Secrets & Surrender 2 Read online

The Porsche. The car he said he’d give up for me—if I wanted him to.

  Yeah right, I snorted. Just like he said there was nothing between him and Kristie.

  Mother Dearest bought him a car and a skank on a silver platter. Stupid me, believing him when he said all he ever wanted was me.

  I looked around the parking lot, anger burning within me. I spotted a pickup truck.

  “Yes!” I smiled when I spotted a tire iron lying in the truck bed.

  With a determined march, I headed toward Nic’s car.

  “Mandi...what...are you...doing?” I spun around at the sound of Kristie’s gasping voice, the tire iron high above my head. She backed up, her hands in the air, those innocent baby blue eyes of hers wide with fright.

  Ha! Innocent my ass.

  “Back off, bitch!”

  Her pink lips quivered. “I though you were my friend.”

  Was she kidding me?

  “Screw you and Nic! Oh, wait. You already did.”

  In one swift movement, I slammed the tire iron down on the windshield, shattering the glass into a million pieces.

  Immediately, I felt a rush of relief. It felt so good that I walked to the back of the car with a smile and smashed the other window. Yeah, busting his car’s windows was a juvenile thing to do, but I didn’t give a shit. He deserved it. That bastard made me fall in love with him. I actually felt guilty about Julian, and I didn’t even do anything. And he...and Kristie...they...

  I slammed the tire iron on the hood of the car. It crumpled with a satisfying crunch.

  “Hey, Kristie. Is the party over already? Sorry I ditched you and Nic, but this cute guy—Whoa!” Steve snatched the tire iron out of my hands. “What are you doing to Nic’s car?”

  “Mind your own business,” I spat. “Give it back to me.”

  “Are you drunk?”

  “I’m perfectly sober. Now give me back the tire iron.”

  “No way! You and Kristie are coming inside with me and telling me what happened.”

  “You go inside. Take that skank with you before I rip her head off.”

  He took a step toward me, but stopped when he saw that I was in no mood to be messed with. I turned my attention back to the Porsche’s shattered windows, barely noticing Steve dragging away a sobbing Kristie.

  It wasn’t enough. The pain was still there. The image of Kristie naked in Nic’s arms went through my mind. His kisses, his touches...Shit! They had probably been carrying on behind my back all year, and I was the one who had invited her back into his life!

  I barked out a laugh as I pulled my key across the red paint. The key scraped across the driver’s side of the car, its high-pitched squeal piercing my ears.

  I wrote the only Spanish cussword I could think of. It didn’t help. My chest wanted to explode. My cheeks were wet. I couldn’t stop crying. Why was I still crying?

  “Mandi!” Nic stormed out of the building.

  I turned and ran as fast as I could. Stupid flip-flops were slowing me down. I didn’t want to see him or hear any of his lame excuses. My legs pumped as I dashed across campus, tears blinding me. The darkness swallowed me as ran away from him, not knowing where I was going and not caring. I had trusted him! I thought he was the one for me. And for one moment, I’d even considered telling him about my family’s secret.

  I stumbled and almost fell when one of one of my flip-flops broke apart.

  “Mandi, will you please stop?”

  “Stay away from me!” Picking up my shoes, I threw them at him. He swatted one away and then dodged the other.

  Darting barefoot across the street to Sewell Park, a couple of cars blared their horns. I took the path that ran along the San Marcos River, hoping to lose Nic in the thick brush. I pushed forward, my side aching from the exertion.

  I cursed with each step I took. The rocks were biting into my feet. To make it worse, I didn’t see a tree root jutting out from the ground, and I fell face down into the dirt. Scrambling to get up, Nic’s arms were suddenly around me.

  “Let go of me!” I squirmed against him.

  “Not until you hear me out.”

  “I don’t want to hear your lies. Go tell them to that skank, Kristie. It’s obvious you get off on busty airheads. ”

  “Stop it, Mandi! You’re acting crazy. You know I love you.”

  I froze, my eyes blazing. “Love me? Love me!”

  “Yes, I love you.”

  “Well, fucking Kristie sure is strange way to show it.”

