--BEFORE--

It's the worst sound in the world. It grates my nerves like nothing else. It's right up there with the sound of Mack's arrogant voice, or Joe's wheezing snore when he falls asleep in the recliner.

I glare at the source, and Justin's eyes catch mine. He smirks as he leans closer to Bébé. His pierced tongue runs along the base of her throat, sending her into another fit of the obnoxious noise—her giggle.

"It's not like he hasn't licked her in every other place imaginable," I mutter, as Justin reaches up to place a lime wedge between Bébé's lips.

"Did you say something?" Polly asks me.

I turn to look at her while Justin dips his head and uses just his mouth to take a shot glass that's wedged between Bébé's massive, fake tits. "I just don't understand why she giggles like that. All, teehee this is so naughty," I roll my eyes, "We all know she's a slut."

Polly nods slowly. "Yeah, and we all know that we all know... Why does it bother you so much?" Her eyes narrow, like she's scrutinizing me.

"What?" I ask, "It doesn't. She's just fucking annoying."

"Uh huh..." Polly replies, not at all sounding convinced.

"What are you two talking about?" Adam asks as he sits down on the couch next to Polly. He hands her a beer and stretches his arm across the back of the couch behind her shoulders.

"Nothing," I answer, but that doesn't keep Polly from babbling.

"Emilia's giving Bébé the stink eye, and I'm trying to figure out why," she explains.

"That's easy. Bébé's a bitch," Adam says with a smirk. "I know she's your cousin, sweets, but damn. None of us can stand her."

"Justin seems to like her just fine," Polly says with a laugh.

The three of us look at the adjacent couch to see Justin tossing the lime wedge, which has found its way to his mouth, onto the coffee table. He leans over Bébé again, practically laying on top of her, to lock his lips with hers. His hand reaches under her shirt and he moves his mouth to her ear. I don't need to hear what he's saying to know what he's suggesting.

"Really, Emilia? You fucked Justin?" Polly accuses, sounding both surprised and disappointed.

I whip my head in her direction to discover that I was the only one still watching Justin and his slut. Polly and Adam are watching me.

"What?!" Adam asks in disbelief, leaning around Polly to get a better look at me.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I deny. From the corner of my eye I see Justin pulling on Bébé's shoulders to sit her up. He takes her hand to help her off of the couch and starts walking her to the hallway.

"Oh?" Polly asks. "So you just can't take your eyes off of them because you think Bébé is a bitch, is that it?"

I glare at Polly, and then shrug my shoulders. "So what? It's not like they're actually dating. He's single. I'm single. We're friends..."

"Nooo," Adam groans. "C'mon Em! Fuck!" He slaps his thigh and then stands up from the couch. "I need a stronger fucking drink." He starts to walk away, but pauses to frown at me with disappointment. "You just can't help yourself, can you?"

"Help myself, what? It was a one time thing! I don't even care that he's going to go fuck Bébé right now," I answer with a glare.

"Oh yeah? And does Justin know that it was just a one time thing?" Adam asks, raising his hands to gesture air quotes around the last three words.

"Yes, Adam, he knows. Not that it's any of your business!"

Adam shakes his head slowly. "We'll see about that..." He walks away, roughly shoving through the crowd to make his way back to the bar counter.

"What the fuck is his problem?" I ask Polly. I reach for the beer in her hand, and she allows me to take it.

"He's just worried about you," she answers while I tip back the bottle to take a long drink. "He thought he had you in the all clear and—uhhh, fuck... Woah! I love this song! Come dance with me!"

She's suddenly yanking on my arm to pull me to my feet, causing me to spill her beer down my shirt in the process.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" she apologizes quickly, "I just got really exited."

I look down at the cold, wet spot on my chest and hold what's left of her beer toward her. "It's fine. At least it happened here, so I can easily change."

"Still, I'm really sorry, Em," she apologizes again, "And don't worry about, Adam, he'll come around. You're like his little sister, he can't stay disappointed in you for long."

"He has nothing to be—Ugh, forget it. I'm going to go change." There's no use trying to reason with Polly. I know she'll side with Adam either way.

