Impetuous (Victory Lap Book 1)

by Mercedes Jade

  War finally stopped while Bastion chuckled darkly in her ear. “Kitten, do you know who you’re playing games with right now?”

  “I’ll let you down, but I’m still taking you to get my car and driving you home. You’re not walking on the street alone with Jensen out looking for you,” War said, letting her slide down his body.

  It was a long way down. She kept her hands on War’s chest, trying to prop herself a few crucial inches apart from closing his solid embrace as he kept both his hands on her hips. Looking straight at the thin t-shirt War was wearing, she suddenly realized how cold he must be, even if he had been exerting himself. He had given her his sweater and he didn’t have a jacket.

  “I don’t know who Jensen is, so he doesn’t know who I am either. You can drop me at the bus, War, but that’s it. We’re done. I don’t want to see any of you,” Tess said, keeping her eyes down. Lies tasted like acid on her tongue but at least they didn’t glimmer from behind her eyes and give away the truth.

  “You don’t know Jensen?” Bastion asked over the earbuds.

  She ignored him.

  “Jensen is a drug-dealing slime and he screws up little girls that flirt with the wild side for fun,” War explained. “He doesn’t have to know you. If he wants you, he’ll have you dragged by your hair to kneel at his feet, and he doesn’t mind if his goons sample the merchandise first.”

  Tess swallowed thickly. Telling War that she figured as much wasn’t going to help the situation. What she wanted to know was how War knew so much about the dark side of town and the criminals running things around here. Judging War by his mother, he shouldn’t be anything other than the straight-A student and hard-working athlete that had the potential to be a golden boy. The apple of his mother’s eye.

  Assholes like Jensen tended to rot every apple they touched to the core.

  “How do you have such criminal acquaintances?” Tess asked. “And why were you drinking? Seems stupid to me to risk arrest for a lousy beer.”

  “You should ask Kade about Jensen,” War replied.

  None of them said anything for a moment. Suddenly, Tess heard someone shouting over the earbuds and there were the sounds of a struggle.

  “Bastion? Are you okay?” Tess asked, letting go of War to cup her ears when she didn’t hear anything but grunts and the too familiar sounds of flesh punching flesh.

  “I thought you said Bastion had to go because he was busy?” War rumbled out, accent thickening. He pulled one of her hands from her ear and plucked out an earbud to put in his own ear.

  “I said he was busy, not that he hung up already,” Tess said, finally looking up and meeting War’s eyes.

  “Little liar,” War determined, hearing the same sounds of a fight as Tess now, too. “Seems you still have a lot of digging to do,” he pronounced, grabbing her by one hand and pulling her to walk beside him.

  “Do not leave War’s side. I’m coming,” Bastion said a few moments later.

  She didn’t bother dragging her feet. It would be pointless and probably end up getting her shouldered again. “Aren’t you cold?” she asked War.

  “My house isn’t far,” War answered.

  “This really isn’t necessary.”

  War pulled her along a little faster. “It shouldn’t be necessary, but who made it into a problem?”

  “I didn’t ask for you to interrupt me. Rachel’s full of hot air. You got worried over nothing. I could have handled-”

  “Tess?” War interrupted. “Do you want me to repeat exactly what she said while Bastion is listening?”

  Bastion had quieted down but now he piped up. “Do tell, War. I knew you were holding back.”

  “No,” Tess said. “That’s unfair. I can’t be held responsible for what someone else said.”

  “Then what about what you said about your father?” War asked so quietly that Tess felt she only heard him because they both had an earbud on to amplify the conversation back.

  "Bastion doesn't need to hear about the past. You all are keeping secrets so why should I be any different? Where do you get off asking me to tell you everything about my sad fucking past?"

  She was stomping fast enough down the sidewalk now that War fell behind for a moment before his longer strides finally caught him back up again. He never let go of her hand. She was so frustrated, tied to him but unable to walk away because if it really came down to her insisting upon it, she knew he would release her. But then he would follow her.

  War was only holding on so hard because he knew she needed him. She would have to push a heck of a lot harder if she wanted the guys to leave her alone.

