In Ruins (A Black Falls High Novel Book 1)

by K. G. Reuss

  Ethan relaxed and laughed. “It’s fine. Or it will be. Promise.”

  “Better be,” I muttered, draping my arm around his waist as we walked together. I’d never done that with anyone before. We looked official. Students whispered behind their hands as we passed by. Instead of ducking my head in embarrassment, I held it high.

  “I like the brave look on you,” Ethan commented as we stopped at my locker. “I can’t wait until it’s official.”

  “What’s official?”

  “Us. All of us. Together,” he said, leaning in and whispering it in my ear. I shivered against him. “We’re going to flaunt you around. You’ll be our queen.”

  “I can’t wait either. But what are we waiting for exactly?”

  Ethan backed up and sighed. “Fox.”

  As if his name alone explained it all. But it was all the explanation I needed. Fox was in charge.

  We walked to my class, passing Jamie along the way. Ian was beside her, his hand on her waist as she dug around in her locker. He winked at me as we strolled by, causing Ethan to let out a quiet snarl.

  “I hate him,” I hissed once we got around the corner.

  “You’re not the only one. He’s going to get what’s coming to him. I promise you that.”

  “I hope so. I don’t want him to hurt anyone else, especially Jamie.”

  Ethan nodded. “I know. We’re working on what to do about him. We need to catch him in the act though, so we have proof. It’s always just been a suspicion. That doesn’t do shit without evidence, you know?”

  I nodded morosely. He was right. We could accuse all day long, but it wouldn’t mean shit if we didn’t have the proof. And me drunk off my ass in bed with him wasn’t exactly the kind of concrete proof we needed.

  “I’ll see you at lunch, sweetheart. Leave the worrying to us. We’ll get this sorted.” Ethan gave me a quick kiss on the cheek as was his sweet fashion and departed with a wink.

  Sighing, and wondering why he didn’t just full on kiss me, I went into my class. I managed to make it through the morning without a hitch, all the while wondering if Fox and the guys had made it back.

  When lunch rolled around, I didn’t bother going to the cafeteria, opting for the bleachers instead. I took my usual spot and stared out at the field, lost in all my negative thoughts concerning Ian, Jamie, and Mona.

  I figured I could just talk to Mona again, but whenever I tried to make eye contact with her in the halls, she ducked and ran the opposite direction.

  “What has you out here looking so sad?” Enzo’s voice called out.

  I looked over my shoulder to find the guys coming up behind me. My heart raced as I took in the sight of them. There was so much perfection smiling at me it was near painful.

  “Hey,” I said, rising to my feet and rushing to greet them. I threw my arms around Cole’s neck, causing him to laugh in surprise. It was a strange sound coming from him since he was always so dark and serious. He wrapped his arms around me tightly.

  “Miss me?” he asked.

  “Guess I didn’t realize how much,” I said, squeezing him once more. He released me, and I went to Fox.

  “Are you OK?” he asked, hugging me tightly.

  “I am now. But being left alone with my thoughts can be dangerous.”

  “Stop hogging Sunshine,” Enzo grumbled, taking me from Fox before he could answer. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself,” I said as he planted a kiss on my lips.

  “You don’t have to go to Ethan. You already saw him today,” Enzo teased.

  Ethan shoved Enzo aside amid laughter and squeezed my hand. “Figured you were out here. Didn’t even bother looking in the cafeteria.”

  “We brought lunch,” Cole piped up. He shouldered off his backpack and gestured for me to follow him to the bleachers. We all piled onto the seats, Enzo pulling me down onto his lap.

  “What are we eating?” I asked as Cole rifled around in his bag for a moment.

  “Sandwiches from Remo’s Deli.” Cole handed me a turkey one, and I took it happily, sinking my teeth in.

  Enzo bit into my sandwich, taking a large hunk and chewed it, winking at my protest.

  “Where were you guys?” I asked as Ethan offered me a drink. Eagerly, I sipped at the cool water.

  “Worried?” Cole asked, smirking at me.

  “Well, yeah.”

  “We just had some things to do,” Fox said, shrugging. “Nothing important, Rosie.”

  “Is it about whatever you lost?”

