by Smoke, Lucy
He merely followed me, his gaze trying to find mine. “You know…” he started. “I knew my brother was into some kinky stuff, but this…”
He didn’t sound drunk, but his breath reeked of alcohol. I flinched as the foul smell hit my nostrils and turned my head away.
“I don’t blame him, you know.” I jumped when I felt a hand on my side. “You’re pretty fucking hot.”
“Y-you’re not thinking straight, Stephan,” I stuttered. “Let go.”
Stephan leaned over me as I attempted, once again, to squirm away. “Come on, Jamie,” he said, emphasizing my name. “I just want to know what has those boys wrapped around your little finger.” As he talked about wrapping, his own hand found my wrist and jerked me forward.
My eyes widened as he pushed my hand against the hardness starting to rise in his slacks. I tried to yank back, but he only pressed it against him harder as he shoved me into the wall and dropped his head to my neck.
Panic ripped through me, sucking away my breath, draining me of my voice. Why wasn’t I screaming? I thought. I should’ve be screaming. Calling for help. Doing something! But as I opened my mouth, nothing came out.
I felt vomit rise from the pit of my stomach, curling in a grotesque shape in my gut. I turned my head away as Stephan brushed his lips across my cheek. I squeezed my hand into a ball, refusing to touch him as violent anger tore through me.
I shifted to the side raising my only free hand and clasping it around his shoulder. With a quick move, I jerked my hand out of his grasp and brought my knee up just as he leaned down to kiss my shoulder. His teeth sank in as he curled inward with a long groan of pain. I yanked myself from his arms, twisting towards the end of the hall.
I didn’t care where I ran so long as I got the fuck away from him. Two steps away and I whirled my head back around as I felt a strong hand grab onto my ankle as Stephan sank to his knees. I was already moving—there was no way for me to stop. I went down in a heap, banging my knees on the hallway carpet and scraping them raw as I tried to pull away.
“You fucking whore!” Stephan choked out as he used his grip on my ankle to drag me back towards him. The hem of my dress lifted as I slid, the fabric gliding up my thighs revealing smooth skin.
Finally, my voice returned. “Stop!” I screamed as he crawled over me, still hunkered down and wincing with pain. I obviously hadn’t hurt him badly enough, though.
“You missed my cock, you stupid cunt,” he snapped grabbing onto a chunk of my hair. My scalp stung as he ripped several strands free. “But now my fucking thigh aches like a bitch.”
I squirmed and shoved at his chest. The scent of sharp biting alcohol blasted in my face as he spoke.
“You’ll give it up for my brother and his friends, but not for me? You’re a choosy whore, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I can pay you. I’m just as rich as my brother.”
I gasped and screamed in frustration as I sank my nails into his arms, drawing blood.
“Ow! What the fuck! I told you I’d pay y—” Stephan disappeared before he could finish his sentence. My scalp smarted where his hand only half released me before he was dragged away. One second, he was hovering over me, his hand moving to the zipper of his slacks and the next, he was gone.
When I looked up and saw who had saved me, my heart began to race in my chest. Dex stood holding his brother in an iron grip against the wall. Cody and Taylor moved around him, dropping to their knees alongside me. I reached out, clutching onto them as they helped me to my feet. I was shaking—trembling between them as they both turned their heads and glared at Stephan. Dex ran his eyes over me before he turned them on his brother, the coldness in his gaze could have frozen the ocean.
Darren stood just behind Dex’s shoulder—watching Stephan with animalistic bloodlust. “You’re fucking dead,” he said, his voice a whisper in the nearly empty hallway. I reached for Cody’s and Taylor’s hand, drawing their attention.
“Are you okay?” Cody asked, looking down at me with concern in his beautiful brown eyes.
I nodded, but for the life of me, I couldn’t seem to let go of their hands.
“Dude, I was just fucking with her,” Stephan said, raising his hands. “I didn’t think you’d mind. She’s just a bit—” Dex’s fist slammed into his brother’s face.
“What the fuck!” Stephan spit out, blood dribbling down his lower lip onto his chin. “I just said she—”
“I wouldn’t finish that fucking thought, you stupid piece of shit,” Darren warned.
