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  "This is Serendipity," Michelle replied, the annoyance apparent in her voice.

  "Huh?" he asked stupidly.

  "Serendipity, but everyone calls me Sera," Sera replied.

  "Pretty," he drawled, "Suits you."

  Sera's face scrunched in distaste. He continued to leer at her, refusing to acknowledge her obvious revulsion. Unwillingly, she began to fiddle with her shirt again. A flash of satisfaction flitted across Michelle's face as she noted Sera's discomfort. A wave of resentment washed over her as she purposely made her hands still. No matter how close they were, Sera would never be able to get used to Michelle's attitude of superiority.

  "Well, I'll see you later," Sera said coldly.

  "Where are you going?" Michelle asked.

  "Outside for some air."

  The house had suddenly become overwhelmingly hot and noisy. If she didn't get out soon, she would melt or her head would explode. Fresh air was just what she needed to calm the growing tension inside her.

  She hastily moved past the small group, making sure not to touch the guys as she headed out the door. Rapidly descending the steps, Sera strolled onto the front lawn. People were scattered across the grass, drinks in hand, laughing and dancing as they drunkenly stumbled around. Some had gathered beneath the trees to talk, while others were making out under them and on the lawn. One indiscreet couple was having sex next to the small rock wall.

  Sera sat on the edge of the lawn, stretching her long legs. Tilting her head back, she admired the stars shining in the clear night sky. It had grown cooler, but summer was fighting to hang on for a little longer. She smiled as the alcohol seeped further into her bloodstream and warmed her from the inside out. The sky blurred for a second, before coming back into place. Laughing from the effects of the few drinks she'd had, she propped her head on her arms and relished in the cold air against her warm skin.

  Liam pushed his way through the people gathered on the stairs, ignoring their indignant looks and muttered words. He wasn't really in the mood for a party, but it had been a long week, and he needed to relieve some stress. Not to mention there would be plenty of girls here tonight. Plenty of easy, drunken girls.

  "Hey, it's about time you got here."

  He glanced up as Mike appeared beside him. Mike's light, sandy blond hair was tousled and wet with sweat as it curled in tendrils around his flushed, broad face. Mike had already been on the dance floor and had at least a few drinks in him as his clear blue eyes were bright with merriment. At an inch taller than Liam, and broader in the shoulders and chest, Mike was built like a linebacker and the star player on the football team. In many ways, he was the classic jock, except he was far from stupid. Mike often saw more than most people did.

  He thrust a plastic cup of beer into Liam's hand. "Thanks," Liam muttered as he surveyed the crowd.

  The house was already packed with people; the party in full swing as music blared from the speakers. It was going to be an interesting night, he realized as his gaze settled upon Michelle. She stood in the doorway talking to two guys he didn't know; both were admiring all her openly displayed charms. She laughed loudly, her head tilting back as she stroked one's arm flirtatiously.

  Liam paid her no more attention as he turned to survey the rest of the room. "There are plenty of girls here tonight," Mike said. "Easy pickings."

  "Hmm."

  Mike laughed and slapped him solidly on the back. Liam scowled as beer sloshed onto his hand. He wiped at it absently before draining the rest of the cup. He tossed it over the banister on top of the overflowing garbage can. "Want another?"

  "Yeah."

  Liam stepped off the last stair as Mike led the way to the keg by the door. His gaze drifted back to Michelle. She was still standing in the doorway, but there was another girl with her now. Liam frowned as he paused to study the new addition. She was small, and delicate, with a petite frame emphasized by the body-hugging clothes she wore. Her breasts were high and full, a little more than a handful. Her waist was no more than an open hand width, her hips small and round. Despite her tiny appearance, her legs were amazingly long. In the short skirt she wore, he was able to admire the elegant curve of her calves and lower thighs.

  He tore his gaze away from her legs as a familiar tightening began filling his groin. Her long, golden hair fell freely over her shoulders to spill down her back in thick, cascading waves. Her nose was small and narrow with a small slope at the end of it. He couldn't see her eyes, but he imagined they were as spectacular as the rest of her. Her mouth was full and an enticing dark, rose red color. A mouth designed for kissing, he decided.

