by A. R. Breck
The look in his eyes holds a heat that also has a hint of desire in it. It captures me, and I'm suddenly enslaved in his presence.
"Okay."
CHAPTER TWENTY
Easton
Don't be a fool for the Devil, darling. – Anne Rice
"Okay."
Shit.
Of course, her words hit me straight in the heart. I have to hold myself back from trailing after her like some love-sick puppy. What is it even about her that reels me in? She is not what I usually go for in a girl. I'm not someone who usually likes the pretentious girls, or anyone who thinks they are better than someone else, really.
She's a virgin, for fucks sake.
I walked out of her house last night telling myself that I was going to keep my distance and move on with my life. Act like she's nothing but another girl here at this school. But, the moment that her scowly ass hops out of Logan's car this morning, that thumping muscle in my chest yanked me towards her like a dog on a leash.
It's like whatever deal I made with myself last night flees my brain the moment she shows up in front of me, sass and all. She's wound me tight. I've tried to release her from my thoughts.
Rose, Rose, Rose.
I keep an eye on her but let her run to her friend like I am some big, bad wolf. But I guess in a sense, I am.
I walk up to Logan and Jackson who are talking over by our cars and ask Logan, "So, what happened last night? You never called me back."
He runs his hands through his wild hair. "Yeah man, sorry. Pops called me home and I had to deal with his shit the rest of the night."
I nod in understanding. "So, did you take care of the step-dad?"
"Hell yeah, I did. Found that fucker down by the bar and waited for him to leave. Told him that if he so much as looks in Cara's direction again, he will have to deal with Rich Malone." I agree, Rich has a zero-tolerance policy for being an abusive fuck to minors or being a pervert.
"What did you do to him?" Jackson growls. Almost like he's hungry for revenge.
"I didn't bring him to the hospital, but I'm sure he had to find his way there somehow. I think I left him with dislocated shoulders and a broken nose. Oh, and I carved the word pervert into his forehead." He chuckles but then his eyes turn deadly. "I swear, I was so close to killing that motherfucker for even touching Cara. I know we don't all hangout like we used to, but…" He sighs and runs a hand down his face in frustration.
"But you've loved her since you were a child and don't know how to deal with your feelings?" I tilt my head at him and watch as he turns his deadly scowl on me.
"Fuck no, dude. No, just…" He sputters and can't seem to get his words out. I start cackling and a quiet Jackson even lets out a few puffs of a laugh. Logan turns to Cara and gets that look that I'm sure mirrors how I look at Rose.
Fuck, we're all screwed in the land of women.
"No worries, dude. I won't leak your secret."
He shrugs his shoulders as he looks angrily at the ground. "Thanks, bro."
"So, tonight…" I start.
Both of them snap into action, and we all know we have to be on point whenever we do Rich's business.
"What's the deal?" Jackson is ready to take over the reins of the business when the time comes. He is completely invested in the business.
"There are some new drug runners and Rich wants us to make sure that everything goes smoothly tonight. We can't afford any mistakes tonight. The shipment is one of our bigger ones."
"How much?" Logan asks.
"A few mill, at least."
Both Logan and Jackson nod in agreement. My boys are one hundred percent dedicated to serving the family business, and I know they won't let me down.
The students are starting to walk into the school so I give my boys a nod and then walk over to my little Rose, ready to keep her close to me today. Word is that some of the guys around here have been sniffing around her and are ready to ask her out. I'm going to shut that shit down before it even starts.
Walking up behind her, I lay my arm across her shoulder and haul her to me. "Ready?"
"Ready for what?" She looks at me all confused with her cute little nose scrunched up.
Shit, Easton. Get a fucking grip.
"I don't need an escort to class if that's what you're planning on doing." She looks over at Cara who has an apprehensive look in her eyes before she mumbles a see you later and scurries away to the entrance of the building.
I stop us in our tracks and look down at her. "Why are you fighting this?"
"Because…"
"Spit it out, Rose." I bark down at her.
"Because, you're… you're too much! The girls, the fighting, the title that you have over this town! It's so much, and I can barely stand up straight as it is. I can't keep up."
"I'm not asking you to keep up."
"But I have to! Don't you see? Your lifestyle is on a completely different universe than the one I'm living. If I don't keep up, I'll drown into the background."
"No, you won't."
"Really? And how do you know?"
"Because I'll keep you afloat. I'll save you, little Rose. Just like I've been saving you since day one."
"I…I…" She's speechless, and I go in to save her, once again.
I wrap my hand around the back of her next and lean down until I'm just a breath away from her, one twitch forward and our lips would be touching. "You will see eventually."
"See what?" She whispers.
"That you're mine."
And with that, I disconnect from her and walk into the school, knowing she will be following behind. She's just as stuck to me as I am to her. Screw this push and pull. She's mine - and it's time my little Rose realized it.