Dex was barely contained, a vibrating mass of violence just waiting to be unleashed. For a second, I wondered why he was holding himself back and when he cast a glance back towards me, I realized it was because he didn’t want me to see. But he did want information.
“Where did he touch you, Jamie?” he demanded.
I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “H-he didn’t—”
“Then where did he make you touch him?”
I blushed hotly, my eyes finding the carpet as I gritted my teeth. There was no fucking reason for me to feel ashamed. But I couldn’t stop the stutter in my tone as I answered. “H-his—he m-made me touch h-his…” Shit. I couldn’t even fucking say it without wanting to puke. So, I just nodded down towards his cock and released Cody’s hand to turn into Taylor. If all it took for Dex to punch Stephan again was me not looking, I would shut my damn eyes. But I wanted to hear it. I wanted to hear all of it.
I wanted Stephan to bleed. Who the fuck got off on trying to force someone? Who the fuck thought they were so fucking elite that they could get whatever the fuck they wanted if they just threw money at it? People weren’t for fucking sale. I wasn’t for sale.
Taylor’s hand cupped the back of my head and I heard Stephan grunt as a fist slammed into him yet again. I stared over Taylor’s shoulder as Cody’s hand found mine and he stepped up alongside Taylor.
“You stupid fucking bastard.” Dex’s voice was low, deadly.
“She was ripe for it,” Stephan said—the idiot. “I told you she would be. I brought her down here to show you what a pussy like hers is used for since you’ve gotten your damn head shoved up her ass.”
I was shaking—with embarrassment, with shock, with violent fucking anger. But Stephan wasn’t letting up, he kept talking.
“She was almost ready to beg for it,” he said. “I knew she would be. Any girl that lets four guys fuck her isn’t going to help you run a fucking business, Dex. Mother was right, she’s a plaything, not marriage material.”
My mind didn’t even freeze on the fact that he had mentioned marriage. None of the guys ever had. I wasn’t thinking about marrying—though I could see myself with them for the rest of my life. No, I was seeing just how fucked up Stephan Smythe-Jones was.
“So, you thought that was reason enough to try and rape me?!” I screamed.
“Cody, Taylor,” Darren said. “Get her out of here. We’ll take care of this.”
“You sure?” I jerked my head to the side at Taylor's reply. I had never heard his voice go that deep. When I saw his eyes, I realized why. He looked on the verge of committing murder. Just as much as Dex and Darren. I twisted my head to look at Cody. He did as well.
“We’ve got this,” Darren replied. “Take care of Jamie.”
Cody urged me to turn around.
“Hey, I was doing you a fav—” Dex didn’t wait for me to be completely out of earshot before Stephan’s words were cut off. The sound of flesh hitting flesh, of crunching cartilage, and a gurgle of blood reached my ears as Cody and Taylor led me away. And I couldn’t find it in myself to feel sorry for the piece of shit.
Later, after Cody and Taylor had dragged me out of my clothes and bundled me into soft pajamas, Dex and Darren came back to the suite. Dex bypassed me completely, but I didn’t miss the soft coppery scent of blood on him. Nor did I miss the red marks on his knuckles.
Darren came immediately to me as I sat on the couch between Taylor and Cody. He dropped to his kn
ees and reached for me. "You okay, sweetheart?"
I reached for him, twining my arms around his neck as I snuggled into his chest before I nodded my answer. He sighed as I pressed my chest against his and squeezed me tight. We sat like that for a few moments, no one saying anything more. Then, he pulled back and looked me up and down.
"Dex is pretty upset, sweetheart," Darren told me, tugging my hands gently away from his neck. He held them in his, staring down at them. "He dragged Stephan back to his mother and informed them as soon as we got to shore that he was cutting them off."
The organ in my chest squeezed tight. I didn't know what to say to that, but my eyes darted to the closed bedroom door. Before I knew what I was doing, I was gently pushing Darren back and standing. He released my hands without a word, but he, Cody, and Taylor watched me as I made my way towards the room Dex had disappeared into.
