The both of them went upstairs so she could grab a pair of pajamas. She didn’t know why, but he called Chloe to say they were coming back. When they arrived back at the apartment, Chloe and Taylor were lying on the floor, both in red, silk pajamas with low necklines and shorts that looked more like underwear. Both had a wine glass in their hands. "Oh boy, Alecia's back,” Taylor said as she sat up - her smile slipping on her face. Alecia forced a smile, as she went to the bathroom and put on her pajamas with purple and white stripes, and showed nothing. She must look like a child compared to the sexy pajamas the other girls wore. How could he not find Taylor more attractive? Maybe she should just walk out in nothing. That would show Taylor. She shook her head. And her virginity would be gone by morning. She opened the door. “Ryder, can I have a shirt?” No response came, so she stepped out the door. Ryder walked up to her with a shirt. She took it, closed the door, and put on the shirt. It was a white t-shirt with a Yankee insignia over the breasts. So many of his shirts were Yankee shirts. She walked back into the living room and went to sit next to Ryder on the couch who leaned back with his arm stretched out on the top like he was waiting for her to slip underneath it. ''No, Alecia that is where the boy is sitting, come down here with the women,” Taylor said, tapping the spot next to her. Alecia stopped short and rubbed her sweaty palms on her pants. Taylor smiled as he chuckled. Why was he laughing? Alecia let her breath out slowly and sat on the floor next to Chloe. She could feel the other girls’ eyes on her, probably studying her every move. ''What do you think, Chloe?” Taylor said. “Lucas' right. She is pretty.” Taylor whispered in Chloe's ear, but Alecia heard her say, “she’s innocent looking.”. Aka virgin. Did they know? Maybe Ryder had told his sister about her values. Chloe smiled as she scooted behind Alecia, and ran her fingers through her hair, making Alecia cringe. “We should steal her.” Chloe wrapped her arms around Alecii waist. Alecia sat up, trying to break her hold but the girl held on tight. Were they trying to play some kind of game? Ryder put his beer on his knee. “Good luck.” "Oh, that’s right,” Chloe said as she slapped Taylor's leg. “Lucas said she has morals.” So they did know. A smirk crossed Taylor's face as she got on her hands and knees and crawled over to Alecia, revealing the top of her breasts. “You’re a virgin.” Alecia leaned back into Chloe, trying to get away from Taylor's stare that bore through her. “You’re not helping things. She just met you,” Ryder said. Taylor lips curved into her seductive smile before she got off the floor and walked to the kitchen. “Vodka shots,” she shouted. Taylor returned with four shot glasses stacked up on top of each other and a bottle of vodka. Taylor handed Ryder a glass, and poured him a drink. She then walked over to the girls, set the glasses down and filled each one. ''Alecia doesn’t want that,” he said. Taylor turned to Ryder and blinked her eyebrows. A smile crept across his face. That eye blink must have been some kind of communication. Ryder caressed a tendril of her hair. His eyes held a touch of mischief. She should have kept him with her at her dorm. She wrapped her arms around her knees slowly rocking back and forth. They were probably trying to make her uncomfortable to sort her out completely. “I think I’ll try some,” She said. Ryder laughed. “This will be interesting.” He got off the couch and sat next to her. He had his shot glass in one hand and the other held his beer. Alecia picked up the glass; her hands slightly shook. Ryder hit his glass against hers and let the liquid slip down his throat. It didn’t even faze him. "Go ahead,” Chloe whispered into her ear. Alecia raised the glass to her lips. She closed her eyes, and copied Ryder by throwing her head back and pouring the liquid into her mouth. Her eyes opened wide as the sting of the liquid bit her tongue. Her hands flew to her mouth as her stomach lurched. She forced it down with a gigantic gulp. Never in her life had she tasted something so vile. Taylor pushed Aleciy head against her chest. “She’s so adorable.” She opened her eyes. Ryder leaned over her - his