  “Yes. And you don’t need to concern yourself with it,” Enzo said.

  “Well, I’m going to, so how about you guys tell me what’s going on before I have to find out on my own?”

  Cole chuckled, and even Fox smiled.

  “Rosie, come here.” Fox held his arm out for me.

  I got to my feet and moved to him.

  He pulled me down onto his lap and planted a kiss on my cheek. “I promise it’s nothing for you to worry about. Didn’t I tell you that I’d explain it to you later?”

  I sighed and nodded.

  “Are you pouting?”

  “Maybe,” I mumbled.

  The guys laughed. Fox tilted my head up and planted a gentle kiss on my lips.

  “Maybe there’s something I can do take your mind off it,” he purred in my ear.

  I wiggled against him, causing him to groan softly.

  “My parents aren’t home. We can go to my place,” Cole broke in, his eyes fixed on me.

  “I-I can’t,” I said, pulling away from Fox. “I’d miss afternoon classes—”

  “Don’t be such a good girl, Rosebud. Let us dirty you up a bit. Promise we’ll make it worth your time,” Cole said, tugging me off Fox’s lap and bringing me to his. “I want to taste you.”

  My face heated at his words, warmth pooling between my legs. He nodded knowingly.

  “Come on,” he breathed out, kissing my neck.

  “I can’t lose my scholarship, Cole. My dad would kill me.”

  “One day won’t cause you to lose it,” he scoffed. “Don’t you want to have a little fun?”

  “I do, but not at the expense of disappointing my parents. You guys have the video. If what my parents thought didn’t matter, then your video wouldn’t matter.”

  “You’re only here because of the video?” Ethan asked softly.

  I widened my eyes at him as the rest of the guys stared at me. “No.” I shook my head. “I mean, at first, yeah. But now?” I looked helplessly at them. “I-I want to be.”

  “So that’s it? All of us? You’re ready for that?” Cole asked gruffly. “We don’t have to entice you with our wicked ways or blackmail you with videos?”

  I looked to Fox. He sat forward, his brows crinkled.

  “No. I want this. All of you.”

  “Fuck yeah,” Enzo called out. “Let’s make this shit official.”

  “How?” I asked, nervous laughter bubbling out of me.

  “We run that train on you.” Enzo winked.

  Cole grinned, and even Fox cracked a smile.

  “How about her and Ethan go behind that shed?” Cole said, glancing at Ethan. “She can suck his dick.”

  “I’m not going to make her suck my dick behind a school building, asshole,” Ethan shot out, glancing at me. “As much as I want her, I have some class.”

  Cole rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Then she can suck my dick.”

  “She’s not going to suck anyone’s dick. We have ten minutes until classes start again,” Fox broke in. “She already said she wasn’t skipping. I assume that also means she doesn’t want to be late. You can at least appreciate that, can’t you, Cole?” Fox lifted a brow at Cole.

  “You suck, Evans. Fucking cock block.”

  Fox let out a laugh and shook his head at Cole who was pouting.

  “If it helps, she hasn’t sucked my dick yet either. Enzo’s the only one lucky enough to have experienced her mouth.”

  “And it was magnificent
,” Enzo joined in, winking at me.

  I flushed at the compliment. “But really how will this work? I mean… not in private… but in public, at school? I don’t want…” I trailed off unsure how to say what was worrying me.

  “You don’t want people to think bad of you?” Ethan guessed.

  “Talk shit about you, call you a slut?” Enzo chimed in.

  My cheeks heated as I nodded. Cole growled at the word slut.

  “If anyone dared talk shit about you, we’d take care of it. We’ll protect you. We protect what’s ours,” Fox said.

  “But for the time being, I think the easiest solution if for you to be mine in public,” Cole said, winking at me.

  “What the hell?” Fox glared at him.

  “It makes the most sense. People have already seen the two of us behaving like a couple,” Cole explained matter-of-factly.

  Fox narrowed his eyes. “Fine. But that arrangement is only temporary. In a few weeks, she can decide she likes me better and prefers to just be your friend. Then she’ll be mine in public, and in private, she’ll be all of ours.” He smirked at Cole’s grumbled acceptance.

  “When do I get a turn for her to be mine?” Enzo griped.

