Corrupt

by Penelope Douglas

  Fuck.

  I hovered my lips over hers, sliding my other hand over her chest and feeling her jerk when I cupped her breast with my hand.

  “Michael,” she groaned, breathing hard and squeezing her eyes shut.

  “So soft,” I whispered over her lips, feeling the warmth of her breath as I kneaded her in my hand. “My brother thinks you’re his… and all I ever did was try to deny that I wanted you for myself.”

  She licked her lips, trying to dart up and catch mine, but I pulled back, hiding my smile

  as I played.

  “Michael,” she whined, sounding desperate.

  “Is that true?” I pressed. “Are you his?”

  She dragged her bottom lip between her teeth, shaking her head. “No.”

  I darted out, catching her bottom lip between my teeth and sucking it into my mouth. I

  exhaled hard, my cock growing in my jeans as I went crazy, kissing a trail over her cheek and to her ear, getting lost in her scent and warmth.

  But as soon as I dived into her neck, she jerked away, capturing my lips with hers and kissing me deep and hot. God, she tasted sweet.

  “Such a good girl,” I growled in a whisper, flicking her lips with my tongue. “Say it, Rika.”

  “I’m a good girl,” she panted, her voice shaky.

  “And I’m going to fuck you up,” I finished, taking my hand off her breast and gripping her hip.

  Diving down, I covered her lips with mine, eating her up and tasting her, her tongue meeting mine in more heat and fucking lust than I had ever felt for anyone.

  My body as on fire, and I was gone. Completely lost in her mouth and the way the buzz under my skin traveled across my face, down my neck, warming my chest.

  So many times of needing to be close to her, talk to her, see her smile at me, and now I had her in my arms, I never wanted to let her go.

  Nothing—nothing—had ever felt this good.

  She nuzzled into my body, sucking my bottom lip and giving it to me good.

  “I know what you feel like now,” she teased, hovering an inch below my lips and remembering what I’d said today at the cathedral.

  I grinned, jerking her ass into me and hearing her moan at what she felt. “You haven’t felt anything yet.”

  Turning her around, I lifted her by the backs of her thighs. She grabbed my shoulders as I lifted her up and guided her legs around my waist.

  Walking to the corner, I sat her down on the railing with the wall not far behind her. She wrapped her arms around my waist as I pressed myself between her legs.

  Rubbing her body up against mine, she flicked my top lip with her tongue, and then left my mouth, trailing kisses and small bites down my jaw and neck.

  “Jesus,” I gasped out, moving a hand to her breast again, my heart pounding like a fucking drum.

  Sliding her hands under my sweatshirt and shirt, she ran her fingers up my abs, making me shiver.

  “The car,” she gasped out, reaching for my belt and trying to work it open. “Please?”

  I gripped her hips tighter, blinking long and hard. “Rika,” I struggled, taking her hands away from my jeans.

  Shit.

  “I want to feel you,” she pleaded, taking my face in her hands and kissing me again.

  But I shook my head. “Not in a car.”

  She pressed her chest into mine, speaking low against my lips, “I can’t wait. I don’t want to lose this moment. It doesn’t matter where it is.”

  No, it didn’t. But this was where shit got complicated.

  I was only home for the weekend, and then I’d be going back to school. If we had sex now, it would just make everything more stressful for her when it came time to be apart.

  And even though I had no intention of keeping my hands off her, going that far wasn’t right. Not yet. She was too young.

  “Come on,” she taunted, a small smile peeking out as she nibbled my lips.

  I shook my head. “What am I going to do with you?” I asked.

  She smirked. “I can’t wait to find out.”

  I laughed quietly, taking her ass in my hands and leaving a trail of kisses down the side of her face to her lips.

  “We need to go slow,” I told her.

  “How slow?”

  I pulled back, so she could see the seriousness in my eyes. “I won’t touch you until you’re eighteen.”

  Her eyes rounded. “You can’t be serious! That’s more than a year away,” she pointed out. “And you’re touching me right now.”

