“I know, beba.” He watches me wearily. “You never deserved to be put through any of this. Uh, your car wasn’t vandalized.”
“What?” I whisper, my mind instantly remembering when the counselor brought me outside to see my ruined Jaguar. “I saw it with my own eyes.”
“I know. What I mean to say is that it wasn’t done by the girls that were giving you a hard time.”
My brow creases. “I don’t understand. How would you know that?”
“I damn well know what happened to it, because I was the one who did it. Why do you think no one ever found the video surveillance? I had Axel hack their security system and delete the parking lot recordings for an entire twenty-four hours, so it appeared as some sort of reset glitch.”
It feels like I have an elephant sitting on my chest as tears blur my sight. “Why did you hate me so much to destroy my car and carve those horrible words into it?”
“Mon cher, I never hated you, not ever, not even a little. I did it to shake you up. I couldn’t let you get too close to us. We were starting to develop real feelings for you, and that’s a red flag for my father. I thought messing with your emotions would help, and the Porsche would throw you off from the millions we were getting ready to bank.”
“So, you did it all and blamed the girls at school, but I don’t understand why you helped me clean it all up, why you ordered me this car? Wouldn’t it upset your father more to know you ruined something just to end up spending money on me?”
His lips turn up a touch as his hand squeezes mine, reminding me that he’s been holding it this entire time. “He didn’t know about it. Actually, he doesn’t know everything we do to execute his bigger plans. He only cares that we achieve the end goal. That’s what I thought I was doing at the time.”
He exhales, raking his hand through his newly-trimmed hairstyle and continues. “It turns out that his end goal and mine weren’t the same. I jacked up your car, and then I felt like a monster knowing how upset you were going to be when you saw it. That’s when I called my buddy and had a car delivered for you. Had I known how abusive your father really is, I’d never have done it in the first place. I’ll never be able to forgive myself knowing I was part of your torment. You’ve had a rough enough time without me adding to the mix.”
The tears I’d been trying so vigilantly to hold back, finally fall. I hate that I always wear my emotions on my sleeve. I can’t change it, though; I’ve been like that my entire life. That’s one of the reasons why I always took to escaping to my room and why I love going to camp so much each summer. They’re the two places I’ve had a sense of normalcy.
“Shh.” He leans forward, his other hand moving to catch my messy tears. “I don’t like being the root of these. Please don’t cry, beba, I don’t want you hurting on account of me. Trust me, I’m not worth it.”
Sniffling, I chew on my bottom lip before arguing, “But you are to me. Can’t you see that?”
His gaze softens, his hand caressing my cheek. “I’m sorry. I am. I’d have lost it if your father had hurt you on account of me.”
Shaking my head, I sniff a few times, urging my tears to stop. “No, actually he was thrilled you jumped in to help. H-he thought it was Tristan that ordered the car though. If I’d have told him the truth, he’d have accused me of being a temptress and trying to sabotage the engagement.”
“You did the right thing letting him think that. If you’re not happy with this car, you can pick out the one you want, and I’ll have it delivered. I want you happy, and if I’d had more time before, I would’ve asked you.”
“The car isn’t the issue.” I don’t think he understands it’s just a thing and that means nothing to me. What matters is if he’s in love with me.
“Then tell me how I can fix things. You’ve been ignoring all of us since we got you in the house, and it’s not what we want. We didn’t bring you there to make you miserable; we did it so you’d be safe.”
Something clicks in me, his words moments ago and now his comment about my safety. “Wait a second, by my safety, do you mean from the girls that were giving me problems before, or is there a threat I don’t know about?”
“No, beba, from your father hurting you again.”
Swallowing, I hiccup and whisper a broken, “Wha-what did you just say?”
“We won’t let him touch you ever again.”
Mortification hits me like a truck. They know? Does Sam or Brandon? I mean, of course, they’re aware of my dad being hard on me, but how much do they know? Pulling away from his touch, I ask brokenly, “How much do you know?”
