Chapter 5: The Group

Walking through the hall of the dorm, Ashley wondered if it really had been a wise decision. Sure, from a business perspective, it would be a very efficient use of her time. And though she didn’t know her customers at all, which would be a first for her, at least Chris knew them. So she thought she’d still be reasonably safe. But did she really want her brother involved in this private business venture? Obviously he knew about her activities, that ship had sailed. But did she really want him actively involved? She still had conflicted feelings about the time when she found out that he knew. She still loved him, but the blackmail had left a bitter taste in her mouth. And while he hadn’t forced her to do anything that she hadn’t done voluntarily for other guys, she still felt weird about doing it for her own brother.

Ashley did understand why he had asked her to do this. Though the cat was sort of out of the bag already, his friend Donny had promised him to keep his mouth shut about “Chris’ little sister” to the rest of their friends. Of course there was a small condition attached to his silence. Now, while these college boys would actually see her “working”, at least she’d still be anonymous. Ashley wasn’t sure if that was really a such a favorable trade for her, but because she’d still get paid, she figured they were just customers like any of her classmates who had gone before them.

Looking at Chris, accompanying her through the hallway, she couldn’t quite read his expression. What was he thinking about his request to her, about what she was about to do? He hadn’t talked much on their way over here. Was he ashamed? Did he feel guilty? Or, something Ashley couldn’t rule out after he forced her to service him that day, was he excited?

When they reached door number 315, Chris knocked. Immediately, Ashley felt her heart beating faster. After that first time with Logan, she had never been this nervous. She didn’t get much time to dwell on her thoughts and nerves as the door quickly opened and they were greeted by Donny. Ashley only vaguely knew the tall blonde boy standing in front of them with a broad smile. The same Donny who had revealed her secret to Chris, was now enthusiastically greeting them.

“Hey, Chris! Thanks for bringing her! Hey, Ashley.”

While Ashley quickly stepped inside as he waved them in, Chris remained in the hallway. “So, when...,” he started, but Donny cut him off.

“Come on now, Chris, get in,” he said, pulling him inside and closing the door behind them.

“I thought I was just...,” Chris began again with a puzzled look.

“Nonsense! No man in his right mind would want to miss out on this,” Donny proclaimed. Then, in a whispered tone, “unless you want to tell the others why you don’t want to join in, that is.”

Ashley’s eyes shot to Chris, her heart pounding in her chest. Was he in on this? Flustered as he was at Donny’s remark, he did seem as surprised as she was. She felt relieved that he wasn’t for the second time trying to coerce her into doing this with him. The other two guys in the room, sitting on a bed, were now looking at them, so there was no way to tell Donny off discretely. And after all, what Donny didn’t know, she had done this for her brother before. Not voluntarily, but still.

Defeated, she glared at Donny before she shrugged at Chris and rolled her eyes. For the benefit of the others, Ashley did her best to look indifferent to the matter. She did hope that Donny at least kept his word and hadn’t told them Chris was her brother.

“Four guys is four guys. As long as I get paid...” Ashley said, holding out her hand.

Donny grinned again, that infuriatingly smug grin that Ashley already came to hate. But he did hand her a wad of cash without hesitation. She quickly counted it and it didn’t look like he was trying to cheat her. Satisfied, she stuffed the money into her pocket. No turning back now, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she began to unbutton her shirt, looking at the two boys she didn’t know yet.