Baumgartner Generations: Henry

Chapter Four

The dragon-lady sat quietly sorting through papers on her desk, her door half-open. Henry hesitated in the hallway, heart beating too fast for him to knock yet. It had been racing since that afternoon, when she handed back his term paper with another big “F” marked in red on the last page and the words, “Come to my office at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.”

What a letdown, after the weekend of partying at the fraternity, getting clapped on the back over and over, his new fraternity brothers grinning knowingly. It still made him blush to think about what had happened, but he was also rather proud of it in a sick sort of way-especially since Dean seemed so perturbed by Henry’s win. Or more to the point, Dean’s loss.

Henry might have thought it was all a dream, but he had a box full of porn shoved under his bed and a Fleshlight in his possession to prove it wasn’t. If he could have stopped time back then, he would have. Going back to class on Monday and facing the dragon-lady was the last thing he wanted to do.

She knows. He could see it on her face when she handed his paper back, the slight purse to her lips, the brief flash in her eyes. She was calling his bluff. He cursed himself for not finding someone he trusted, but he had been in a hurry, the paper due, and there was just no time.

“Henry Baumgartner.” Her voice made his stomach clench. “Come in, please.”

There was no more putting it off. He stepped into her office, shutting the door behind him and taking a seat when she asked him to. She still wasn’t really acknowledging him; instead, she was writing with her red pen. The same red pen that had failed him. That anyone held so much power over him made him nauseous.

“I’d like to show you something.” Professor Franklin reached over and took a paper off a stack to her left. She put it on the desk in front of him, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs. Her skirt was a soft, dark green, a respectable length, but her legs were very long. He felt like a mouse trapped between her paws.

“Go ahead,” she urged.

He picked the paper up, staring dumbly at it. It wasn’t that he couldn’t read at all. He could pick out words. He could read sentences if he focused, guessing or skipping over the words he couldn’t figure out, but it could literally take him an hour to read a full page. And when faced with paragraph after paragraph, especially in front of an audience, his brain completely froze. The words swam in front of him and he stared up at her, mute.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Professor Franklin crossed her arms, the cream satin-like material of her blouse stretching over her breasts. No one liked her-but every guy had talked about fucking her. She was an older woman, probably his mother’s age, but with her long dark hair and tall, curvy figure, she was the stuff freshmen wet dreams were made of.

“Henry, do you know what that is?” She sat up, rolling her chair closer to the desk, looking at him quizzically.

He just shrugged, hands clammy, heart galloping. He wanted to bolt, but he knew it would only make things worse. Until he could figure out what she wanted from him, it was better to stay quiet.

“You know, I was going to keep this between us.” She tapped her fingernails on the desk’s surface. They were long and painted red. “But if this is how you’re going to act, I suppose I’ll be forced to get the dean of students involved.”

He looked back down at the paper in his hand. There was no title page and the words made no sense. Why was she showing him this? He felt slow, stupid, and he hated that feeling, because he wasn’t either of those things. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, why he couldn’t remember the same word from one sentence to the next, but he could remember every state in the union and recite them alphabetically. He could find them all on a map, by shape and location. But he couldn’t read their names.

“I don’t…” He cleared his throat, trying to buy himself some time.

“Okay, let’s do it this way.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line, folding her hands on the desk. “Read it.”

He glanced down again. His hands were trembling. His eyes scanned the page, left to right, but nothing made sense.

“Out loud,” she insisted.

He gaped up at her, his mouth dry, no words coming out, and finally he understood. This was his paper. Not his paper, but the paper he had purchased online and printed out and put his own name and cover page on. Of course, he hadn’t read it. He couldn’t.

“Oh my god.” Professor Franklin’s eyes widened. They were dark and round behind her reading glasses, and even rounder in her surprise and realization. She reached out to touch him, surprising them both, her hand soft, clutching his. “You really can’t…Henry, can you read?”

“Leave me alone!” He stood quickly, letting the paper fall, jerking himself away from her touch. He took off down the hall, ignoring her calling after him. He turned the corner and hit the door hard, opening it and gulping the cool autumn air into his over-heated lungs.