  “Knock it off, Mandi,” he growled, shaking me. “You know she’s just a friend.”

  “Yeah, right. A friend. More like a fuck buddy.”

  His hands tightened before dropping them to his side. “Look, Mandi, I know you’re mad, but I’m not going to let you talk about Kristie that way. She’s been nothing but a good friend to me and to you.”

  “Now you’re defending her?” Incredible.

  “Do you even want to hear what happened?” His voice was angry now.

  “Hmm, do I want to listen to your lies? Gee, Nic, I don’t know.”

  He scowled. “What is wrong with you? This is not the Mandi I fell in love with.”

  “Oh really.” I placed my hands on my hips. “I don’t know which Mandi you think you were dating because I’m the same person. I fight back when someone steps on my turf. If you hurt my family or friends, then you have to deal with me. I’m not some silly preppie bow-head you can run all over.”

  “The Mandi I know is loving and passionate. And most of all, fair. She gives the people she loves the benefit of the doubt.”

  I gulped, gazing into his hazel eyes, reading between the lines. “Well, maybe there is doubt.”

  “You’ve never had it before. At least, I don’t think you have.” His face twisted, and his voice turned soft as he approached me. “That is, until Julian.”

  I sucked in a breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “He has nothing to do with this.”

  “I think he does. Remember the Psych 101 class we took in the summer? Projection?”

  Somewhere in the depths of my memories, I recalled the professor saying something about psychological projection.

  Crap! Was I putting my guilt over Julian onto Nic?

  “Puhleeze, psychology is full of crap. Beside, that has nothing to do with it.” Who was the liar now? “He didn’t tell you to sleep with Kristie.”

  He paused for a moment, studying me. It was as if he was wondering whether he should press me on the Julian issue or not. I braced myself.

  “I didn’t sleep with her. We were at the frat party, and some guy was manhandling her and she fell in the mud. I took care of the guy and got muddy in the process.”

  I let out a breath. A part of me was relived he wasn’t going to go there; the other part wondered why he didn’t. His eyes were so sincere. There wasn’t a hint of deception behind them. I knew he was telling me the truth. I felt it.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And then she barfed all over me.”

  I blinked. “She what?”

  His lips curled into a grin. “You know, puked, upchucked, hurled—”

  “Okay, I get it.”

  “Spewed, tossed her cookies, tangoed with the toilet—”

  “I get it, Nic.”

  “Burped to the ninth power—”

  “Nic!” My lip twitched.

  “Okay. Okay. I was about to drive her home when she turned green. I didn’t want her to ruin the upholstery so I helped her out of the car and she hurled all over me. I brought her to my dorm room so she could clean up. And she hurled again in the living room.”

  “That’s why it smelled so funky in there.”

  “Yep, that was all her. The only thing clean that would fit her was the shirt you gave me for Christmas. And well, I have no more clothes now that they’re scattered all over the parking lot.” He held out his arms so that I could take a good look at him.

  There he was, standing in the middle of Sewell Park wearing wet b
lue jeans and a pink polka dot midriff with spaghetti straps.

  I choked back a laugh. I didn’t want to laugh. That would mean I was happy. And I didn’t want to be happy. I wanted to be mad.

  He chuckled. His laugh was contagious. I couldn’t help myself and I started laughing too.

  “It’s only a few hours until my eight o’clock class. Do you think I’ll be dry by then?”

  “That’s the least of your worries. I’m pretty sure sexy midriffs like that are against the dress code.” I plucked the strap, snapping it against his muscular chest.

  He chuckled, taking the blouse off and tossing it aside. “Maybe I can find a shirt in the parking lot.”

  “I just saw Steve. He probably has a handful of them hidden in his closet by now.”

  He clutched his stomach, laughing even harder. “At least I never have to worry about air conditioning in my car. I have permanent air conditioning in the winter and heat for the summer.”

  I laughed so hard, tears streamed down my face. “Nic, I’m so sorry.”

  He pulled me into his arms as we laughed. He nuzzled his nose into my hair, sighing. His relief was so touching my laughter turned into sobs. “I’m sorry about your car. I’ll figure out a way to get the money to fix it.”