gaze roaming her face. “How was that?” he asked. "Gross,” she said. Ryder chuckled as he held his beer up to her lips. “This will get rid of the taste.” She took a couple sips, and tried to move Ryder arm, but he wouldn’t bulge. She moved her face from the bottle. Ryder lifted it up, but a cold drop of beer splashed on her cheek. “Sorry,” he said. Alecia wiped the beer away. "Did you like that?” He kissed the cheek where the beer was. "No.” Alecia chuckled. Why did people drink this stuff? It tasted like some kind of tonic leaf and stung her throat, but Ryder slurped it down like it was chocolate milk. “I know what she’d like.” Taylor stood and walked to the fridge. She came back with three bottles of sour apple Smirnoff, and one dogfish for Ryder. She set the drinks down, and picked one up. She opened the Smirnoff and handed it to Alecia. “These are delicious.” Alevia took the drink, and sipped it. “It tastes like Sprite,” she said. Now this she could drink. "Yeah,” Keith said as he turned his gaze to Taylor. Alecia took a long sip of the drink, watching every move of Ryder and Taylor as they talked about the semester and people they knew. He seemed so focused on her. It was the allure. Something about Taylor made her come off as mystic, untouchable and Ryder had touched her. Alecia pushed the thought from her mind. He was with her now, not Taylor. She took another long sip of the Smirnoff. But he was definitely not over her. “Ally, you ever been drunk?” Chloe asked. She shook her head and finished the drink, setting the bottle down. She knew how to keep Ryder's attention. "I’m hot,” Alecia said. Taking the bottom of her shirt, she raised it just below her breasts. Ryder's smile widened, his gaze sweeping over her bare skin. It was the most skin, she had ever revealed to him. One of his fingers ran down her stomach, leaving tingles in his wake. He stopped at the edge of her pant line, slipping the finger in just a tad as he looked into her eyes, biting on the side of his bottom lip. It was almost like he was asking if he could go further. If she let him, he’d definitely ignore Taylor. She swallowed hard and nodded. “Cute,” Taylor said. The smile fled from Ryder's face. He grabbed the bottom of Alecia shirt and jerked it down. “And someday, it will be mine.” Had Taylor said that to distract him - thus keeping his attention on her? If she had, Alecia would fight back the best way she knew. Taylor couldn’t slip into his arms if someone was already there. Alecia sat up from Chloe, and crawled into Ryder's lap as the world swirled around her. Ryder wrapped her in his muscular arms, and the tension melted. A chuckle escaped from her rival as she shook her head. Was this just a game to her? “Can I have another?” Alecia reached out for a Smirnoff. Taylor looked at Chloe, giggling. “This will be fun.” “She’s off limits.” Ryder placed his chin on Alecia head. “Don’t worry, we’re not going to do anything.” Taylor handed Alecia an opened Smirnoff. Letting the bubbly liquid slip down her throat, she listened to them talk, until Taylor complained that it was too quiet. Chloe blurred into a wavy line as she went over to Ryder's MP3 player and turned on music. Ryder rocked his head back and forth. Venom was on. He must love this song. The first time she saw him was when Venom blasted through a party and he joined a group of young men, shouting out the words. "Hey get up,” Ryder said, tugging at her arms. Alecia placed her hands on the floor to push herself up but she wobbled falling back onto her bottom. Her head felt so dizzy. Ryder stood, grabbed her from under the arms and pulled her to her feet, but still the world tilted. “I love this song,” Ryder whispered into her ear. When the words began the three started singing them. Ryder placed one hand on her stomach and the other held his beer. He began moving her hips to the beat of the music, and Alecia reached behind her head, wrapping her arms around his neck. At the moment she felt so erotic like Taylor. If she could just have the allure she saw in her eyes. What was it? Confidence? Did she know how men like Ryder looked at her? Ryder's head crossed her shoulder, as Taylor walked over to them. They both shouted the words of the song to each other. Ryder looked so