  I cocked my head, my fingers tightening around her ass. “You know what I mean.”

  But she pulled me in, closing her eyes and resting her forehead against my lips. She looked as desperate as I felt.

  “You’ve had sex with sixteen year old girls, Michael.”

  “When I was sixteen,” I clarified. “And don’t compare yourself to them.” I took her face in my hands. “You’re different.”

  Our lips met again and her fucking hands and body got possessive, rolling into me, feeling me, gripping me. She held my hips, pressing me between her warm legs, and I lost my breath, knowing how goddamn good it would feel inside of her.

  “Christ,” I breathed out, pulling my mouth away. “Stop it.”

  There was no way I was going to be able to stay off her for a year. She was almost seventeen. Maybe that was good enough?

  “You won’t be able to stop yourself,” she whispered against my jaw, looking up at me with thoughtful eyes. “This is what we were built for, Michael. You and me.”

  She left soft, slow kisses along my jaw and down my neck, and I felt my arms break out in chills.

  I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight and looking down into her eyes. “We’ve got to keep this quiet, okay?” I told her. “Just for now. I don’t want my family to know.”

  She looked at me, puzzled. “Why?”

  “You’re still at home, and they watch you like a hawk, Rika,” I explained. “My father hates me. I’m away at school, and he’ll use my absence as an advantage to work you over if he knew I wanted you.” And then I threaded my fingers into her hair, holding her nose to nose. “And I do fucking want you.”

  I played with her mouth, nibbling her lips.

  “But he wants you for Trevor or some shit,” I continued. “If they don’t know about us, they won’t interfere. We need to wait until you graduate and you’re out from under them.”

  She pulled away, looking pained as she pushed my hands down off her. “That’s a year and a half away,” she argued. “I’m not asking for a relationship, but I…” She paused, searching for words. “I don’t want to hide the way I feel, either.”

  “I know.”

  I hated it, too. If she were off at college with the freedom to come and go as she pleased and out from under the influence and pressure of my father and Trevor, it wouldn’t be an issue.

  Sure, let them know. I wouldn’t give a shit what they had to say about it then.

  But the day after tomorrow, I’d be a thousand miles away again, and with basketball season approaching, I wouldn’t be home until winter break and then not again until probably summer. It would put her under too much pressure, and I didn’t trust my father or Trevor. Especially Trevor.

  “Believe it or not, it’s best,” I assured. “My father would put pressure on you, and I don’t want you dealing with it without me there.”

  There was disappointment but also a little anger in her eyes. She needed to understand that I wasn’t trying to piss her off. Her age was an issue, and it made everything complicated.

  And that also scared me, because I had no damn clue what she and I were.

  All I knew was that we were the same. Did that mean I’d fall in love with her, marry her, be faithful, and live the same day over and over again in this fucking suburb?

  No. She and I were built for something different.

  I would piss her off, I’d be difficult, and I’d be just as much of a nightmare to her as a
dream, but after nearly seventeen years of this pull with her, I knew one thing.

  I would always circle her.

  It never stopped. Even when we were kids, if she moved, I wanted to move. If she left a room, I wanted to follow. My body was always aware of where she was.

  And it was the same for her.

  I dipped down, brushing the strap of her tank top off her shoulder and trailing kisses over her skin.

  “And I want you to stop sleeping at my house when I’m not there, too,” I demanded. “I don’t want Trevor trying anything with you.”

  I grabbed onto her lobe with my teeth, dragging it out, but I stopped when she didn’t respond. I felt her go cold, not making a move or a sound.

  Releasing her ear, I brought my head up and looked down at her, seeing her flex her jaw with clear displeasure written across her face.

  “Anything else?” she snipped. “I have to shut up and be quiet while you act like I don’t exist when I’m in the same room, because no one can know. Now you get to dictate when we have sex and now where I sleep?”

