**Author's Note: A couple things, just so I don't mislead people. This story is different from most on this site. Before reading this story, understand, it's not intended as a story with quick pay-offs. There's a whole bunch of erotica but it's mixed with horror. Also, despite the seemingly innocuous title and subject matter, this story gets darker and more intense as it advances through the chapters. It's definitely not a happy romp through sexual escapades and there are disturbing elements. Beyond that, hope you enjoy!**
*********************Jayce*************************
The seven of had made a pact and come hell or highwater they were going to through with it. They'd talked about it over dinner at Famous' Steakhouse. They'd dressed to the nine's for the occasion, the guys in suits and blazers, ties and vests, the girls in evening formalwear, tight dresses and elegant blouses, bared backs and swept-up, teased hair. They were all close; some were closer still. Jaime and Camden had a kind of on again, off again thing while Lane and Jayce were just starting to become aware of the electricity between them. Just the occasional exchanged glance, her blue eyes would meet his grey and it was like time stopped for him. By the curl to her lips he knew she felt it too.
Like most things, Camden had arranged the dinner. Or as he called it: The proposition. He arranged most everything: the broomball and volleyball teams, the dorm parties with the pony kegs, rock climbing in the Canyonlands, base-jumping at Alta. Whatever he imagined he made real, and brought his friends along. The kid was a whirlwind, a self promoter, a cocky asshole, an impossible liar and Jayce's best friend and roommate. He'd known Camden two years; or it should be said, he known Camden in as far as anyone can know that kid. Knowing Camden is like knowing a rock star. You know him as much as he shows you, nothing more. Recently Jayce had been seeing him less and less. He was always seemingly wrapped up in one drama production or another, (and some would say one girl or another) sleeping at the theatre most nights. Still Camden had found time to slip the immaculate invites under our doors inviting us to dinner; on the house, it said, and there was no way we were going to miss it.
They'd arrived to find Camden seated at a round table in the direct center of the dining area. He was talking animatedly on his cell phone, his tie pulled loose around his neck, the top couple buttons of his white button down left open in purely casual fashion. He was drawing looks from the snooty waitstaff, but in classic Camden fashion, didn't even notice or care. Jaime whispered something to Lane and she snickered, which drew Camden's attention; A look of surprise at his friends sudden arrival, quickly swallowed whole by that smooth player smile he wore as he rose with an effortless ease.
"How y'doin', Darlin," he murmured to Jaime, embracing her and kissing her cheek before greeting the group in turn. He welcomed Jayce last. "Jayce," he said with a wicked smile and rigorous handshake "glad you could make it. Haven't seen you in weeks, man." He turned to Jaime. "My boy's lost without me."
"Y'know somehow I manage," Jayce said smiling back.
He winked and ushered them to their seats. To Jayce's surprise, each of their wineglasses was already full. Camden and Jayce were 20, the rest were 19, all underage. It didn't bear asking how he'd been able to order them. "Camden's charm," Whitney had called it "He hypnotizes you with that good ole boy Louisiana drawl and before you know it, you're lending him your pickup truck, six days of food and a leaky tent, and worst of all you're going too." Everyone seemed to acquiesce to Camden to some degree. Only Camden would've been able to draw out six people to a steakhouse a good mile and a half from campus on the flimsy pretense of a proposition. It was a credit to his charisma.
The group of friends indulged in the wine, a cabernet sauvignon Camden informed them, and soon after plates of filet mignon and prime rib were brought out. The food was absolutely delicious, the conversation light and easy. Jayce chatted up Lane, while Camden and Jaime whispered intensely. Whitney was rolling her eyes at some sexist joke that Logan had told but Alex had buried his head in his arm, laughing uncontrollably. It didn't matter that Alex was Korean and city-born and raised or that Logan was born in the backseat of a '78 Chevy pickup and raised on a mustang farm down south; they just clicked as friends and were rarely apart. The dinner was such easygoing contentment, friends just enjoying each others company, being indulged in the kind of finer things that college students rarely get to partake in; that Jayce had almost forgotten the reason they were there. The mood was light, and the wine was flowing freely.
