A Hurt So Sweet: Complete Dark Bully Romance Series Box Set: Elite of Eden Falls Prep

by Isabella Starling

  “Are we leaving the city?” I ask.

  “Yes,” Easton nods. “We’re going to a gorgeous lake house. You’ll love it, I think.”

  “Oh,” I say. “You don’t think they’ll find us there?”

  “No, we’ll be back tomorrow night, and nobody will think to look for us there,” he says, putting his palm over my hand and giving me a reassuring smile. “It’s Julian’s parents’ place, he said I could borrow it for the night.”

  This makes me a bit worried – why would he take me to Julian’s place, when they don’t get along at all? But nonetheless I nod wordlessly, staring out of the window again while Easton fumbles with his phone. We’re moving further and further along, away from the bright lights of the city and down roads that seem quieter, with less and less cars on them.

  A funny feeling settles in the pit of my stomach, and I glance behind us. Another limo is behind ours, which makes me furrow my brows in worry. Is someone following us?

  I’m about to ask Easton about it, but just then, the driver pulls off into another road, and the other limo disappears. I settle back in my seat, quickly forgetting about the other vehicle with my heart pounding with anticipation of what’s to come.

  About an hour later, we pull up in front of a gorgeous property right on the lake. It has its own pier leading into the giant lake behind it. There’s a private beach area, and the stunning white-wood house is decorated with twinkling fairy lights.

  “This place is gorgeous!” I exclaim as we get out of the limo, with Easton helping me get out safely. “I’m so glad you brought me here.”

  “Better than your party, isn’t it?” he chuckles. “Come on, let me show you the inside.”

  I follow him, clutching the layers of my dress in my hands as we walk over the threshold into the beautiful building. The house is expensively furnished – probably the work of an experienced decorator. Thick sheepskin rugs, a fireplace, and plush sofas complete the sitting area. Upstairs, there are several bedrooms and bathrooms. This house could easily house all of the Firstborns – each one in their own room.

  Finally, Easton and I settle in the master bedroom that has its own fireplace. I lie on the plushy bed with a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket next to me while Easton stokes the fire. I’m nervous as hell, but so far, he hasn’t made a move on me – something that’s at the same time a relief and a disappointment.

  “There we go,” he finally says, setting the logs alight. “Perfect.”

  He joins me on the bed, making me hold up a champagne flute as he pops open the expensive bottle of Möet. I giggle as he pours me a full glass, and we clink them together before I down the whole thing. I need all the courage in the world today. I’m nervous as fuck.

  He lies down next to me on the bed, tugging on his bowtie until it comes undone. Easton looks nothing like Dexter. Dexter’s chiseled face and the faint hint of stubble makes him look older, dangerous. Easton is pretty. Painfully pretty, like an antique statue of a Greek God. And I could get lost in those mesmerizing eyes of his for days.

  “I can feel you watching me,” he laughs out loud. “Tell me the truth. Are you nervous about this?”

  “Yeah, a little,” I say, blushing as I give him a shy smile. “You know I’ve only been with Dexter.”

  “And from what I know about good old Booth, I doubt he was gentle or kind with you, even knowing it was your first time,” he sighs. “Some men just have no respect for women.”

  “I’m glad you’re not one of them,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t know how I’d be able to handle someone else like Dexter freaking Booth.”

  He smiles before pouring us a refill of the champagne. Once again, I down mine in one go, feeling woozy from the bubbles going straight to my head. A feeling of trepidation has settled in my stomach now, reminding me that what I’m about to do is wrong on so many levels.

  My father will obviously be pissed that I ran off on my own birthday party, and I don’t even to imagine Dexter’s wrath. But I don’t care anymore. Not now that I have Easton. Besides, he promised to protect me from the men in my life who want to use me. And even if I lose my Firstborn privileges, so what? I can still live normally in Eden Falls. So many other people do.

  “Why don’t you come closer?” Easton suggests, patting the pillow next to him.

  I manage a smile, setting down my glass on the nightstand before scooting closer to him. I lean my head against his shoulder, looking up at him.

