Savage Prince
Royal Falls Elite Book 1
Kristin Buoni
Stella Hart
Copyright © 2020 by Kristin Buoni
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Note to Readers
Prologue
1. Laney
2. Hunter
3. Laney
4. Laney
5. Laney
6. Laney
7. Hunter
8. Laney
9. Laney
10. Laney
11. Laney
12. Laney
13. Laney
14. Laney
15. Laney
16. Laney
17. Hunter
18. Laney
19. Laney
20. Laney
21. Hunter
22. Laney
23. Laney
24. Laney
25. Laney
26. Laney
27. Hunter
28. Laney
29. Laney
More Information
About the Author
Note to Readers
Have you read the free prequel, Twisted Elite? If not, it’s available here, and it’s only a quick (but necessary) read:
TWISTED ELITE
Prologue
September 2nd, 2018
Connery Mansion
A chilly breeze tossed Lindsay Connery’s blonde hair into buoyant waves as she stepped out onto the roof. She let out a contented sigh and perched on her favorite old wooden loveseat. Then she looked upward, admiring the twinkling stars dotted between thick, dark clouds.
As a child, Lindsay had discovered that the west wing of her family’s grand limestone mansion had a large flat portion between two soaring spires which could be reached via a stone stairway on the third floor. At the time, she felt as if she’d discovered something ancient, like she was an archaeologist exploring a never-seen-before site, because the walls and roof edges were decorated with elaborate embellishments, carvings, and balustrades, just like a fairytale castle. It was all so new, so thrilling.
When her father returned from one of his frequent business trips, he explained that it was nothing—just part of the mansion design—but he saw how much his little girl loved going up there and watching the sky for meteors and UFOs. He hired a team to turn it into a rooftop garden with lush greenery and bursting blooms, and then he ordered some of the staff members to haul some old furniture out of storage so that she could have somewhere to sit.
Over the years, Lindsay changed her mind about what she wanted up there, and different pieces came and went. A decade later, there was a carved wooden loveseat, an antique table, and a large velveteen lounge in the middle of the garden. Fairy lights had been strung all around the outside, lending a warm yellow glow to the place.
Lindsay was sixteen now, but she still hung out in the garden all the time. She often shared the spot with her two brothers, and sometimes she even showed it to her friends and held little parties there.
Frowning, she tore her eyes away from the sky and pulled her cell phone out of her black coat pocket. She’d messaged a few people to see if they wanted to hang out tonight, but no one had replied yet. She’d even asked her friend Laney if she wanted to meet up, even though she lived quite far away, but she hadn’t responded for a while either. Everyone seemed to be ignoring her.
A rustling sound followed by footsteps made her turn her head to one side. “Oh, you’re finally here,” she said, shoulders relaxing as she spied the familiar face. She rose to her feet, lips twisting in a pout. “Where have you been? I messaged you a whole hour ago.”
The only response she received was three softly-spoken words. “Is it true?”
Lindsay’s nose wrinkled as she stepped over to the ornately-carved balustrade on the edge of the roof. “Is what true?” she asked, looking over her shoulder as she retrieved a pink vape pen from one of her pockets. As she waited for an answer, she inhaled deeply, sucking down cherry-flavored vapor before blowing it out in a series of rings.
The response came in a sharper tone this time. “You and Jason Breckenridge. Have you been hooking up with him?”
Lindsay rolled her eyes and let out another cherry-flavored puff. “Why do you care?”
“Are you kidding?” The other person folded their arms, eyes narrowing slightly. “You know he’s married to Samantha, right?”
“Duh, of course I do. How could I not know?”
“It was a rhetorical question.” There was a short pause. “Does Kairo know about you and Jason?”
Lindsay shrugged. “No. We’re over anyway. I just broke up with him.”
“So you can screw your way around town without feeling guilty?”
Her brows furrowed. “Don’t be so judgmental! You don’t know what’s going on. It’s super-complicated.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“How’d you find out about me and Jason, anyway?” Lindsay asked before drawing on the vape pen again.
“Someone told me.”
“Who?”
“I can’t say. I told them I wouldn’t tell.”
Lindsay rolled her eyes again. “Whatever. I think I have a pretty good idea of who it was, anyway. Big-mouthed bitch,” she muttered.
The other person stepped closer, eyes filled with concern now. “Look, Linz…. I actually came up here to tell you that I’m on your side, even with all the Jason stuff.”
“Doesn’t sound like it,” Lindsay replied with a derisive snort. “Sounds more like you came up here to lecture me.”
“I didn’t. I just wanted you to know that I see you, and I love it all. Even the bad parts.”
“Huh? You see me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means, dummy. It means I know everything about you. Even the things you don’t tell me about.”