  "Listen, Tess. We aren't trying to pry. Trust me, we want you to have your privacy, and we respect that you have given us our own privacy on matters in the past, things we are sure you are curious about but are polite enough not to ask,” War said.

  "Maybe I should stop being so polite," Tess ground out.

  "Yeah, maybe you should," Bastion agreed. "Get mad, let it out. We haven't heard you complain properly about one damn thing even though everything is such a shit deal."

  That sounded like a bit of judgement but Bastion wasn't exactly wrong. It was a bitter pill to swallow and she had to take her medicine if she wanted to get better.

  "Fine, let's start with why the fuck you just got in a fight?" Tess said.

  War pulled her off the sidewalk and onto a driveway. Tess let him guide her, not paying attention, focused on listening for Bastion's response.

  "I laid out two of my mother's goofs so I could come down to your house and fuck your brains out, Kitten."

  She tripped. War caught her, of course, grip like a miser that didn't want to part with his last dollar.

  "What the fuck, Bastion?" War said.

  "Exactly that," Bastion said. "I'm going to throw Tess up against that narrow little side table by her front door, rip her panties off and finger her pussy until she comes, and then I'm going to fuck her if she asks me nicely."

  "What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Tess said, completely confused. Her anger hit the back burner, and lust, well that just went over the fire.

  "You seem to think that we're disposable, ready to drop out of the Phoenix club all of a sudden?" Bastion reminded her. "I'm going to make it so you can't just walk away, Kitten. I'm going fuck myself into your body so deep, you'll never be able to get me out."

  War laughed. Tess looked up at him in shock. She was in shock. This was... nobody had ever talked to her like this and she didn’t know what to say back, how to respond to such blatant, possessive dominance.

  "Bring more than one condom, Bastard," War said.

  Tess nearly choked on her response but somehow she spat it out, made her tongue work properly. "Are you serious?" she said. "I thought we were going to take things slow. Kade said it would be slow."

  "Kade would be the first one to fuck you, if he knew what you did today, what you're planning to do, running away from us just to protect us, stupid fool," Bastion said.

  War shouldered her again. She was up and over his back before she could protest. She pounded his back in outrage.

  "This is... you can't just... let me down."

  Bastion laughed but it was so fucking dark that she felt herself shiver. His amusement was to know that his opponent was pinned and the torture could begin.

  "You will ask for it Kitten, I promise you. Nobody will lay a finger on you without you begging for it first," Bastion bragged.

  "I'm not another high school Cinderella to fall for your charming act," Tess mocked.

  "No, you're ours, Tess, and we plan to remind you of it very soon," Bastion retorted.

  "Are the twins coming?" War asked.

  "Hell if I know. I texted them before I left the party," Bastion said. "Get Tess to her house now."

  "We're leaving in a minute. I have to grab my key."

  Tess gave up on pounding on War's back. He probably thought it was equivalent to a massage, his hard muscles in need of th
e beating after whatever work out he had come from to get her.

  "Get yourself a jacket," Tess demanded, keeping her order curt.

  "Yes, Pumpkin," War said, sounding more like himself.

  Had she imagined the last minute of conversation about fucking?

  “You’re going to warm him up just fine soon, Kitten,” Bastion said. And no, her imagination didn’t need to work overtime. Bastion’s voice practically spelled sex in every syllable.

  “You think I’m just going to sit pretty on the table and let you play with me?” Tess challenged.

  “War, you hear that? She wants to scratch and bite.”

  “I hear a little Kitten hissing because she got caught out in the rain. Gonna need to pet you first, Tess-girl?”

  Oh god, did she love the way War said her name with that accent. He had started adding on girl, rolling it all together like it was part of her name now. Telling him she was turning to mush over his voice wasn’t part of the plan.

  Shove, shove, shove. She couldn’t keep the guys safe if they stayed too close.

  “You want to get clawed up, try coming between me and my objective once more and I’ll shred your ego with your pecs,” Tess threatened. It was lessened by still being upside down and over War’s shoulder. She had tried to add some menace to her voice, deepening it.

