Glass Heart Broken: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Glass Heart Academy Book 2)

by Lindsey Iler

“I can think of a few ways you can make it up to me.”

  I stand, running my palms up her bare legs. My hand, always so eager to feel her, dips past the fabric, keeping me from doing just that. There’s no controlling my smile when I touch her.

  “What can I say? I’ve grown to love the mean you,” she whispers in my ear, as I plunge two fingers inside of her. Her walls feel like home, and I relax in their comfort.

  Palmer reaches between us, unbuckling my belt, slipping it from the loops, and handing it to me with a naughty gleam in her eyes. She spins and drops her panties to the floor to give me a full view of her bare ass.

  “When did you become such a freak, Palmer Weston?” I stare at the curve of her spine, running a path with my finger where my eyes hit.

  “I think it’s safe to say we can blame you for that one.” She wraps her arms behind her back, wiggling her eager hands.

  “And there’s only one thing to do with a freak”— I wrap the leather around her wrists, tugging tight until her shoulders jerk— “and that’s entertain the hell out of them.”

  “You know the drill, Marek.”

  I guide her to the small table dividing the kitchenette from the bedroom area. Ever since the first time I saw it, I’ve dreamt of doing this. With slight pressure to her spine, she bends at the waist, lying face down on the wood.

  “I’d tell you to hold on, but . . .” I yank the strap tighter and kick her legs apart, exposing every inch of her made-of-dreams body.

  I suck my finger into my mouth, feeling the warmth before running it up her seam, ending on the tight hole. She jolts from the contact. Knowing she’s tightly wound, knowing her body, I unbutton my pants, dropping them and kicking them off to join her skirt.

  “Do my worst, right, baby?” I grab the base of my dick and guide it to her center. She wiggles in that cute way she always does when we’re nearly connected.

  “Always.” She spreads her legs a little bit wider, and I can’t stop my palm from smacking across the perfect curve of her ass.

  I dive deep inside her, stilling at once.

  “Feels too good, huh?” She rolls her head, giving me access to everything she’s feeling. Girls like Palmer can’t keep their satisfaction hidden. If she wants me, I know it. If she’s experiencing pleasure from my hands, she shows it.

  We ride the wave of desire together. When I’m about to come, I unravel the belt and spin her onto her back, prolonging our orgasms. She smiles when I lower myself over her, kissing along the deep V of her blouse. A deep moan is muffled as I plunge inside her.

  She slides her hand down her body, running slow circles over her clit. Observing her, unfiltered and unafraid, is a sight to see.

  “Damn.” I laugh lightly. “I like to work unassisted, but watching you . . .”

  “Trust me, you’re doing most of the work.” She lifts her hips a smidge, and I moan from the slightest shift of depth I’m reaching.

  It’s like there’s a line direct from her mouth, straight to my dick, because there’s no prolonging my release. As I slip out of her, she stays flat on the table, looking like a centerfold.

  “I don’t like my reaction to you.” She wiggles her fingers, demanding her skirt.

  I smile as I tug on my pants, then toss her the lump of fabric. “You mean the fact that, even when I’m mean to you, you’re desperate to dig deeper into my mind and body?”

  “Don’t be cute. It was hard for me today.” A tear escapes the corner of her eye, and everything in me freezes.

  I’m on her, brushing the real tears away, regret settling in every pore of my body. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”

  “Do you think it worked?” She stands, determination in her stance.

  “Do I think we just open-seasoned you?” I brush my hand down my face. “Yes.”

  She cups my cheeks, forcing my eyes to hers. “But will it work? I can handle a little retaliation.”

  I want to believe her. I really do.

  “The tears are making it a little hard for me to understand our reasoning behind doing this.” I cover her hands with my own.

  “The tears are the remnant of a little PTSD from earlier this year,” she admits. “I have somehow figured out a way to divide our moments together. Ones that hurt like hell, and then ones like this one. Sincere and full of life. Sometimes they like to collide.”

  “What are you most scared of?”

  “Trusting you.”