He’d faced down teachers before. He’d lied, manipulated, apologized and weaseled his way out of a million punishments and reprimands. He was incredibly charming once he got his bearings. He had managed to convince everyone, including his parents, that he was just lazy and irresponsible sometimes. None of them had ever once guessed his secret.

So how does she know?

“Henry.”

He steeled himself, not turning to face her. Why had she followed him? Why wouldn’t she just call the dean of students, report him, have him removed from class? Or suspended. Even expelled. He felt like passing out just at the thought.

“Hey.” Her voice was soft, softer than he’d ever heard it. “Please.”

She touched his arm through his jacket and he glanced down at her. She’d taken time to put on a long, black wool coat. He tried to pull himself together. It was time to deny everything. He opened his mouth to do just that but even spoken words failed him when he caught sight of her face.

She was crying.

What the hell? Nothing could have surprised or disarmed him more.

“Henry, let me help you.” Tears streamed down her face. She cried openly, unashamed, squeezing his forearm, pleading with him. He was aghast. “Please. I can help.”

“I don’t need your help,” he sneered. “Or your pity.”

“Oh, no, Henry, you don’t understand-”

He turned and ran for the second time that day, determined to escape this time. He heard the click of her heels, her calls, but then they faded and he could only hear the sound of his own heart beating, the ragged pull of his breath as he ran, ran, ran, as far and as fast as he could.

“Dude, you’re gonna get kicked out of school.” Dean sat on the bed across from him. Henry just pulled the covers over his head. It was four in the afternoon and he hadn’t gotten out of bed. He hadn’t done much all week except stay in bed. He’d managed to ignore the phone-and his roommate. He’d even skipped hockey practice. Twice. Coach was probably going to kick him off the team. But it didn’t matter. Ultimately, he was going to get kicked off anyway.

“You’re not sick.” Dean sighed. “What’s wrong? You can tell me.”

Normally, Henry would have spilled his guts. Dean had a way of making him confess things he wouldn’t tell anyone else. But he couldn’t tell him about this. Not this.

“Is it Libby?” Dean asked.

Henry perked up at the sound of her name. He’d considered calling her, taking her up on the tutoring offer. But she couldn’t help him. No one could help him. He felt broken. It was too late to fix him. “I talked to her. She still wants to go out tonight.”

“With you.” He couldn’t let Dean forget how he had usurped Libby’s attention. Was today Friday already? Had the whole week disappeared?

“Her roommate is hot,” Dean reminded him. “And she’s on the rebound. That’s practically a sure thing.”

“Is that all you ever think about?” Henry’s current concerns seemed huge and even the thought of Libby seemed far away in light of them.

“Come on, Henry.” Dean sounded pissed. He’d tried a few times this week to drag Henry out of bed, but they’d been half-hearted attempts. This time he sounded serious. And mad.

“No.” Henry rolled toward the wall.

“But we’re supposed to meet the girls in, like, an hour!”

Henry’s voice was muffled in his pillow. “You go.”

“Well I can’t exactly date both of them, can I?” Dean snapped.

“Take Bel.” He smiled at the thought. Bel could barely say his own name in front of a girl.

“Henry, don’t be a dick.”

He rolled back over, crossing his arms and glaring at his roommate. “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to take a shower.” Dean leaned over and thwapped him on the arm. Henry winced. “You stink.”

“You just want to get into Libby’s pants.”

Dean grinned. “Can you blame me?”

“Just leave me alone.” Henry rolled back toward the wall, sinking under the covers. He couldn’t. There was no way.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to call Libby and tell her you don’t want to go.” Dean had changed tactics. “Maybe I should tell her you’ve been in bed all week. Val must’ve really worn you out…”

Henry stiffened, turning back toward his roommate, a sinking feeling in his belly. “You’re not supposed to talk about that.”

“Right.” Dean shrugged, reaching into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone and flipping it open. He glanced up when Henry pushed by him. “Where are you going?”

“To take a shower.”

“Now that was everything a vampire movie is supposed to be,” Libby crowed happily as they walked out of the theater. “Not even a hint of glitter.”

Henry stole a glance over at her, walking next to Dean. He’d resented the fact that she wasn’t sitting next to him during the scary parts. She’d practically climbed into Dean’s lap a few times.

