by Sam Crescent
The tears no longer stayed in her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry,” he said.
“Then stop talking about it. Our parents believe what is best for us is being apart.”
“What do you believe?” he asked. She licked her lips. They were so dry. Her stomach growled, and he chuckled. “It has been a long time since I heard that.”
He placed his fingers against her stomach.
“I’m not pregnant, Noah. I took … pills to make sure.”
He nodded. “I figured you would.”
She placed her hands against his, needing his touch. “This is so hard right now. They’re all whispering.”
“Ignore them. They’re all fucking useless. They think they know what happened, but they don’t. Just you and me.”
“And Mitch and whoever watched.”
“True.” He didn’t stop touching her.
Again, another growl and he smiled again.
“He’s still out there, Noah.”
“I know. I think it’s only fair that I take you to feed you.”
“I can’t go in there.”
“Why not?”
“Haven’t you noticed the whispers? The pointing?”
“I notice it, but the difference is, I don’t give a fuck.” He tugged her out of the locker room and went toward the cafeteria. Right near the doors, she dug her heels in, making it impossible for him to keep on walking. “Why are you being so difficult about this?”
“I don’t think we should go in together.”
“Why not?”
“The school is intent on keeping us apart.”
“They’re not going to do that, and I’m not going to let them. Seriously, Skye, what happened to your fighting spirit? We’ve been letting our parents and other people walk all over us since we got back. We’re their children, but we’re not kids anymore. Neither of us is. We’re so much more than that. You’re the only person I can trust, and we’re walking in there together. I’m not going to let them keep us apart, no matter what.”
“What if we don’t have a choice?” she asked.
“This is our choice. This is our life, Skye. We can let them live it, or we take control now, like we did back at that place.”
She smiled.
“What?” he asked.
“You don’t know what to call it? I’ve tried to think of many words for it. A prison. A home. A mansion. I keep coming up blank. I have no idea what to say or what to do. I think of it as more of ‘that place.’”
“I do as well. I don’t know what else to say.” He held her hand a little tighter. “I know we both are from different circles, but you’re the only one I can see myself with right now. You’re the only person who understands. I wanted to kill Howdes today.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.”
“I did as well. It was kind of an … uncomfortable realization that I hated him.” She smiled. “I’ve been moved to different classes, and I got so mad.”
“I did as well. No one would tell me if you were here, but I guess you saw Rebecca’s little kiss.”
“It looked like a pretty intense kiss.” Her stomach chose that moment to growl. “I think we need to move this along. You’re starting to look like a piece of chicken.”
“You want to eat me?”
Her cheeks heated at thinking of parts she could lick and suck.
Her innocence had died weeks ago.
“Come on, stop saying stuff like that.”
He tugged her through the doors, and there was no time for doubt, no time for anything.
Chapter Twelve
Noah made sure Skye was in front of him in line. They both held a tray, and each of them picked up plenty of food, burgers, fries, pizza, and a pudding. Going without and being fed nothing but inedible crap had given him a new lease on life, especially when it came to food. He loved to eat.
Once they paid, he held her and herded her toward his table. The moment he got Derek to move up and make a space, he saw the shock on the guys’ faces as they looked at her.
“You all know Skye. She’s going to be eating with us from now on.” He picked up a piece of pizza and took a bite. “Damn, you’ve got to try this.” He held it in front of Skye for her to take a bite.
“So good.”
“Guys, you know this is canteen food, right?” Derek asked.
“We know,” Noah said.
He put his pizza down and took a bite of his burger. This time, Skye offered him a bite of her burger.
“Incoming. Your girl does not look happy, Noah. Try to look less happy right now,” Luke said.
He glanced to his left, and sure enough, Rebecca was already heading his way. One look at Skye and he saw she was uncomfortable. For a split second, he wished it was just the two of them.
Only for it to be the two of them, it would place them back in that cell where pain and death were a certainty.
“Is this what you find funny now, Noah? Helping the poor and needy?” Rebecca asked, arms folded.
“I’m eating lunch with a friend.”
“When have you ever been friends with that fat bitch?”
“Don’t,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Rebecca. Don’t insult my friends. I don’t like it.” He spoke slowly.
Rebecca paled.
“Dude, chill out,” Derek said.
“You got a problem with Skye eating with us?”
“Noah, it’s fine,” Skye said.
“No, you’re my friend. If they can’t handle this shit, I don’t care. I’m eating my lunch with you. You got a problem with that, go suck another guy’s dick, Rebecca. We all know it’s the only kind of sustenance you can handle.”
“How dare you—”
She stopped talking the moment he stood. After being kidnapped, ridiculed for so long, having her fall silent because of his size, it felt good. Even as he felt this, he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for even being this way. He’d never intimidated a woman.
“Go away, Rebecca.”
