Shifting the Night Away (23 page)

The real thing that I could remember touching.

“Whoa, hot body!”

I jumped up from my desk, whirling around to see my roommate standing behind me, a smile on her face. She threw her arms wide, beckoning me into a hug.

“I didn’t think you’d be back until this weekend.” Reaching over, I shut off my music and walked into her open arms. “I missed you, Nora-bean.”

“I missed you too, Mara-bara. That’s why I came back early.”

Stepping back, I took a good look at my blonde, bubbly friend. “You’re
especially
tanned this year. God, I’m jealous. What I wouldn’t give to spend two months in Hawaii.”

Nora shrugged. “It’s where my family lives. It barely feels like a vacation. But what about you? Anything interesting happen over the break?”

Shrugging, I took a seat on the couch and beckoned her over for a girl talk. “Well, I didn’t get a tan.”

“I mean something
fun.
Like a boy. Maybe your hot guy over there.”

I bit my lips, glancing at her. “Nothing happened over the summer, but the other night I had a bit of a one-night stand.”

Squealing, Nora bounced up and down on the couch like a little girl. “Con-
grat
-u-lations! I never thought I’d see the day Mara Finn gets laid without worrying about the consequences.”

“I slept with Tom at that frat party,” I reminded her.

“And then immediately you started worrying about the consequences.
That
was a messy evening with a friend.
This
is no strings attached.” She must’ve seen something on my face, because Nora frowned. “This
is
no strings, right? You’re not texting this guy kissy face emoticons and planning your wedding?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “You don’t know me very well if you think that’s what I’m doing. It’s just that… I thought I would never see this guy again.” Motioning, I directed her attention to my unfinished artwork on the desk. “But not only did I see him again, I’m going to see him in every single life drawing class this semester. He’s the professor’s TA. And a nude model.”

“Oh. My. God.” Nora’s mouth dropped open dramatically. “Your guy—he looks like
this?
” Picking up one of my drawings, she gestured at it wildly.

“He wasn’t ugly,” I admitted. “And it
was
a pretty good night.”

“Ugh. I am
jealous.
” Nora was practically salivating over the drawing of Riker’s abs. “You’re gonna have the best semester ever. Sleeping with the sexy teacher’s assistant? I’d love those kind of perks.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “There’s no way I’m ever sleeping with him again. In fact, I’m thinking about dropping the class.”

“Why? Is he married or something? Because if he’s single and you had a good time, it sounds like the start to a great friend with benefits situation.”

“You know I’m not really into that sort of thing.” Taking the drawing from her, I put it back on my desk—drawing side down. “And he’s not quite my type. He’s a… bad boy. A rebel.”

“Sounds hot.”

I gave her a pointed glare. “Nora.”

“I’m just saying! Don’t hate me for suggesting you step outside of your comfort zone. Considering how some of your other relationships have ended, I think you deserve a little fun.”

“That’s the thing. I don’t think it would be very much fun.” Staring at the drawings on my desk, I could almost
feel
Riker there next to me. “I have a feeling, knowing how I am, that I’d just get my heart broken.”

“And we don’t want that.”

Emphatically, I shook my head. “We don’t.”

“So maybe it’s best that you switch classes. But I still think you should have a little fun.” Throwing her arm around me, Nora leaned in close. “After all, you know I do.”

“Okay, okay!” Walking over to the kitchen, I pulled out our secret stash of margarita mix and tequila. “Tell me all about this summer’s selection of sexy island boys. Let me live vicariously through you.”

Chapter Nine

Close to You

“Alright, girly, I gotta go make the social rounds,” Nora said, as she took my empty margarita glass from my hands. “No more ‘ritas until I’m back.”

Giggling, I shook my head. “Who could you possibly want to see besides
meeee
, your bestie?” I might’ve been a little tipsy.

“I promised Cat I’d come by as soon as I landed, and she lives just one building over. Then there’s Marcus, and—”

“Okay okay.” I waved my hand at her. “No need to rub in my face that you have, like, a thousand friends.”

“But only
one
bestie.”

I smiled at her as she left.

“I’ll be back soon,” Nora promised as she closed the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The papers on my desk beckoned to me. Reaching over, I picked the top drawing up and turned it over where I could see it.
Maybe it’s not so bad,
I thought, running my fingers down my rendering of Riker’s abs.
 
Nora’s suggestion rang in my ears, and I had to wonder if it was possible for someone like me to be more like her: adventurous, outgoing, capable of loving men and leaving them.

There was a knock at my door.

“Forget your keys?” I called out, shaking my head at Nora’s absentmindedness. “Or did you just miss me—”

Opening the door, I lost my voice the instant I saw him.

“Hello, Mara.”

Fear pushed me to try and close the door in his face, but he wedged it open with a foot. “Danny, please just go away.”

His face was clouded in crazed anger. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want you to pass on a message to your little boyfriend, since he kicked me out of class.”

The words
he’s not my boyfriend
floated to my mouth, but I kept them inside for now. “What message?”

“Let him know I’ll be pressing charges for his little
incident.
My neck is bruised.” He pushed down his neckline to reveal blue-black marks on his skin in the shape of Riker’s hand. “And I’ll be back. You and me? We have a connection—whether you want to admit it or not.”