Instead, he’d had Elaine screaming in his ear and hiding her face against his jacket. Okay, so she was nice enough, and definitely a hottie-Dean hadn’t lied about that-a pretty, petite blonde with an angelic face and big blue eyes. But she wasn’t Libby. And she kept proving that every time she opened her mouth.

Elaine fell into step next to Henry, taking his hand and swinging it. “Hey, now, no dissing Twilight.”

Of course she was a Twilight fan. He tried to be magnanimous. “Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?”

Libby interrupted Elaine’s response, rolling her eyes and saying, “Real men don’t sparkle.”

“Wait. Twilight? Isn’t that the movie about the girl who can’t choose between necrophilia and bestiality?” Dean howled when Elaine punched him in the arm as he pushed the unlock button on his keys. Freshmen weren’t supposed to have cars on campus, but Dean had a black 2008 Mustang he parked at the frat house.

“Meanie.” Elaine stuck her tongue out at Dean as Henry ushered her into the backseat. It was close quarters and cramped back there, but it meant Libby was close, even in the passenger seat, and she half-turned so she could talk to them as Dean drove through campus back to the frat house. The whole way, Elaine’s hand kept finding its way into Henry’s lap, squeezing and petting his thigh. She’d been flirty all night and had made it pretty clear she liked him. By the time Dean parked, Elaine’s hand was practically in his crotch.

“Hey, come on in. I want to show you guys something.” Dean took Libby’s hand as they got out of the car, leading her toward the frat house.

“No,” Libby protested, looking for support from her roommate, but Elaine grabbed Henry’s hand, following. “Dean, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Oh come on,” Dean said, literally pulling Libby up the stairs. “What do you have to be afraid of?”

“I think Elaine and I should go home.” Libby’s eyes flashed and she glared at Dean as he opened the door.

“But the night’s just starting,” Dean protested. “And I really want to show you guys something.”

“Come on, Libby,” Elaine said, nudging her friend into the doorway. “He wants to show us something!”

Libby relented as Elaine and Henry crowded in behind her.

The house was big enough to hold thirty-five fraternity members, and they didn’t have an empty room in the place. Dean kept trying to talk Henry into living in the frat house with him the following year, but Henry wasn’t even sure he was going to be in school next year at this rate.

There were rules about bringing girls in-but no one said anything to Dean as he led them down a hallway, past the laundry room and through the common area. There were two pool tables at one end and a huge wall-mounted television, but no one was in there tonight.

“Check it out.” Dean opened a set of double French doors and Elaine squealed.

“A hot tub!”

Henry had been on the frat house tour, but somehow had missed this room. “I didn’t know this was here.”

“They just built it over the summer.” Dean flipped a switch on the wall and the hot tub hummed to life, the bubbling water glowing, lit from underneath. “It’s not even officially open. They have to have it inspected or something.”

“So we can’t go in it?” Elaine pouted. “What a tease!”

“Oh hell.” Dean shrugged, then winked at her. “Want to do it anyway?”

“Elaine!” Libby protested as her friend shed her jacket and then her sweater. Henry gaped as she unzipped her jeans and wiggled them down her slim hips. She was in her underwear so fast-a very sweet, white bra and panties with pink polka dots-that no one had a chance to say a word before she was getting into the hot tub. Henry did have just a moment to wonder if she wore a matching set in anticipation of their date.

“Come on, Libby!” Elaine called, and Henry admired the way her panties hugged her behind, the water frothing around her thighs as she waded in.

“If you can’t beat ’em…” Dean stripped down to his boxers and followed Elaine into the hot tub.

Libby stood there, undecided, until Henry started peeling off his coat.

“Really?” She kept her voice low. Dean and Elaine were splashing, laughing, and couldn’t hear them anyway over the noise of the water, he was sure.

“You only live once, right?” He took off his shirt and saw her blink at the sight of him without one. “What are you-chicken?”

She smiled at him. “Is that a challenge?”

His breath caught as she pulled her hoodie over her head. She was wearing a t-shirt underneath. He raised his eyebrows as she pulled her t-shirt off. Her bra was black, and he had a moment to lament the fact that the material wouldn’t be see-through in the water before he felt the first stirrings of arousal when she reached down to unsnap her jeans, wondering if her panties matched.

