Rejected By One, Mated to Three

Aria’s POV

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.

All I could feel was Lucas’s length brushing against my walls as he fucked me hard into the bed, my breaths coming out in short gasps as I tried — and failed — to hold on to something, just to steady myself. I clenched hard around him, and he groaned, replying with a hard thrust that made my body shake violently.

“Lucas,” I moaned, my eyes meeting his in the mirror and loving the look of pure pleasure on his face. Oh God. He was going to be my undoing.

He slammed into me in that harsh manner again that made my body—

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

I gasped, my eyes flying open. My body jolted upright, my chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven breaths.

I blinked at the ceiling and deflated. I was in my apartment, on my bed. It was a dream. Just a fucking dream.

I groaned, throwing myself back onto my pillow and pressing the heels of my palms against my burning face.

I had dreamt of Lucas Carter.

My best friend. My long-time, hopeless and absolutely off-limits crush.

And now, thanks to my overactive imagination, I had to face him today and pretend I hadn’t just dreamt about him fucking me senseless.

God, I was so screwed.

I threw myself off the bed, dragging myself to the bathroom with a scowl, hoping I wouldn’t run into my roommate.

God. If she saw my face, she’d know. She had one of those intense eyes that looked like they could see your whole existence if she wanted to.

I slammed the door shut and turned the lock before stripping off my oversized sleep shirt and stepping under the shower. Just before I turned it on, my hands — on their own accord— moved to my pussy and touched it lightly.

Heat rose to my cheeks.

Fuck. I was wet.

I blinked in equal parts shock and embarrassment, wondering how I could have gotten so worked up from a dream that barely even lasted a couple of minutes.

I ran my fingers through the folds of my pussy and moaned, my eyes fluttering close for a bit as butterflies erupted in my stomach, making my core go crazy.

Quickly, I yanked my hands away before I could do something more embarrassing—like getting myself off while imagining it was Lucas.

I turned on the shower and had my bath quickly.

***

By the time I got to campus, I’d convinced myself I could handle it. Act normal. Keep my head down. Pretend last night’s dream never happened.

But of course, life was so good at screwing me over because he was right here.

Lucas was leaning against a table outside the student center, laughing at something his friend said. His dark brown hair was a little messy, like he’d run his hands through it one too many times, and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned.

My stomach flipped.

And then — because my life was a joke — his gaze landed on me.

And he smiled.

A slow, easy smile that sent heat rushing to my face.

“Hey, trouble,” he called out, his voice warm and teasing.

I froze. Every detail of my dream slammed into me all over again. The way he’d fucked me into the bed so hard I could barely breathe.

I was so not surviving this day.

“Hey,” I squeaked, gripping the straps of my tote bag like it was the only thing keeping me upright.

Lucas tilted his head, his brows pulling together slightly. “You okay?” He asked, his eyes scanning me like that would give him answers.

I nodded way too fast. “Yeah! Totally! Why wouldn’t I be?”

He blinked. “Uh… because you’re blushing?”

Oh. My. God.

I was blushing.

I forced a laugh, waving a hand in front of my face. “Just, um… warm! You know how the heating is in these buildings.”

Lucas gave me a look — one of those amused, slightly skeptical ones that made me feel like he could see right through me.

But before I could embarrass myself even further, he just smiled again. “Alright. See you in class, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I breathed.

And just like that, he was gone, leaving me standing there like a complete idiot, still reeling from the way he’d looked at me.

I blinked a few times, trying to convince myself the way he smiled at me wasn’t that much of a big deal, even though my heart was doing this crazy somersault thing and hoping like crazy that it did mean something.

Maybe—

“Oh wow, look at this.”

My stomach dropped.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who that voice belonged to.

Macy Sinclair.

Queen of campus. The girl every guy wanted, every girl envied. Including Lucas.

I forced myself to turn.

Sure enough, Macy stood in front of me, surrounded by her usual flock of gossip girls. She looked me up and down, lips curling into a smirk that made my skin prickle.

“You look… flustered,” she said, fake sweetness dripping from her voice.

I clenched my jaw. Don’t engage. Just walk away, I told myself internally.

But Macy’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“You know,” she continued, tilting her head, “I swear I just saw Lucas talking to you. That’s so cute.” She clasped her hands together mockingly. “Like a little puppy following him around.”

Laughter rippled through her group.

I swallowed hard, my nails biting into my palms.

“It’s funny,” Macy mused, her eyes flicking over me, assessing, judging. “Because he usually likes girls who are—” She paused for effect, her lips twitching. “Well. Pretty.”

More laughter. More giggles.

A sharp, stinging heat flooded my face, not from embarrassment but anger.

Macy stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough for only me to hear. “You don’t actually think he likes you, do you?”

I turned to leave, but Macy’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Aww, don’t go, Aria. We were just getting started.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to keep walking, but her next words made my steps falter.

“I mean, it’s honestly adorable,” she continued, her tone dripping with false sympathy. “The way you look at him. Like you actually think you matter to him.”

Laughter rippled through her group again, each giggle like a tiny needle pricking my skin.

I turned slowly, my heart pounding. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady.

Macy gasped theatrically. “Oh? So you weren’t just standing there, all starry-eyed, hoping he’d pick you?” She tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. “God, that’s embarrassing.”

My fists curled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Macy stepped closer, her sickly sweet perfume invading my senses. “Sweetie,” she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, “Lucas is way out of your league. He might be nice to you, but don’t mistake that for wanting you.”

Something inside me snapped.

Before I could stop myself, I lifted my chin and met her gaze head-on, my pulse pounding.

But before I could speak, a voice cut through the air.

“What’s going on here?”

Lucas.

My breath caught.

I turned to see him walking toward us, his expression unreadable, his blue eyes flicking between me and Macy.

Macy’s smirk widened as she spun toward him. “Oh, nothing, Lucas,” she purred, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Just having a little chat with our friend here.”

Lucas didn’t look at her.

He looked at me, and for a moment—a brief, flickering moment—his gaze darkened, something unreadable lurking in his ocean-blue eyes.

My heart lurched to my throat.

Macy must have noticed it too because her smirk faltered. I decided to use that opportunity. I was done letting her walk over me.

So I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and opened my mouth.