  “It has nothing to do with wanting or needing to, because you already do trust me, but I understand not wanting to.”

  “I’m falling in love with a boy I can’t find in me to fully trust. Nothing’s more fucked up than that.”

  “Love can be a little fucked up, can’t it?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Palmer

  Reed strolls through the front door, catching Marek and me in the middle of a quick kiss.

  “You two seem cozy.”

  He doesn’t shift away from me as I expect him to.

  It’s become our new normal.

  A whole week of snarky comments from my sister being ignored. Seven days of me pretending like I’m not jealous when I catch him and Reed with their heads tucked close together. One hundred and sixty-eight hours of tiptoeing around a conversation none of us want to have. Ten thousand and eighty minutes of turmoil, wondering if I’m on borrowed time with a boy I shouldn’t be falling in love with.

  I’m living a literal hell.

  “Didn’t know you’d be here tonight,” I say, barely suppressing my eye roll.

  In fact, I never know when Reed’s planning on being here. She pops in and out, without warning or explanation. Marek, Breaker, and Dixon don’t question her whereabouts. Byron, on the other hand, seems in a damn-near panic every time she’s anywhere else but by his side.

  Marek stands, bends to kiss me on the cheek, and then disappears into the kitchen.

  Once we are alone, Reed makes a home of his abandoned spot. “Marek didn’t tell you, then, I take it.”

  I sit up in complete defense mode. “What do you mean, tell me what?”

  “It’s my coming out party.” Reed reclines on the couch, her arms stretched out long, looking every bit the part of the devil in disguise.

  “I don’t understand.” I stand and sprint to the kitchen. Her laughter nips at my heels, antagonizing me with every single inch closer to Marek. “Care to explain what she’s yammering on about?”

  “What I’m yammering on about, little sis, is that tonight, I’m no longer going to be a dead girl.” Reed circles the island, running her freshly painted nails over the marble, until she’s beside Marek. Do they have to look like such a power couple?

  “By the look on your face, I’d assume you’d rather me find out at the party and not here.” I glare at Marek.

  “It would have been a way to get a real reaction out of you.” At least he has the decency to look ashamed as he avoids eye contact.

  “Yes, the only problem is, I would have been ambushed.” The heaviness of the news wraps around my heart. Marek knows what he’s doing, and I’m realizing his plans aren’t always going to have my best interest at heart.

  “Don’t you get it? That’s the whole point.” Reed laughs, cutting it off in an instant. “I’m allowing these boys to play you like a fiddle, so they can wiggle their way into Henry’s good graces.”

  “Allowing them, huh?” I quirk an eyebrow, wanting to fight, while knowing it’s a losing battle.

  “It’s the only way. What better way to make those who ran me into hiding, than to show up, alive and well, in the flesh.” She bows, knowing damn well she’s right. There’s a dare in her eyes, begging me to set a challenge.

  “That is if they’re there,” I correct her.

  I’m completely aware I’m on the outside of this plan. The only role I have is the surprised sister. How would I have reacted if I hadn’t known? Already knowing the heart in her chest beats wildly, I assume I’d have no choice but to play it up.
Academy Award winning acting. Now, I know what’s coming.

  Marek whispers something in my sister’s ear, and she giggles. Anger washes over me, and my eyes close. The low thump in my chest creates an ache.

  “You’re soft like a butterfly. Precious, but helpless,” Reed whispers. I open my eyes to find her next to me. I want to slap the pleased grin off her face. “You’re proof that there’s still beauty in the world, but no one calls for the butterfly when at war, little sis.”

  She leaves, her eyes dancing to Marek for a split second. Being alone with him builds the tension in the room.

  “I should have told you.” Marek moves into me, but I cut him off, slapping my open palm against his cheek. He catches my wrist, tugging me close. “Save some of that animosity for later, baby.” His angry lips press into mine, stealing what little breath I have in my lungs. “And just so we’re clear, the butterfly is perceived to be weak, but its strength comes from inside.” He taps his finger against his temple, then escapes towards the back stairwell.