“Come on in!” Dean called and Henry saw him watching Libby undress. “Water’s great!”

“You coming?” Libby peeled her jeans off, leaving them in the pile of her clothes on the floor. Her panties were black, too, with lace trim and had a red bow in the front. He’d dreamed about seeing this much of her, the long limbs, the peaches and cream skin, and he was inflamed at the sight.

“Now who’s chicken?” She stuck out her tongue, turning and walking toward the water.

He’d never gotten out of his clothes so fast.

The water was warm, steam rising around them, and although Henry wanted to sit next to Libby, it was Elaine who reached a hand out to him, patting the surface of the water beside her, and he felt obliged to slide in next to her instead.

“This feels sooooo good.” Elaine rolled her neck from side to side and then dipped her head back, wetting her normally white-blonde hair and making it the color of wet cornstalks. It also made her eyes seem even rounder and bluer.

“It gets better.” Dean reached back and flipped open one of the benches next to the hot tub, pulling out a brand new fifth of Jack Daniels. Henry wondered if it was the one they’d found for the fraternity’s scavenger hunt.

“Cheers, man.” Dean unscrewed the top and took a long swig, passing the bottle to Henry. He took a sip, the alcohol burning his throat, and handed it to Elaine, who was clamoring for it beside him.

“Oooo that’s strong!” she exclaimed, her eyes watering. She handed the bottle over to Libby, who passed it on to Dean without drinking.

Dean studied Libby for a moment and then asked, “Who wants to play a game?”

“What game?” Elaine inquired. Henry felt her hand on his thigh again, her fingernails tickling him.

Dean held the bottle up to the light, considering the amber-colored fluid. “How about Drink or Dare?”

“How do you play?” Henry asked. He was familiar with a few drinking games, but had never played that one.

“Just like Truth or Dare.” Dean took a long pull from the bottle. “But if you pick Truth, you drink twice. If you pick Dare, you only drink once.”

“I don’t know.” Libby was sitting in the corner of the tub, her arms crossed over her chest as if she was cold, although the water had to be eighty degrees.

“I’ll go first.” Dean ignored her. “Henry. Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.” Henry took the bottle, considering it. “Two?” Dean nodded and Henry took two sips, feeling the alcohol burn again as it went down. He nearly choked, though, when he heard Dean’s question.

“Who was the last girl you had sex with?”

“Oh come on.” Henry blinked, eyes watering.

Dean shrugged. “You want a dare instead?”

“Yeah.” Henry set the bottle aside.

“I dare you to kiss Elaine.”

Elaine’s eyes widened, but she turned her face eagerly up toward Henry in anticipation. Okay, get it over with, he told himself. Don’t look at Libby. Don’t think about her. Better this than her hearing about that night with Val…

Elaine moved into the circle of his arms, clearly expecting a real kiss and not just a peck on the cheek. Henry relented, holding her lean, wet body against his. She was so tiny, he felt like he could break her with one snap. When her lips met his, they parted instantly, her tongue seeking entry, and he tasted her, salty popcorn and M amp;M’s, her breasts mashed against his chest, her leg rubbing between his under the water. She was sweet and light and delicious, and he couldn’t help his response. He just wished she hadn’t felt it against her thigh when she pressed against him, her tongue probing deeper.

“Okay,” Henry breathed, breaking it off. Elaine smiled up at him, eyes half closed, and he knew then that Dean had been right. This girl wanted something-on the rebound, she probably wanted someone to make her feel whole and loveable and attractive again. He saw it in her eyes, felt it in the weight and press of her body against his. She wanted what she wanted and if Henry was willing to offer it, well, that was clearly okay with her.

“Okay,” he said again, clearing his throat, turning back to the other two people in the room. Libby was quiet, watchful. Dean just grinned. Elaine’s hand crept back up Henry’s thigh under the water and he tried to ignore it, but she made that impossible when her hand moved under his boxers. Henry froze, glancing at her. She just gently squeezed and tugged at him. It wasn’t an obvious motion, nothing that would draw attention, but it was clear and intentional. And it felt really fucking good.