He groans, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Probably most of it.”
“No,” I say with a sigh. It’s like a wave of shock has swept me under, and the undercurrent is taking me further into the dark depths. This is my secret, and I didn’t want anyone finding out about it, bad enough that I’ve had to cover up the bruises and hide any other telling marks. I’ve kept my friends away from my house as much as possible in case my father decided to take his anger out on me or the rest of my family and embarrass us...but, now this.
Angrily, I burst out, “Why can’t you just stay out of my business? What happens in my home is none of your concern!”
“Bullshit!” Cole growls. It’s fiercer than my own anger. The sound is so unlike him and shocks me enough to quiet any other lingering comments I was going to make. “That’s where you’re mistaken; everything about you is our business. When you’re mad, sad, or fucking hurt...EVERY. SINGLE. THING. is our business. And don’t ever call that house your home, because it’s not!”
His words cut deep, my chest heaves as sobs break free. “How dare you!” I cry. “It’s all I have.”
“No, it’s not!” he bursts. “And it is my business, damn it. I love you, and I won’t sit by while the woman I love is treated like some trashy whore who can be abused and sold off to the highest bidder.”
My crying turns ugly, and I start to cough. I’m so upset I feel like I could throw up. This conversation turned far deeper than I’d anticipated. I never imagined we’d be digging all of these secrets up. I feel raw and exposed, and so low. Finally, I’m able to home in on the important thing he’s confessed. “You love me?”
He nods, the scowl prominent. It’s not so much rage in his intense features, but fear. “I won’t sit by while he hurts you. None of us will. We love you too much. You don’t belong trapped in that house with an abusive father and a neglectful mother who turns a blind eye. Your place is with us; your home is wherever we are.”
His hand scrubs his face as he finishes, “You have our hearts, beba, always. I’m sorry if you hate me now, but you were right, you deserve the whole truth. You deserve everything. Let us give it to you, please. If you’ll allow it, we’ll cherish you and treat you like the princess we know you are inside.”
Using the sleeve of my pajamas to wipe my face, I try to collect myself. “Cole?”
Exhaling, he meets my eyes, warily. “Yeah?”
“I love you, too, and I forgive you.” Everyone deserves another chance, and after hearing everything, Cole is no different. He screwed up, but he loves me. Love deserves a second chance, and so does he.
His jaw slackens, stunned. “Wait, you do?”
“Yes, now, please kiss me.”
“Your wish is my command, beba,” he murmurs, leaning in to plant his lips to mine. His hand shoots to my chest, and he yanks the material to get me closer. His words and promises make me smile. He was right about one thing, for sure; my home is with them. Finally, after craving a sense of belonging for so long, I’ve found it. I never imagined it’d be with four completely different guys, but I’ll happily take it.
Unbuckling my belt, I scramble over the center to sit in his lap just as I’d done with Axel. Cole’s strong arms wrap around my body, embracing me tightly in his warmth and security. I feel cherished and loved, and for once, I’m glad I got to talk about
my secret with someone. It’s hard keeping something so big to yourself, and as long as he doesn’t judge me or shower me in pity, then I want to open up to him. Cole may have messed up in the past, but he continues to try and make it up to me.
His hands run over my back, winding in my hair to hold me in place. He kisses me like it’s our last or maybe our first—the first since we confessed our love to each other.
“S
o, what happens now?” Sam asks, being extremely nosey as usual. I wouldn’t trade her for the world even if she can’t mind her own business when it comes to me or anybody else.
I shrug, thinking of what to say as she follows me. Various people wave and greet us as we pass them, and we smile and return their hellos, being polite and friendly. We head to our shared math class, and I eventually admit, “I have no idea.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” she whispers as we take our seats next to one another, “I’m happy you all discussed it, I really am.”
I nod. I am too. Shit I’ve been miserable without my quads. “But...” I know she’s leaving the rest of her opinion off.
“But, doesn’t it feel weird, knowing they all love you and not just Tristan?”
