by Janie Marie
A giddy and proud feeling rose within her. “He kinda brings out a side I didn’t know was there. Or maybe a side of myself I left behind.”
“Whatever it is, I hope it doesn’t vanish after today. You’ve never looked so confident. You rocked. Then he kissed your cheek and left? And let you keep his jacket?” Wendy fanned herself. “He’s so dreamy. I think Ryder was ready to destroy the world, though, and David looked like he’d happily help him.”
For a tiny moment, Jane’s happiness dampened. Except she realized another thing; Ryder and David had indeed looked like they’d agreed with each other for the first time in, well, ever. They’d shared a look when Luc had said something about opposing strengths and talents uniting to achieve victory against a strong and clever enemy. “They were agreeing to take Luc down,” she whispered to herself.
Wendy frowned. “What?”
“I think I know a way to get Ryder and David to see they don’t have to be rivals, that they can work together and be even greater.”
“You mean with football or something else?” Wendy watched her, probably worried about her sanity now. “And don’t hate me, but I think Ryder is the better of the two.”
“I could never hate you. I’m just thinking about them, how they’ve always been at each other’s throats.” Jane covered her heart as it pounded. Was it really her fault David and Ryder just couldn’t share the glory, and both be the biggest and baddest badasses and destroy any offense?
They were always competing more against each other than the team they were playing, and sometimes that led to losses.
“Luc is a genius.” She covered her stupid smile, not sure if she was touched Luc was using her or if she was ecstatic to learn she was actually so important to both boys. They were so busy tugging her between them that they were lessening their greatness together. Her thoughts were barely caring about David’s actions now. He wasn’t perfect, and he’d made himself that way because of her.
If anything, she could be the bigger person and make sure he didn’t continue destroying himself. He had tried to take care of her and love her the only way he believed he could. He was still a great guy, just a guy trying to give up his heart.
“Tell me what’s up with Tercero,” Wendy whispered as the teacher came into the classroom and told them to pass up their homework.
“Simple: he’s a sweetheart, and I’m a bitch,” Jane said, handing her paper to the girl in front of them. “And I’m a lousy friend.”
Wendy wore a sheepish look, and Jane felt like a horrible person, but still a person who could work to be better.
“I love you,” Jane told her, praying it was enough for now.
“Always, babe.” Wendy winked, and then they had to endure an hour of lecture. Well, mostly, then it was mediation, and Jane took part in it, relaxing instead of blowing off the whole thing, and she felt even better seeing Wendy had been relieved in the process and for once, not listening to her ramble about her life.
Having the former king of the Black Hills picking her up from school should’ve been a dream come true, but it wasn’t. Why? Because as Jane exited the doors Luc had instructed her to leave through—near the South Gym—all Hell was breaking loose.
“You stay the fuck away from her!” That was David’s voice. No, his roar.
Jane ran forward, spotting a crowd around Luc’s car, and then she saw them. David had Luc by the neck, pinning him against the car. Ryder was there, but he was just watching as Archer and Lance Grimm tried to pry David off Luc.
“David, stop!” She shoved some guys back, and she only hesitated when David shot Ryder a look and a nod.
Her bad boy moved, intercepting her before she could get between David and Luc. “Don’t even test him right now.” His hold was solid, but those damn tingles as his fingers slid around her arm had her all kinds of paralyzed.
Luc, even though David had him by the neck, spoke calmly. “Your stepsister and stepmother know I intend to take her to tonight’s game. What she does is not your concern.”
Jane tried to shove Ryder off, but he was too strong.
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around her chest and pulling her back to his body. “Behave. I know you like being in my arms again.” His lips faintly pressed against her head, making those tingles go into a frenzy. “Mm. Missed you too, babe.”
“Shut up,” she whispered, focusing on David. If he got in trouble or hurt, she didn’t know what she would do.
David bared his teeth at Luc like he was an animal ready to attack. “Everything about her is my concern.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but Ryder covered it with his hand as Luc smirked and responded to David.
“You think a single mark from you on her neck, without her consent, is a claim that can’t be challenged? Do you think choosing to flaunt the one you hurt her most with is forgivable?” Luc moved fast, spinning David so he was now the one pinned against the car, but he had David’s arm twisted behind his back and his face pressed to the top of the car.
David tried to move, but he couldn’t. He angrily glared at her where she struggled against Ryder.
Luc leaned closer. “Learn now, boy, it’s the mark you don’t see that matters, and you don’t hurt her unless you want to lose.”
“What’s going on here?” came a yell from the building.
Ryder leaned down, whispering in her ear, “You’re playing with fire, Sweet Jane.”
Finally, she yanked his hand away from her mouth. “And you’re playing buddies with David.”
Those emerald eyes stared into hers as a few coaches came out, breaking up the crowd as Luc released David.
“Why are you with him?” Ryder asked, caressing her arm and smirking when she shivered. “Why, when I know you’re still thinking about me?”
“I told you to leave me alone. What I do with Luc is none of your business.” She turned to face him, thrilled that she’d been right—David and Ryder could put aside their differences and join forces. “Maybe I wanted a man instead of two boys.”