  “I’m still mad at you,” I say before he reaches his destination.

  “Mad is something I can work with.” His eyebrow twitches, and a deep grin settles on his face. He’s anticipating the repercussions of his choice to work in his favor later. “In fact, I prefer it.”

  I race up the stairs into one of the spare bedrooms, looking for some quiet. A little refuge from this place is necessary. After the run-in with Henry, Marek thinks it better if I don’t walk through campus alone. Apparently, having Damien as my bodyguard isn’t enough anymore. I appreciate the worry, but if this year has taught me anything, it’s that I’m more than capable of handling whatever bullshit the universe throws at me.

  “You good?” Breaker saunters into the room.

  “Did you know?” I sit on the edge of the bed, and with my eyes, beg him not to lie to me. His chin dips down. “So, it’s just me in the dark. Real nice.”

  There’s no hiding my animosity. In fact, it’s radiating off me like waves of heat. I prop my elbows on my knees and rest my head in my hands. When I get my anger under control, I look up to find Breaker smirking.

  “What’s so funny?” I ask.

  “You don’t like the competition.” He points at me, then rubs his hands together like an excited child. “Reed being here, it screws up your entire dynamic, and it’s killing you.”

  “I’m happy my sister’s alive, Breaker.” I stand and pace the length of the room. “Don’t try to twist this around.”

  “You can love your sister and still hate the way her reappearance changes things for you. I’ve spent enough time with Reed to know she isn’t always the easiest to handle. You can admit that, at least.”

  If his words didn’t make so much sense, I’d slap the hell out of Breaker’s pretty face. He’s right, though. My sister’s safety and my discomfort in her relationship with Marek aren’t mutually exclusive.

  Breaker’s tight jaw loosens, and the grin he plasters on his face tells me he’s up to something. “There’s a way to make this grand entrance bitterly painful for the two of them.”

  “And how do you presume I do that?” I stalk over to him.

  “Well, the way I see it is, Marek’s going to show up with Reed on his side. This big moment to prove to whoever is fucking with us that it ends now. He still has to be cruel to you, though, right?” Breaker smirks. “Do you see where I’m going with this?”

  “No, I have no idea.” I giggle. “Should I be catching on?”

  “What will kill Marek more than having to be mean to you?” Breaker nods, so happy with his own plan, which can only mean one thing.

  Like a light switch being flipped, it hits me. A part of me wants to laugh and cheer, but in the other part of me, a heavy uncertainty settles.

  “I can’t, Breaker. He’ll kill whoever my target is.”

  “What if I’m your target?”

  “I can’t put you in that position.”

  “Listen, Marek’ll forgive me, and this way, an outsider’s blood won’t be on your hands. Plus, if I’m being honest, your sister’s return isn’t the reunion I expected.”

  “What was the deal with you two?” I ask.

  “If you’re asking if I loved her, I didn’t, but you know your sister. She’s magnetic and unrelenting. It’s hard not to be drawn to that magnetic force.”

  “You still feel that pull then?”

  “If her disappearance taught me anything, it’s that that kind of power isn’t natural.” He offers his hand to me. “And with that, I’m done telling my story.”

  Something in the way Breaker talks about Reed tells me I need to shut up and listen to his unspoken words. He walks to the door, and I grab his arm, halting his escape.

  “Let’s do it, but if Marek loses his shit, I’m blaming you.”

  “You got yourself a deal, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, and just so we don’t totally piss off Delaney, warn her beforehand, please.”

  “She’s not going to be there tonight.” The sadness in his voice screams volumes. The boy likes a girl, and lord knows if I mention it, he’d deny it.

  “Where’s she at?”

  “Sent me a text saying she had to deal with her parents’ bullshit this weekend.”

  “I swear, they’ll never get their shit together for her, but at least she’s off campus.”

  Delaney has been tiptoeing around school, refusing to let anyone escort her. Damien does his best to bounce between us, but I’m certain if she caught him watching her, she’d lose her shit.