“We shouldn’t be discussing this now or here.” I swear the bricks suck up secrets at the academy and then spill them out when it’s least convenient. My relationship with the guys is something I don’t want to be spread around, even though I know people have their own suspicions. I just got through the beginning part of a terrible year of being taunted and humiliated. I’m not ready to go back there so soon or ever. I especially don’t want it to start back up for my senior year either. I’m trying to enjoy this moment before it’s over.
“I know that,” she rolls her eyes, “But we are.”
“No, we’re not,” I argue, and for once I’m relieved our instructor comes in ready to teach immediately. I can avoid her question for this period at least, but I’m not sure how much longer I can hold her off.
Truthfully, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel—probably conflicted—but I don’t. I love all four of them as well, so I’m happy and relieved they feel the same way. A piece of me wouldn’t be whole if I was missing one of them. It sounds weird, but it’s the truth. We haven’t figured out how this relationship will work or what we’ll tell people, and that’s the scary part for me. Will I marry Tristan and have to end things with the rest of the guys at that point? They seemed okay with sharing me while they had their plan, but what about now, since things have changed? It’s confusing and overwhelming to try and figure anything out without speaking to the guys as well.
“Earth to Kresley,” she interrupts a while later, and my head flies up. I’d zoned out on my tablet after I wrote the problems down and filled them in. I look at her then quickly glance around and notice we’re the only two left.
“Oops! Sorry about that.” I scramble out of my seat, I grab my academy-issued tablet, stylus, and jacket.
“I said your name like five times. I was about to start shaking you.”
I apologize again with a grimace. “I was thinking about everything that’s been happening. It has me distracted.”
She stands, tossing her long dark locks over her shoulder. “No kidding. You need to get it figured out. You’re lucky it was me beside you and not one of the skanks who hated you at the beginning of the year. They’d have a field day seeing you be weird.”
“Gee, thanks. I’m not weird.”
“You kind of are sometimes.” She laughs, and I roll my eyes.
Brent’s waiting for me right outside the door. He immediately notices my red face, his gaze growing concerned. “You okay, sweetheart?”
Sam butts in. “She’s not. You four need to pull your heads out of your asses and quit messing her up inside.” With a parting hiss, she takes off in the opposite direction.
“Kresley?” he begins, and I shake my head.
“It’s not what you’re thinking. I’m okay. I promise.”
He nods, still worried.
“I wasn’t paying attention in math; I had too much on my mind,” I confess, and around the next corner, he yanks me into a closet. It’s dark, dusty, and smells like ammonia. “We’ll pass out if we stay in here.”
“You’re exaggerating,” he grumbles and pulls my body to his. He’s big, warm, and smells like a clean man. My nose burrows into his chest, inhaling. “Are you sniffing me?” he asks, amusement coating his deep rasp.
“Uh-huh,” I murmur, still smelling his intoxicating scent.
A silent chuckle shakes his massive chest until his nose tucks into the crook of my neck and then he’s the one inhaling me. “Mm, I missed you,” he declares, pressing kisses under my ear. Chills break out over my skin, my nipples tightening in my silky bra. It turns out that Tristan has a problem with ordering me lingerie. He won’t stop buying me ‘outfits’ he wants to eventually see me wear.
“It’s only been a few hours since I last kissed you.”
“Too long.”
“Agreed,” I concur, turning my face to press my lips to his scruffy jaw. He’s lazy when it comes to shaving, and he seems to constantly wear a five o’clock shadow of short-bearded scruff. It’s beyond sexy that he doesn’t care about being one hundred percent put together all the time. My hand climbs up his wide chest to rake over his jaw and cheek. I love feeling the soft scratch under my fingertips. “Kiss me, then,” I whisper, wanting him to take what he wants.
“With pleasure,” he growls, his fingers moving to my scalp. He winds my hair into his grip and tugs it. My head falls back, and then his mouth is on mine. He’s not soft or gentle; he’s demanding and needy. His tongue moves against mine, demanding I surrender to him.