  I straightened my spine, hardening my muscles. She had a point, but it was the way it had to be. I wanted my family ignorant so they wouldn’t fuck with her, and there was no way I’d trust my brother not to try to crawl into her bed at night. No fucking way.

  She tipped her chin down, shooting me a defiant stare. “I have to wait and pine for the rare weekend you don’t have a game and happen to make it home,” she continued, “while you get your drones at Thunder Bay Prep to watch me while you’re gone, making sure to inform you of my every move.”

  My jaw tugged with a smile I couldn’t help. She’d constantly surprised me tonight. She was a lot smarter than I thought she was.

  Okay, maybe I’d planned on getting Brace and Simon to keep an eye out. Make sure no one fucked with her.

  Or fucked with what was mine.

  “And what about you?” she went on. “Will your bed be just as empty as mine all that time you’re away—college parties, away games, Spring Break with the guys in Miami Beach…”

  I narrowed my eyes, searching hers. “Do you think anyone would be as important as you are?”

  She shook her head, shooting me a sarcastic smirk. “That’s not an answer.”

  And she hopped off the railing, brushing past me.

  But I reached out, grabbing her upper arm. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice turning hard. “Huh?”

  Her expression suddenly turned sad, and she dropped her eyes. “I want you,” she choked out. “Forever I’ve wanted you, and now I feel…”

  She looked up, her eyes glistening.

  “What?” I bit out.

  “Dirty,” she finally answered. “I felt like your friend tonight. You saw me, you liked me, you respected me… And now I feel like a simple, stupid girl—a dirty secret that needs to sit quiet in a corner and wait for your word to speak or move. I don’t feel like your equal anymore.”

  I released her, letting out a bitter laugh as I turned away. “You’re such a kid. A fucking kid.”

  Goddamn insecurities and tantrums. It was a year. She couldn’t wait a fucking year?

  “I’m not a kid,” she stated. “You’re just a coward. At least Trevor wants me more than anything else.”

  I exhaled hard, every muscle in my stomach tightening and burning as I glared at her.

  I didn’t think. I grabbed her by the arms and pushed her into the railing in front of the window, hovering down over her face, nearly nose to nose.

  I breathed hard, wanting her so goddamn much, but I was pissed beyond everything right now. She had balls to throw that in my face.

  Her face twisted up, and she whimpered, “You’re hurting me.”

  And I realized my fingers were digging into her arms. I relaxed my hands, trying to calm down, but it was no use. She was right. I was a coward. I wanted everything and to give up nothing.

  I wanted her waiting for me and only me. I didn’t want to deal with the stress my family would put on her or me. I didn’t want any opportunities for my brother to win her over while I was gone.

  But what was she going to get out of me? Was I enough?

  Or was my father right? Was I not worth a damn? Even if I just admitted it to myself, I’d hurt her.

  She was too young, I was away all the time, and for the first time in a long time I didn’t like myself. I didn’t like my reflection in her eyes.

  She had too much power over me.

  I pushed off her, backing up. “This was a mistake,” I bit out, scowling at her. “You’re pretty, and you have a pussy, but other than that, you’re not special. You’re just ass.”

  Her eyebrows nose-dived, and her eyes pooled with tears, looking broken.

  No one made me feel like shit for who I was, and ripping out her heart wasn’t going to be enough. It needed to be crushed, so she’d never pull that shit again.

  I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her and hearing her cry out. “You hear me?” I growled in her face. “You’re not special. You’re nobody!”

  And I released her, twisting around and charging down the stairs as my stomach rolled. My chest hollowed, and I sucked in air, struggling to breathe.

  I couldn’t look at her. I couldn’t see her pain and face it.

  So I bolted. Making my way over to the booth, I dug my keys out of my pocket and tossed them on the table.

  “Make sure Rika gets home,” I told the guys, unable to hide the anger on my face. “I’m walking.”

  “What the hell happened?” Damon demanded, seeing how pissed I was.

  But I just shook my head. “I just have to get out of here. Get her home.”