He didn’t look hurt. “You didn’t seem to think you were with a boy when you were riding my dick yesterday.” A wicked gleam lit his eyes. “For you, no one compares to me, babe. Now stop pushing me away. I’m not buying the mean girl act—it isn’t you. And I know damn well a small part of what we did was because David hurt you.”
Jane swallowed, her eyes burning. “I—I—”
Ryder shook his head. “I knew before going forward with everything, Jane. I did it because I wanted you, and I saw you wanted me. But your fucking guilt took over, just like it did with David. And just like him, you’re being a coward and pushing away instead of just making things right.” He caressed her cheek. “Unlike Mr. Perfect, I’m not telling you you can’t come back to me. Yet.”
Holy hell, he was perfect.
“You’d look cuter in my jacket,” he added, stepping past her. “I’m bigger than both of them.”
Those tingles went right to her heart, and she knew he was saying something besides his size. Her heart was ready to burst as he walked away with Savaş. Archer lingered, a teasing smile on his lips as he held something out to her. Well, it looked like he was trying to hold something out for her.
“Can I help you?” she asked him, keeping an eye on Luc and David still arguing with the coaches.
Archer snickered, holding his hand out still. “We all know it was you who David wanted to wear his jersey. Since Luc slipped in, showing off with his jacket around you, I figured I’d step up for my brother and give you Ryder’s underwear.”
“What?” She dumbly held her hand out as a group of guys howled with laughter.
Now, Archer laughed, showing he didn’t have anything in his hand. He was taking up for Ryder but also trying to tell her there was a lot more to what was happening, and they all knew. And he was making a fool of her.
It was the start Jane needed. These were the guys David was closest to, and the ones she would really have had to endure i
f he'd been honest with her. So, she fixed a sweet smile on her face and hugged Luc’s jacket around her tighter. “Who said I wasn’t already wearing them?”
The boys stopped laughing, their eyes dropping to between her legs.
“Have a good game, boys.” She winked at them then made her way to Luc.
David blocked her path, snarling in her face. “Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”
She shoved his chest. “I have a ride. Why don’t you go pay some attention to Diane? I’m sure she’d love this caveman act of yours.”
For a fraction of a second, he looked sorry, but he didn’t say anything about his little stunt either. He gripped her arm, ignoring the calls from his coach to let her go. “You’re not going with him.”
“I think I am.” She couldn’t believe him. He was losing his damn mind. “Get your head in the right place, David. You have a big game, and I’m not your problem. You couldn’t just give me time to figure out my feelings for the first time.” The hurt part of her had to throw in, “Funny how you’re fine with me being one Godson brother’s whore, but Luc enters the picture, and you’re a jealous boyfriend on steroids.”
He breathed heavily, but he didn’t say anything.
“Be careful,” she whispered, staring into his glare. “People are going to notice this isn’t brotherly behavior. Not that I’ve made it seem like I minded today. Now go and think about who you really need to protect, ‘cause it isn’t me.”
Now, he released her, his fury growing as he watched Luc open the door for her.
“Have a good game, David,” she said softly, hating that he didn’t just say ‘fuck it’ and kiss her senseless in front of everyone. Because no matter how badly David had hurt her, he’d really been trying to let her go, and he loved her so much, he was lost on how to do it, other than going to someone else—someone who would make him feel like shit and unworthy.
She should hate him, but she didn’t. She still loved him.
Once she was seated, Luc shut the car door, and as he rounded the car to join her, David yelled and punched the side of the building with all his strength. She gasped, knowing it had to hurt him, but he prepared to do it again.
Thankfully, Lance stopped him, pushing him in the opposite direction.
Her heart ached. All they were doing was hurting each other—hurting each other because they loved each other. How the hell did that make any sense?
A twisted part of her liked David was finally showing his feelings. Yeah, it was anger and possessiveness, but it proved he could lose some control over her. All these years he’d hidden everything so well that even she believed there was nothing there. He’d tried to move on to hide, to punish himself, because it was wrong for stepsiblings to be in love. At least to the rest of the world.
Luc joined her moments later but remained silent as he drove.
It wasn’t an awkward silence. Nothing felt wrong about being with Luc, but she desperately wanted to have David and Ryder right there. She wanted to kiss David good luck, and she wanted to know if Ryder really didn’t wear underwear for games. She also wanted to see Tercero, to make sure he was okay and say she was sorry for being a bitch.
Jane sighed, resting her head back, but she glanced at Luc, watching him. He wasn’t hurt, but he did have a red mark on his neck from where David’s hand had been. “What happened?”
His expression didn’t change, and he kept his eyes on the road. “What happens when a man is losing what he loves most.”
She swallowed and held a hand over her pounding heart. Why had it been so obvious to everyone but her? Why did David try so hard when they all knew he loved her?
“You let it slip today that the two of you had been intimate,” he said, not accusingly, just pointing it out.
“Yeah.” She smiled a little to herself. “He thinks I have to be protected, that we have to hide our feelings for each other. He wanted to keep everything out of sight until he could move us away like I’m a dirty little secret.”