  “Shh, don’t worry about it.” He rubbed my back in calming circles. “You’re more important than a stupid car. And about Kristie.”

  “I don’t want to talk about her right now. I know you’re just friends with her.” He might only be friends with her, but there was definitely something more on Kristie’s side. I would deal with her later.

  Brushing thoughts of her aside, I snuggled into his chest and listened to the beat of his heart.

  “Mandi, there’s something I need to ask you.”

  His unspoken question lingered. We were back to where we had started.

  “Julian...”

  “Nic.” I popped up, grabbing hold of his neck and pulled his lips to mine. He hesitated, his lips stiff. I kissed harder, putting everything I had into the kiss. He had to know that I loved him. It was him I wanted to be with...only him.

  “Mandi.” His voice was raw with emotion. His ducked his head, keeping his face hidden.

  “Nic. I want you. I need you.” I ran my hands down his chest, tracing each line of his muscled abs with the tip of my finger, and then, finally, reached down to caress the growing bulge in his jeans. His hand latched onto mine before I could touch him. In one swift move, he grabbed a handful of my hair and tugged gently, lifting my head up to him. I sucked in a breath at the heat in his eyes. There was something different. It was raw, carnal.

  Without a word, he gathered me in his arms, lifting me.

  “What are you doing?” I squealed.

  He pushed his way through the brush to a hidden grassy clearing. Placing me on the ground, he hovered over me, and his hazel eyes smoldered. “Fighting for you.”

  “I don’t underst—”

  Lips crashed down onto mine, and he thrust his tongue into my mouth. I loved his taste, all hot and spicy and completely Nic. I immediately felt my body responding to the savage way he was kissing me. Our tongues swirled together in a foreshadowing of what was to come. I nibbled his lower lip, and he gently sucked my tongue, causing me to moan with delicious desire. Making love with Nic had always made me feel like I was being worshipped by him with tender touches and gentle kisses. This was different. This was raw heat. He was demanding. Possessive. And I loved it.

  Wrenching his lips away from mine, hungry eyes locked with mine for a moment before he came back to devour me all over again. This time he left stinging little nips along my jaw and on my insanely sensitive earlobe, but then he gently licked and nuzzled his way down my neck and over my collarbone, soothing the little hurts he’d caused. Shoving my tank top and bra up, my nipples immediately pebbled in the cool night air. His tongue slowly circled my nipple, teasing me with his scorching touch. Moaning, I thrust my fingers into his dark hair, holding him to me as he used the flat of his tongue to lick over the stiff peak of my breast and then sucking it into his warm mouth. The stubble of his chin scraped against my sensitive skin as he moved to my other nipple, giving it the same exquisite treatment.

  Lust-filled eyes looked up at me as he kissed down the center of my chest. Holding my gaze, my body trembled as his hot wet kisses traveled down my stomach until he reached my shorts. Before I knew it, my shorts and panties were at my ankles. I flicked them off impatiently. I wanted him now. When I reached out to unzip his jeans, he took hold of my hands and placed them at my side.

  “Not yet,” he growled.

  His hands slid down my thighs, coaxing my legs to open for him. The throbbing intensified when I realized what he was going to do. His head dipped between my legs and he licked up my center. The moment his tongued touch my most sensitive place, I cried out as electricity bolted through my body. Again, I buried my fingers in his damp hair, arching my hips and moaning in pleasure as his tongue plunged into me over and over again. My legs trembled as I got close to the edge, throbbing with desire.

  “Nic, please,” I begged.

  I needed him in me. I needed to feel his heat.

  He pushed his head further between my legs, using his tongue over the bundle of nerves at the center of my being. Then his fingers pushed into me, and I cried out with pure pleasure, lifting my hips at the exquisite sensations pulsing through me.

  Lifting up on his knees, Nic licked his lips and then his fingers before slowly sliding down the zipper of his jeans as his feral eyes held mine. When his hard length pressed against my core, he let out a groan that made the throbbing between my thighs more intense. He mumbled under his breath, so softly I could barely hear what he was saying.