“Like what?”
“Like that tattoo you’re hiding under your watch. I know you sneaked over to Silvercreek to get it a month ago, and you didn’t tell any of us because you like keeping little secrets from everyone.”
Lindsay flushed. “It’s nothing. I just thought it was cute. No big deal.”
“Right. Sure. I know about all the guys, too, by the way. Jason Breckenridge isn’t the only married one you’ve hooked up with.”
“I can do whatever I want,” Lindsay said, flipping her glossy blonde hair over her shoulder. “It’s none of your fucking business.”
“I know. But the thing is, I know why you’re doing all of it, and that is my business.” There was a brief pause, and then a sigh. “You can’t hide your true self. Not from me.”
“Oh, god. Stop with the drama, puh-lease,” Lindsay replied, stuffing her vape pen back in her pocket. “Honestly, I love you, but you’re such a little bitch sometimes.”
“It’s not drama. It’s serious.” The other person took a step closer. “I know what you need. I know why you’re acting out so much. And I’m willing to help you with all of it, if you just listen to me and try to understand.”
“Oh, yeah? Please, go ahead. Explain my own behavior to me,” Lindsay said in a sarcastic tone, waving one hand in the air.
“You’ve never had proper, loving parents. Not like normal people, anyway. So you try
to fix that gaping hole in your life by running around and screwing anyone who gives you a speck of attention. And of course all these older guys want you. You’re beautiful, and you’re also young and naïve enough to act out all their twisted fantasies without realizing that half of them require you to have absolutely zero respect for yourself.”
Lindsay’s eyes shot upward. “Jeez. Tell me how you really feel.”
“You don’t have to do it anymore, Linz. You just have to be with someone who gets it. Someone who can love you the way you really need. Not just someone to fill the void for a few weeks.”
Lindsay scowled. “If you were anyone else, I’d slap the shit out of you for saying all that crap.”
“You know I’m right, though.”
She let out a frustrated huff. “Even if you were, who is this magical person you claim can love me the way I supposedly need?”
“Me.”
A soft hand reached for Lindsay’s shoulder, and she jerked away. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean I want you to be with me.”
“Um… I am with you. Right now.”
“No. Not like that. I mean be with me.”
“Ugh.” Lindsay scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I know you love all your jokes and pranks, but that’s not funny. It’s just fucking dumb.”
“It’s not a joke.”
“Ha-freaking-ha. Stop being an ass.”
“I’m not. I… I want you, Linz. I always have. I want us to be together.”
“God, I said stop!” Lindsay stamped her foot before turning around to face the knee-high balustrade again. “Seriously, please go! I don’t have time for this shit tonight,” she added, turning her head to look back over her shoulder.
“This shit?” A hand darted out to pull Lindsay all the way around again. “Listen. This is real. Not bullshit.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“It is. I’ve always been here for you, and I’ve always listened to all your problems; at least the ones you let me know about. I’d do anything for you, and you know it. So why can’t you believe me when I say I want to be with you?”
Lindsay let out a frustrated groan. “Please stop. I know you’re messing with me, and it’s really not funny at all. It’s just ridiculous.”
The other person grabbed her by both shoulders this time, hands heavy and determined. “I told you, this isn’t a joke. I’ve felt like this for as long as I can remember, and I can’t hold it in anymore. I can’t keep watching you run around with all these fucking guys when I’m right here!”
Lindsay felt the blood drain from her cheeks, and she swallowed hard. “Oh my god. You’re actually serious?” she murmured, hand fluttering at her chest.
“Yes.”
“You want us to be together. Like… together together.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, god….” Lindsay took a small step backwards, stomach churning as she shrugged off the unwanted hands. “This can’t be happening.”
“I get it. It’s a bit of a surprise.”
“Are you kidding? This isn’t just a bit of a surprise!” Lindsay shot back. Her voice had gone up an octave. “It’s just… no! What the fuck are you even trying to do right now? I don’t want to be with you!”
Her admirer didn’t relent. “We belong together. We’re both fucked up, because bad shit has happened to us, so we understand each other. Can’t you see how that makes us perfect for each other?”
Lindsay felt her insides quivering like jelly. She hadn’t expected this to happen. Not tonight. Not in a million years.
“Look… I love you, okay?” she said. “But I don’t love you like that. I never have.”
“But you can! Just give us a chance. I can show you how good we’d be together.” The other person had fallen to their knees now, eyes wide and pitiful. “I can prove it. Just let me try.”
“No. Stop,” Lindsay said, voice rising again as her upper lip curled. “You shouldn’t have to talk someone into giving you a chance, and you definitely shouldn’t beg them when they aren’t even remotely interested. Not ever. Besides… how could you ever think I’d want you?”