I do so willingly, desire filling my core at his dominance. This was exactly what I was needing and missing. I’m growing far too used to being around at least one of the guys all the time that when I go even a few hours without one of them, I feel a little lost. Whimpers escape as wetness pools in my panties. I want him so badly and knowing our peers are right outside the door, that faculty could catch us at any moment has adrenaline pumping through me.
His answering rumble and arm winding down to grab onto my ass had my leg moving upward. I want even closer than we already are, and he obliges, tucking his palm under my butt to lift. Taking his cue, my legs wrap around his hips, my groin coming in contact with his hardness. He wants me just as badly as I’m craving him. Locking my ankles together, the movement has me flexing my hips and rubbing my core against him. I’m hot all over and so damn needy.
Brent moves, jostling me, and my hands fly up around his neck to hold on. His long legs only take two steps before my back collides with the closet wall. The space is small, but plenty of room for us to cling to each other like our lives depend on it.
Breathily, I stammer, “I-I need you.”
“Oh yeah?” he breathes. “Sorry, sweetheart, but our first time won’t be in a broom closet. I plan to spread out when I finally taste and fill you.”
My panty clad center rubs over his slacks again, and he groans. “Fuck! You feel good rubbing me like that. I can make you feel good, get you through the rest of the day.”
I eagerly agree, nodding. I want whatever he’ll give me. “Please.”
Brent’s hand snakes between our rubbing bodies, his fingers finding the elastic of my panties. Pushing the barrier to the side, the tip of his middle finger dives between my folds, caressing up and then down. “Yes!” I gasp, thankful for his touch. “More.”
“Like this?” he snarls, intense with desire. He sinks the digit into my opening. The thick bluntness is exactly what my body wants in the moment, and when he moves, pumping in and out my core clenches, throbbing with heady desire.
“God, yes!” Feelings explode through me, my heart pounding as he works me over, and my wetness increases.
“Shhh, someone will hear you...unless you want them to open the door and see me finger-fu
cking you? Is that it, Kresley? You want to be watched as you come all over my hand?”
Brent’s words are dirty and have me vibrating with the possibilities. My mind conjures the scene of not just anyone opening that door, but Tristan. He’d hear my voice and rip open the door. The light would spill in, illuminating his brother’s hand up my skirt and the bliss filling my face.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Getting caught? Maybe spanked as punishment,” Brent breathes heavily, and my heat clenches as he thrusts a second finger deep. Jesus, it feels so good. “You’re a bad girl, aren’t you? Letting me finger your tight pussy at school while everyone’s walking by, hearing your whimpers.”
“Oh, Brent,” I shudder as a bolt of bliss spikes through me. My orgasm is right on the cusp of spilling over. It has me on edge willing to be more reckless than I usually would be.
“That’s it, ride my fingers. I want to feel you come, sweetheart.”
“I’m so close,” I admit as my toes curl in my shiny academy-issued Mary Janes.
His thumb moves under the material, pushing my panties over more so his entire hand can cup me. His palm is warm and slick with my growing wetness. He uses the moisture to his advantage, the heel positioned over my clit and applying pressure while his two fingers stay buried deep. My core pulses, clenching around the digits as he teases and tempts my clit with pressure.
He’s panting as his mouth rains sultry kisses over my neck, nipping and nibbling over and over. He’s marking me up everywhere, sucking and rubbing his scruff against my flesh. My skin’s pink and sensitive, with small hickeys advertising he’s had his way with me. He sucks my lower lip between his as his free hand moves up to cup my breast. Brent squeezes and kneads the full mound sending me spinning over the edge.
My grip tightens as I hold tightly to his neck, feeling my orgasm vibrate through my entire body. “Yes, yes, yes,” I repeat, nearly incoherent as wave after wave of pleasure washes over me. It’s fast, intense, and supposed to be absolutely forbidden here and now.
Harvard Academy Elite Page 27