"Move, move, move," I grumble as I push my way through a group of people standing between me and the hallway.

We don't have large parties as often as we used to, but they still happen more than I'd prefer. I wasn't really a fan of them to start with, but now I like them even less.

They're always the same. Too many people in our home, and too many pheromones in the air.

I stop short in the hallway when my eyes land on Justin.

Bébé has him pressed up against the wall and one of his hands runs up and down her upper thigh while she sucks on his neck. As if he can feel my eyes on him, he lifts his gaze to meet mine.

I quickly dart into the hallway bathroom to my left and shut the door behind me.

"Fuck," I say to my own reflection glaring back at me, "What is your problem?"

It's not that I'm jealous of Bébé... Okay, damn, maybe I sort of am, but it's not because I have feelings for Justin.

I'm just lonely.

It's been a little over a week since I had sex with Justin and frankly, I'm a bit surprised with how easily he let it go. I had almost expected him to hound me down and beg for another go, but he hasn't brought it up once.

And I'm thankful for that. I am.

After I fucked him, I had been worried that it would change our friendship, or that he would get clingy, but he's continued to act exactly the same. Adam has nothing to worry about.

The fact that he is about to fuck Bébé is proof of that.

So why the hell am I upset then?

Well, as Justin would put it, I need a fucking orgasm.

Sure, I could go watch porn, but unfortunately, having sex with Justin had reminded me how much more I enjoy getting off with a helping hand—or dick, or fuck, that pierced tongue of his...

I give my head a shake as if I can dislodge the memory from my mind.

On the upside, at least thinking about Justin keeps me from thinking about Cal.

Shit. Nevermind.

Now I'm thinking about Cal.

A heavy feeling settles over my already miserable mood. I watch my reflection in the mirror as my shoulders slump and the angry expression on my face turns into an expression of pain.

I was wrong. I don't need an orgasm. I need Cal, but I don't have him anymore.

"Pull yourself together," I mumble to the pitiful shell of a person staring back at me, "At least long enough to make it to your room for the night."

I straighten my shoulders and turn around to exit the bathroom.

I was sure Justin and his hoe would be in his room by now, but when I open the door, I find Justin leaning back against the wall across from the bathroom. He smiles as he pushes himself off the wall and steps toward me. "Hey," he greets in a sultry voice.

Ugh. "Don't you have something to do? Or should I say, someone?" I ask as I try to step out of the bathroom.

Justin doesn't let me get far. He steps in front of my path and drops one of his large shoulders against the door frame. "Why do you ask? Do you want to come join us?" he asks suggestively, wagging his eyebrows at me.

"Ew, gross. Not in a million years, Justin."

Justin laughs and leans closer to me. His playful expression slips away and his eyes smolder as he runs a hand down my side to palm one side of my ass. "Okay, forget about her. You're the one I want, Lia. Let's go to your room."

I reach behind me to grab his forearm and attempt to pull his hand away from my ass, but Justin doesn't relent. "Fuck off, Justin," I warn, but that only makes him smile.

"No, you're supposed to say fuck me, Justin. Say it, Lia. I know it's what you want."

I glare at him and shake my head. "In your dreams, Justin."

He nods his head and grins at me. "Yeah, gorgeous, you're in my dreams. I haven't stopped thinking about you. If you don't take me to your room, I'm going to take you right here. Is that what you're after, a quick fuck in the bathroom? Not my first choice, but I'll take it."

"No!"

He finally drops his hand from my ass and takes a small step back. "No?"

I breathe a sigh of relief. Or, I think it's relief. It must be. What else could it be?

Whatever it is, Justin seems to pick up on it. His eyes drop to my lips and he steps toward me again. "You know, I think what I'm really hearing is yes."

What?

"No, Justin," I growl out the words, as he takes another step toward me, forcing me to take a step back.

He places his hands on my hips, and walks me backwards, further into the bathroom. "Yes, Lia, yes," he insists in a low, sensual voice. He leans down to press his mouth to mine, while reaching behind himself to close the bathroom door.