Ruthless (The Privileged of Pembroke High #4)

by Ivy Fox

  “Who is this?” She licks her lips.

  “This is my friend, Saint.”

  “He doesn’t look very saintly to me,” the girl Lace was making out with chimes in lustfully.

  Oh, man.

  If this is how Pembroke High girls act, then hooking up will be like taking candy from a baby. None of them will put up too much of a challenge, and I sure as fuck don’t mind it being this easy when a blowjob is in question.

  “Take a seat, brother,” states the dark-haired guy as he gets up from his chair, tilting his square jaw at both of us in acknowledgment.

  “Reid, this is Saint. He’ll be joining us at Pembroke next week. Going to join the swim team, too.”

  The pride in Chad’s voice makes my chest warm hotter than the blazing sun overhead ever could.

  “Is that right?” Reid exclaims, looking amused for the first time since I’ve been in his presence. “So, how fast are you?”

  “In fifty freestyle? My best is eighteen seconds and sixty-four.”

  “No shit. My last was nineteen ten,” he retorts, seemingly more excited about this discussion than watching the two girls going at it.

  “Impressive. So, I’ve got some competition waiting for me.”

  “I can say the same. Good thing, too, since I hate easy things.”

  “I got that.” I tilt my head at the two girls whose lips are still swollen from their make-out session.

  “Easy is overrated. Isn’t that right, Kim?” he asks over his shoulder, not even bothering to look her in the eye.

  “Huh?” she questions, confused.

  “Nothing, Kim. Just do you, babe.” He teasingly winks at me.

  Huh.

  Good to see that Pembroke won’t be filled with assholes as I suspected, after all. This kid doesn’t seem so bad to me.

  “How about you show me where you got that?” I point at his bottle.

  “I’ll grab you one from inside the kitchen. You want one too, Chad?”

  Chad doesn’t even have time to respond when the girl I now know is called Kim begins to whine.

  “Oh no, Reid. You’re not going anywhere. Not until our new arrivals get their turn,” Kim pouts, pulling at the hem of his T-shirt to prevent him from moving a muscle.

  “Great,” Reid huffs out in frustration, taking his seat instead of grabbing us a cold one.

  “You look like a guy who likes to have some fun.” Kim winks flirtatiously at me, thinking I’ll be a pawn in her little game of trying to make Reid jealous.

  Boy, is she barking up the wrong tree.

  “It depends on what kind of fun we’re talking about.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Lace interjects, twirling an empty bottle of Jack Daniel’s on the floor, undoubtedly the culprit behind her inebriation. “We’re playing Simon says. Or at least our version of it.” She giggles like I should know what the fuck that even means.

  It’s only when she places a baseball cap in my hand, filled with folded-up notes, that I get an inkling of what this game is all about. I’d bet a thousand bucks that before our arrival, one of the notes inside the cap demanded Lace to drink her weight in whiskey. And if I had to guess who ordered her to do it, I’d bet another grand on her kissing buddy Kim.

  Chicks.

  “I’d rather we just go back inside and get ourselves a drink,” Chad throws out, grabbing the cap out of my hand in an effort to hand it back to our hostess.

  Unfortunately for us, Lace isn’t having it.

  “Fine!” Kim exclaims in exasperation, getting up from her seat and walking over to two knuckleheads who are patiently waiting for an encore of her girl-on-girl performance.

  With a sultry smile, she bends down just low enough to give them a good eyeful of her breasts. It’s not hard since the flimsy yellow bikini top barely covers her nips. Happy with the two dickwads being distracted, she uses the diversion to snatch their full beer bottles. Then she steps up to me and Chad me, wiggling both bottles at us with a triumphant beam in her eyes.

  “If you want these, then you have to play. So, are you in, or are you out?”

  Chad looks up at me expectantly, and I see he’s not one-hundred percent on board with this idea.

  “It’s just a game, Boy Scout. I won’t let anyone here steal your virginity,” I goad under my breath so only he can hear.

  “Asshole,” he relents with an anxious smile.

