by Ruby Vincent
“Happy birthday.”
I pressed my finger to my lips. With the other hand, I snagged his sleeve and led him inside. I pointed at the light shining beneath my mom’s door and he nodded. Together, we tiptoed upstairs. I didn’t breathe until we got into my room.
“We have to be careful,” I whispered. “Mom will go insane if she finds—”
Cole spun me around. I didn’t get my “eep” out before his lips were on mine. I melted into him, opening my mouth and tangling our tongues. All sense of caution blew out of my head like a gum wrapper in a tornado.
“Ready for your present?”
The lust in his voice was a straight hit to my core. I nodded hard.
Cole took my hands and backed toward my bed. My anticipation mounted as a grin spread across his face. It was an intoxicating feeling of nerves and anticipation—like the one that mounted as you climbed to the top of a roller coaster. What was coming next would thrill me in all the right ways.
Cole gently grasped my waist and pushed me back. I looked at him in confusion.
“Strip for me, birthday girl.”
Heat surged through my body. This was new.
“Strip?” I squeaked.
He leaned back, propped up on his elbow. His legs fell open and Cole gazed at me through hooded eyes as he rubbed himself through his pants.
“Yes.”
My breathing picked up speed at the look in his eyes. Cole tracked me like a hunter watches his prey. It pulled goosebumps to my skin as I reached around and undid the clasp one-handed. The dress slid off my body and pooled at my feet. Cole pressed harder, taking in my new underwear.
“Your turn,” I whispered.
We broke eye contact for the barest moment as he pulled his shirt over his head. He didn’t need to tell me to keep going. I was enjoying this game immensely.
I slipped one strap over my shoulder, then another. Pulling the sheer fabric down, I hissed as it rubbed over my pebbled nipples.
I grinned as I played with the hardened nubs. “Your turn.”
Cole didn’t need more encouragement to unzip his pants and free his straining member. Wetness soaked my panties as he gripped his length and stroked.
I turned away with difficulty. Cole was a mesmerizing sight.
Hooking my thumbs through, I bent over and slowly pulled my thong down. I threw in a little wiggle as I slipped my panties to my ankles.
Cole hissed. “Fuck, Zela.”
He pumped harder and it was ridiculously hot, even upside down. Cole leaned forward and nipped my bare ass.
I almost let a gasp escape. I had to be careful. Now that this had started, I would die if we were forced to stop.
“Come here,” he growled.
“No.” I turned around and got on my knees. “You cum.”
Clutching his thighs, my tongue darted out and licked the tip.
A groan ripped from his throat. “No, Zee. I’ve cum on you many, many times. Tonight, I’m only doing it inside of you.”
I shivered. “That’s okay with me.”
Cole pushed down his pants as I climbed on top of him, straddling his waist. I got to enjoy my position for all of two seconds. He gripped my hips and threw me over. I clapped my hand over my mouth, covering my laugh.
Cole kissed the back of my hand and then the tip of my nose. I moved my hand so he could claim my lips. My skin rippled with heat as we kissed slow and deep. I wanted him in every cell of my being.
We broke apart panting.
“I’ve waited so long to be with you,” he breathed. “Part of me can’t believe this is really happening.”
I playfully nipped his lip. “Can I just say this would have happened a long time ago if you and Michael talked about your feelings sooner.”
His laugh was warm air on my cheek. “Fair enough.”
My fingers skated up his back and tangled in his hair. I loved threading my hands through his silken locks. I’d tug on them while Cole gave me head and he’d swat my ass if I got too rough—which motivated me to pull a little harder.
I bit my lip. Thinking of which, we should— No, we can’t. Can’t risk making that much noise.
Sighing, I pulled him down so I could nuzzle his neck. “I’m sorry we have to be careful. Next time, we won’t hold back.”
“I’m just happy I get to be with you now.”
Cole gripped my thighs and wrapped them around his waist. My pulse quickened, feeling him brush against my opening.