Jayce had a lot on his mind; namely Lane. He was lost in her. That night she was something out of an Audrey Hepburn movie. A slender brunette, she was always pretty, but that night she was absolutely jaw-dropping. She'd worn her hair up exposing the smooth line of her neck, and her blue eyes shown so brightly from her fair skin and delicate features, they seemed electric. Her lips were pursed knowingly. No doubt she'd caught my eyes tracing her slender arms, and the soft curves of her perfectly rounded breasts, somewhat petite, but nicely accentuated by her blouse. Everything about her screamed sensual; He had this overwhelming compulsion to touch and hold this beautiful, exotic creature. When he leaned in to whisper, he smelled lilacs and the floral scent of her hair. "Seeing you in red makes me want to throw you on the table right here, and have my way with you. The hell with consequences," Jayce snarled, loosening his tie playfully.
"Oh?" She teased, feigning innocence, touching the tip of my nose "I wonder if they'll clear the dishes for us if you ask nicely." This was how they teased each other. For him it was an outlet of my sexual frustration; for her, it seemed to be pure amusement: testing to see how far he'd go.
"I think every male in the room will empathize with me all the same," Jayce said, intertwining his fingers with hers, tracing kisses along her knuckles, up her wrist and along her arm. Angelically soft. She giggled sweetly.
"My, Jayce," she whispered breathlessly "it's like you never seen a girl in a dress before."
"Never a girl like this," He'd pulled her closer. Their chairs were touching and spurred on by the airy feel the wine had left him he was grazing his kisses up her arm along her shoulder. He could tell she was flushed from the wine and the heat but even moreso his attention. He always seemed smoother flirting with her than any other girl. A clink of a fork against a glass, turned her attention. Reluctantly his as well.
"Hate to interrupt you two," Camden had turned a sly smile on them. He was the one who'd called the toast and was standing. Lane and Jayce turned their gaze over their friends, Lane sheepishly, Jayce a touched amused. Jaime was smiling, Logan was snickering and Whitney had pressed her hand over her mouth, embarrassed for them; like they'd been caught. Lane blushed prettily and Jayce downed his up of wine with resounding fervor, motioning for Camden to continue. He did without hesitation. "Bet y'all are wondering why you're here. First you tell me. Why....are you here?"
"The booze," Alex boomed, holding his glass up. He was Korean and slim, always well dressed with spiky black hair and a dimpled smile. The kid tried to fight every Asian stereotype he could. He'd adopted Logan's drawl either subconsciously or on purpose and he even bought a pickup; an old rusted and rambling Toyota that didn't always start or stop. Still he couldn't help the fact he was fairly brilliant and musically talented.
"The company," Logan said, wrapping an arm around Alex's shoulder, swaying a little from the wine, and no doubt a touch of whiskey he probably had before arriving. He was notorious for carrying a flask around, sipping surreptitiously at sporting events, movies even in class. Not like he was a raging drunk, it was just the way he was brought up. He was the classic cowboy archetype. Always in blue jeans and flannel, well built, handsome and muscular with a thick bull neck and dirty blond hair. He'd been teased endlessly about having to dress up for the dinner, but he wore his rented tuxedo well, even combed his hair. Clearly he was drunk though. "Good wine, good food, but most of all good company."
"Yee-haw!" Alex hollered, and the rest of the table hooted in agreement drawing nasty looks from the more sophisticated patrons. They couldn't help themselves, playing up the country-boy persona when Logan was around, and apparently being in a fine restaurant changed nothing.
Camden turned his unfaded smile on Whitney. "What about you?"
"I'm the one who keeps you guys out of jail," Whitney chided, but her brown eyes twinkled with mirth. She was a small girl, cute in her petite way, mousy comes to mind, pale with a smattering of freckles across her nose with glasses and shoulder length brown hair. She seemed born to be a librarian; except when she got drunk. Then she became a hellcat, swearing like a sailor and making out with hockey players and musicians and whoever else happened to be present. There were a couple nights Jayce and her went out to the bars together and somehow, someway before the night was through she'd ended up on top of him, her lips pressed firmly to his. He couldn't for the life of him tell how it happened. The next day though, like clockwork, she'd act as casual as can be, like nothing happened. Everytime. They all suspected she purposely made herself look innocent as possible just for the shock value later on. Jayce, for the life of him, never knew what to make of her. "Besides, I'm sick of hearing Camden's insane ideas secondhand. I want to be at the groundbreaking. For once."