  “Did you stop a kitty fight, War?” Bastion asked. “You weren’t declawed, Kitten. Sheathe your anger until I’ve gotten you wet and ready for a hard fuck to defuse that unsatisfied rage.”

  “She hurt my mom,” Tess retorted, not meaning to tell him but it was out. She felt they were dismissing how important that conversation had been to her. War had the worst timing.

  “Don’t think Rachel is going to get away with it,” War said, his own anger rumbling from his chest and against her body. “She threatened to send Jensen after you. Kade will find her and settle debts just for mentioning you in the same sentence as that dirtbag.”

  She shivered herself, this time from more than the cold.

  “I don’t want you guys fighting my battles for me,” Tess replied.

  “You don’t choose for us,” Bastion said. “You got to pick us, and now, we choose to do something for that friendship. Don’t think you can stop Kade from protecting his girl, Pumpkin. Do you want to know what makes Kade fight? Ask him if he’ll let you get hurt.”

  “You don’t need to tell Kade what happened,” Tess said, quieter.

  “Group chat,” War replied.

  Damn it. Tess felt that escape close solidly. Kade and Keir had a glaring weakness in the loss of their mother and Tess had no doubt that was what Bastion was hinting at when he said Kade wouldn’t stand for her to be hurt. No, it was completely obvious what Kade’s trigger was by his behaviour after Bastion pushed things too far with Tess last time.

  War stopped, rang a melodious doorbell and put her down. Tess turned to see an older gentleman that was well-dressed opening the door.

  "Evening Warrick. Please come in, Miss," the man said, stepping back and gesturing as he held the door open. "A bit chilly for a walk in short sleeves, is it not, Warrick?" he admonished.

  "Jacobs. It was unplanned. I need the car. We aren't staying," War said.

  Tess stepped into a mansion. The chandelier on the twenty-foot ceiling spiralled with gleaming, warm crystals that bounced light against the polished mahogany staircase, gracefully curving up to a long hallway with many closed doors going past where she could see. The marble floor at their feet echoed as she walked a few more steps inside at War's insistence with his hand on her back.

  "Where are we?" she stupidly asked.

  Bastion laughed again. "I warned you," he said. "Fucking home to roost."

  "Shut up," Tess muttered. War ignored the provocation. She had no idea what it was about, but Bastion's amusement was getting on her already fraught nerves. She needed Bastion in front of her so she could fight with him properly. This phone argument was all tension and zero satisfaction.

  God dammit, if he hadn't gotten the idea of angry make-up sex on her mind.

  That was crazy. They weren't really going to do it. He had been lying, daring her, bluffing. Bastion had a facade and she doubted he would risk everything between them just to get a quick fuck in.

  Last time he tried to go too fast, Kade had socked him for it.

  This time, would Kade fight him or join in?

  "This is Warrick's house, Miss," the gentleman that had opened the door said.

  "Who are you?" Tess said, looking back at the chandelier again. It was an eye-catching entrance piece. She didn't even think about how rude her question might seem until she suddenly figured out who this had to be opening the door to War's home. "Oh god, are you Warrick's dad? I'm sorry, my name is Tess," she said hurriedly, thrusting her hand out to shake.

  The man looked at her hand and then at Warrick.

  "Just shake it, Jacobs. Tess, he's our butler," War said. "I'm getting the keys. Wait here."

  He left her with that little introduction.

  Tess shook the butler—Jacobs—hand with confusion still. "You're a butler?" she said. Jacobs nodded. "War's house? This is War's house? Ruby's son?"

  Jacobs nodded. "Yes, Miss Tess. This is their home. I've been a butler to Mrs. Stewart for twenty years, myself. Trained under Mr. Stewart’s head butler and I've followed Mrs. Stewart when she moved here so I could continue to serve the family during their separation."

  "Ruby's divorced?" Tess said, jaw dropping. Was that the kind of thing a butler should be telling her?