  To Kim’s disapproval, Reid makes room for us on the lounge chair, putting us in between them. I can’t say I feel sorry that her plan of keeping him here backfired.

  “Okay, you’ve got us here. Now what?” My question is aimed at Lace since it’s obvious this is her show, even if it’s Kim pulling all the strings.

  “All you have to do is grab a piece of paper and hand it over to me, so I dole out the ruling. Got it?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got it,” I mumble before grabbing the beer bottles away from Kim’s hands. I pass one to Chad, who instantly takes one long swig from it.

  Ain’t that something.

  This is his crowd, yet he’s the one who’s nervous.

  “Since I’ve known Chad all my life, I think it’s only fair he goes first. That’s okay with you, isn’t it, handsome?”

  “Whatever.” I scoff.

  Lace was more bearable with Kim glued to her lips. Her southern drawl is making my skin crawl. She sounds like one of those beauty pageant contestants with no brains and even less personality. But this little game of hers was most probably set in place to humiliate her guests in one form or another. Sure, she’s two sheets to the wind now, but sober, she’s most likely dangerous. I was sure the guys at my new school would be the ones I needed to look out for, but it seems that the girls are just as vile.

  Chad drinks the rest of the beer in one chug, the alcohol barely swimming in his veins as he reaches for the hat and pulls out a creased note. He hands it to Lace, Kim’s chin already at her shoulder to see what’s written. Both girl’s eyes beam brightly as Lace takes turns looking my way and then bouncing back to Chad. She flips the note so everyone can read it, my throat instantly clogging at the two-word demand.

  Satisfy me.

  “Hmm, what could Chad here ever do to satisfy you, Lace?” Kim whispers in her ear, like the fucking snake she is.

  “You know what? I think I can come up with an idea of how Chad and his friend might be able to entertain me.” Lace cackles.

  “You mean, make them kiss?” Kim coos.

  “You’re reading my mind.”

  “Don’t be a bitch, Lace,” Reid states, feeling Chad stiffen beside him.

  “Why am I a bitch?!” Lace barks out.

  You know what’s worse than a sloppy drunk?

  A belligerent, mean one.

  And by the looks of it, Lace is foaming at the mouth to be crowned queen of her twisted mean girl duo.

  “Everyone was fine with me making out with Kim just a few minutes ago. No one batted an eye at me for kissing a girl for their amusement. Why is it so different from what I’m asking Chad and Saint to do?”

  “It’s not the same thing, and you know it,” Reid defends.

  “Well, it’s my house and my rules. I kissed Kim for three minutes, so that’s what I want Chad and his new friend to do, too. I want three full minutes of them locking lips. If you can’t handle the heat, then get the fuck out of my kitchen. And if I’m not being clear enough, that means out of my house.”

  Reid looks like he’s about to murder someone, but he doesn’t move an inch from his seat. That alone tells me all I need to know. Kim might want to jump on his dick, but it’s Lace who he’s put his sights on. Funny thing is, he doesn’t look like he even wants to touch her, save for strangling her neck with his bare hands.

  “Chad, what’s it going to be? Are you going to be a sport and play, or are you going to disappoint me?”

  “You gotta be shitting me?” I laugh, pretending not to be one bit frazzled wi
th what she’s asking us to do.

  I run my fingers through my hair so no one can see my palms grow sweaty at the idea of kissing Boy Scout with everyone watching. This spoiled bitch just wants a show like she gave. I can’t fault her for it since, in my eyes, it really is just tit for tat. Or, in this case, tit for dick.

  Whatever.

  I can, however, hate her fucking guts for threatening to kick her friends out of her home like dogs just because she didn’t get her way.

  “Saint looks like he’s comfortable in his sexuality. A big, tough guy like you isn’t intimidated by a little kiss, now are you?” Kim mocks, enjoying this a little too much for my liking.

  I run my tongue over my front teeth, making note that, one day, this girl and her sidekick will get exactly what they deserve.

