Chapter 3: X Marks the Kiss

Carissa had been at the TOP new pledge party for almost two hours, and she had yet to find a single guy with an X on his hand. Granted, close to a hundred people had to be at the party, but still. Mallory had mentioned pranks in addition to tasks. Was this whole "task" actually an elaborate prank? Maybe the sisters were sitting back, watching and laughing as the pledges tried to find a guy with an X.

"What do you think happens if we can't complete tonight's task?" Tiffany asked. She bobbed her head in time to the music and glanced around.

"I'm starting to think this might be a prank." Carissa narrowed her eyes as two guys walked by. No X on their hands. She sighed with frustration.

"You think?" Tiffany asked.

"It would be pretty funny." Carissa shrugged and took a sip of her now tepid beer.

While she wasn't old enough to legally drink, and Harmony Falls University was a dry campus, Greek Row was technically on city property, not college owned land, so a lot of Greek houses supplied their parties with plenty of alcohol. TOP was no different, though they were extremely careful about who they served and how much because they didn't want to lose their national charter.

Carissa took another drink and made a disgusted face. She was no stranger to getting drunk, but tonight, she was satisfied with a happy buzz, just enough to take the edge off what she knew she had to do.

"It is so hot in here." Carissa fanned her face with her hand. "I'm going to go get some air. You coming with?"

Tiffany shook her head. "I think I'm going to wander around, see if I can't find where X marks the spot." She giggled. "Meet you back here in ten?"

Carissa nodded, then headed for the front door. Bodies occupied every inch of the house, and getting to the door was a feat in and of itself. And when she finally got there, people were blocking her escape.

"Excuse me," she shouted over the loud music.

The guy and girl who were in her way stepped aside, barely even acknowledging her presence. She reached for the doorknob at the same exact moment someone else did, too. A large hand covered hers, and she went to pull away when her gaze snagged on the one thing she'd been searching for all night. In the space between his thumb and forefinger was a small, black X. She nearly hooted with excitement.

"So, you're one of the lucky chosen ones, huh?" She grabbed his hand before he could get away and ran her thumb over the X.

"Chosen, yes. Lucky? Guess that's still waiting to be determined." His voice was deep and silky smooth but also raspy like velvet.

Carissa had never heard such a sexy voice before. Slowly, she tore her gaze from his hand to look at the guy it belonged to, and she nearly stumbled backward. Icy blue gray eyes framed by thick, long, black lashes studied her with interest. His full, plump lips were turned up at the corners, accentuating his high cheekbones.

"You looking for a third hand, or can I have mine back?" he asked, a teasing lilt to this tone.

Flames of embarrassment licked up Carissa's neck and erupted on her face. "Sorry." She quickly dropped his hand. "I was, um, just. . .air." She mentally scolded herself and shook her head. "I was headed outside for some air."

"Me too." He opened the door and nodded for her to go first.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stepped out onto the porch. A group of people stood at one end, laughing and talking loudly, but the opposite end of the porch was empty. She made a beeline for the railing.

Her heart was racing, and even though a cool breeze blew across her skin, she was still much too hot. Resting her arms on the railing, she leaned against it and blew out a breath. A second later, the guy stood facing her, one arm propped on the railing. He didn't speak right away, and neither did she.

What was she supposed to say? Hey, you're super sexy. Can I take a picture of me kissing you? She rolled her eyes at how stupid that sounded. For all she knew, he'd already been found and kissed by one of the other pledges.

"You go to school here?" he asked.

"Yes. You?"

He nodded. "This your house?" He jutted his chin toward the side of the house.

"Not yet." She turned so she was facing him, too, and reminded herself that this task was about talking to people, creating a meaningful connection, and keeping poised while in a stressful and awkward situation. She could totally do this.

"Not yet?" He raised a brow. "You're a pledge?"

"Yep." She held out her arms. "I'm one of the guests of honor at this party."

"Well then, I guess I am lucky." He winked, and a shiver shot down her back.

"Oh, I'm sure you are. I bet a lot of the other pledges have already kissed you."

His grin was both wicked and playful. "They've certainly tried. But, see, I was told not to be easy, so..." He lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug. That simple action should not be as hot as he made it seem.

"Wait." Her lips twitched with a smile. "You're telling me you've turned down some of the other pledges?" She'd seen her pledge class, and every single one of those girls were beautiful in different ways. What kind of guy would say no to any of them?

"Mm-hmm." He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, and her gaze was drawn to his mouth. "What can I say? I'm not easy."

She laughed. "No? Then why did you agree to pimp yourself out tonight?"

He tilted his head, his eyes dancing with delight. "Did you just call me a prostitute?"

"If the shoe fits. . ."

"Wow." He laughed. "Well, I'm not easy, nor am I prostitute."

"So you just like cheap thrills?"

He leaned closer, and while she knew she should move back, to keep as much distance between them as possible, she didn't. She remained in place, riveted by his unique eye color, and, truth be told, she was dying to know what he'd say next.

"There's nothing cheap about me, sweetheart."

For the first time since they started talking, she detected the hint of a southern accent. And then, out of nowhere, she began to picture him in tight jeans, held on his hips with a belt, shirtless, black cowboy hat propped on his head... she snapped herself out of the daydream and refocused on him.

He was right that he wasn't cheap. In fact, she'd guess his designer clothes probably cost more than hers. A gold rope chain hung around his neck, and a diamond-encrusted, white gold ring encircled his right ring finger. A Cartier watch adorned his wrist, and the only reason she knew that was because her father owned a Cartier watch, too.

She cleared her throat. "So, what does a girl have to do to get you to kiss her?"