“My turn?” A rhetorical question. He tried to keep his reaction to Elaine’s softly stroking hand out of his voice. “Dean. Truth or Dare?”

“I got nothing to hide.” Dean shrugged, accepting the bottle and taking two sips. “Truth.”

But that wasn’t true. Henry found himself suddenly fuming. His roommate had dragged him out of bed and forced him into this situation. Henry was now dating a girl he didn’t know, all the while watching the girl he already knew he liked paired up with his friend all night. And just two nights ago, Dean had brought some girl back to the dorm and had sex with her in their room. Henry had refused to leave, so Dean had told her, “Just ignore him,” and had fucked her anyway.

Henry leveled his gaze at his roommate. “When was the last time you had sex?” He crossed his arms, waiting smugly for the answer.

Dean’s face spread into a slow smile as he held up his hand, waggling his fingers.”Just this morning.”

Henry rolled his eyes. “With a girl!”

“You didn’t ask me that.” Dean winked, ignoring Henry’s reddening face and turned toward Libby, handing her the bottle. “Libby. Truth or Dare?”

She hesitated. Finally, she opened the bottle, taking a drink, and said, gasping through the alcohol, “Dare.”

“Okay…” Dean looked around, speculative. His eyes settled on Elaine. “I dare you to kiss Elaine.”

Elaine laughed and Libby rolled her eyes, but the two girls acquiesced, moving toward each other, meeting in the middle of the hot tub. Henry’s cock immediately missed the girl who had been paying attention to it, but he couldn’t help how much it throbbed in anticipation of seeing the two girls together.

Libby frowned as her roommate wrapped her arms around her neck, glancing back at Dean. “Really?”

He didn’t answer her, just winked and tipped the bottle in her direction before taking a swig. Elaine giggled, leaning in and softly pressing her mouth to Libby’s. Henry watched the two of them together, standing in the middle of the tub, water swirling around their bare thighs. He noticed he could see the outline of Elaine’s nipples through her polka-dotted bra. His cock grew even harder when he saw a flash of pink tongues entwined.

Libby had entered into the whole situation stiffly, all business-like, but the longer the kiss went on, the softer she became, until she was practically melting against her roommate, making soft noises in her throat. Seeing her like that, her tiny nipples visibly hard under her bra, her hair wet and sticking to her shoulders, eyelids fluttering, made him want her more than he ever had.

“Hey,” Libby murmured, breaking the kiss when Elaine’s hand moved toward one of Libby’s little breasts. Elaine’s face was red, although it was hard to tell if that was from the hot tub, the alcohol or the kiss-or maybe a combination of all three. The girls went back to their original positions, both of them flushed.

“Is it hot in here?” Henry croaked. He was fully hard now and glad the water was opaque, whirling around them in heated waves, because goddamned if Elaine’s hand wasn’t back on his dick. He bit his lip, trying to keep from reacting, as she rubbed the head with her thumb.

“Elaine. Truth or Dare?” Libby took the bottle from Dean and handed it across the water to her roommate.

Elaine stuck her tongue out, drinking only once. “Dare.”

“I dare you…” Libby considered, a small smile playing on her lips. “I dare you to take off your bra.”

“Hey!” Elaine protested, her face reddening even more, but she stood, and again, Henry’s cock protested, but perked up as he watched her reaching back to do the clasps. Henry grabbed her hips when she stumbled on one of the steps, catching her before she fell.

“Thanks,” she breathed, turning back to him. She was practically in his lap now and her breath smelled like alcohol. “Will you help me?”

“Uh…” He considered her question, glancing at Libby, whose face was impassive, and then at Dean.

“What’s the matter, Henry? Don’t know how to undo a bra?” his roommate taunted.

Henry did it one-handed, undoing the two hook and eyes quickly. Elaine pulled the straps down, standing up and swinging her bra around her head before letting it go. Dean whooped appreciatively and Henry couldn’t help but stare at the soft swell of her breasts-she was much bustier than Libby-as she settled herself beside him, the nipples dark, dark pink and decidedly hard. They made his mouth water.

As if she could read his thoughts, Elaine turned her gaze toward him, and returned her hand to its previous employment. Henry shifted, giving her better access. She smiled, still pretending nothing was happening, nothing at all.