  “Let’s not worry about all that right now. We’ll figure it out,” Ethan rushed to assure me.

  “Yeah. When you’re more comfortable, we can make things public,” Enzo reassured me.

  “We can make it official for just us this weekend,” Fox continued, eyeing me. “What do you say, Rosie?”

  I glanced around at the guys, who all stared back at me eagerly. I nodded. “OK.”

  “Hell yeah,” Cole said as Enzo grinned at me.

  “Let’s head back,” Fox said, getting to his feet. He took my hand in his and helped me down from the bleachers. When my feet hit the ground, he planted a kiss on my forehead before releasing me.

  Cole wound his arm around my waist, and we made our way back to the school. When we reached a dark corner of the building, Cole tugged me to stop, the guys following.

  “See you later, Sunshine,” Enzo said, winking at me.

  Ethan planted a quick kiss on my cheek before following Enzo into the building. Fox dragged me out of Cole’s arms and leaned in, placing a deep kiss on my lips that curled my toes.

  Cole grunted his approval behind us, before tugging me away to kiss me himself. Fox let out a soft, dark laugh as Cole’s hands moved to cup my ass beneath my skirt.

  He lifted me and hauled me to the wall, pressing me against it, his tongue dancing along mine.

  “I fucking want you, Rosebud.” He nipped at my lips, growling. “Come on, Fox.”

  I looked past Cole to see Fox with a hungry look in his eyes. Fox took a step forward and drew me into his arms, his lips crashing against mine. He cupped my breast as he hauled me deeper into the dark corner with Cole right behind him.

  I let out a yelp as Cole lifted my skirt, his fingers skimming over my damp panties.

  “What are you doing?” I breathed out between Fox’s kisses.

  “Having dessert,” Cole growled, going to his knees and lifting my sundress over his head. I let out a soft moan as he moved my panties aside and slid his tongue over my slit.

  “Spread your legs wider,” Fox’s soft command had me nearly melting as I widened my stance for Cole. Fox’s lips found mine again as Cole’s tongue lapped at my wet center. He sucked my clit into his mouth, causing my eyes to roll back as Fox’s hand found its way beneath the top of my dress. He squeezed my breast, pinching my hard peaks as I trembled from Cole’s onslaught.

  “Give it to him, Rosie,” Fox demanded, punctuating his command with hot kisses. “You’ll be late if you don’t.”

  “Oh god,” I whimpered as Cole inserted a finger into my tight channel, his mouth never breaking away from my warmth. His tongue and fingers worked faster as the tingles grew. I trembled. My fingers gripped Cole’s hair and yanked him closer while my tongue danced with Fox’s.

  The sparks grew into a hot tension, the heat burning deep in my center before bursting into wildfire and swallowing me whole. I moaned softly against the intense pleasure, my inner walls clenching around Cole’s finger as he slowed his tongue, taking a languid lick and swallowing my pleasure.

  “Good girl,” Fox said breathlessly as Cole emerged from beneath my skirt, his lips and chin glistening with my orgasm.

  With my fingers, I reached out and touched Cole’s moist lips, wiping his mouth and chin clean. Fox grabbed my hand before I could dig into my bag for a tissue and sucked my damp fingers into his mouth, his eyes locked on mine.

  Cole let out a soft laugh as my lips parted.

  “Don’t want to waste a drop of you, Rosie,” Fox said, giving my finger one more suck before releasing me.

  “Holy hotness,” I whispered.

  Fox smirked at me as Cole adjusted my dress, making sure I was completely covered.

  “We best get to class. We’re going to be late.” Cole dragged me out of Fox’s hold and wound his arm around my waist.

  Fox laughed softly. “Enjoy it, Cole, because once we make this official, we’re going to fight over who gets to hold her.”

  Cole laughed. “Can’t wait, brother.”

  A thrill shot through me. Truth be told, neither could I.

  Thirty-One

  The rest of the week passed by quickly. I was still down in the dumps about Ian and Jamie. I hadn’t had much of a chance to talk with her about Ian. She’d been busy spending all her free time with him and still wasn’t returning my calls. But at least I had musical try-outs to look forward to. Yet when I stopped to think about them, even they left me with a knotted ball of anxiety.

