving up to cup my breasts through the fabric of my bra. Devon’s fingers brushed against my nipples through the thin lace, teasing them until they hardened into firm little nubs under his touch; I fumbled with the bottom of his tee shirt, trying to find the hem, trying to drag it up along his back and sides. Even though it had been less than a full week since I had lost my virginity, I was eager to have as much sex as possible—as long as it was with Devon.

  I finally managed to pull Devon’s shirt over his head, and he broke away from my lips long enough to tug my tee-shirt up along my ribs as well, slipping it off of me with a little flourish and tossing it across the room without almost any concern for where it landed. He cupped my breasts again, bringing them up to meet his lips as he buried his face against me, nuzzling. “God, I’ve been thinking about you all day,” Devon murmured, tugging the fabric of my bra down and bringing one of my nipples up to his lips. He sucked and licked the firm little nub even as his fingers twisted and rolled the other, sending jolts of hot, electric pleasure through my body that made me shake and shiver. I touched him everywhere, my hands wandering and exploring the planes of his back, the ridges of his spine, kneading the muscles in his shoulders, moving up to his thick, curly hair to tangle there.

  Devon lifted me up onto his bed and covered my body with his own, quickly unhooking my bra in the back and guiding it away from my skin. I squirmed and writhed underneath him, pushing my hips down as Devon began to rock against me. I could feel the hard ridge of his erection pressing against my already-wet pussy, rubbing against me, sending little tingles of pleasure through my body as we moved together, touching each other everywhere. My clothes fell away and they only way that I knew about it was the feeling of the warm air brushing my skin, the sensation of Devon’s hot skin against mine.

  The music swirled around us, and I shivered as Devon slipped one hand down between my legs, stroking my slick labia. “I love how wet you get, babe,” Devon murmured, rubbing me up and down, working his fingers deeper between my wet folds. “It’s so hot.” I chuckled, pushing my hips down to meet Devon’s touch. I kissed along his neck, up to his lips, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as he stroked me, turning me on more and more every moment. Devon found my clit by touch, swirling his fingertips around the little bead of nerves, and I moaned out—no longer aware even of the fact that there was anyone else in the house with me.

  Devon slipped two fingers inside of me, and I reached down between our bodies, pulling and tugging at the fly of his pants until I got it open. I slid my hand underneath the waistband of Devon’s boxers, reaching and shifting against his skin until I had his hard, hot cock in my hand. I stroked him up and down even as Devon worked me with his fingers, making it more and more difficult for me to think or even focus on what I was doing. “You need to stop,” I said, chuckling between my panting gasps for breath. “Or I’m never going to get you off.” Devon laughed, kissing me on the lips.

  “But the whole point is to get you off,” he told me, rubbing my clit firmly with his thumb as his fingers rubbed along my inner walls. “I can get off anytime, babe. I want to see you come.” I moaned out, twisting my hips, my hand tightening on his cock. Devon groaned against my neck, squirming out of his pants and boxers somehow, even as he continued to work me.

  Devon lifted himself up, pulling free of my grasp, kissing me hungrily on my lips. “If you want us both to get off, we can make that happen,” Devon told me, smiling against my skin.

  “That—that sounds good,” I said, draping my legs around his waist. Devon rocked his hips against mine, rubbing his hot, hard cock along my slick labia. He brought his fingers away from my pussy, bringing them up to his lips and licking them clean. Devo
n teased me relentlessly, rubbing his cock against my soaking wet folds, the tip pressing against my clit as we moved together.

  Devon finally shifted against me, guiding his cock up against my inner labia. He thrust into me slowly, filling me up inch by inch, pushing past the resistance of my body. “Oh—fuck, Devon,” I cried out, pushing my hips down to meet his, taking him deeper.

  “You like this?” Devon asked, pressing his hips up against mine, holding me tightly. He began to move inside of me, pushing deeper and deeper, rubbing along my inner walls. I touched and caressed him everywhere I could reach, kissing his face, his neck, and his shoulder. Devon trailed his lips all over, nipping and nibbling playfully, along my throat and down to my breasts. Every movement of our bodies together sent more and more crackling, electric pleasure through my nerves, turning me on more. I tightened my legs around Devon’s waist, taking him deeper and twisting my hips as I fell into his rhythm.