God, he’s delusional.
“You better go away. Riker, he’s—he’s about to visit me.” I hoped the lie sounded convincing.

“I get it. You don’t want him to see us together. Don’t worry, Mara—it’s our little secret.”

As soon as he took his foot out of the door, I slammed it shut, locking the deadbolt and even using the privacy chain. My heart was beating so fast and hard I could almost taste it on my tongue.

I spent the rest of the evening sitting on my couch, a kitchen knife clutched in my hand, waiting for Nora to come home.

***

“I still think you should press charges,” Nora said the next morning while we stood in the kitchen drinking large mugs of coffee. Neither of us had slept well the night before. “Report him or something.”

“Even if I call campus security, you and I both know they’re not going to do anything. It’s ‘he said’ vs ‘she said,’ and that never ends well. Then he’ll just be even angrier.”

As frustrating as it was, I couldn’t think of any way to get the administration to do anything about Danny, especially because he hadn’t actually
done
anything yet—except hold my wrists so tight I had yellow bruises, something he could easily claim was an accident.

“Well, you should do
something.
” Nora frowned at me in worry. “Tell your hottie TA at least. Maybe he can be your super sexy security detail.”

“Stop writing romance novels in your head.” Sighing, I ran my hand through my hair, then went to refill my coffee mug. “I
should
at least tell Riker that Danny is threatening to turn him in and press charges. But he doesn’t need to know that he threatened me. The last thing I need is two angry dudes trying to mark me as theirs.”

“If you say so. Just be careful. When is your next life drawing class?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll tell Riker then. And
no,
he won’t be half naked again. Professor Hickory already emailed us that she’s found a more reliable model to serve as our repeat reference for class. So stop sniggering at me suggestively.”

“Mara has a booy-friiiiend,” Nora sang, clearly trying to tease me out of my mood. “A super sexy
booooooy tooooooooy.”

Laughing, I ran around the kitchen swatting her with coffee filters until it was time to leave for class.

***

Lucky for me, there was no drama at my first class of the day, Survey of Western Art I. I left the class with an extensive amount of history to study, a few dozen pieces to memorize, plus an essay assignment. Already I missed summer.

The faint bruises on my wrist were now so faded that I barely noticed them.
There’s no telling what Danny will do next,
I thought, clutching my textbooks to my chest as I hurried out of class.
There has to be a way to protect myself and stop him from bugging me.
But other than suddenly turning into the Hulk or hiring a bodyguard, I couldn’t think of anything. All I knew was that I needed this guy out of my life.

Scanning the students around me, I did my best to take the least traveled hallways in the hopes that I wouldn’t run into him. I had a little time between classes and was determined to go back to my dorm and at least put a Swiss army knife in my bag. My thoughts wandered, and when I took the next corner, I ran into someone. Stumbling, I fell into him, his arms steadying me as I placed my hands against his chest.

“Sorry—” Looking up, I met familiar eyes.

“Mara.”

“Riker. It’s you.” Heart beating fast, I broke off from his grip and plastered a polite smile on my face. “I actually—I wanted to talk to you.”

“Is this about the other day? I know it’s awkward going to the same class, but really,” he said, leaning in, “you need to get over our little night together. I know you probably don’t get laid that often, but it was just sex. There’s no need to go all moony-eyed about it.”

Bristling, I glared at him. “Actually, I wasn’t going to say anything like that. And I’m
not
moony-eyed, I—”

He chuckled, making me fume so hard I lost my trail of thought. “Relax. I’m just messing with you. It’s fun. You turn so red.”

His words darkened my flush even further. “I shouldn’t even warn you, you’re being such an ass. But you should know that Danny’s threatening to go to the police and claim you assaulted him.”

Riker’s face straightened up at my words. “What?” Voice brimming with anger, he balled his hands up into fists. “That little twerp. I
barely
even touched him.”

Barely doesn’t even begin to cover it,
I thought, the image of Riker holding Danny up off the ground stuck firmly in my head. “He seemed pretty… determined. Apparently he thinks we’re dating.”

Frowning, Riker gave me a once over, head to toe, his eyes seeming to pierce through me. “He didn’t hurt you again, did he? If he did, I swear…”

Riker
growled
, the sound low and soft in his chest, but unmistakably strange.

“You sound like a dog or something, growling like that,” I said.

His head snapped towards me, eyes wide. “A
dog?
You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“They say there are strange things in the water here in Belmont City. Maybe you’ve been drinking too much tap.” My tone was teasing, but my words didn’t seem to amuse him.

“Don’t listen to rumors like that. It’s not the tap water around here that changes people.” Checking his watch, he stepped away from me. “Listen, I’ve got to head to my next class or I’ll never get my Master’s. But as soon as I can, I’m taking care of this Danny thing. You’ll never see him again.”

“That sounds final.” I shifted on my feet, studying his face. “You’re not going to do anything… violent, are you?”

Riker raised his eyebrows. “Do you think I got these tattoos in prison?”

“It’s a fair question,” I said, defensive. “You
were
just growling.”

There was something strange in his eyes, an expression I couldn’t place. My contacts had to be playing tricks on me, because his pupils almost seemed thinner, his eyes swirling as they changed colors in the shifting light.

“I’m not a cold-blooded murderer, Mara. But I do have friends in certain places. This Danny kid won’t be pressing any charges.”