cover that damn beautiful body of his and raises an eyebrow at me.

“What?”

“Fucking him when you’re balls deep inside of me.”

He stops and looks at me - looks through me. I can’t breathe when the bastard does that, and I’m

sure he knows it. And does it for that reason. But I almost think he’s actually going to talk to me about

this…

Then his eyes, I don’t know, they change or something. And he grins at me. He’s done that before.

He’s always doing it. Grinning at me. Laughing at me. Like there’s some huge joke that I’m not in on.

This time though… This time it feels different.

And not just him laughing at me, but this whole thing. Him. It feels different than anyone else I’ve

slept with in the past few years. He’s the only one that’s been around more than a day or two - we’ve

been doing this for weeks now, and I’m still saying ‘yes’ and jumping up to follow him every time he

shows up.

Maybe that’s it. Someone like Danny Rizzo is bothering to come find me, even if it is just for a quick

screw before going on with the rest of his day. And I’m basking in the shit like it’s sunshine.

Not only that, but when I don’t see him now, there’s that same pull in my brain - that pressure I get

when I’ve been sober for too long. Apparently I’ve gone and become addicted to a person. He’s in my

blood like everything else I’m doing.

And I realize something he must’ve known for a while now. That it doesn’t matter what his answer

is. Or even if he answers at all. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I’m as dependent on him now as

I am on what Marc sells me.

It makes me angry again, knowing I’ve let myself get to this point. I’m such an idiot. And I need to

get out of here - get somewhere that I can disconnect and forget what a huge pussy I am.

I turn toward the door, my body doing its best to keep up with my brain. There’s a weight on my arm

and I look down to see a hand wrapped around it above the leather wrist cuff. I look over my shoulder

just enough to see his dark eyes focused on me. Between his gaze and his grip, my skin goes hot and

tight and I barely suppress a shiver.

“Tomorrow.” There’s not even a question in his voice. Only statement, like it’s a sure thing. Like I’m

a sure thing. And even though I know now that it’s true, it still grates against the little pride I have left

in this.

“Fuck you.”

“Tomorrow.” An echo of that grin again. Like this is a game for him.

“I’m not your whore, Rizzo.” But I know that’s a lie, and so does he. He takes a step and slides his

body up against mine. I blink slowly enough that my eyes are still closed when his whisper slips hot and

dark against my skin.

“Tomorrow.”

I swallow and shudder at the feel of his mouth suddenly at the corner of mine. He’s kissed me all of

two or three times, and it was shocking and demanding each time. And there’s no way he doesn’t know

that I love it.

“Tomorrow,” I whisper back at him, and I can feel his smile against my lips. I lean in to close that

last distance, but he’s suddenly gone, the left side of my body chilled now without him there. By the

time my brain catches up to me and I force my eyes open again, he’s already back across the room,

grabbing a towel and some clothes like I’m not even there.

I slam his door on my way out, like a child. Part of me is beginning to hate this whole thing.

But I’ll be back tomorrow, that’s for damn sure.

* * *

I blink my eyes back open and stare at my ceiling again. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, if he weren’t so

wrapped up in that guy from the cafe. Who obviously already has a boyfriend. Or whatever. And Rizzo

doesn’t have the brain in his head to look around at anyone else.

Not that I’m jealous. I’m not, dammit! There’s no ties holding Rizzo to me, and I’ll be damned

before I’ll admit that there are ties holding me to him.

But shit. My skin crawls when I don’t see him. The backs of my eyes itch and I get this pain in my

chest. And the only word I have to describe this shit is ‘withdrawal’. From a person!

Holy crap, the room is spinning again. God, does that stuff feel good. Like the whole world is

turning. And turning right around me. Whatever Marc brought me was exactly what I needed. I can

hardly feel my body at all.

I’d called him up when I got back to my room. Marc, not Rizzo. I don’t need Rizzo any more. I

don’t. But if I don’t have him… I’m realizing that I need something else to replace it. Him. Something

strong.

“Take me somewhere, Marc,” was all I’d needed to say, and that gravel-wrecked voice was laughing

at me through the phone, promising to be over in ten.

Nine minutes later, he’d handed something to me with a grin. I paid him without even asking. I don’t

want to know what he brings me. It always works, so I don’t need to know. And it’s not like I need to

worry about money. My parents never blink an eye when I need more. Like they’re paying me off so

that they can forget about me the rest of the time.

Marc made some comment about something screwing with me. I didn’t need to hear it and kicked

him out of my room. I’d already knocked back that handful of whatever he’d brought me and I was

starting to spin. Couldn’t get the door locked, but at least I got it closed and got to my bed.

I’ve been here ever since. Not sure how long. Doesn’t matter, really. Not today.

* * *

I woke up about 30 minutes ago. At least I think so. I’m pretty sure. Sometime between the time I

finally passed out and the time I woke up (and I have no clue how long it’s been), I must’ve come to just

enough to take my clothes off, because I’m only wearing my boxers now. Either that or someone did

come into my room. To strip me down and leave me in bed. Yeah right.

Anyway, my head’s mainly clear right now. I could probably eat something, but laying here is too

nice to bother hauling my ass up for food. Only I’m pretty sure it’s a Tuesday afternoon. And I think

I’ve got one of Jeff’s classes this afternoon. One of my actual drama classes. So I know I should get up.

These are the important ones… And being a drama class, I might just see Rizzo around in the hallways

or something.

Shit, I can’t stop thinking about him. This is insane.

Rizzo with his skin. And those eyes. And that damn shit-eating grin of his. And his hands. And his

body. The way he moves. His voice. The little sounds he makes and the way his breath catches when

he’s inside-

Damn! Now I’ve got morning wood and it’s not even morning!

Screw this shit, I’m going to class!

* * *

I didn’t have a lot of time to get dressed and get to class, and now I’m sitting here wishing I’d at least

grabbed some coffee, because Jeff looks like he’s ready to pop. And it’s got to be something big to

make him that excited.

He’s waited until the end of class though. Now we’re all gathered around and waiting for him to let

us in on the little secret. Most of us are at least second years and have known him for a while. So it’s

pretty much silent when he starts to talk.

“Now I know a lot of you had heard rumors that we were going to be doing a Miller performance,

but that was only my backup plan in case we needed it. But the original plan has been okayed by the

University.

“I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the posters or heard about our Bicentennial celebration.

Woodhaven was founded two hundred years ago, and to mark the occasion, the administration is

planning a cycle of events throughout the year.” I can hear some moron in back getting excited already,

when Jeff hasn’t even told us a damn thing yet that any of us didn’t already know.