  “It’s just one kiss. I’ll even time you if you want.” She has the audacity to wink.

  I’m about to get the fuck up and tell them both they can kiss my ass when Chad steals the words from me.

  “Fuck it,” he curses, grabbing my face and placing his lips on mine.

  It takes me a minute to get over the shock that Boy Scout gathered the courage to do it. But as my smile dwindles down, my heart rate begins to pick up and accelerate. His lips are firm yet soft, plucking my lower lip into his plush ones. I’m taken aback by how good he tastes. The faint taste of beer making the rich, smooth taste of him masculine, yet it’s the lingering flavor of his minty toothpaste that reminds me he’s the boy I’ve been crushing hard for longer than I care to admit. It’s like drinking in the sunshine and hoping you don’t get second-degree burns. It’s hot and all-consuming, and I fucking love it. My heart rate increases further when he opens his mouth just a tad, just enough for me to use to my advantage. My tongue eagerly seeks his, and when they collide, I feel myself harden like never before. It takes all of me not to groan into his mouth.

  Gently, I feel him begin to pull away, but since I didn’t hear Kim yell our time’s over, I grab the nape of his neck and deepen our kiss.

  Boy Scout might have started this shit, but damn, am I going to be the one who finishes it. My tongue tries to discover every little nook and cranny of his warm mouth, and when a little groan rips through his throat, I eat it up with fervor. I don’t know how much time I have left, but I take each second as if it were my last. It’s only when we feel someone looming over our shoulders, followed by a strangled gasp, that I let him out of my hold.

  Demon eyes that I’ve committed to memory these past few years burn holes into my head, promising me that this one kiss will cost me dearly.

  Fuck it.

  It was totally worth it.

  Chapter 12

  Saint

  “Now that was hot!” I hear Kim giggle, but I’m too transfixed on the she-devil throwing daggers at me to pay the Regina George wannabe any mind.

  Whatever childish games girls like Lace and Kim think they can play on people, they’ll never compare to what Elle’s conniving mind is truly capable of.

  Ever hear the expression ‘she is not fragile like a flower, she’s fragile like a bomb?’ Well, let’s just say little Elle Grayson runs on fucking napalm, and right now, she’s set her nukes pointing straight in my direction.

  “Elle!” Chad stutters before jumping off to greet his so-called BFF.

  Chad—being the ever-perfect Boy Scout that he is—quickly assesses the damage our little lip-lock did to his friend and goes full throttle in doing damage control. God forbid if Princess gets upset with him over something as innocent as a kiss.

  Jesus, she’s got him by the balls.

  I can only imagine the lengths he will go to cool down her hot temper when he pops some girl’s cherry for the first time. I’ve never seen anyone bend to someone’s will as easily as she’s able to make Chad do with just a scowl. It’s her own goddamn superpower, and she wields it against him every chance she gets. The demon-eyed girl might believe she has her claws sunk in deep where Chad is concerned, but if that kiss told me anything at all, it is that she doesn’t have them in deep enough.

  And if I have any say in the matter, she never will.

  I watch Chad wrap his arms around her in a hug, thinking that will do the trick of softening her up and take the sting out of what she just saw. No matter how Boy Scout wants to downplay our kiss, his flushed cheeks give him away. And because I’m loving every minute of watching her stew in her own misery, I decide to add salt to the open wound and lick my lips so she knows I can still taste him on me.

  The evil glare she sends in return is fucking priceless.

  “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it,” Chad adds, still looking like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  “I can see that.” Her nostrils flare as she grinds her back molars, the searing glower on her face only vanishing when Chad pulls away from their embrace.

  The fake-ass smile she gives him has me internally chuckling like a motherfucker.

  “Elle!!!” Lace shouts, stumbling over to the pain in my backside. “You’re just in time!”

  “Am I? It sure doesn’t feel that way,” Elle mumbles under her breath before turning to Lace with that same practiced grin plastered to her face. “What am I in time for?”

  “To be the next one to play, silly.”