I didn't knock. I doubted he would answer.
Turning the knob, I pushed the door open, stepped through, and quietly snicked it shut behind me. Dex sat on the bed, his head in his hands, covering his face. His shoulders were drooped and he didn't respond as I moved closer. I sat on the bed at his side and still, he did not react. The cold wave of air-conditioning slid over my skin, raising goosebumps as I waited. I wasn't sure what for—perhaps for him to say something, perhaps for me to say something. In the end, neither of us said a word.
Until finally, I couldn't take the silence anymore.
"It's not your fault," I said. Dex jerked as though he'd been hit, but I continued to talk. "What your brother tried to do doesn't—"
"I know that," he said, sounding tired. "I should've known, though."
"How could you have known?" I asked.
"The way he was acting earlier." Dex raised his head, dropping his hands—his arms—down to dangle between his knees.
"Was he drunk then, too?"
Dex didn't reply.
"He was drunk," I said. "He wasn't thinking clearly. I don't blame you."
"I beat the shit out of him," Dex said. Yeah, I had expected as much. I nodded. "I don't like anyone touching you like that, Jamie."
"I know—I mean the guys—"
"I don't include them," he said quickly.
I sighed and nodded. "I know."
"After tonight, I'm not sure we should see each other anymore, Jamie." He refused to look at me as he spoke. Surprisingly, I wasn't shocked or even angry. Somehow, I had known it would come to this. I had known Dex for almost three full years. Sure, he was dominant in the bedroom, but he was that way because he was protective. He was a provider, a lover, a watcher. He wanted the guys to do well and he wanted me to do well. And if he saw a threat to his friends or me, then he wanted to remove that threat.
At first, the obvious threat was Stephan, but I knew his brain would be working. He was thinking of all the scenarios. His family was rich. Even if he left his family and never spoke to them again, he would be afraid that what he did tonight would come back to hurt me. And I found that I didn't really give a shit.
Silence reigned. I waited for him to say something more, but he didn't.
With a sigh, I grabbed his hands and forced him to look at me. "Dex, I love you. Not your family. Your mom and your brother can go fuck themselves for all I care. I'm dating you, not them."
"What happened tonight—"
"Is over," I snapped. "And you are not breaking up with me."
"Jamie, I don't think you understand."
"I don't care," I said.
"Mother is—"
"It's. Over," I said through gritted teeth. I reached up and grabbed his chin when he turned his head to look away. I held his gaze. "You and me, Dex. We're together. You and me and the guys. We're your family. I don't care if you have money. I don't care if you don't."
Dex's eyes focused on mine and for several heartbeats, they didn't waver. I waited for him to make a decision. I waited for him to decide to believe me. Finally, he did. I knew the moment that he did because he dropped his eyes and squashed me against his chest, holding me like I would drift away at any moment.
"I love you," I whispered against his chest as I struggled to get my arms around him. I didn't tell him that he was squeezing me so tight that it hurt. I liked the hurt—it was the force of his love for me and I accepted it fully.
"I love you, Baby. So fucking much. I thank the universe every day for giving you to me."
"We all do, buddy."
We both jerked our heads up and turned towards the now open door. Darren, Cody, and Taylor stood there. Taylor grinning, Darren watching us and Cody striding forward. Before Cody could say anything, Taylor burst around him and threw himself at us.
I let out a shocked squeal as he landed on me, shoving me back. Taylor laughed and then—before I knew what hit me—Darren and Cody were diving for us and we were a mass of laughter and love.
It was the best fucking feeling in the world, being loved by those four men.
Epilogue
A little over a year later...
"Can you believe it's finally happening?" Roxi whispered.
I shook my head as I watched first Cody, then Darren and Dex, and finally Taylor ascend the dais in the middle of the university coliseum. The stands were filled with parents and extended family. Cheers erupted as each student accepted their certification of graduation. I couldn't believe we had made it. I mean, I knew we would. I knew the day would come when the four years I had spent at Winthrope University would be over and all of the days I had spent studying my ass off, attending classes, and preparing for my future would come to an end.
