Bared Souls - Ellie Wade Page 0,38

and asked her to quit her job, she’d be pissed at me. She seems like the type of girl who likes working and making her own way. Nah, I think it’s wise to wait a bit before offering her money and asking her to give up her independence to spend all of her free time with me.

Damn, I’m needy AF in a relationship. Who knew?

On my way past the frat house, I stop by to see Ethan. He’s in his room, sitting on his bed, laptop open.

“Hey. What are you up to?” I ask him.

“Hey, man. Not much. Just finishing up these discussion questions for my Lit class,” he says.

“I was gonna order a pizza. Want to eat and play some Siege?” I ask.

“Yeah. Sounds dope. I have, like, three more questions, and then I’ll head over.”

“Okay.” I nod and turn to leave.

“Meat Lovers!” Ethan calls from his room as I descend the steps.

“Got it,” I yell back.

Exiting the frat house, I cross the street as I pull up the pizza place’s website and quickly input our order. Sliding my cell in my back pocket, I dig for my house key when I see that my front door isn’t all the way closed. I know I closed and locked it this morning.

I hesitantly push the door open and step in. I scan the space for the high-ticket items. My computer, video game shit, TV—it all sits untouched. So, I wasn’t robbed.

There’s movement upstairs. I grab a knife from the kitchen and take the steps two at a time. Leaning back against the hallway wall, I inch my bedroom door open.

“What the fuck, Tiffany?” I yell when I see her sprawled out on my bed, naked.

“Hey, sexy,” she coos, rubbing her fingers in between her wide-open legs. “I brought you a present.” She tilts her head toward the end table, where a clear bag of white powder sits.

She’s clearly already started without me. Her pupils are so dilated that her baby-blue eyes are almost black.

“Fuck,” I mumble, putting the kitchen knife on my dresser. “How did you get in here?” I snatch up pieces of her clothing from the floor.

“Your spare key, of course, silly. Now, come fuck me. You haven’t called for a while. I miss you—your cock especially.”

Tiffany was one of my regular fuck buddies. She and I had a lot in common. We liked to get messed up and screw. She was never clingy or needy, which made her a great lay. A couple of months ago, I would have been balls deep in her already, but I’m trying to change.

Her limbs start to quiver as she works her fingers faster, masturbating on my bed.

I throw her pile of clothes at her. “Stop. Get dressed. Get out.” I pick up the baggie of powder. “Take this with you.”

“Are you serious?” she asks, confused.

“Yes, Tiff. I’m seeing someone. You can’t just let yourself into my house and take your clothes off. Get dressed. Now.”

“Leo,” she whines.

I know she’s horny as fuck, but that’s not my problem.

“Now!” I bark out. “I need you gone.”

“Fine,” she gripes.

As soon as she’s off my bed, I pull off the sheets and comforter. I have to wash them before Alma comes over.

Before leaving the room with the pile of sheets in my arms, I turn toward Tiffany. “Don’t come back. If you let yourself into my house again without my permission, I’ll call the cops.”

“Asshole,” she growls.

Inside the laundry room, I shove the linens into the washing machine and add extra soap. The thought of Alma’s beautiful skin anywhere near Tiffany makes me physically ill. I turn the washer to the Deep Clean and Sanitize setting and start it up.

Ethan’s setting up the Xbox when I return from the laundry room.

“Tiffany sure ran out of here fast,” he notes, humor in his voice. “Things not go well in the bedroom?”

“She fucking broke in here and got naked on my bed. I came home, and she was just in there, rubbing herself off,” I scoff and shake my head.

“And?” He snickers.

“And I made her leave.”

“Why?”

I look to Ethan with a scowl. “What do you mean, why?”

He raises his hands in confusion. “You love that shit. You told me that she was the best fuck you’ve ever had.”

“I’m not into her anymore.”

“What?” Ethan asks in disbelief, and I ignore him.

“I have a girlfriend,” I say casually as the doorbell rings.

Grabbing my wallet, I pull out a couple of fifties and open the front door. The delivery