“Can I tell you a secret?” he whispered. Cole moved—slowly, deliberately—rubbing his length against my clit. It was suddenly too warm in this room. Beads of sweat collected on my chest, slicking our bodies as he moved against me.
I pressed my lips together hard. I’d let out a moan if I tried to speak, so I nodded instead.
He placed a light peck on my lips. “This is my first time.”
What did he just say?
“Your first time? Your first time doing what?”
“Having sex,” he said with a chuckle.
I blinked. “But you— I thought— You seem so experienced. You do things to me that make my eyes cross.”
He shook his head. “I’ve done stuff but I’ve never done that. I’m guessing you and Landon...”
“Yeah,” I said softly.
“It’s okay. I couldn’t be your first but I’m glad you’ll be mine.”
I traced his jaw, grinning into his eyes. “I wish I knew I was deflowering you tonight. I would have had candles and flower petals and jazz.”
“Fuck you.”
Giggling, I draped my arms around his shoulders. “That’s what I’m trying to get you to do.”
His grin was wicked. “You’re going to have to wait a little longer for that crack.” He slipped out from under my arms.
“Are you serious?” I hissed. “What is with you guys? You never miss a chance to mess with me even when sex is on the table.”
I snapped my mouth shut.
Cole took my nipple into his mouth. He flicked and teased it with his tongue and I quickly forgave him for making me wait. My heels dug into the mattress as electricity zipped through my nerve endings—bringing them to life. Cole’s hot, wet mouth on my breast. The silk sheets beneath me. My fingers tangled in his hair. The sensations overwhelmed me and I felt my orgasm cresting fast.
I reached between us but Cole was already there. He rolled my sensitive nub beneath the rough pad of his thumb and I choked, holding in a moan.
“Please,” I gasped. “Don’t make me wait any more.”
Cole released my nipple from his exquisite torture only to flash me a grin that could be considered evil under different circumstances.
“I like you begging, birthday girl. Keep it up and I’ll give you your present.”
I almost came right there. Cole was playing all kinds of new games with me. It was insanely fucking sexy.
“Please, Cole,” I rasped.
“Please what?” Cole moved to the other breast. He kept his eyes on me as he licked the tiny, pink pebble.
“Please fuck me. Fuck me, Cole.” Now that I started, I couldn’t stop. “I want you inside of me. That’s what I want for my birthday.”
“Can’t say no to that.”
Cole rose up. He gazed down at me as he moved my hips and got me just where he wanted me. My heart rocketed in my chest as he positioned himself against my entrance.
“I have one more present for you,” he said.
Growling low in my throat, I smacked his ass with my foot. “Give it to me later.”
He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Cole pushed in before the final word left his lips. A moan escaped me and I hurried to grab a pillow. Cole ripped it off my face.
“Uh-uh. I don’t think so.”
I bit my lip hard as he continued pumping. Still, soft sounds slipped through. The bed took up his rhythm and faint squeaks filled the room.
My eyes fluttered shut. We are so going to get caught. Just don’
t let it happen before I cum.
I felt him shift and then his lips brushed against mine. “Don’t hold back,” he whispered. “I want them all.”
He kissed me and I gave him what he wanted. I moaned, letting him swallow every one as he brought me closer and closer. The faint squeaks picked up in sound and speed. Pleasure wracked my body, washing away my fear of getting caught. All that mattered was Cole.
The pressure built in my lower belly, and just when I couldn’t take it anymore, Cole hit that spot and explosions went off in my mind.
I came down panting. The room spun as I fought to catch my breath.
“You are in... so much trouble for lying to me,” I breathed.
“What did I lie about?”
I let him see my smile. “There’s no way you haven’t done that before.”
He chuckled. “Guess that means it was good.”
“Better than good.”
Cole lifted a brow. “Better than Landon?”
I swatted his backside.
“Ouch. You really like smacking my ass.”