It was time to stop preparing for the future and start living it.
"Jamie Houston." My name was called and my heart jumped into my chest as I stood up and went over to the line leading up to the stage. I ascended the stage as flashes went off. Photos were taken and dimly, I heard Taylor calling out in excitement. I looked over the sea of fellow students and smiled. I couldn't help it. I was absolutely terrified of what the future held. I wasn't quite sure if the degree I had would really help me. But whatever happened, as soon as my eyes landed on my guys, I knew it would all be okay.
I was proud of myself for working so hard, but whatever pride I held for myself was no match for the amount I held for them. I was proud of them. I loved them. I wanted to support them for the rest of my life.
I shook the hands of my professors, accepted their congratulations—all the while trying not to cry.
"Yes, girl, yes!" Roxi called from the crowd as I made my way out of the coliseum. She rushed up to me, flinging herself on me as she clutched her degree certificate in one hand. "Can you believe it? We're done! Really done! Guess who's getting drunk tonight!"
"Hopefully not you," a deep voice answered. "You can't handle your liquor worth shit."
I smiled as Bastian Lander approached with an easy smile with Oliver Dubois close behind. Roxi pouted at the both of them as they approached. "I'll have a big dinner," she said defensively.
Oliver laughed. "Are you asking us out to dinner?" he asked teasingly.
I watched in amusement as her eyes lit up. "Would you do something naughty to me afterwards?" she replied.
Oliver stiffened, a blush creeping across his face as Bastian let out a booming laugh. "Yeah, spank you, brat. Stop giving Oliver ideas, he's sensitive."
"I-I wasn't—I mean, I didn't—" Oliver stuttered, his blush stretching down his neck.
I chuckled as warm arms circled around my waist and a familiar set of lips pressed against my bare neck. "I like you with your hair up like this," Darren said.
"Oh yeah?" I laughed.
"Yeah."
I looked behind me. "Where are the others?"
"They'll meet us soon. They sent me to grab you. We're heading to a special celebration."
"A graduation party?" I asked. "Right now? But we just got out."
Roxi slid an arm through Oliver's and then Bastian's. "We're heading to the same party," she said. "Meet you t
here soon!" She tugged and dragged her friends away, Bastian continuing to call her a brat and Oliver watching the two of them as his blush slowly faded away.
"Okay," I said flipping around to sink my hands in his hair. "Fess up, where are we really going?"
"You didn't hear Roxi?" Darren grinned down at me before pressing a quick kiss to my lips. "We're going to celebrate."
"I know for a fact that Roxi was lying—probably so that Bastian and Oliver didn't catch onto her plans—she's going to get them and herself drunk as hell."
"Planning to take advantage of those two?" he asked, curious as his hands fell to my hips.
I shrugged. "She's been trying for years," I reminded him.
"True." He tipped his head to the side. "I know where she's going, though—Maroon's Bar—we'll see them there later."
"We will?"
Darren nodded as he took my hand and began to lead me towards the parking lot. I narrowed my gaze on him when I noticed my vehicle was the only one left; the guys had arrived in one of theirs. "Keys." Darren held his hand out. I rolled my eyes and tossed them at him before hopping into the passenger's seat.
I stretched forward and fiddled with the radio as Darren drove. Once I found a tune that I mildly liked, I sat back and hummed to it. Soon, Darren was humming right alongside me. I was so focused on his humming and my own that I didn't realize where we were until he was pulling into the parking lot.
"What are we doing at the library?" I asked.
Darren winked my way. "It's a secret." He parked the car and got out. I followed.
"It's closed today," I reminded him. "Everyone was at the ceremony."
"I know, but I still have a key," he said. "I have to turn it in."
"So, this is just a stop? Should I go back and wait in the car?"
"Nah, come in with me. I have to drop it in the box. The door will lock behind us when we leave."
"Oh, okay." I followed him to the front doors and watched him unlock it. There was something off about him. He was still humming, I realized.
I laughed as we ascended the stairs to the second floor—where his boss's office resided. "You really like that song, don't you?" I asked.