  And I left the three of them sitting at the table as I pulled the hood over my head and left in the rain.

  Present

  HAD TO GET BACK TO THE CITY. YOUR CAR IS OUTSIDE.

  I stared down at the text Michael had sent me four days ago when I’d woken up in his bedroom alone.

  Filthy, bruised, sore, and alone.

  There’d been nothing from him since then, and I hadn’t seen him, either. After our little trip to the catacombs, he must’ve gone over to my house and picked up my car for me before leaving and texting me from the road.

  How could he have just left me like that?

  I’d heard on the news that his team had gone to Chicago for an exhibition match before the regular season started, but I saw the lights in his penthouse on this morning, so I knew he was home now.

  But despite the fact that I knew better, I was still hurt. Finally having him, feeling him inside, was something I hadn’t been able to push out of my head the last four days. It was better than I ever imagined.

  He should’ve woken me to say goodbye. Or called to see how I was, at least. I’d just lost my house, and I still couldn’t get a hold of my mother, even though I’d been dialing for days. I also had no luck getting a hold of Mr. or Mrs. Crist on their cell phones, either. If I didn’t hear from anyone by tomorrow, it was time to go to the police. My mother never went this long without calling.

  I stuffed my phone back in my purse, picking out one of the books of matches I’d put in there when I brought the box back with me from Thunder Bay. I slid open the lid and inhaled the scent, a quick moment of relief hitting me before it was gone.

  Putting it back in my bag, I continued down the aisle of the used bookstore, perusing old sci-fi paperbacks and trying to distract myself.

  I’d be damned if I was the one to call him.

  “Hey,” I heard a voice call out.

  I turned, seeing Alex approach me with a hand in her jeans pocket and a smile on her face. “I saw you through the window and thought I’d say hi. How are you doing?”

  I nodded. “Fine. You?”

  She held up her hands and shrugged. “Every day’s an adventure.”

  I laughed under my breath, turning back to the books. With her profession, I could imagine that it was never boring.

  I turned my head aga
in, looking at her. “Hey, thanks for the ride the other night. I know we just met and all, but—”

  “Oh, it’s no problem,” she cut me off. “Thanks for driving. I don’t usually drink so much.”

  Her eyes fell, looking absently at the books as she gripped the strap of her bag. Just like me, she must’ve just finished with classes.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “Just the usual. I’m hot for someone, and he won’t touch me because I sleep with other guys for a living.” She rolled her eyes. “What a baby.”

  I smiled with her, but it was kind of sad, actually.

  “So he knows what you do then?”

  “Yeah,” she replied. “He was at the party, which was why I was drinking. He won’t even look at me.”

  “Well, you must know people,” I guessed. “You must’ve made connections in your line of work? Friends? Maybe someone can get you a different job.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with what I do,” she retorted, her voice turning cold.

  I stopped and turned to her, guilt creeping into my chest. That wasn’t what I’d meant, but it probably sounded like it. I was just trying to see a solution in the situation.

  She cocked her head, thinning her eyes with a challenge. “Someday I’m going to own a building like Delcour and drive a hot car like you,” she told me, “and I will have gotten it all on my own. And I’ll do it while flipping the middle finger at everyone—including him—that looked down on me.”

  Her voice was hard and strong, and even though I might not understand how she did what she did, I also knew I would never have to. I didn’t know what it was like to make hard choices.

  Her lips curled as she continued, “I’m going to fuck my way through school and anyone that doesn’t like it can go to hell.”

  I pursed my lips, letting out a small grin. “Okay,” I accepted and took the hint to shut up about it. “But before the hot car throws you, my life hasn’t exactly been a party, either.”

  Her eyes softened, and she leaned forward, reaching out her hand and running a finger down the scar on my neck.

  “I thought as much,” she allowed.

  And I stared at her, feeling like she knew without me having to say anything. It was weird. When I first saw her with Michael, I’d judged her. I’d written her off. She was a bimbo—brainless, chasing fame and money.