  “You’re mine. I won’t lose you.”

  Moving his hand underneath my back, he lifted my lower body and plunged himself into me in one swift motion. I cried out, digging my nails into his soft skin, reveling in the feel of his hard body against mine. He pumped into me hard and fast until I couldn’t hold back anymore and I tumbled over the edge into bliss. I was in free fall, helpless in his arms, as my body shattered over and over again with his thrusts. Just when I thought I couldn’t take anymore of the delicious sensations coursing through me, he let out a groan and shudder, causing me to cry out one last time as the first rays of light peeked over the horizon.

  NINE: Mandi

  Acting like a douche had its perks.

  It’d been days since I’d seen Kristie at the Tutor Zone. Huge perk there! No more listening to what sounded like The Chipmunks on helium. I knew she had a big algebra test coming up and she didn’t even come in once. I think she was afraid to show her face. And she should’ve been. Really, running around naked wearing only my boyfriend’s Christmas gift was so not cool. I wanted to go to her dorm and give her a piece of my mind. I wanted to demand that she tell me what kind of game she was playing.

  Then the sensible part of me felt bad that she was afraid of me. Deep inside, I knew she wasn’t playing games. She honestly wanted to be friends with Nic and me. I knew she had some lingering feelings when it came to him. How could I blame her? Every time I walked across campus with Nic, dozens of female eyes, and some guys, had their eyes glued on him. The man was gorgeous, funny, and kind-hearted.

  Yeah, I couldn’t blame her one bit.

  The tutoring center was filled with anxious students who were about to take the semester midterm. It was going to be a busy day. I headed to my cubicle, hoping to see Kristie there. I had to admit I was worried about her passing her exam.

  I dumped my backpack onto the desk, glanced up at the clock, and wondered if I had time to call Cassie. It’d been a long time since I’d talked to her.

  No, Cassie had her own stuff to worry about with the baby coming and Cody adding on an extra room to the house. With all the crazy that had happened this semester, hearing about Cassie and Cody expecting a baby was definitely welcome news. I couldn’t wait to see her over sp
ring break.

  I didn’t have to call. I knew exactly what she’d say about this. She’d tell me to give Kristie a chance to explain herself and that I was being stubborn. And she would’ve been right. Oh well, the final dress rehearsal was this evening and everyone was going to be there except Nic. I didn’t press him about it. I knew it was torture for him to watch me dance with Julian. He didn’t tell me to stop, and I didn’t bring it up. Besides, the show was tomorrow and then the mess with Julian would be over. We could put all of this behind us.

  I went to the front desk, looking over the list of names, when Mrs. Henley rushed over. “Ms. Ruiz, come with me.”

  “What’s going on?” I asked as she walked me to her office.

  She paused in front of the closed door. The blinds to her office window, which were normally open to make sure that none of the tutors were slacking off, were closed. “Are you in trouble?”

  “Trouble? With what?”

  “I have a Mrs. Marcelli in the office waiting for you. The university president himself escorted her here. He made it very clear that I was to do whatever Mrs. Marcelli asked.”

  Blood drained from my face. “Is it Nic? Did something happen to Nic?”

  I’d just seen him after breakfast. Steve, wearing a shirt that looked suspiciously like one of Nic’s, took him to a dealership in Austin to check up on the Porsche repairs.

  Oh my God! Maybe they were in an accident. I pushed my way passed Mrs. Henley and flew into the office.

  “Is Nic alright?”

  Mrs. Marcelli sat on the edge of a frayed leather chair, her shoulders held back in perfect posture. Her golden hair was perfectly coiffed into a chignon, and her cream colored designer suit was a sharp contrast to the clean, but rundown, office decor.

  “Mrs. Henley, may we have some privacy?”

  “Is there anything I can get you? More coffee?”

  “No, this is fine.” She lifted the cup in her manicured hand.

  “Mrs. Marcelli, please tell me what happened. Is Nic alright?” My voice was frantic now. Why was she sitting there so calmly?

  “Sit,” she said after Mrs. Henley closed the door.

  “But, Nic—”