  “Yes, but I’ll send her a text to warn her, because I plan on making headlines, baby.” He winks, and I can’t suppress the grin that spreads across my face.

  The clock on the bedside table says it’s eight. By the dark ebony sky outside the window, it looks closer to midnight. Full of anxiety, I search the bedroom for anything I can use to get ready. No girls left shampoo and conditioner here, ever? No ‘too afraid to go back for it’ curling iron?

  I open the door, careful to not make a sound, and check both ways down the hall. The space is empty. On tiptoes, I cross to Marek’s room. There’s no noise from inside, so I open the door. Marek is at his computer desk, and my sister is sitting cross-legged on the bed.

  Their expressions tell me different stories, my sister’s the most troubling. She thinks she’s won this unsaid competition between us.

  I’m placing most of the blame on Marek. I haven’t asked him what everything means, and I don’t care what Reed thinks.

  “I’m just grabbing my things.” I cross through the room and grab my small overnight bag. As I go to walk out, Marek stands, blocking my exit. His mouth opens, but I cut him off with my mouth.

  His lips move in sync with mine. My hand wraps around his neck, holding him in place. When I break the kiss, the corners of his mouth rise.

  Am I proud of myself? Sort of. Do I hope it proves to Reed that there is no competition? Perhaps. Do I think she actually cares? Not really. This kiss makes me feel better, and right now in my life, I’ll take any sort of false sense of security I can get.

  “Have fun tonight,” I whisper and push past him. I home in on Reed as I reach the door. Her eyes are wide from watching me kiss Marek. “Because I know I will.”

  “Wait a second. What’s that supposed to mean?” Marek chases after me. His uncertain tone makes me laugh.

  “Let her go, Marek,” Reed growls, frustration loud and clear in her voice.

  “You being mean to me won’t break me. You want to prance my sister around a party, while throwing jabs at me, then be my guest.”

  “Palmer, this is part of the plan.”

  “I know, Marek, but you aren’t the only one with a plan.” My finger trails down the front of his shirt, and he pushes me against the wall next to his bedroom door.

  “Palmer.” His serious tone has my breaths moving heavy in my chest.

  My eyes dart to the side, where I know Reed is hiding. “Don’t keep your precious
queen waiting.”

  “She’s not my queen.” With one brush of his fingers down the side of my face, I begin to crumble.

  “Prove it.” I push on his chest, forcing him away.

  Marek doesn’t chase after me, and I never look to see him watch me go. I hole up in the spare bedroom, showering and doing my hair until it’s almost time to leave. The parties around here don’t start until well after ten, so with time to spare, I pay extra attention to my appearance. When I say I’m going to make Marek prove it, I mean I’m not going to make it easy for him to do so.

  Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I inspect my clothes. Black ripped jeans paired with a black lace bodysuit would be average, if not for the cut of the top. The neckline dips devilishly low. I spin to check my bare back in the mirror.

  “That should do it.” Breaker’s voice startles me, and I execute a slow circle, showing off the outfit.

  “Do what?”

  “Prove to Marek who belongs where.”

  “I’m not sure I belong anywhere anymore.”

  “Let me make some things clear for you.” He twirls me around to face the mirror and stops directly behind me. “Your sister worked hard, harder than most, to earn our trust and respect. You, on the other hand, demanded it and endured the unthinkable by us assholes, and yet, here you stand.”

  “That doesn’t mean I belong.”

  “Sure, if you want to look at it that way, but the way I look at it, you fixed the broken by simply being present.” He cups my shoulders, squeezing them to reassure me. “Meet me downstairs in five minutes. Wear the red heels. It’s your color, and it’s his favorite.”

  I glance down at the two pairs in front of me. Red and silver, the same in design, but greatly different in spirit. Much like Reed and me.

  ******

  “You ready?” Breaker asks as we drive up to the mansion. The valet reaches for the door handle. Breaker rolls down the window and speaks to the man. “Please, give us a second.”

  The window goes up, giving us privacy again.

  “What am I supposed to do?” I ask, my nerves getting the better of me. “How should I act when I see Reed for the first time?”