  "Who's that?"

  Mike lifted his head from the keg. "Where?" he inquired as he thrust another beer into Liam's hand.

  "The girl with Michelle, who is she?"

  Mike's gaze followed his. He chuckled under his breath as he smiled. "That, my friend, is Serendipity, or Sera. Forget it, you'll never get close to her."

  Liam raised an inquiring eyebrow as he took a sip of beer. "Really?"

  "Yep. No one ever has."

  He shot Mike a questioning look. "No one?" he asked in disbelief. The girl was beautiful; he highly doubted she had any problem attracting men. Even now, there were a bunch of guys hovering around her like moths to a flame.

  Mike turned to him, his cornflower blue eyes intense. "As far as I know, she's never dated anyone on campus, and I've never seen her with a guy."

  "But she comes to frat parties?"

  "She comes with her roommate, and she leaves with her roommate, or by herself."

  "Is she a lesbian?" He certainly hoped not, but it was a possibility.

  "Never heard or saw anything like that either. Leave her be, Liam."

  His brow furrowed as he turned to stare at Mike in disbelief. "Why, because she turned you down?" he quipped.

  Mike shook his head. "I've never tried."

  Liam started to laugh as he shook his head. "Yeah right. I know you, and there's no way you wouldn't try with someone like her!"

  Mike shook his head and bent to refill his cup. "Seriously, I haven't."

  Liam stared at him in astonishment. He knew Mike as well as he knew himself, and he knew he intended to try with her. He didn't believe Mike for one second. Mike took hold of his cup and bent to refill it. "Why not?"

  Mike shoved the cup back into Liam's hand. "I don't know. I mean she's hot, don't get me wrong, but..."

  "But what?"

  He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I don't know. We had Trig together last year; she helped me out a lot. I couldn't have passed the class without her, you know how I am with math, but there's something about her..." his voice trailed off as he frowned thoughtfully.

  Liam sensed there was more, that Mike had used his incredible powers of deduction on the girl and hadn't liked what he'd discovered. "What about her?" Liam prodded.

  Mike's frown deepened as he turned troubled eyes to Liam. "Honestly, it's almost as if she's scared of something. The few times I accidentally touched her, she would get this look on her face that, well... it just wasn't normal, wasn't right. I didn't want to scare her even more by making a pass at her. Plus..." Mike broke off, his brow furrowed as he stared at Sera and Michelle.

  "Plus what?" Liam prodded.

  Mike took a sip of beer. "I don't know; there's something about her, something I can't put my finger on or describe. Something different."

  Liam couldn't believe one word he was hearing. Mike usually didn't care about a girl one way or another. No matter what. The fact he’d restrained himself from going after someone was astounding, but to hear him talk about her as if he genuinely liked her was an absolute miracle.

  "Are you okay, Mike? Are you sick or something?"

  Mike's frown disappeared as he grinned merrily. "No, I'm not. Trust me when you get close enough you'll see it, and you'll understand."

  Liam turned to look at her. "Who said I was going to get close enough?"

  Mike laughed. "I think yo
u should leave her be, but I know you, you'll be heading in that direction. For now though, let's see what other options we have available to us tonight. You're going to need them."

  Liam didn't think he would need any other options. He had marked his conquest for the night, and he was going to have her, but it never hurt to look. "Sounds good to me."

  Liam watched as she slipped out the door. He almost went after her but decided against it. She would be back; of that he was certain. When she came back, he would make his presence known. Until then, he decided to give her time alone and to inspect the rest of the women available for another night.

  He followed Mike onto the crowded dance floor, instantly finding himself swamped by a group of girls who made it quite obvious he could have whatever he wanted from them. He tried to focus his attention on them, but his thoughts kept wandering to Sera, and when she would return.

  Chapter Two

  "Here you are!" Sera looked up as Kathleen stumbled toward her. Beer splashed out of her cup, splattering on the ground. "Whatcha doing out here?"