  As much as I wanted a repeat of my time with Cole and Fox. Or Enzo and Fox, I knew I had to wait until the weekend. Something else which added to the tension rising in me. They’d been busy with football practice since they were playoff bound. Fox was up for some state football award. It was the buzz of the entire school. It would earn him a position on Mayfair’s football team in the fall.

  Mayfair. My dream college. The college with the incredible music program. The college Cole had already been accepted to, and Fox would probably end up at with a paid football scholarship. Even Enzo and Ethan had applied there and were awaiting acceptance letters. They wanted to stay together, no matter what.

  And then there was me. Sick to my stomach knowing I’d be halfway across the state at Pendleton. Alone.

  More anxiety.

  But things were going good with the guys. Too good.

  “What’s your deal?” Melissa hissed at me as I tied my shoes on the bench in the girls’ locker room on Friday afternoon.

  “I don’t have one.” I finished with my shoe and made to stand up, but Juliet shoved me back down.

  Tara moved behind me, blocking any escape route I may have had. Juliet had been scarce in recent days, the rumors of her and Fox’s breakup echoing throughout campus. I’d hoped it had taken her down a peg or two. Now as she stood glaring down at me, I knew her absence was only her ramping up to her super form.

  “You must have one.” Juliet narrowed her eyes at me. “Everyone’s talking about how you’re the guys’ new queen bee. I imagine it’s easy to get their attention when you’re a fucking slut. It doesn’t matter what they say or do for you. You’ll always be trash. Gleaning from their social status won’t change any of it.”

  My cheeks heated at her words but not from embarrassment. Anger coursed through me as I balled my hands into fists. I’d taken so much from her already. While I hadn’t wanted what I had with the guys in the beginning, now I missed them when they weren’t near. Her standing there and making it sound like I was trash made me sick. Fox promised this wouldn’t happen again. He swore it. My day had gone from really bad to terrible.

  I moved to push past them, but Tara and Melissa caught me by both arms and slammed me against the lockers, holding me in place. Juliet lifted a brow at me, malice in her eyes.

  “Lea
ve me alone,” I growled, struggling against the girls’ hold.

  Melissa dug her nails deep into my skin, making me cry out. I stilled since moving was making her claw harder.

  “Here’s what I know. You’re not one of us. It doesn’t matter if Cole, Enzo, or Ethan fucked you. It doesn’t even matter if Fox has. You’re just another whore to anyone who matters.” Juliet rifled through her bag and pulled out a black marker.

  I licked my lips, worried my worst nightmares were about to come true.

  “I know about you, Fox, and Cole. I saw everything. You should be a little more careful about where you’re spreading your legs, Rosebud. Word of advice, sweetie. Fox is mine. And I fight for what’s mine.” Her eyes darkened as she glared down at me. “Just because he’s giving you pity, doesn’t mean he’s the good guy. Why do you think I’m here?”

  “What?” I asked, my voice shaking.

  “Aw, honey.” She tsked, jutting her bottom lip out. “You didn’t think it was real, did you? Fox sent me today. The game is up, and I get to give you your prize. You’re just one of many they’ve done this to.”

  Dread washed over me at her words. No. No, it couldn’t be true.

  “Hold her.”

  Melissa and Tara tightened their grips on me as I came to life, desperate to flee. We toppled in a pile onto the hard floor, me landing on the bottom and Tara twisting my arm painfully. I gasped as Melissa fisted my hair and tugged my head back.

  Juliet kneeled in front of me as tears rolled down my cheeks. She cocked her head, contemplating her next move. Then she leaned in, the marker tip touching my forehead.

  I tried to buck out from beneath the girls’ hold, but Tara twisted my arm harder to the point I thought it would break.

  Fat, ugly tears rolled from my eyes as Juliet scrawled on my forehead, her words on repeat in my head. Fox sent her. Fox sent her. Fox sent her. No! Why… he wouldn’t… would he?

  Sitting back, she smirked in satisfaction.

  “It’s so you don’t forget. I’m sure the guys would agree.” She gave a nod to the girls who released me, letting me fall onto my back sobbing. I had no idea what she’d written on my forehead. All I knew was that it had to be bad.