“Libby.” Elaine reached across with the bottle, handing it back to her roommate, and Henry had a feeling it was time for some payback. “Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.” Libby opened the bottle, grimacing as she took first one swig, then another. He should have been thinking of Libby, and in truth, he was. But Elaine’s hand was moving, tugging, twisting, and generally making it impossible to forget she was sitting next to him half-naked.

Then Elaine leaned forward, eyes bright. “When was the last time you masturbated, where were you, and what were you fantasizing about when you did it?”

Libby gaped at her. “Isn’t that, like, three questions?”

“Do you want a dare?” Dean countered.

Henry turned his head back and forth between them, trying to decipher what was going on. It wasn’t easy to do with Elaine’s hand wrapped around his cock.

Libby crossed her arms and snapped, “Three days ago. In the shower. Brad Pitt.”

“Brad Pitt?” Henry snorted. “Really?” He couldn’t help it. Although the thought of Libby masturbating made his cock swell in Elaine’s greedy hand.

“Okay, no, not really.” She smiled in spite of herself. “But I’m not telling you who I was thinking about.”

Dean scanned her face, speculative. “She didn’t ask who, she asked what.”

“Fine, but it’s really boring.” Libby was blushing in spite of her protest. It just made Henry want her more. “I was just fantasizing about…sex in the shower.”

“What kind of sex?” Dean asked. “Oral sex? Intercourse? Inquiring minds want to know…”

Okay, it was true, Henry did want to know. But he didn’t want Dean to know.

“Isn’t it my turn?” Libby asked, handing Dean the bottle. “Dean. Truth or Dare?”

“Dare.” He took one swig, but it was a long one.

“Dare? Really?” Libby frowned, slowly examining the room. Finally, her gaze fell on her roommate. “I dare you…to kiss Elaine.”

Elaine was surprised out of her preoccupation between Henry’s thighs as Dean moved through the water with the speed of a viper, grabbing and tongue-kissing her. Henry heard Elaine protest before Dean’s mouth covered hers and Henry didn’t know if Libby saw it from where she was sitting, but Dean’s hand was squeezing Elaine’s bare breast, twisting her nipple.

“Hey,” Elaine protested, but Dean was back over on the other side of the tub in a flash. Elaine settled herself back next to Henry, still breathless, and he slipped a protective arm around her bare waist. She wedged herself closer still, and she rewarded him by reaching right back down to grab his cock, as if it was a steel bar and her hand a soft, velvet magnet.

“Libby.” Dean handed the bottle to her. “Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.” She started to take her two sips.

Dean cocked his head at her, eyes narrowing, and asked, “Why were you fired from the paper for last year?”

Libby gasped, still on her last swig of alcohol, choking out, “I meant Dare!”

“Okay,” he agreed, leaning back. “I dare you to strip naked.”

“Come on,” Libby protested, eyes flashing.

Dean shrugged. “Okay, you can answer the Truth.”

Libby stood defiantly, reaching behind her back to unclasp her bra. Henry thought he saw her chin quiver. The alcohol was making his blood warm, the world hazy, but even drunk and incredibly horny, he knew this was getting out of hand.

“You don’t have to,” Henry said, but Libby waved him away, sliding her bra straps down and tossing it to the side of the tub. After that, he couldn’t speak or even think, and wouldn’t have protested again even if he could have. She was just too beautiful for him to comprehend, more beautiful than he’d imagined and yet just as he’d dreamed.

When she took her panties off, tossing those aside, too, he glimpsed a thrilling view of a triangle of naturally red pubic hair before she sat, sinking under the cover of the water, arms across her chest.

“Henry.” Libby handed him the bottle and her fingers brushed his. Maybe even intentionally, he thought, because they lingered there too long, as did her gaze on him. “Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.” He would have told her anything. Anything at all. He took two swigs of alcohol, his head swimming.

She smiled, and it was clearly just for him. “Blondes, brunettes, or redheads?”

“Redheads,” he assured her, and seeing the way her eyes brightened at his response made his cock harder than it had been all night.

“Hey!” Beside him, Elaine protested, punching him in the shoulder. She did that with the hand not busy under his boxers. It was more annoying than painful, and he turned his attention reluctantly back to the girl he was supposed to be out on a date with.

