Page 67 of Pucking Bad Boys

“So how do you think you did on that quiz?” I break the silence.

“I think I did ok.” He turns briefly to look at me. “Thanks to your flashcards.”

That warmth increases under his gaze. “I feel really bad that we couldn’t find any time to study together. We’ll have to plan some study sessions in addition to the group ones. I haven’t forgotten that you bought my books in exchange for help with this class.”

He nods. “Sounds good.”

I was so distracted by how handsome he is and by his relaxed confidence as he controls his car that I wasn’t paying attention to where we were going.

Rather than driving off campus, he’s taken a turn into Greek Row.

“Did you forget something at home?” I ask when he parks in the Gamma House driveway.

“No. Why?”

“Maybe I misunderstood what you said. I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

Macklin’s lips curl up in a barely there smile that reminds a lot of the way his brother smiles. “The house is almost empty at this time of day, since almost everyone is either at the dining hall or going from one class to the other. I thought we could order takeout and get some studying done.”

“Cool. I really want to start researching this garum and see how hard it’s going to be to replicate?—”

The words die in my mouth as his smile widens just a little and his eyes darken as they descend to look at my lips.

For some reason, I don’t think the studying Macklin is talking about has anything to do with our class.

He promised to teach me how to get and keep a man’s interest in bed in exchange for helping him with Gen. By the wayhe’s looking at me; I think that’s what he was talking about just now. I’m going to be the student rather than the teacher.

Like he did before, Macklin comes to open the door for me before talking my hand and guiding me into the frat house.

This time I’m one hundred percent sure that no one is around to see it. I guess he takes this fake boyfriend role seriously and likes to stay in character.

We don’t bump into anyone as he guides me to the top floor of the three-story mansion.

“This is me.” He stops in front of the first door after the presidential suite. “After you.”

“Your room is next to Tucker’s?” Nerves make me stiffen as he unlocks his bedroom door.

His room is pretty large and fairly tidy. It’s a good thing. Walking into a pig sty would be off-putting, but so would be if the place was immaculate.

The comforter on the king sized bed that takes up most of one wall is pulled back, but you can see that someone slept in that bed last night.

The desk tucked beneath the window on the opposite side is empty except for a few books stacked neatly next to a table lamp.

There are some clothes slung over the back of the office chair by the desk, but the carpeted floor is clean and free from clothes or other debris. A laundry hamper is standing by the only door inside the room, and a chest of drawers that matches the dark wood of the bed and desk completes the room's furniture.

“It’s a nice room.” I comment, suddenly feeling the need to fill the silence between us.

“I like it.” He shrugs. “The only downside is that I don’t have my own bathroom like your brother. But this room faces the front of the house and not the backyard. Which means it’s way quieter if there’s a party raging outside all night.”

That’s definitely a perk I can appreciate. “I hope my brother isn’t too noisy as a neighbor.” I muse.

“He’s fine. But the best thing about this house is that the walls are quite thick. You have no idea how grateful I was for that last year when I had a room between Vaughn’s and Chance Hunter's. They’re two noisy motherfuckers.”

“Weren’t they freshmen? How did they get a room in the house? Zeta Theta Beta doesn’t house freshmen.”

Macklin explains. “Tell me about it. The rules should be the same for everyone, but you know how this shit works. Vaughn’s father is one of the richest alumni and former Gammas, and Hunter’s father is the town mayor. Hard to say no to them.”

I nod. “Yeah, I get it. I’ve known Vaughn since we were kids. He isn’t a bad guy if you get past all his crazy antics. But he was definitely born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”