“Well, you’re not all that anyway, Noah King. You were the worst guy I ever slept with.” She turned her nose up at him and walked away.
Silence fell around the table. He was very much aware of the gazes on him, but he didn’t give a fuck.
Beneath the table, he grabbed Skye’s hand, locking their fingers together, much in the same way they always did while they lay on the bed together. The moment he touched her, the darkness that had been creeping into his soul disappeared.
No one spoke for the longest time until finally Derek broke the ice. “I wouldn’t worry, dude. Every single guy is always bad in bed when a chick breaks up with him.”
Before long the rest of the guys were talking about their bad breakups. He didn’t give a fuck. Rebecca hadn’t been anything other than easy.
“You were angry,” she said. “You shouldn’t be.”
“I’m not going to have anyone call you names, not ever.” He turned his head, staring into her eyes.
“Noah, you can’t change everything.”
“I know that. I’m not trying to change anything, just this little piece right here that everyone thinks they can get away with. You’re not going to be pushed around any longer. I won’t stand for it.”
“What are you going to do? Fight everyone that irritates you?”
“Yes.”
“Noah, I’m joking around here.”
“I’m not.”
She looked down at her food and shook her head. He hated when she let go of his hand.
“I’ve got some homework to do.”
He watched as she walked away, grabbing her tray and dumping the contents into the trash before leaving the cafeteria. He finished off his drink.
“So, are you good for a party tonight?” Derek asked.
“Yeah, I’ll go to a party.”
He got to his feet and followed her.
It wasn’t hard to do
. Even after everything they went through, Skye walked with her head bowed, heading into the library. She walked past the desks at the front of the room and went straight to the back.
He nodded at the librarian. He’d already come in to gather the books he’d need for the extra study. Right now, he wasn’t about to do any extra study. He wanted Skye, plain and simple.
Her bag was on the table with the same large folder he’d been given with his missed work.
Seconds later, she appeared with a large science book. The instant she saw him, she sighed. “You’re following me now?”
“You’re coming to a party with me tonight.”
“I’m doing no such thing.”
“You want to fit in, I’ll make it happen.”
She chuckled. “Noah, I hate to break this to you, but I couldn’t care less about fitting in. All I want to do is graduate when everyone else does. I’m already late for college applications, so I’ll be taking extra credit at the local college just so I can start a year later as a freshman. I don’t have time for parties. You shouldn’t either.”
He moved in front of her folder, sitting his ass right down on top of it.
“Seriously, why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Why not? We were close in that room, Skye. Do you ever think about it?”
“I try not to think about anything to do with that room or any other. Seriously, I can’t stand it.” She leaned forward, putting the book down on the table.
He caught her hips.
“Someone will see.”
“You seem to think I give a fuck.”
“Don’t you? You’re still Noah King, prize jock in this school and I’m still the nerd.”
“Not to me, you’re not. You’re the one that gets it. You don’t want me to touch you, say the word. Tell me to walk away. Tell me to leave you the fuck alone, and I will. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, but it has to come from your lips, no one else’s.”
“You’re really begging for trouble.”
“No, not at all. What I am is a guy who is desperate to know you’re okay.”
“You can see that I am.”
“I’m not going to back away. Not after all we’ve been through.” Holding onto her hips, he felt how rounded they were. Opening his thighs, he drew her closer, leaning forward to hold her close. She smelled amazing, like vanilla and spice.
Running his hands down her thighs and back up again, his cock began to thicken. In the most awful of circumstances, he’d been her first, and right now, he wanted her again.
“I have trouble sleeping at night.”
“So do I,” she said.
He gripped her ass, standing up. Their size difference had her tilting her head back just to look at him. Her lips looked so plump and inviting. Bringing one hand up, he cupped her cheek, running a thumb across that lip.
“I don’t care what people think. I never have. I’m not going to pretend the past six weeks didn’t happen. They did. Our families can try and keep us apart, but it’s not happening. I won’t give you up that easily, Skye. You should know that.”
Her gaze dropped to his lips. “This is crazy.”
“It’s the way it’s going to be.”
Before he could give himself a million reasons why he really shouldn’t be kissing her, he slammed his lips down on hers and took the kiss he wanted. He didn’t back down either. When he slid his tongue across her mouth, she let out a gasp, giving him access to her mouth, deepening the kiss.
He gripped her ass even tighter, drawing her closer, wanting her to feel the hard length of his cock. If they were alone, he wouldn’t hesitate. He’d place her over the desk and fuck her.
You’re in the library.
You could get caught at any minute.
Pulling away from her lips, he watched her lick hers as he did so.
“We can’t do this.”
“I’m picking you up for a party later. Don’t be late, otherwise I’ll have to knock on your door.”
“You want me to sneak out.”
“Or you can say you’re meeting friends and you’re going to a party, or just tell them you’re hanging out with friends. Either one will work.”