  Devon began moving faster, pushing deeper and deeper inside of my body, and I cried out as the tip of his cock rubbed up against my g-spot, sending a jolt of white-hot pleasure through me that made me almost breathless. He reached down between our bodies and began to rub my clit in counterpoint to his thrusts, and in a matter of moments, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I clutched at Devon’s shoulders as if for life itself, continuing to move with him as wave after wave of pleasure washed over me, obliterating any ability to think. I was barely even aware of Devon’s body tensing against mine, of the feeling of his cock twitching inside of me before I felt the feeling of his orgasm as he shuddered, thrusting into me a few more hard, fast times.

  Devon sank onto the bed next to me, wrapping his arms around me tightly, nuzzling into my neck as the music continued to play; I had barely even noticed that the playlist had shifted from one album to another while we’d been having sex, but as I came out of the haze of pleasure that overtook me, I found myself humming along to the lyrics.

  In spite of how good a time I had had that night, I couldn’t put Kelly out of my mind. As I lie in Devon’s arms, it was on the tip of my tongue to mention the confrontation I’d had with my friend and roommate; but I couldn’t make myself do it. I had no idea if Devon’s story had been real—I wanted to believe that it was, but I had known Kelly for so long that I thought that I owed it to her to give her the benefit of the doubt. I started to fall asleep, exhausted, still wondering if there was any way I could get to the bottom of the situation. It seemed completely impossible.

  Chapter Five

  The next morning, I woke up still feeling unsettled—but at least I was happy. I was still tender from the sex the night before, but I was more satisfied than I could remember being at any other time in my life. I smiled to myself; I knew I should leave—I had class to get to. But for just a moment, I lingered in Devon’s bed. If I went back to the dorm, I’d have to deal with Kelly; if I stayed right where I was, I could at least pretend to not care about her, to not even remember what she had said and why I should be worried about it.

  But after the moment was over, I knew that I had to do the same thing I had both the previous times I’d slept with Devon. As much as I didn’t want to make a habit of abandoning him while he was still asleep, I needed to get dressed, eat something, and get to class. I started to slip out of Devon’s bed, looking around for my clothes; I grinned to myself at how far-flung they had ended up around the room.

  Just as I was about to get out of the bed, I felt Devon’s hand close around my arm. “Hey,” Devon said sleepily. “Where are you going, Jenny?” I giggled, turning to face him.

  “I have to go to class,” I said.

  “Not right this second, right?” Devon asked me, raising an eyebrow. “You can at least spend a little time with me before you have to run off.” I thought about it, looking at Devon’s alarm clock. I had maybe about an hour and a half before my class started.

  “I can stay for a while,” I said, slipping back into bed with Devon. Devon pulled me close to him, kissing me. We cuddled together for a long moment, our hands wandering over each other’s bodies.

  “I’m glad I caught you,” Devon murmured, kissing me on the lips. “I was afraid I was going to wake up again and you’d be gone.”

  “I’m glad too,” I said, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and pressing my body against his. I nuzzled against Devon’s neck, breathing in the smell of his cologne, savoring the closeness.

  “So what do you want for breakfast?” Devon asked me, kissing me on the lips again. I laughed, rolling my eyes and pulling back from him.

  “I can’t have breakfast here,” I said, slipping free of his arms. “I have to get ready and go to class.”

  “Come on,” Devon said, pulling me back in close to him. “Give me another kiss, and then run back to your dorm, get ready for class, and come back here. I’ll make you the best breakfast you’ve had in months.” I chuckled and slid out of Devon’s bed, shaking my head. I knew he’d keep insisting—and I knew even more than I really did want to have breakfast with him.

  “Okay, okay,” I said, getting dressed quickly in my clothes from the night before. I leaned over the bed and kissed Devon briefly on the lips. “I will be back in maybe fifteen-twenty minutes. Make me whatever you want.” Devon hugged me and then gave me a playful swat to the hip.

  “Twenty minutes!” he reminded me as I headed for the door.