“You really like getting smacked,” I said, giggling. “That was amazing. Definitely worth the wait.” I kissed him. “I wish we could do it again, but we shouldn’t tempt fate. I want you to stay the night.”
“Then I will.”
Cole lay down next to me. He kept me pressed firmly against his body as we gazed at each other across the pillow.
“Will your parents notice you’re gone?”
He shook his head. “I told them I was sleeping at Michael’s place. I’ll sneak out early in the morning and be back by breakfast.”
“Good.”
Smiling, Cole brushed the hair away from my damp forehead. “Can I give you your other present now?”
“I got you and your virginity today,” I teased. “What else can you give me?”
“I can tell you that I love you.”
My grin melted away. “What?”
“I love you, Zela.” His hand was still on my head. He traced small circles on my temple as emotion welled up in me. “I’ve loved you since sophomore year.”
“But you were so mean to me then,” I blurted.
Wow, Zela. Not the time.
“Because deep down I wanted you but I knew I couldn’t have you,” he said. “I’ve never handled that well—not being able to get something I want. Thankfully... you get everything you want.”
I laughed—a light, joyful sound fed by bubbles of happiness growing and spreading throughout.
“I love you too,” I said.
He tipped forward and kissed me until my lungs cried out for breath.
“I know you don’t want to get caught, but I’m willing to risk one more time if you are.”
I held up a finger between us. “Maybe one more time.”
“Yes.” He jerked his head. “Get up and wriggle that ass for me again.”
I rolled my eyes even as I got up. “Didn’t take long for my asshole to put sweet, sensitive Cole to bed.”
“Your asshole is right.”
Yes. Mine.
Chapter Three
“I can’t believe you have to go back to school tomorrow.”
“You can’t believe it? I don’t know exactly what I’m in for tomorrow,” I said, “but it can’t be good.”
I set down my cup and pushed it across the table. Jordan and I were spending our last day of freedom wandering through Chesterfield. We made a pit stop for ice cream but my second favorite flavor wasn’t doing a great job of cheering me up.
Jordan dug into my gummy bear cookie dough treat without hesitation. “Why did you convince your mom to let you stay if you feel that way?” she asked between bites.
“Because,” I said. “I may have been kicked off the boys’ campus and accused of murder, but every time I think of leaving, I remember the boys, Adam, Derek, and my friends. I know they have my back through this.”
She gave me a knowing look. “How are things with the guys?”
My grin was all kinds of goofy and I didn’t care. “They’re great. Landon and Michael were in Europe over the summer but we talked every day. Cole and I saw a lot more of each other.” I flushed just thinking of the things we got up to. “I’ve never felt so close to him. There will always be a little asshole in him, but now that he’s not holding back, I love seeing this side of Cole.”
Talking about Cole buoyed my mood enough to reach for my ice cream again. “What about you and Adam?”
Jordan ducked her head. “It’s been amazing. Adam is seeing another girl but somehow he makes me feel like I’m the only one. Last week, he took me to the next town over and we watched fireworks, kissed, and talked about all the amazing things we’d do in Europe.”
“Did he get his parents to say yes?”
Jordan’s smile fled beneath her groan. “He wasn’t lying about them being overprotective. Val thinks it’s a great idea. Jaxson says it’ll only happen if we stay with friends of his in Europe—forget hostels. Maverick wants him to carry a tracker in his bag, wallet, and on his phone. Ezra thinks going for the whole summer is too long, and Ryder said no. That’s it. No.”
“Oh boy.”
She blew out a breath. “Val promised to work on them but who knows. I hope he can come. The whole thing was his idea.”
“Val got all four of those guys to love, adore, and worship her. I think she can get them on board.”
Jordan laughed. “I should get me a stable of guys like you and Val, but honestly, I’d totally play favorites. No one else can possibly be as good as Adam.” She winked. “Especially in bed.”
I cleared my throat. “Time for a subject change.”