good singing the song; it was the way his full lips moved. Alecia turned around and rubbed his chest. A bright look formed in his eyes, and he pulled her closer, sliding his hand to the dip of her back, moving her hips to the music. “You two look hot,” Taylor shouted out. Alecia looked at the two girls who were dancing together a little too close. She took a step towards them, but Ryder turned her back around. “Stay with me, pretty thing,” he said. “I’m hot.” "Yeah, you’re sexy,” he said. "No, I’m hot,” she said through giggles as she reached down for her pajama pants and began to pull them off. She only got them down an inch before Ryder pulled them back up. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.” She giggled and laid her dizzy head against Ryder's chest. “I’ve got shorts on, silly.” He stopped dancing. “Do you really?” “Uh, huh.” Chloe walked up to her and grabbed the back of her pants. “She doesn’t have shorts on.” "She’s drunk.” He laughed. "I’ve got some pjs she can wear.” It only took a few moments to change into the white silk tank top and red shorts that barely covered her bottom. Alecia steadied herself with the dresser as she glanced at a mirror. The shorts made her legs look longer. Now Ryder would find her more attractive than Taylor. She walked out of the room and stopped, bending her head to the side, and playing with the low neckline of her shirt. Ryder's eyes widened as he scanned every inch of her. Maybe now she had that allure. She licked her lips, a trick she had seen Helen use. Ryder held out his hands. “Get over here before I go crazy.” Success. Alecia ran to him, and threw herself in his arms. “Do I look sexy now?” she asked. "You have no idea.” He moved her body to his as a new song started; his hands slipping in the back of her shirt reaching to her shoulders as he caressed her back. Strong tingles filled her as every part of her warmed. There was something soothing about his fingers touching her skin. Ryder's lips trailed to her neck. His lips reached her ear as he nibbled, making a giggle escape from her. She loosened her grip on his shoulders and the world shifted. Her feet slipped from her, as she plopped on her bottom. She busted out laughing. “Taylor, I think I need another Apple thing.” Ryder shook his head and grabbed her under her arms, bringing her to her feet. “I think you’ve had enough.” She ran a finger down his chest. “Please, Ryder,” she said, pushing out her bottom lip. Ryder squeezed her shirt. “One more and that’s it.” She turned and fell forward, but Ryder caught her and sat on the floor, pulling her onto his lap. She slouched back against his body as he caressed her upper thigh. Why didn’t she mind where his hand was? She only cared it was there. The ceiling rotated, and the room tilted. Taylor and Chloe sat on the floor, holding hands. Chloe must have been the girlfriend. "It didn’t take much,” Ryder said. Taylor handed Alecia an opened Smirnoff. “Well, she can’t weigh much.” Alecia took a sip of the drink, letting the smooth liquid bite at her tongue. Taylor and Chloe were so pretty, like models. No wonder Taylor had caught Ryder's eye. "You’re pretty.” “Did Ryder ever tell you our mother was a model?” Chloe asked. Alecia just giggled. He hadn’t told her anything about his family. All she knew was, he had a sister. "Okay, you’ve had enough,” Ryder said. He snatched the Smirnoff from her hand. “I don’t want you to get sick.” His hand returned to her thigh and he squeezed it, sending strange tremors through her. Alecia lay down and rested her head on his upper thigh as his hand slipped into her shorts. Taylor crawled over to her and whispered, “go to sleep, Ally.” "Okay.” Alecia giggled, closing her eyes. She would open them in a second. The girls giggled talking about some party they had recently been to. Ryder flicked Alecia's shoulder. She didn’t move. He caressed her leg, slipping his hand back in her shorts. Did she realize how silky her skin felt? If he could only touch her more. His hand trailed farther up. Just a little bit. Nothing that would catch Taylor's attention. He removed his hand from her. Later. He had other issues to attend to first. "She’s out.” He looked back at the girls. “So, Chloe, who sent you up here, Father or Richard?”