  I hurried out of the frat house as quietly as I could; from what I could tell, no one else was awake yet—although at least this time, I thought, I had nothing to be ashamed of if someone did run into me leaving. I almost ran across campus to my dorm, fumbling with my key card at the entry. I had managed to get my giddiness under control by the time I got to the dorm room I shared with Kelly; I remembered that she would probably be there, though I doubted she would be awake yet. I let myself into my room as quietly as possible and closed the door behind me.

  I rummaged through my clothes and picked out a pair of jeans and a new tee shirt; my classes for the day didn’t merit anything more than that, and after having staying the night with him three times, I doubted that Devon really cared whether I wore a skirt, a dress, or jeans. I sneaked out of my room and into the adjoining half-bathroom on my side of the dorm to wash my face and smooth my hair; I put on fresh underwear and socks and pulled my new outfit on as quickly as possible; I had ten minutes to get back over to Devon’s place.

  As I was locking the door to my side of the dorm, I heard Kelly’s door close. “Hey,” she said, her voice more angry than sleepy. “I didn’t hear you come in last night.” I turned to see her in her pajamas, glaring at me.

  “That’s because I didn’t,” I said levelly.

  “I guess you were with him then.” Kelly crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head even as she continued to stare at me angrily.

  “It’s really none of your business. I have somewhere to be.” Not only was I still uncertain as to whether to believe Kelly’s stories—both the ones she had told me about Devon being horrible and her excuses that she had never had anything to do with him herself—but I didn’t want to keep Devon waiting. I didn’t want to miss any time that I could be spending with him.

  I started to walk past her, to the door to our dorm, but Kelly stepped in my way. “I don’t get you, Jenn. Why would you choose him over me? I’ve been your friend for years! Is it just because he fucked you, is that it?” I felt my cheeks burning, heat spreading down from my forehead onto my chest.

  “Look,” I said, pushing past her. “Obviously there’s no point in talking about this until you calm down.” I started towards the door once more and had just turned the doorknob when Kelly spoke again.

  “All right, fine! I did date him for a while, and yes, it was me kissing him. You happy? He was actually telling the truth for once in his life.” I turned to look at her, more shocked than surprised; after all, I had believed Devon deep down, even though Kelly had insisted that he was lying—hadn’t I?

  “I’d be hap
pier if you hadn’t tried to sabotage everything,” I said flatly.

  “I still don’t see why you would choose him over me,” Kelly said, shaking her head. It looked like there were tears in her eyes, but her expression was so angry I couldn’t really tell.

  “Well, for starters,” I replied, straightening my spine and holding her gaze, “Devon has never lied to me.” Kelly’s eyes widened, and she stared at me in shock that had to have looked as unbelieving as my own. “I’m leaving.” I turned back towards the door.

  “Go ahead and run off with your stupid boyfriend then!” Kelly said, her voice nearly a shout. “You’re both going to get what you deserve.” I heard her door slam and shook my head, walking out into the hallway. I didn’t know what she meant—but I also didn’t feel like wasting time to go back and ask her. She’s just upset. Ignore it. She’ll get over it eventually, and if she doesn’t, she was never really your friend to begin with.

  Chapter Six

  I made my way across campus once more, hurrying to get to the Phi Kappa house as quickly as I could; my argument with Kelly hadn’t taken long, but it had left me shaken. She had actually admitted to her lie. She had admitted that Devon had been right—that he hadn’t just been trying to run a game on me, to get what he wanted. You knew it all along, I thought, shaking my head. Why wouldn’t she just admit it from the beginning?

  I stewed on the questions spinning in my head as I walked from the dorms to the other end of campus, barely acknowledging the few people who were out and about, headed to the dining hall or to their morning classes. If Kelly had told me from the beginning that she knew what Devon had been like from experience—that he had treated her poorly, that she was heartbroken over him—then I might not have ever even given him a chance. That would have been bad for Devon and for me, but at least it would have been honest.

  Even if she had confessed when I had confronted her with the information that Devon had given me, it would have been mostly okay. I could understand being jealous—I had seen enough jealousy in high school to know it could make people do crazy things. But the fact that she had not only lied to me from the beginning, but tried to actively sabotage any chance at a relationship I might have had with Devon and then lied again, was nearly unforgivable as far as I was concerned. She had been my friend for years; I thought that we had more trust between us than that.