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head at him as the girls disappeared in the throng. “You have no idea who the hell that girl is, do you?”
    “We’ve clearly met before.” Wes shrugged, sipping his beer.
    “How is it that a guy who gets around as much as you do still gets more ass than he can shake a stick at?” Chris asked in mock consternation. “I don’t know whether to admire you or be afraid for you.”
    “You just don’t understand women, Chris,” Wes replied sagely. “That’s why you have to work so damn hard for them. You want it too much.”
    “You’d want it too if you knew what true love was like, asshole,” Chris countered confidently. “Nothing like it in the world. Best high there is. When it happens, you’re going to be a stupid, lovesick fool, and I’ll have a field day seeing some girl drag you to your knees.”
    Wes looked on in amusement. “On occasion, I quite enjoy being dragged to my knees by the right girl,” he admitted. “With a little submission comes a great deal of power.”
    “Oh, Jesus.” Chris rolled his eyes. “Do not tell me you’re into whips and chains.”
    “I’m into pleasure and exploration,” Wes replied. “Who am I to deny a lady her accessories? If she wants to dress up like Catwoman and boss me around—then I say, ‘Why the hell not? ’” He shrugged.
    Chris shook his head at him. “It’s kind of funny, really.”
    “What is?”
    “You’re ‘ Mr. I’ll-Try-Anything-Once, ’ except when it comes to real emotions or commitment. Then you lock down tighter than a submarine.”
    Wes caught the eye of another girl passing them. “For a smart guy, you’ve just never learned how to separate your cock from your heart, Chris. The sooner you learn to do that, the happier you’ll be. Mark my words.”
    “Yeah, well this one’s different,” Chris replied, a happy grin stretching his mouth. “Hell, I’m half in love with this girl, and we’ve only been in class a week.”
    “Always so eager to lose your damn mind.” Wes shook his head. “I’ll stock up on the whisky for when you get your shit kicked in.”
    Chris just shrugged, like it was all so inevitable. “Where would we be without women to fuck us up?”
    “And you think I’m the one into whips and chains,” Wes pointed out before he spotted the president of the fraternity and two of his minions approaching.
    “How’s it going, man?” one of them grinned, already several warm beers in, while another was visibly distracted by all the fine ladies surrounding them.
    “Be back in a few,” Wes said to Chris.
    “Be careful ,” Chris mouthed before turning away. Chris knew what Wes’s side gig was, and though he wasn’t exactly approving, he’d sponsored enough of his own football buddies to know not to preach. Besides, Wes knew Chris was just watching his back, worried he might get caught. But Wes was careful, and he was also smart.
    He gripped the frat brothers by the neck, leading them away from the crowd, ready to do business.
    *
    August—Same Time
    Sigma Tau Fraternity House, College Station, Texas
    S A M A N T H A
    “But it’s not even one a.m.!” Rita protested as Sam pried her off the drunken idiot who was pawing at her.
    “Yeah, well, it’s close enough, and trust me, you’ll thank me in the morning,” Sam muttered, looping Rita’s arm around her shoulder as she guided her through the hot, messy throng of coeds grinding on each other like monkeys.
    “I liked him!” Rita insisted, barely able to stand on her stilettos.
    “Really?” Sam drawled. “What’s his name, then?”
    Rita concentrated like she was trying to do advanced calculus in her head. “Rick!” she replied, snapping her fingers. “Or wait, maybe it was Ryan,” she mumbled uncertainly, her face pinching a little.
    “I rest my case,” Sam replied, hitching an arm around Rita’s waist as she guided her toward the front door of the frat house.
    “Oh my God, papi chulo! 4 That motherfucker’s hot !” Rita