“I’ve never said that to them before.”
“You’ve never gone out for a party?”
She shook her head. “Or met up with friends.”
“It looks like I’ve got a lot to do with you.” He stroked her cheek.
“I need to get some work done. Don’t you have anything to do as well?”
“I do. It’s all back in my locker.”
He forced himself to leave her alone, to grab a chair, sit his ass in it, and watch her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m going to keep you company while you study.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. There’s a difference.”
She smiled. “I don’t know if I can handle this … side of you.”
“Side?”
“The one that’s so attentive and sweet.”
He winked at her. “You’re going to be in for a lot of surprises then.”
She tucked her short hair behind her ear before taking a seat. He liked her short hair. He’d loved her long locks as well, but at least she seemed happier with this length. Whenever Mitch took her from him, her hair would always look messed up as if he’d pulled her along by her hair, and beneath the layers, he’d seen chunks missing. With the way it had been cut and styled, no one knew the difference. She looked beautiful, especially now with her lips swollen from his kiss.
Sitting back in his chair, he watched her as she opened the science book, leaned in close, and began to study.
Now, before they were taken in the early days of her becoming his tutor, he’d found her so boring, so bland. She never laughed at any of his jokes, never sighed when he flexed his muscles. It was like she was made of stone. Nothing he did impressed her. She was there to study, to help him pass his classes, and that was all. One day, she’d been sitting in the library, looking for the right book, and he didn’t know when it happened, but as he watched her, it was like a switch flipped in his head.
She went from being a boring nerd to someone beautiful. When he’d been forced to rape her, she hadn’t been his type, not in the beginning, far from it. Only, just before they were taken, he had started to see her as attractive and had even noticed these things about her. The fullness of her tits, the shape of her hips, the curve of her waist. All of it meant something to him. She’d started to arouse him, and that, he couldn’t have. So, he’d intended to break off any kind of attraction from happening, which was why he got her to meet him in the first place.
He wanted her to do all of his homework as he was too much of a star to need to do it. They’d been taken, forced together, and in doing so, the feelings he wanted to keep hidden, to drown, had burst open.
Now, there was no way of shutting them off, not one bit.
He wanted her, and he wasn’t going to allow their lines of “jock” and “nerd” to get in the way. His buddies may not like it, even the cheerleaders, but he really, truly didn’t give a fuck. He was going to have Skye, because there was no way he was turning his back on her.
****
Skye’s parents were thrilled with her going to a party with friends. It almost made her feel guilty for lying to them. They asked if guys were going to be there and if other people were as well. Their only concern was that they wanted their daughter to have fun.
So, leaving her house at seven that night, she gave them both a wave as they watched her walk away.
The cop stationed outside of her house was there, and she nodded at him as well, before heading down the street toward where Noah said he’d be.
This was having a lot of faith in him, especially after all that had happened between them. He was still a jock, and this could be a joke for all she knew.
It’s not a joke.
That kiss wasn’t a joke.
It’ll all be fine.
Shoving her hands in her pockets, she walked across the road and headed down the short lane, and sure enough, Noah was waiting for her. Not only were they sneaking past their parents, also, the cops that followed them that would no doubt report back to their parents and also Denison.
“I didn’t think you’d make it,” he said, taking her hand.
“Of course I would. My parents were thrilled with the idea.”
“You’re surprised by that.”
She shrugged. “I’ve never had any friends over or gone to a party.” She stopped. “I think I know now why they were so thrilled for me to get out of the house.”
“You think your parents are fucking right now?”
“Ew, no, I don’t think that at all. I hope not.”
“They probably are. Doing it on your bed.”
“You’re gross.”
He laughed. “They’re just worried about you, I bet. They want you to have the whole experience.”
She held his hand a little tighter as they walked together in the dark. “You know they haven’t caught him yet, don’t you?”
“I know. It’s why I carry this around.” They stopped beneath the street lamp. He pulled out a knife, opening the blade, and showing her what he carried with him. “When I’m old enough, I’ll carry a gun as well, but until then, I’m going to stick with the knife.”
“I hate this,” she said. She took the blade from him, holding it in her hand.
“I hate it as well, but it’s not going to stop me from walking the streets or living my life. I want him to come back.”
“You shouldn’t say that.”
“You’re afraid.”
“Noah, I’m not like you. I don’t have the strength to fight him.” She had noticed how much stronger he was, his muscles a lot thicker than she remembered.
“I could teach you.”
She knew Mitch’s strength. There’s no way she’d ever be able to fight him. “Why do you want him to find us?”
“I want him to find me. Not you. That son of a bitch had me drugged the whole time. He knew he couldn’t fight me when I was at my peak. Now, I’m training. I’m ready.”
“You’re ready to fight him.”
“I’m ready to take that bastard down the moment he shows himself.” He took the blade from her, closing it up and dropping it into his pocket.