College Try

Part One

The heat was oppressive in the modified common area of the frat house, and the smell of cheap beer and cheaper perfume rising up to meet Raven's senses. She rubbed her forehead, trying to ward off an oncoming headache. Honestly, the last thing she needed right now was to be here. She had an American Lit paper that was due tomorrow, and she hadn't even finished the reading yet. Damian was going to hold it over her head if she didn't turn a paper in on time, she just knew it. But, Donna had assured her that it was imperative that Raven was here tonight, so... here she was.

She wrapped her hands around her red cup and stuck as close to Donna as she could possibly get. Why in the world were there so many people? Her eyes flicked through the press of students around her, surprised at how many freshmen girls had managed to weasel their way into this event. She was pretty sure that this had been an invitation-only event. Actually... she looked around, her eyebrows knitting together, the crowd was mostly girls.

"Oh, I stopped by the bank for you." Donna reached into her bra and handed Raven a thin stack of cash. "You can thank me later."

Raven took the money, her heart dropping into her stomach. What in the world did she need cash for? There had to be at least a thousand dollars here. She looked back up into Donna's face. "I'm sorry... what is this for?"

Donna grinned and crossed her arms under her chest, her hair falling into her eyes. She looked suspiciously mischievous. "Let's just say I've got a bet riding on tonight, so I'm taking a chance on you. Don't let me down, girl."

Raven opened her mouth to say something, but the lights dimmed and there was the hiss of a fog machine. Over the speakers, there was the hum of an old Nelly song. She blinked and turned to the raised platform near the edge of the room, heat curling up her neck. Her stomach twisted as she realized what tonight was.

"It's so hot in..."

Oh, god. No.

Behind her, Donna was cackling at Raven's expression. She was frozen to the floor as Raven watched as the whole damn frat house, dressed in nothing more than black boxer briefs and a number painted onto their chest, was paraded through the crowd of screaming girls. Some girls were already putting dollar bills into the waistbands of their favorite boy. Her blush darkened and she buried her face into her hands as Connor winked at her when he passed.

"Hey! Hope you have enough to win me tonight, Rae! I have the best idea for a date."

Raven whipped around to look at Donna, who was just grinning at her. "Is this-"

"Oh yeah." Donna nodded, her smile so wide it filled her face. "It's the charity auction."

Raven fumed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You can't think that I would actually put money on-"

"Raven?"

Her back stiffened and she turned to see Damian standing behind her, looking utterly confused at the sight of her. His eyes flicked over her face and she thought she saw a blush stain his cheeks, but... no. It had to be a trick of the light. Damian Wayne did not blush. He'd never stoop to that level, and definitely not in front of other people.

He rocked back on his heels and regarded her carefully, his lips tugging down in a frown. "I thought this was below you?"

Raven opened her mouth and tried to say something, but she felt like her brain had taken a permanent vacation. He watched her, and Raven felt herself struggling to focus on what he was saying to her. This wasn't the first time she'd seen him in this state of undress, but it was the first time he was close enough to touch. Even through the thick scent of cheap booze and sweat, she could still smell his musk, and it made her whole body short circuit. She fought to say anything to him, but the only thing that stuttered from between her lips was: "Did you finish the American Lit homework?"

"Of course." Damian lifted an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest, making the number on his skin wrinkle. "Last week, when it was assigned." He clicked his tongue. "Why? Are you behind?"

"No." Her lips twitched, fighting the strong urge to argue with him. "Just making sure you're on top of things."

"Just keep an eye out for yourself." He smirked and leaned over her. The scent of him filled her, and Raven realized his muscles were slicked up with baby oil, and she had never wanted to touch anything like she wanted to touch him. What would it feel like to slide her fingers over his slick, olive skin, press her lips against his pulse and-

Stop. She needed to stop.

Her stomach clenched and she tilted her face up to meet his own, glaring at him. "I can keep an eye out for myself. Thanks."

Damian looked as though he was going to make a snide remark, but someone called his name behind him, and he just waved her off, as if a spell was broken. "Whatever. Just make sure you don't spend your money on me. I don't think I could deal with the shame." He sneered. "Connor is cheap enough for you though."

With a wave of his hand, he turned and moved back through the crowd, pausing just a moment to look back at her. For a second, it seemed as though he wanted to say something else to her, but whatever it was died on his tongue. Instead, he gave her a dark, intense stare, and disappeared into the press of girls around them. Raven stood there and watched him, her eyes sliding down the toned lines of his back before ending on his high and tight ass. She had to keep herself from practically purring.

How could something so beautiful be such an absolute asshole?

With a curse, her hand clutched the stack of cash and she looked back at Donna. "I am going to win him just to spite his sorry ass."

Donna lifted an eyebrow, but she grinned, as if formulating a plan in her head. "Okay." Her hands tightened into fists by her side. "I'll go eliminate some of the competition, girl."

Raven watched as Damian climbed the platform at the far end of the common room. He was going to be sorely disappointed by who won him, and she was going to hold it over his head forever.