“Yes, it is,” she cut in, “but not a good one. We need to talk about school, Zela.” She rested her hand on mine. “Are you going to be okay? It’s been months and the police haven’t found the real killer. What if people still believe it’s you?”
“I’m the best suspect,” I confessed. “I can’t deny it. Cameron was blackmailing me. We have a rough history. Witnesses thought we got into a fight. And the campus isn’t Fort Knox. If I wanted to sneak into the dorms, it wouldn’t have been hard. When you think about it, I make sense, but I think deep down people know I wouldn’t do this. They just can’t think of who would.”
She inclined her head. “I get you, but it makes me worry more. The boys know you. The girls don’t. What if they believe you did this?”
“Melody knows me. She’d vouch for me no matter what.” I slumped in my seat. “But I hope it doesn’t come to that. Life on the girls’ side is going to be hard enough. Things are finally going well with the boys and I get kicked out of my room. My sex life takes a hit just when it’s getting good.”
She snorted a laugh. “It can’t be that hard to sneak a guy into your room.”
“Adam explained just how hard it is. They locked the doors to the girls’ campus at night and it can only be opened on their side with a code until five in the morning. The girls know the code because it’s dangerous if something happens and they couldn’t get out, but it means they have to risk sneaking past Matron to let their guy in.
“It doesn’t sound so bad until you find out their side is more hi-tech than the boys’. Their dorm doors record every time it opens and closes in the middle of the night. Matron will know if she needs to do some interrogating.
“Adam told me Melody gets up early for ‘training’ and they meet in a secluded spot in the woods. It’s better than trying to bring her back to his dorm. If she’s caught over there, she’ll be expelled.” I gestured to myself. “Like I almost was.”
“Harsh.”
“Very.” I sighed. “We’ll make it work. Other couples at school do. I’m just stressing because Derek will be set free tomorrow.”
“You’re finally going to talk to him. Are you worried things have changed?”
I dropped my eyes at the pang that struck me. “We said we loved each other but everything got so crazy. We never really t
alked about what it meant.”
“Can I ask?” Jordan plucked a cherry out of her melted, strawberry soup and curled her tongue around it. “Sleeping with your brother isn’t allowed, but what’s the rule on getting with the guy you thought was your brother?”
A flush crept up my neck. “Do you have to?”
She grinned. “You’ve thought about it. That’s why you want to have this big talk. To figure out how wrong this relationship is going to be. If you ask me, the only ick factor is his dad and your mom have seen each other naked. Other than that, you’re good to go.”
“Thanks for the vote,” I deadpanned. “Trust me, I know it’s weird. Derek once said I was too possessive of him for it to be anything but love. It was proof I knew deep down we weren’t related. But I don’t know. All I knew then is what I know now. I have to be with him.”
She gripped my hand. “So, don’t let him get away. Find him tomorrow and sort it out.”
“I will. I want to. I miss him.” A thought occurred to me. “Maybe that’s the point. He could have been forbidden from seeing or talking to me this summer. That’s why I haven’t heard a word.” I bolted upright. “They punished him because of me. I doubt they want us together.”
“They punished him because he lied, ran away, and worried them sick,” Jordan said. “To be fair, Jonathan might not be eager for his son to date the daughter of the woman he had an affair with, but he and your mother talked. They cleared the air and he must understand that you did what you did to find your father. I’m sure it’s not about you.”
I hung on to Jordan’s reassurances as I packed the car the next morning. Sunday dawned in defiance of my wishes and it was time to return to Breakbattle Academy... as Zela Rae Manning.
I smoothed down my sapphire dress for the zillionth fidgety time. It fell on the other side of casual, but by now I considered it my lucky dress. Landon made it for me. I wore it for Cole the night we made love. It matched Michael’s blue butterfly necklace like they were made for each other. This was the dress I would brave Breakbattle in.
“Are you ready?”
I pulled myself out of my thoughts as Mom came around the car. She put the last of my bags in the trunk.