Seth fell silent and scowled at the clay, his knuckles turning white from the death grip on his racquet. She hated hurting him, but she was becoming so messed up by . . . whatever it was going on between them that she didn’t even know what to think anymore.
“You want to know what’s really ironic, Seth?” She lowered her tone. “If you hadn’t been trying to get your leg over with me all this time, and really tried to get to know me instead, I might have actually liked you.”
Before Seth could respond, Natti turned on her heel and marched toward the locker rooms.
Seth opened his third bottle of beer and leaned his back against the rail of the third level deck. He and his friends were outside the game and media room, enjoying the company of the cheerleaders from the varsity squad. The hot tub jets hummed and rumbled in the quiet of the night.
Once in a while, a burst of random laughter would erupt. The girls were in complete oblivion; their focus only on entertaining their hosts. Two girls were rubbing up against Ky’s bare chest, kissing and biting his neck. Another sat on top of Q, giving him a lap dance. A combination of alcohol, Q’s prescription drugs, and Seth’s magical charm ran wild in the girls’ systems.
“Hey, Charlotte,” Seth cooed. The brunette’s glassy eyes turned to him, her face locked in a dreamy smile. “You must be getting pretty hot in there. Why not take that top off? You know, cool down a bit.”
His magic of Subjection worked its way into the girl’s mind with ease. Charlotte’s eyes locked on Q. She reached for her bikini top, her fingers playing with knot behind her neck. Q helped her untie the straps, letting them drape over her shoulders. Charlotte then peeled off the small piece of fabric right in front of his eyes. Q beamed. Shaking her hair loose around her shoulders and back, she leaned up against him. Her breasts pressed up against his chest. She kissed his jawline and ran her fingers through his already disheveled hair. Q pushed up his glasses before brushing his hand down Charlotte’s spine.
“Dude,” Ky called to Seth. “Why are you standing there? We’ve got plenty of girls to spare.”
Ky waved to Mandy and Ashley while they made out with each other, the hot tub lights silhouetting their forms. They paused for a moment and turned their gaze to Seth. Their eyes were much like Charlotte’s, glassy and dreamy.
“Yeah.” Ashley brushed back her hair. Her voice moaned with delight. “Come play with us, Seth.”
The predator inside him roared, ready to charge in and take hold of the easy prey. Seth flashed a charming smile. “I think I’ll sit this one out. You two just carry on without me.”
Ashley nodded and placed her lips to Mandy’s. Ky’s eyes widened as the action intensified between the two intoxicated girls.
“Man, what’s wrong with you?” Ky asked. “That’s prime action right there!”
Seth glanced their way before turning his eyes on the skyline above. “I’m not in the mood, I guess.”
“Not in the mood? Since when did you ever deny such hot, luscious babes like these?”
Seth’s mind drifted to Natti. The beast protested inside his heart, craving the prey that was already before him. It needed a victim to sink its teeth into. Seth consciously ignored it.
“Just not in the mood, okay?”
“So—?” Q pulled his attention away from Charlotte’s advances to join the conversation. “Have you banged her yet?”
Seth shot Q a befuddled look. “Who?”
“Who? The chick consuming your mind even as we speak. The new one.”
“Natti,” Seth barked. “Her name is Natti.”
Q raised a brow at Seth’s unexpected outburst. “Yeah, that Brit-chick. Have you banged her yet?”
“Dude, remember, I call her next!” Ky raised his beer. “That is some fine piece of work. She’ll be a real spitfire if she’s just as good in bed as she is on the court.”
“Hey, lay off,” Seth growled at Ky, suddenly becoming protective of his property. Though she wasn’t under his control, his mind had claimed her as rightfully his. And no one was going to threaten that claim. He eased back, keeping a wary eye on his friends. “As for banging her, I’ve decided she’s worthy of something more special, something worthy of my powers.”
Q shot up, plunging Charlotte into the hot water. “Are you saying that you’re actually taking things to the next level?”
Seth rubbed his fingers through his hair. “Maybe. I’m not completely sure. But she would definitely make a worthy target.”
Q’s onyx eyes bore into him. “Hey man, Inception is a big step forward from Subjection.”
“Yeah, dude!” Ky cheered. “Can you imagine the power you can hold over women, instead of these short-term mind control sprees.”
“What thoughts are you thinking of planting into her mind?” Q asked with excitement.
Seth shrugged. “I don’t know! I haven’t decided yet.”
“O . . . o . . . I know!” Ky jumped up. “Make her literally drool very time someone says your name!”
Seth cringed at the thought. “Come on! She’s not Pavlov’s dog!”