The corner of Luc’s mouth twitched. “I think he wants the world to know he has your heart. He is a disciplined boy, though, and he honors his family and all who look up to him.”
She loved that about David. He took care of everyone, even if he was going about it wrong with her. He was honorable and good. “What do you think? Would it really hurt his chances at a scholarship?”
“Perhaps. But I don’t think he’s concerned with that.” He cut her a look, and she held her breath as the possessiveness of his stare settled over her. “When a man has found the one, it’s difficult to care about what he may lose in order to keep her. However, if his heart and soul truly belong to her, he will be concerned about what she may lose.”
Her mouth felt dry because she didn’t think he was talking only about David. “You mean his worry that I’ll be locked away by my parents and that everyone will judge me—not him? So, he really loves me?”
“Of course he loves you.” Those intense gray eyes locked on her face. “Perhaps the truth that your heart is not restricted to just himself has also been certain to him. Consider he knew this and had to contemplate cutting you apart? What would he watch you suffer by claiming you as he wishes? He wins his heart’s desire, but he forces you to lose part of yours.”
Jane tore her gaze from his, breathing faster because it felt like a part of her was nodding, yes, that’s exactly it. She didn’t want to choose because everything felt right with Ryder.
And Tercero, she mentally added. God, why was she adding him? He was hot, and he was nice, and they’d had a little moment, but that was just hormones. Wasn’t it?
As Luc pulled into her driveway, the air grew thick in the car. She nearly jumped out as soon as he stopped, but she felt like he had control over her when she sat perfectly still and stared forward.
“Tonight, Jane, you are mine.” His fingers trailed along her jawline until he gently turned her to face him. God, he was beautiful. His piercing eyes made him appear as though he hated you, but there was a softness to the way he studied her that let her breathe again. “I know you love David, that you might even love my brother,” he said softly, “but we are the couple everyone expects to see together tonight. I don’t share.”
“I thought you were just helping me.” She hadn’t meant to even talk, and she realized he hadn’t expected to be questioned either.
“My help has a price. The price is: you are mine until I say you are not, and you do as I say while you are with me.” He stared at her lips for a few seconds before meeting her eyes. “With you, it seems there are unexpected consequences, though.”
She trembled, surprised as hell that it wasn’t in fear. “And what are the consequences?”
His eyes flashed silver and an incredible smile transformed his face from manipulative god to heavenly angel. “Guess.”
His cold touch suddenly warmed and spread all over her face, down her neck and enveloped her entire body, and she smiled. Why? Why, why, why was she suddenly the biggest fool about love?
He took it in as that feeling seeped inside her. “Beautiful.”
“Oh God, I’m such a slut,” she whispered as she leaned forward.
Luc didn’t say anything. He simply took the kiss she gave willingly.
The moment their lips touched, that warmth ignited into a fire she didn’t think even Heaven could put out. Instantly, neediness throbbed at her core, and she whimpered, squeezing her legs together and clutched his shoulder, pulling him closer.
Luc didn’t get as reckless as her, but he kissed her deeply, completely different from the wild but completing kiss of his brother, and the branding one David had left her with. Luc’s was so amazing it was frightening. Sinful. It was so wrong to kiss him, but she wanted it. She wanted it so bad, and she was at his mercy as he tasted her.
Jane had to put her hand between her legs to try and stop the throbbing, and he smirked, covering her hand with his.
“Want me to make it all stop?” He merely smiled against
her mouth when she whined, and he pressed down, a perfect caress that had her coming in an instant because she’d been that tightly wound up.
“Good girl,” he murmured, giving her a soothing and final massage before withdrawing his hand. “Unless you’d like me to do more, I suggest you go inside and rest. It’s going to be a long night.”
Jane closed her eyes, half ashamed and half blissfully pleased with herself for not being afraid to explore her body’s needs.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I take it yesterday was your first experience?”
She breathed out, smiling. “Yeah, your brother kinda rocked my world after David gave me a taste.”
“I did not need that in-depth of an answer,” he said, moving back.
Jane felt Luc’s anger and grinned up at him. “Then don’t ask, because I may be pushing them away, but I won’t stop feeling for them, and I won’t forget how either of them made me feel.” It pleased her more than it probably should’ve to see the crack in his normal controlled expressions, so she added, “And I probably won’t stop wondering what could’ve happened with Tercero if he’d helped me into my bath yesterday.”
His jaw tightened, and he motioned to the door. “Go before you upset me. I’ll be here at six to pick you up.”
She chuckled, grabbing her bag.
“Don’t make a joke out of me, Jane. You won’t like it when you’re punished.”
A little jolt of anticipation shot through her, and she sent him a flirty smile before leaning over and kissing him lightly on the corner of the mouth. “You don’t know, I just might like it.”
He held her chin before she could lean away and pressed a firmer kiss on her lips, then released her. “Go.”
Jane, a little frightened but giddy and confident as hell, got out, giving him a little bow. “See you later, my king.”
Nine
Jane didn’t expect anyone to be home. She didn’t expect anyone to see her and Luc. And she didn’t expect to be on the receiving end of Kingston Leodegrance’s wrath.