  Lace flutters her eyelashes at Chad as she pulls Elle away from him, eager for her next victim to join her fucked-up little circle. Boy Scout returns to sit at my side, but the carefree friend I came to this party with is no longer here.

  His sole focus is now on her.

  Just as it always is.

  Lace shoves an aggravated Kim aside, so her new prey can sit beside her. Once she’s placed that damn fucking ball cap on Elle’s lap, Lace claps excitedly, salivating at the mouth to restart her game.

  “Go on. Pick one,” Lace insists annoyingly, nudging Elle with her shoulder.

  Elle’s so consumed with thoughts of cutting me into tiny little pieces that I doubt she understands what she’s getting herself into. When she pulls a folded-up note, Lace quickly snaps it away from her grip, howling like a drunken hyena when she reads what’s written there.

  “Seven minutes in heaven!” Lace shrieks. “And I know just the person to pick for Elle. Don’t I?”

  My heart stops at the calculating, evil grin on Lace’s lips.

  Shit.

  She’s going to pick Boy Scout.

  “Saint, you’re up, buddy!” The drunken mess of a girl slurs.

  “What?!” Elle and I both croak at the same time.

  “Oh, don’t play coy with me, you two! You both haven’t been able to take your eyes off each other since the minute Elle arrived. Now get up. Come on, now. Get up,” Lace orders by shoving a red-faced Elle back onto her feet.

  I feel Chad’s body hardening beside me. He takes the beer bottle I’ve been nursing out of my hands and takes a long sip. Not once does he meet my eyes, preferring to keep his head bowed just staring into blank space.

  “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!”

  No, it’s not.

  It’s going to be hell.

  Locking me away in a closed room with Elle is a sure way to get my dick cut off. She’s been imagining ways to kill me since she got here, and no good will come from forcing us to be alone together in a confined space.

  A few guys pull me up from my seat and push my feet to move, all chanting away obscenities of what they would have done to Elle if Lace had picked them instead of me. All their horndog suggestions fall on deaf ears since I’m too wound up, realizing Chad isn’t amongst the goading mob. It’s only when I manage to look over my shoulder that I see both Chad and Reid still seated at their spot, preferring not to have anything to do with what’s about to go down.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, pissed that Boy Scout is sulking.

  “Over here.” Lace points to a changing room beside the pool.

  Without a second to lose, she ope
ns the door and shoves us both inside. The space isn’t that cramped, but you can tell it wasn’t made for two people to be in it. With a mirror on one side and a bench on the other, the tiny space was designed for people to change into their swimwear and go, not to make out with anyone.

  “Now, these are the rules. You two only get seven minutes, so don’t start anything you can’t finish.” Lace winks suggestively.

  She wiggles her phone at us, showing us the timer set for seven minutes, and then blows us a kiss before slamming the door shut. We can still hear everyone howl out how best to enjoy this stupid-ass game.

  Seven minutes.

  I can totally survive seven minutes.

  No problem.

  Elle is still seething away, forcefully pulling at the doorknob to no avail. When she finally gives up, realizing we’ll have to do our time whether we like it or not, she gives the door one last kick to show her disgruntlement.

  “Don’t even think about it,” she snarls at me.

  “Think about what exactly?”

  “You know damn well what. Touch me and kiss your balls goodbye.”

  “Always the ball buster, but I guess it’s only natural since you’ve got a good eye view of mine from way down there,” I taunt, patting the top of her head.

  She slaps my hand away, and to my utter satisfaction, she steps up onto the bench to look down at me rather than the other way around. Not that the infuriating princess needs to stand on a bench to remind me I’m beneath her.

  “What was that all about with Chad?” she asks point-blank, revealing what’s really eating her up.

  “Have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “I saw you kiss him, asshole!”

  “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Princess. It was just a kiss, not a fucking marriage proposal. Besides, it was just one of your friend Lace’s dares. You know? Like the one we’re supposed to be doing now.”

  “If your lips even so much as come within an inch of me, I’ll bite them off.”

  “Sounds like a challenge to me.” I smirk.