  "Just getting some air."

  "Hmm, it does feel nice. Having fun?"

  "Yeah, you?"

  "Of course, but I got to show you something."

  "Now?"

  "Yup, get up!" She pulled on Sera's arm, spilling more of her drink onto her hand and down her arm. "Come on, Sera!"

  "Can't it wait?" Sera protested, not ready to go plunging back into the house.

  "No way! Come on!"

  She jerked one more time, and Sera reluctantly climbed to her feet. "This had better be good," she mumbled, wiping absently at the back of her skirt.

  "Oh, it is." Kathleen hurried back toward the house, tugging Sera behind her. "They're having fun!" she cried as they passed the couple by the wall. "Get a room!"

  Sera laughed and climbed the stairs to the door. She plunged back into the house, allowing Kathleen to drag her toward the dance floor. The music pounded around her, vibrating the floor of the house, and hammering into her head. She instantly wished she were back outside where it was peaceful and refreshing.

  "Look!" Kathleen yelled.

  Sera looked around the crowded mass. "Where!" she yelled back.

  "Over there!" Kathleen pointed.

  Sera looked at the group of girls gathered in the back, but she saw nothing unusual about them. She was about to give up, thinking Kathleen was losing it, when she spotted Michelle. She stood amongst the group, a sweet smile on her usually composed face.

  Sera was briefly perplexed by Michelle's actions. She was never so openly flirtatious, or seemingly carefree. Then the group parted to reveal a young man in their midst. He was leaning casually against the wall; his arms crossed over his chest as he smiled at the girls surrounding him. He was by far the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. Her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest as everything around her seemed to freeze. The noise was gone; the room seemed to cease moving. He became the only thing she could see and feel.

  She had the overwhelming urge to cross the room to him, but she couldn't get her legs to move. They were riveted to the floor where she stood in shock. Gradually, the girls surrounding him came back into focus. The music filtered back into her startled mind, and the room once again swarmed with people.

  She watched the girls in amazement as they flirted outrageously, and overtly grazed against him with their bodies. He could have his pick of any of them, even Michelle, who was usually too condescending to even think about picking a guy up at a party. Sera glanced back at Kathleen, who wore the same starry-eyed expression she was certain had been on her own face seconds before.

  She looked back to find the strange guy staring raptly at her. She was unable to break free of his intense gaze as his eyes locked on hers. The room seemed to disappear again as he smiled and bowed his head to her. She swallowed heavily and managed a small smile in return before the group enveloped him once again. Sera felt as if she had just broken free of a trance. She took a startled step back, bumping roughly into the doorjamb. Kathleen turned to her and grasped her arm in a bruising grip.

  "Isn't he hot?" she cried.

  "Who is he?" Sera managed around the lump in her throat.

  "I don't know. He just transferred here this semester. I can't get close enough to talk to him and find out anything."

  Sera looked back at the group surrounding him, blocking him from view. She felt a startling sense of loss that completely confused her. She didn't know anything about him, not even his name. She was acting like a silly fool. She was acting like one of the girls crowding around him.

  She wasn't acting like herself.

  "Come on," Kathleen said, her voice filled with determination.

  "What, where?" Sera gasped as Kathleen dragged her toward the dance floor.

  She didn't have time to offer more of a protest as Kathleen plunged into the crowd. "Dance!" Kathleen called happily above the noise.

  Sera stared dazedly at her before realizing she looked like a foolish, wooden statue among the swaying bodies. She began to move to the music, but her mind remained on the group in the corner. And the man. She was so focused on her thoughts and pondering over the strange sense of loss she’d experienced, that she didn't realize Kathleen was angling them toward the group until they were only feet away.

  When she did realize it, she edged away, ignoring Kathleen's agitated glances. She moved to the center of the floor, mingling back in with the larger group. She'd be damned if she was going to turn into some groupie, and latch onto some guy she didn't even know. Kathleen stared up at her. "I'll be back!" she yelled above the music.