  “Are we going to sleep together?” I ask him, my voice barely above a whisper.

  “Do you want to?”

  I take a moment to think about it. It’s fucking nice that he’s asked – Dexter never would have.

  God, why do I keep thinking about him? It’s like he’s permanently lodged inside my mind and whatever the hell I do, he’s fucking refusing to leave. Every time I look at Easton, Dex’s face looms before me, reminding me of the betrayal I’m about to commit. He’ll never forgive me for what I’m about to say… but do I even care about that?

  “Yes, I do,” I say resolutely.

  This makes Easton smile, and he leans in closer, cupping my face with his palm as he goes in for a kiss. My heart hammers in my chest as his gentle lips meet mine. He kisses me like a fiancé should – with all the sweetness of first love, and the slow-burning passion I feel for him myself.

  We start to kiss, and I don’t want to pull back. Easton’s free hand goes to my hip, and he tugs on my dress. I take it as an invitation, climbing on top of his lap and deepening our kiss. He groans, hands roaming over my body now, testing to make sure I’m okay with this. I love how careful he is, but my traitorous body doesn’t.

  Has Dexter Booth really fucked me up so much I’ve started to fucking crave the roughness he used to give me? I don’t want it to be the truth, but as the seconds pass, it becomes more and more clear I’m craving something else – something more.

  I’m frustrated and angry because of my own body’s unwillingness to play along. And I’m determined to prove to Easton he turns me on just as much as Dexter did, if for nothing else, just to prove it to myself.

  “Unzip my dress,” I say, barely recognizing my own husky voice. “Please, Easton, get it off me.”

  “Are you sure?” he asks softly, and I’m eager to nod.

  I notice his hands trembling lightly as he reaches behind me, tugging down the zipper of my dress and revealing inch after inch of my pale skin. I help him out, getting up and allowing the dress to pool at my feet. Now I’m in nothing but my lingerie and heels. I make a move to take them off, but Easton interrupts me with his hand on my wrist.

  “Leave them on,” he growls.

  “Alright,” I smile at him, climbing back on the bed.

  He gets on top of me, fumbling with his own clothes and revealing a body made of stone beneath. I wasn’t mistaken when I compared him to a statue of a Greek God – he looks like he’s been carved out of marble, and I can’t get enough of it. I allow my fingers to wander over the broad expanse of his chest, tugging at his slacks until he finally peels them off. His cock is big, uncut, standing proud amid a forest of light brown hair.

  My heart wants to be here, but my mind is somewhere else, stuck on Dexter Booth, who’s probably noticed I’m gone by now and is trying to find me so he can punish me for what I’m about to do.

  I close my eyes, unwilling to let Dexter steal such a special moment from me. But the short time I have my eyes pressed together is enough for Easton to put his cock inside me.

  I gasp, eyes flying open as I find him on top of me, grinning at me widely.

  “Sorry,” he mutters. “I just couldn’t stop myself…”

  I look down to find he’s pushed my panties to the side, and his cock is now buried in my pussy to the hilt. My heart. My head. My fucking mind is going crazy, swimming with thoughts of the betrayal I’ve just committed.

  A single tear slips down my cheek. I promised myself I’d never cried for Dexter Booth, but I guess it does
n’t count if he doesn’t find out.

  Easton makes love gently, giving me all the attention in the world. Yet I’m lost in my own mind, wishing I were anywhere but here with him. And somehow, it feels worse than Dexter just taking what he wanted from me. I’d rather be with him, I realize with a start. I’d rather be with Dexter, even with his rough touch and the cruel way he fucks me.

  Easton doesn’t seem to notice I’m getting upset, and he takes his time with me, pinning my arms at the wrists above my head and driving himself deep inside me time and time again until I’m a gasping, shaky mess. He comes while looking deeply into my eyes, then falls into bed beside me with a heavy sigh.

  I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling and wondering how I could let this happen.

  “You were perfect, princess,” he tells me, his voice already groggy with sleep. “I can’t fucking wait to make you my wife.”