Her admirer winced. “You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do! A billion times over. I honestly can’t believe you even had the guts to approach me with this bullshit!”
“Linz, I’m sorry. But I love you. I can’t change that.”
A loud crack of thunder made both of them jerk with surprise, and droplets of rain began to fall at the same time.
Lindsay barely even registered the cold pitter-patter against her skin. She was still too shocked and appalled by what was happening.
Someone she deeply cared about… someone she trusted… it was all total fucking bullshit in the end. Just another manipulative asshole who only wanted to sleep with her.
“Please leave me alone,” she said in a hollow voice.
“No.”
“Yes. Go away.”
“Don’t be like this.” The other voice was even more pitiful now. Even more pathetic.
“Like what? I’m not doing anything wrong here. You are. Now leave me the hell alone,” Lindsay shot back. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore. In fact, after this, I don’t want to talk to you ever again. Fuck whatever relationship we used to have; it’s over now. You’ve killed it.”
Her would-be lover got off their knees and rose to their full height again, shoulders thrown back and chin lifted high. “I won’t give up on you.”
“Wow. How romantic. I’ve gained a new stalker.” Lindsay adopted a sarcastic lilt again, tilting her head to one side. “Or am I confusing romance with total debasement? I guess it’s hard to tell in this town.”
“I’m serious. I’ll keep trying until you finally realize we belong together. You have to see it eventually.”
Lindsay narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “You really don’t get it, do you?” she said. “Even if we were the last two people on the planet, I still wouldn’t sleep with you. That’s how much I don’t want you. That will never change.”
Sorrowful eyes met her stony gaze. “You think this is just about sex? Because it isn’t. This is real. I said I love you. I’m in love with you.”
“Wow. You’re actually insane.”
The other person raised their palms. “I understand why you’re reacting like this. I really do. But you don’t need to worry about other people’s opinions. They might be surprised at first, because they didn’t expect you to fall for someone like me, but they’ll just have to get used to it. It’ll be fine.”
“It’s got nothing to do with what other people think, you fucking idiot! How can you not see that? I have absolutely zero attraction to you, and I ne—”
Hot lips brushed Lindsay’s mouth, cutting her off midsentence. The kiss wasn’t innocent or teasing. It was fiery and demanding. Hard and insistent. A slimy tongue poked into her mouth, flicking around hers, and she almost retched. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t break away from the tight embrace she found herself trapped in.
She finally managed to pull away a moment later, and she heaved in a breath and raised her fingers to her lips. They felt tender now. Bruised. “What the hell?” she spat out.
Shiny eyes met her gaze. “See?” came the voice again, breathy and passionate.
“See what?” Lindsay stiffened. “Are you expecting me to fall into your arms and say how good that kiss was? Because it wasn’t. It was fucking gross.”
“No. It was perfect. Like you.”
“For fuck’s sake! When are you going to get it through your thick fucking skull?” Lindsay screeched. “I don’t want you! I never will!”
“Don’t say that.”
The rain started to fall harder, drumming against the floor in a steady rhythm.
“I’m just being honest.” Lindsay wiped her mouth again. “And honestly, you’re dead in this town. This whole fucking country. Seriously. I’m going to tell everyone about this shit.”
�
�You can’t do that,” came the reply, barely audible above the loud pitter-patter of the raindrops.
Lindsay sneered. “Really? A few seconds ago you were raving on about how we can tell everyone about us. What happened to that bravery, huh?”
“That was before—”
“Before what? Before you finally realized I genuinely don’t want you?”
The other person’s muscles went rigid, neck cording with concern. “Lindsay… you wouldn’t really tell anyone that I said all of this, would you?” they said softly.
“Are you kidding?” she hissed. “You’re completely delusional! I’m going to tell everyone about this. I’m going to tell them all that you’re a predatory freak who refuses to take no for an answer, and I’m going to tell them all about the pathetic little crush you—”
Lindsay’s head whipped back as a hand connected with her cheek in a loud crack, cutting her tirade off in the middle.
“You… you hit me,” she whimpered, taking a fearful step backward. “You actually hit me.”
Her assailant raised trembling hands in the air. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Yes you did! You slapped me!”
“I’ll never do it again. I promise. I just… oh, god…. I love you so much. It hurts me to hear you saying all those terrible things about me. Can’t you see that?”
“I don’t care. Please just do what I said before and get the fuck out of here,” Lindsay replied through gritted teeth.
“I can’t. Not until we sort this out.”
“There’s nothing to sort out.”
“But you said you’re going to tell everyone about what happened between us.”
Savage Prince: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Royal Falls Elite Book 1) Page 1