  Sera nodded and mingled in with a group of girls from her dorm. They smiled warmly at her, and Danielle, another good friend of hers, playfully bumped her hip as she laughed happily. "Did you see the new guy?" she asked eagerly.

  Sera rolled her eyes. Was every girl in this room infatuated with him? He was good-looking, yes, but they were all making fools of themselves. There were other guys at this party.

  "Yeah," she mumbled.

  Danielle grinned as she tossed back her long brunette hair. Her hazel eyes twinkled as she bumped Sera again. "Are you going to talk to him?"

  Sera took a step back. "No."

  Danielle shook her head before spinning in a circle. Her brown hair twirled around her as she stopped before Sera, beaming from ear to ear. She was a pretty girl with a small, pointy nose, high cheekbones, and a dimpled chin. Built like a dancer, Danielle was small, lithe, and graceful.

  The fast-paced dance music cut off, and a slow song came on. Sera saw her opportunity to exit as couples started to fill the floor. She moved with Danielle toward the door but found herself unexpectedly blocked off. Frowning in aggravation, she tilted her head up to see who belonged to the body she’d walked into and who was now firmly blocking her way.

  She froze as her gaze locked onto a set of brilliant green eyes. They were so clear and mesmerizing she was certain no emerald could have compared. Her heart flip-flopped as she gazed at the man before her. The room seemed to disappear again as her entire body reacted to his presence.

  It was him.

  "Sorry," she managed to say around the sudden lump in her throat.

  He smiled; his face and eyes lit up with it. "It was my fault. I was trying to stop you."

  "Stop me?"

  "Would you like to dance?"

  Sera blinked in surprise. She didn't want to dance, she wanted to flee as quickly as possible, but her feet wouldn't move. Instead, without meaning to, she found herself nodding her agreement. He held his hand out to her as a small smile curved his full mouth.

  Her gaze traveled to his elegant fingers as his hand clasped hers. An unexpected bolt of electricity ripped through her. She started as her eyes shot back to his. He stared at her with a mixture of curiosity and amazement. She felt as if he stared straight into her soul. She felt completely vulnerable, bared to him, but no matter how much she disliked the feeling of vulnerability overta
king her, she couldn't tear her gaze from his.

  Then he turned from her. Sera blinked dazedly as their contact broke. A shiver swept up her spine, but she managed to keep herself from revealing it to him. He led her to the center of the floor and turned to wrap his arms around her waist. Sera found herself staring at a broad chest as she rested her hands against it. She could feel the bunching of thick muscles, and radiating heat in her fingers.

  Another shudder, this one of desire, rippled through her. Desire was not something she experienced; it was something she feared. She bit her lip to keep another shiver repressed as she tilted her head to look up at him.

  She took in every inch of his perfectly sculptured face. His eyes were the brilliant color of new spring leaves. They seemed to glow with an inner light, and they radiated a magnetism that was utterly entrancing. His eyelashes were long, thick, and black as they shadowed the planes of his chiseled cheekbones. His nose was straight and narrow. His lips were blood red, and the lower lip slightly fuller than the upper.

  Suddenly she longed, in a way she never had with anyone else, to kiss him. She had to know what his lips tasted and felt like.

  Her hands trailed along his chest. She could feel every detail of his ridged muscles beneath his black shirt. His broad shoulders seemed to block out the rest of the room as he spun her around the floor. He was at least six feet tall, a good six inches taller than her. Cut short, his raven black hair waved around his gorgeous face.

  He smiled as she hesitantly met his penetrating gaze again. She couldn't imagine why he was choosing to dance with her when he could have any girl here.

  "What's your name?" he asked. He didn't seem to raise his voice, but she heard him clearly.

  "Sera."

  "Sera, that's unusual."

  "You don't know my full name," she said with a playful grin, unable to believe she was flirting with him. She never flirted; she never even danced with guys. She went out of her way to avoid men altogether. It was easier that way, less upsetting. But now, she found herself unable to stop doing either.