◆◆◆
By the time school is over, I think Rose is going to strangle me. I've been sticking close to her most of the day, basically growling at any guy who comes too close to her. She's giving me snarky looks, but I think she's actually enjoying my possessiveness. If the gleam in her eye is anything to go by.
And even if she doesn't, I don't fucking care. I found her, I caught her, I keep her.
Rose and Cara are a few steps ahead of us as we exit the school and start walking towards our vehicles.
"What are your plans today?" Cara asks.
"Mmm, nothing, I don't think." Rose tells her.
"Sorry, she's busy." I say to Cara.
"I'm busy. And what am I doing, boss?" She tilts her nose up at me.
"I'm going to bring you home today. You know, hangout and shit." I narrow my eyes at her and dare her to give me any snarky remarks.
I think Rose realizes this when she tries to slip one passed me. "I will text you when I get home." She leans in and whispers to Cara.
I snort out a laugh and shake my head at her. Always trying to have the upper hand.
"All right, I will talk to you later." Cara gives us a little wave and walks off towards her car, Logan and Jackson following close behind her.
Rose turns towards me and cocks a hand on her hip. "So, you're bringing me home today? I knew I should have driven myself..." She mumbles.
"Can't I bring my girl home without any complaints? Shit, you're annoying sometimes." I run my hand down my face in exasperation. This girl is more trouble than she's worth.
So why can't I stay away from her?
"Your girl?"
"Shut up, Rose."
"Your. Girl?" She asks again, looking up at me all confused like. "I'm not going to just jump into bed like you like any other girl in this shitty town. Just so you know." She flicks her hair over her shoulder like she's made of gold.
"I know. But you sure wanted me to jump into your bed last night without a second thought."
"Agh! I was drunk." Her face flames red.
I chuckle at her. "I know. The truth always comes out when you're drunk."
She tries to shoulder past me. "I'm not going to sit here and let you give me shit. I'm going home. Goodbye, Easton."
/> I tamper down my chuckle and grab her by the bicep. "I'm sorry. I won't bring it up again."
She gives me a side eye like she doesn't believe me.
"Come on, just trust me, all right?" I break down a little bit of the hostility that lives inside of me and give her a part of me that I don't let anyone see.
I see the moment she notices. Her whole demeanor changes, and she melts.
"Let's go." I reach out for her hand.
She takes it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Rose
You become a changed person when you face the reaper and deny him your soul. - Martha Sweeney
Easton brought me home, which I guess is a good thing because it would have sucked ass to have to walk all the way home. Maybe this was his plan all along, having Logan pick me up in the morning so that I would need a ride home in the afternoon.
I'm not sure what his plan is. Is he just dropping me off? Is he coming inside? I'm going to have to try and sneak him past mom, because the last thing I need right now is for him and my mom to have to exchange words.
My mom would not approve of this man.
When we pull up in front of my house, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see she isn't home. But that leads me to another question - where the hell has she been lately?
Easton parks, and just like last night, he turns off his car before hopping out.
Well, he is obviously staying.
I sigh, knowing that I probably don't even have a say in the matter. Grabbing my backpack, I hop out of the truck and catch up to Easton who is already walking up the walkway to my house.
I unlock the door, and Easton opens it up like he owns the place and waltzes in, going straight towards the kitchen and helping himself to a glass of water.
I kind of just stand there, not really sure what I should be doing with myself.
After he grabs his glass of water, he walks passed me and into my room without even sparing me a glance.
What the hell is he doing?
I follow behind him – because what the hell else am I supposed to do?
He toes off his shoes and plops down in my bed before grabbing my remote and turning on my tiny television in the corner of my room.
I stand there in the doorway and watch as he gets comfortable like he owns the place.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare at me, or are you going to come over here?"
"What are you even doing?"
He rolls his eyes. "I'm hanging out. For once, I don't have anything to do every second of the day. Now are you going to sit there and complain some more, or do you want to come over here and hang out with me?"
I shrug off my backpack and walk around to the empty spot on the bed before crawling on and sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed. Easton huffs out a laugh before he grabs me with his paw of a hand and rakes me over to his side. "There, better. Was that so hard, honestly?"
"No." I squeak.
His body heat washes over me and suddenly all I can concentrate on is his manly scent that is slowly filling up my room. The thump, thump of his heartbeat pounds against my side in a steady rhythm. I pretend to be really interested in the show, even though it looks like the most boring daytime show I've ever seen in my life.
"Okay, so, let's play a game or something." I blurt out.
"A game?" He looks at me like I'm seven.
"Yeah, like twenty questions or something. I ask you something, you ask me something... you get the picture. All right, I'll start. What's your favorite color?"
"Red, you?"
"Teal. Okay, now you ask a question."
"Uh... what's your favorite food?"
"Anything with bread, to be honest. What about you? Let me guess, like pizza or something?"
"Nope. Steak, for sure." He gives me a sharp smile and shows off his teeth.
"Really? Huh. Okay, so what is your favorite movie?"
"Scarface, hands down. Or anything Quentin Tarantino."