  War was back with a chuckle. "No, my father believes that the only thing that can separate a married couple is the devil himself. 'Course, mom did leave dad in Scotland for me so I could go to school here and you do call me Luce..."

  "They live in different countries, Miss Tess. It is so the children may best succeed. Mr. Stewart visits often. I can send an invitation to a family dinner next time Warrick’s father visits if you would like, Warrick?" Jacobs offered.

  "Uh, no, that's not necessary," Tess said, backing up and holding her hands both up defensively.

  "I'll get her address for you. That is all, Jacobs. I'll be home late tonight. Can you let my mother know when she finishes at the hospital?"

  "Of course, Warrick. Have a good night. It was nice meeting you, Miss Tess."

  They were out the door with a good shove from War and Jacobs closed it behind them softly. She stood on the doorstep, watching her cold breath form and staring at War's chest. The big house loomed over them.

  "Your mom's a nurse," Tess said.

  War hooked her chin with one finger and tipped her gaze up to his face. He smiled. "Mom likes to work helping others. She could volunteer but she has the education and skills to do nursing and she feels she can do more good working in that capacity."

  "She doesn't need to work, not for money?"

  "No, she does it for love," War said.

  It was true. Tess could see it now. All that caring wasn't ruined by finding out Ruby was a rich man's wife. She did work because of her heart, bigger than Tess had even thought at first.

  "Oh," Tess said.

  "Pumpkin, War didn't exactly lie to you about his wealth," Bastion said, reminding her that he was witness to their conversation.

  "You knew what I thought," Tess said.

  War bent down and kissed her. It was soft, a closed-mouth caress that stole her indignation and then another kiss to sweeten her temper. He pulled away from her lips slowly. "I misled you because everyone judges us for our money. It was nice to know you didn't," War said.

  "Are you saying all those cheerleaders are after your castle?" Tess said. "I doubt it. I'm pretty sure that Jessica was after your biceps. She keeps ogling them in physics before I chase her off."

  Bastion laughed and War smiled. "Is that jealousy?" Bastion asked.

  Tess felt her cheeks heat. "Yes," she admitted. "I don't like how she clings to you. She doesn't appreciate your brain at all. You can do better
," Tess insisted.

  "I have done better," War said.

  "Stop kissing up to Tess and bring her home," Bastion ordered.

  "Why, you want me home so you can rip my panties off and fuck me yourself?" Tess said. “Should I leave you waiting outside my house, freezing your balls off, so you’ll think twice about how easy it is to seduce me into falling all over you?”

  Maybe not being in front of Bastion to fight was actually a good idea. This was the kind of taunt that was better done over a distance Bastion couldn't close.

  "War, do you want to take care of that sassy mouth for me?" Bastion quietly asked.

  He moved so fast that Tess barely got a squeak out before she was kissing War again. Or he was kissing her, she wasn't sure because he had dropped to his knees and that brought him closer to her height, so he angled his head and she was slightly higher. This time he didn't keep their kiss so innocent, tongue licking the seam of her lips before she opened and let him in.

  She moaned and tried sucking back on his tongue like he did to get hers into his own mouth. He had her leaning in closer, pressing her mouth tighter to his to try to get every bit of his kiss that she could swallow. The taste of beer wasn't as unpleasant as she thought it would be, a kind of warmth that made her feel like his kiss was only more grown up. She bet his mouth would taste even better after whiskey, and maybe if he didn’t shave his afternoon shadow, her fingers learning the scratchy growth as she cupped his jaw. His mouth was big and generous, more than capable of taking her kiss as hard as she wanted it and giving it back to her twice as encompassing, possessive lips owning her own, and he was never giving them back.

  Warrick Stewart kissed a lass like he couldn't breathe his next breath without his mouth on hers. She felt like his entire world focused on her at that moment. The house, Bastion's quiet chuckle and the fears that had squeezed Tess into a tiny box with no exits all disappeared as she fell under the spell of that talented mouth.

  He bit her bottom lip and rumbled out something she didn't understand. No way it was in English, except for her name. That she recognized, even with his accent stretching it out.