“Elaine.” He handed her the Jack Daniels. “Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.” She took two greedy pulls on the bottle, eyes bright.

He couldn’t think of anything, so he asked the first question that came to his mind when he thought of Elaine. “Team Edward or Team Jacob?”

She laughed. “Are you kidding me? Team Jacob, all the way.” Turning, she handed the bottle over. “Dean. Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.” He took two very long drinks. The bottle was now half-gone.

“Who was the last girl you had sex with?” Elaine asked and Henry felt her fingernails again, tickling his balls this time. He glanced over at Dean, realizing his roommate was caught. He was going to have to admit it, unless he switched to a Dare. Although Henry secretly hoped he wouldn’t. Considering the direction the game had gone tonight, he didn’t want to imagine what Elaine might dare him to do.

“Missy Kline,” Dean confessed.

“Hey, she’s in my psych class!” Elaine was getting very drunk, very fast, already starting to slur her words. “When?”

“You didn’t ask me that.” Dean’s teeth flashed as he handed her back the bottle. “Elaine. Truth or Dare.”

“Truth.” She took two drinks, her eyes glazed.

Dean moved in for the kill. “Why did your boyfriend break up with you?”

“No,” Libby protested, glaring at Dean.

“Dare.” Elaine changed her mind, shaking her head. “I’ll take a Dare.”

“Okay…I dare you to…” Dean studied the room, first Libby, who continued to glare at him, then Henry and Elaine. Making up his mind, he looked at his roommate as he said, “I dare you to give Henry a blowjob. While we all watch.”

“Uh…no.” Henry was already protesting, moving away from the girl beside him. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh come on, Henry.” Dean waggled his eyebrows. “You know you get off on being watched.”

“Hey…” Henry gave him a dirty look, but Elaine was moving toward him, her hand already up under his boxers. He gulped, meeting her bleary eyes. “You don’t have to.”

Elaine turned, sticking her tongue out at Dean. “I’m not doing this because you dared me to.”

And then she was on him, pushing Henry back so he was sitting on the edge of the tub and climbing into his lap, her hand still in his boxers.

“Elaine!”

Henry heard Libby protest and knew it was a bad idea, that he needed to stop this, right now. But Elaine was crawling all over him, and although she was tiny, it felt like the girl had a thousand hands. Once she had his boxers down and his cock in her mouth, it was all over. He hadn’t jerked off in…hell, he didn’t know how long. A week at least. And he was aching to come after all Elaine’s attention-that, coupled with their suggestive game of Truth or Dare and sitting in the hot tub with two naked girls, was his downfall.

He didn’t stand a chance.

“Wait!” That’s all he managed as Elaine stroked his shaft, her mouth and tongue like slick, hot silk up and down his cock. She sucked him fast and hard, her bare breasts rubbing up against him. He could feel her hard nipples brushing against his thighs as she worked his dick in and out of her hot little mouth. He glanced down at her wet, blonde head, her big, blue eyes tilted up at him, and groaned. No way. He was going to come in her mouth. Just like that. He couldn’t stop anything now.

“Oh fuck.” He closed his eyes, grimacing, his balls drawn up tight, and when she cupped them, her fingernails lightly raking there as if she could coax his cum out with the motion, he gave her just what she was looking for.

Henry groaned, his hips bucking, spilling his cum into her greedy mouth. He knew there would be a lot and he heard her gag, but he couldn’t stop thrusting. Her mouth felt so fucking good! He grabbed her hair and she whimpered a protest as he shuddered and shoved himself in deeper, wanting more of her tongue, that sweet, lashing, pink tongue.

“Sorry,” Henry gasped, the first bit of awareness coming back to him. He heard Dean swearing, saying something about the hot tub.

“Why didn’t you swallow it?” Dean swore again and Henry lifted his head to see him standing behind Elaine. “They’re supposed to test the water tomorrow!”

Henry half-sat up on his elbows, seeing his waning cock, trapped by the elastic edge of his boxers, and Elaine’s wet face, covered and dripping with his cum.

“I couldn’t swallow it all,” Elaine panted, wiping her chin with the back of her hand. “It was too much!”