  “Me either,” I whisper, trying to force myself to believe the lie coming off my own lips.

  Maybe if I repeat it enough times, it’ll become real…

  ***

  I wake up to the feeling of warm sunlight on my skin, and long fingers exploring my body. I smile with my eyes still closed, then roll over so my body’s closer to the figure next to me in the plush bed.

  “Like what you see?” I whisper, my eyes slowly opening.

  Easton lies before me, looking more handsome than ever in a pair of plaid boxer shorts and nothing else. He smiles gently at me, tracing the outlines of my face, his fingertips lingering on my mouth, and then my cheekbones.

  “I do,” he tells me. “Sleep well, princess?”

  “I did.” I sit up in the bed and stretch myself out, yawning. “Last night was perfect. Thank you so much, Easton. You really showed me what it feels like to be appreciated for who I am.”

  Something flashes in his eyes. Regret? Pain? I don’t quite recognize the emotion, but it’s enough to make alarm bells sound off in my head. I pull my arm out of his reach, but just like that, the flash of pity is gone. He looks at me with warm kindness now, caring and sweet just like he was last night.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll have to go do a few things in town today,” he tells me. “I did find a guest to keep you company while I’m away, though.”

  “What?” I narrow my eyes at him, still hearing the faint blare of the sirens in my head. “Who?”

  “Hello, bitch.”

  My eyes go to the doorframe, and I instantly pull the duvet up to my chin the moment I see him looking at me.

  “What is he doing here?” I hiss at Easton while Caspian strolls into the room without a care in the world.

  He’s wearing ridiculously low-hung grey sweatpants that show off the chiseled V of his hips and a dark happy trail leading behind the waistband of his pants. His cock is fully erect, pushing against the fabric so forcefully I wince at him, convinced his cockhead is just going to rip through the cotton. And no shirt. Of fucking course.

  “I told you,” Easton says calmly, picking himself up from the bed. “I have business to do in town. I’ll be gone for two hours.”

  Caspian climbs into bed beside me, grinning wickedly while I try to make my escape, wrapping the sheets around my shaking, naked body. But his hand wraps around my wrist, and he pulls me back forcefully, making me stumble back into bed.

  I watch Easton get dressed as Caspian inches closer and closer.

  “Um, Easton?” I say, my heart pounding. “Can you please take me with you?”

  He turns around, regarding the situation before him with cool indifference as he wraps a tie around his neck.

  “No, I don’t think so, princess,” he says, his voice devoid of emotion. “I have some errands to do, and besides… I think Caspian wants something from you. Oh, and then Julian. And then Lai.”

  “W-What?” I’m starting to see spots in front of me, the whole world getting blurry around me. “What do you mean? I don’t want to be here with them, Easton, I want to be with you.”

  “Well, you can’t!” he snarls at me, and I’m thrown aback by his sudden outburst.

  He clears his throat, smoothing the tie over his shirt and shrugging on a navy pinstripe blazer.

  “I’m sorry, princess. It’s not your fault. But you really were just a pawn from the very beginning.”

  “I… I…” I struggle to find the words, but then adrenaline rushes through my body, and I rip myself from Caspian’s clutches, reaching Easton in three quick steps and hammering my fists against his chest. “I want Dexter! Where the hell is Dexter?”

  Easton sighs, grabbing me by the wrists and prying my hands off him.

  “I knew you’d ask for him,” he hisses at me. “You two were fucking made for each other, you little slut. Get back to bed, I don’t have time to deal with this.”

  I start to scream, and he rolls his eyes before heading for the door. Caspian gets out of the bed and restrains me, holding my arms behind my back so I can’t hurt him.

  “You’re a fucking liar!” I yell after Easton as the first sobs rips itself from my lips. “You fucking jackass, you can’t do this to me, I won’t let you do this to me!”

  “Oh no?” he asks innocently, raising his brows at me. “I don’t think you have a choice, princess. You have Dexter Booth to thank for this. I guess I finally managed to find his weak spot. Too fucking bad I’m about to exploit her for all she’s worth.”

