sure she’s out for blood.
I pace around my bedroom, and steal a glance at the clock. Night has fallen over the campus and the auction will begin in fifteen minutes or so. My throat tightens at that thought. Stepping up to the mirror, I check out my long hooded ceremonial robe that hides our identities.
Am I really doing this?
I have never been a part of the bidding, never had any inclination to participate, but none of those girls were Maize—who I can’t really hate anymore now that I know she was being pranked too. Plus, I am responsible for her circumstances. Is that the only reason you’re doing this, Christian? I shake my head, not wanting to delve too deeply into my motivations. I walk to my window and stare out at the dark street below. The truth is, this is all just a game, and the women who are given cards are carefully vetted. They want this. They get to be adored, treated extremely well in exchange for favors, and no, I’m not talking sexual ones. If that happens, it has to be consensual, no pressure on anyone, but these girls are basically sugar babies, and we’re their daddies. When I put it that way it sounds really bad.
Fuck me.
Maize though, she’s not the kind of girl to take. From what I knew of her, she’d worked her way through high school on scholarship, and is here at Kingston on one as well—up until I hit her in the head with my football. She works hard to get what she needs, and really, if she becomes a sugar baby, and is doing chores, homework, and whatever else needs to be done, that’s working hard to get what she needs too, right? I’m not sure I’m buying that logic either. I thought about straight up offering her money, but I appreciate my nuts between my legs, not shoved down my throat.
My door flies open and I spin around to see Theodore, also known as Thor because of his size and longish blond hair, come racing into my room. He looks a little like a superhero in his robe. He practically skids to a halt when he sees me in mine.
“What the fuck, dude?”
I’m tall, but I still have to lift my gaze to meet his eyes. I square my shoulders. “You’ve got a problem.”
“Fuck no, but you never play. What’s going on?” He backs up and leans against my doorjamb, blocking all light in the hallway. “Wait, does this have something to do with that girl you ruined?”
I cringed. “Ruined? I didn’t ruin her.” My gaze goes to my bed. If I had her on the mattress, beneath me… then I might ruin her. My cock takes that moment to thicken. Not that it takes much when I’m thinking about Maize. Jesus, she’s so fit, so tight everywhere, and those fucking kissable lips. I almost tasted them in high school. Almost had my tongue in her mouth, but she had to go and ruin things by pantsing me. Yeah, she’s the one who ruined things, not me.
Thor frowns. “Well, she’s never going to run again, you know that, right?”
“I thought you were a psych major. I had no idea you were getting a medical degree on the side.”
He bursts out laughing, pushes off the wall and slaps me on the shoulder. “You need to relax, my man. Get your ass down there, get a bid in on the hottest girl, and do yourself a favor and get laid.”
“Yeah, okay,” is all I say, even though I have no intention of sleeping with Maize. He moves and I step around him, the knot in my stomach growing tighter and tighter as I adjust my robe and make my way to the basement. My brothers are all standing around, waiting for the invites to enter. I stand back a bit, and question my sanity. I can’t do this. I just can’t. I’m about to bolt, never to set foot in the basement again, when the large solid brass bell rings.
Thor throws his arm around my shoulders and walks me to a chair. I tuck my hood around my head and drop into a chair. Thor sinks into the chair beside me, and while he’s in his robe, I think he just likes attending, and right now is enjoying my nervousness. He’s already got a girl, and from what I’ve seen, the two are getting along just fine. The other day, he put