That’s when Henry realized he couldn’t see Libby. He heard something behind him, a shuffling sound, and when he glanced back, he saw her almost fully dressed, pulling on her jacket.

“Hey.” Henry sat fully now, shoving himself back into his boxers and standing. He glanced back once guiltily at Elaine, but he couldn’t just let Libby go. “Wait. Libby, wait!”

She didn’t look back as she opened the French doors and went through them. He swore, grabbing his clothes and going after her, not thinking twice, but stopping every few steps to pull something else on-jeans, shirt, shoes. He shoved his socks in his jacket pocket as he shrugged it on, hurrying out of the front door of the frat house.

She was already almost to the end of the block.

“Libby!” He called after her, breaking into a run. His phone rang in his jeans pocket and he swore again, pulling it out, sure it was Dean.

It was his mother. He shoved it back into his pocket, still running toward Libby, almost there now. She was walking fast, but she was only walking.

“Libby!” He grabbed her arm, whirling her around. “I’m sorry. Libby, I’m so sorry.”

“Whatever.” She waved him away, turning and starting to walk again.

“I’m drunk.” Some excuse, he thought, glancing over at her. Her head was down, her wet hair stuck to her cheeks. “It was stupid. I didn’t…”

“Henry.” She stopped. “Just don’t.” She blinked at him, her mouth working, as if she was looking for something to say. “I should never have…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes looked wet in the moonlight. “Let’s just forget tonight, okay?”

“But-” His phone rang again and he dug it out of his pocket and flipped it open. His mother again. Damnit.

“You should answer that.” She turned and started walking again. “See you around, Henry.”

He took a deep breath, turning from Libby as she walked away and answered his phone.

“Hello?”

“Henry!” His mother’s concerned voice came through the phone so loudly he held it away from his ear. “Are you okay?”

He glanced back and saw Libby turn the corner. “I’m fine, Mom.”

“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all week!”

“Sorry. I was…busy.” He started walking back toward the frat house, realizing for the first time how cold it was-and he was still damp.

“I got a call from your professor.”

Henry froze on the frat house steps, his breath gone. “You did?”

“You’re one lucky young man.”

“What?” The word barely made it out of his mouth.

“Not many students get to be personally tutored by their professors.” His mother sounded smug.

Henry sank to the steps, sitting. “What are you talking about?”

“Toni’s agreed to tutor you.” He could hear the satisfaction in her voice. She got that tone whenever she felt she’d solved a big problem.

“Toni…who in the hell is Toni?” He was drunk, but he had a feeling this conversation should still be making more sense than it was.

“You didn’t recognize her?”

He rubbed his eyes. “Recognize who?”

“Toni Franklin. Don’t you remember?” His mother laughed. “She and her husband have lived around the block for years. They used to come over and play cards.”

“No…” He frowned, blinking up at the stars. Toni Franklin? Why did the name sound so familiar?

“Well, you were pretty little…” His mother conceded. “Anyway, she thinks she can help you bring up your grade.”

Then it dawned on him. Toni Franklin. The name stenciled on her office door-Antoinette Franklin. Professor Franklin.

Just what were the odds on that? Henry gulped. “What did she say?”

“Just that you were having trouble and she was willing to tutor you.”

“Mom, I don’t need a tutor.” I need a fairy fucking godmother.

“Well you’ve got one, young man.” He hated when she used that tone. It meant she’d solved it all and there was nothing more to be said about it. “I made an appointment for you with her tomorrow at two. You don’t have a class then, do you?”

“No.” He had hockey practice at noon, but all morning classes. What the hell was he going to do now?

“You’re supposed to meet in her office. Do you know where it is?”

“Yeah.” The door opened behind him and he glanced up to see Elaine coming out. For a minute, he thought she might be crying. “Hey, listen, I’ve gotta go.”

“Henry, you’d better show up,” his mother warned. “I mean it.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay, I will.” He hung up on her, getting up as Elaine rushed down the stairs, headed the way Libby had gone. He called after her, but she ignored him, practically running down the block. Henry sat back down on the steps, his head in his hands.

There was only one thing he was sure of now.

Life couldn’t get any more complicated than this.

But he was wrong.