  He winks at me before slamming the double bedroom doors closed. Caspian’s hands are all over me, and he leans against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. This can’t be happening; this can’t be real. The only boy I trusted in Eden Falls, and he’s betrayed me in the worst possible way.

  “I’ve been waiting a long fucking time for this,” Caspian growls in my ear. “I’m not going to go easy on you, little bitch. And no matter how loud you fucking scream, this time Dexter won’t come to your rescue…”

  “Get your filthy hands off me!” I yell, struggling desperately against him.

  “Do you want the three of us to go at the same time?” he snarls at me, and his words make me go still, heart beating so incredibly fast it hurts. “No? Then shut the fuck up and take us one at a time.”

  “Dexter’s going to kill you,” I whisper.

  “Dexter,” he says, emphasizing the word, “Is not my problem anymore. You understand what I’m saying, slut?”

  He grabs ahold of my tits, twisting my nipple so painfully I curse out loud.

  “We listen to Easton now,” Caspian informs me. “And Easton says the one who’s roughest with you gets to be his second in command. So guess fucking what, bitch?”

  I whimper, closing my eyes as I look away from him. He bites my neck, teeth digging deep into my skin before he laughs against it.

  “I’m going to fucking win,” he adds resolutely.

  I’m screwed.

  To be continued…

  A Hurt So Sweet Volume Three

  Chapter One

  Dexter

  I’m pacing the driveway, awaiting news, a call, a car pulling up to the Estate, but there’s nothing.

  The guests are long gone. The only person here with me is Kelley, the Oakes’ driver who seems almost more worried than I am. He’s a fatherly figure, and he confided in me how much Pandora reminds him of his daughter.

  Emilian Oakes is furious. Once he found out Easton Brantley disappeared with his daughter – his most prized possession – he smashed a priceless Ming Dynasty vase and retreated to his office. I got him to speak to me, and he offered Kelley’s services in case I found out anything about Pandora. But he knows as well as I do it’s likely too late – Easton’s already got his claws in her.

  I spent the night watching my phone like a hawk, waiting for a call that never came. All of my friends disappeared along with Easton and Pandora. I know what this means. I know they’re ganging up on me, using the toy I’ve deemed as my property.

  It’s been twelve hours since Pandora disappeared from Oakes Estate. Twelve
gut-wrenching hours filled with guilt, anguish and shame.

  Now, my phone lights up and Lai’s number flashes across the screen.

  “Hello? Hello? Lai, where the fuck are you?” I demand, picking up the call on the first ring.

  There’s nothing but the sound of breathing on the other side. I furrow my brows, rubbing my temples as I wait for a reply. I hope nothing bad has happened, but I have a bad feeling about this. How could Pandora just disappear from her own party? Surely something messed up has happened, and the fact that Brantley’s gone too does not speak in his favor.

  “Where is Pandora?” I bark down the line. “You need to tell me where you took her right the fuck now, or I’m going to make your life a living fucking hell, you hear me, Lai?”

  “Maybe stop it with the threats for five seconds,” my friend growls in response. “And just let me fucking speak for once instead of interrupting me before I’ve even gotten a word out.”

  “Where is she? Fucking tell me.”

  “She’s… safe,” he finally says. “She’s with us.”

  “Where?”

  “I’ll tell you soon,” he says. “Listen, Dexter, this is more of a courtesy call than anything else.”

  “A courtesy call?” I repeat incredulously. “Fucking remember who you’re speaking to, Lai. I own Eden Falls. You don’t get to treat me like some plebeian, for fuck’s sake. I need to know what’s going on. I need to know she’s okay!”

  “Since when do you care about her?” Lai demands. “Last I checked you didn’t give two flying fucks about Pandora Oakes.”

  I grit my teeth together so hard my jaw aches. I don’t care, I tell myself resolutely. But even I’m struggling to believe that lately. It’s obvious the dark-haired, porcelain-skinned bitch has gotten under my skin, try as I might to deny her effect on me.

  “Look, Easton took her away,” Lai finally speaks up, and the note of regret is clear in his voice. “He… he had this plan, Dexter.”