"Of course. I probably could have guessed that one." I laugh.
"What about you? What's your favorite movie?" Sitting up in bed, I look down at him and watch as his eyes sparkle with a boyish look I've never seen before. He seems happy... and relaxed.
"Oh, I don't want to say. You will just laugh at me."
Cue the laughing. "I will not, just tell me."
"I'm like... a hardcore Harry Potter fan. Like, my friends from Woodbury don't even know that about me. But anytime it's on, I will give up just about any plan to sit at home and watch it." I bury my face in my hands and listen as he lets out a low chuckle.
"You told me you wouldn't laugh, you liar!" I drop my hands and push him in his chest.
He grabs onto my hands and pulls me down on top of him "I think it's cute. My little wizard. We could always do a little role play or something, if you'd like." He rasps in my ear on a laugh.
My face flames red as the images of us dressed up in Hufflepuff gear float through my head.
His eyes grow dark and heated, and the hand that is against my hip tightens in what I imagine is restraint.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"
"I'm just… a little overwhelmed is all." I swallow loudly. What just happened? What are we doing?
"That liquid courage you had last night doesn't pour over into sober courage, does it?" He gives me a lopsided smirk, only the corner of his mouth lifting.
It takes my breath away. I don't think I have ever seen him let loose a genuine smile – if that's what this can ever be considered – before.
"No. You're just more… menacing than what I'm used to."
His eyebrows pull in, revealing a harsh line that appears between his eyes. "What do you mean 'what I'm used to'? I thought you were a virgin?"
"I am. Though, that doesn't mean I haven't done anything before…" I can't look at him when I say this. Although I haven't had sex with anyone, I have gotten to second base with Corey. He was pushy, and for a while I wanted to be with him no matter what. I let him get farther than what I was ready for. In some ways, I regret what I did with Corey. But I guess I did get a little experience, so I'm not some virginal child in a pool full of almost-adults with about a million notches in their bedpost by now.
"And what is it that you have done?" He leans up and hovers over me, trailing his hand up and down my side.
"N-nothing. Just some touching…"
"Mmm, touching, huh? Like this?" He trails his hand down my side and to my bare legs, legs that are barely covered now that my skirt has ridden up to the tops of my thighs. His hand edges along the hem of my skirt before trailing up ever so slowly, revealing my expensive yet modest pink undies with lace around the edges.
He looks up at me with hooded eyes once he gets a peak at them. "Cute." Once again, he gets a lopsided grin which makes me turn to mush and heat rush between my legs.
He runs his fingers along the lace edging before whispering. "Is this the kind of touching you're talking about?"
I nod my head yes.
"How about this?" His fingers dip underneath the top of my undies and linger there at the top of my sex, not really delving in, just hovering and making my legs quiver with need. "Have you been touched here, Rose?" He slowly lays his hand down on my sex, which covers my entire private area, considering his hands are fucking huge. I also say a little prayer to the heavens for remembering to shave the other night.
"Rose? I asked you a question."
"Yes."
His eyes grow dark at my admittance. "And did this horny little shit get you off?"
"N-no."
He seems to like this idea – that whoever I had what little sexual experience I've had with – couldn't get me off.
"Hmm. That's not good. He must not have done it right." He uses his pointer finger and runs it along my slit, revealing wet heat that makes him instantly groan. "Holy shit, Rose. You are dripping."
My face burns red at his statement. I can't help what he makes me fee
l, or how my body reacts to his presence.
I try to close my legs but he uses his other hand to hold my hip down on the bed. "Hold on there, little Rose. I didn't mean that in a bad way. I meant that in a very, very good way." He swallows before running his pointer finger along my wetness again, swirling it around before running his finger past my clit. "Doesn't that feel good?"
"Uh huh." I nod my head, nearly drunk in pleasure.
"I'm sure it does." He repeats this for a while, running his finger along my wetness and bringing it up to swipe along my clit, giving it a little more attention each time. I start to feel a low thrum in my legs that slowly works its way up, and I'm shocked that I'm about to orgasm from this. The only times I have ever been able to get off have been by myself. That – and it always takes longer than just a few minutes.
By the time the thrumming makes its way up to my thighs, my legs are spread wide and my skirt is bunched up around my hips. My underwear, which is now pulled to the side, is soaking wet with my juices. "Yes, come for me, Rose. I know you want to. Come, now." And with his command, I shoot off like a rocket. My back bows off the bed and I let out little whimpers while Easton pushes all of the right buttons.
Once I come down, Easton slowly readjusts my underwear before sticking his fingers into his mouth, letting out a groan and closing his eyes once he tastes my juices.
Not a moment later, his phone vibrates with a text. He shifts over and pulls his phone out of his back pocket, reading something before sliding it back into his pants.
"I've got to go."
"What?" I shoot up into a sitting position and pull my skirt down as far as it will go. I'm suddenly feeling well underdressed, even after what we just did.
"I've got to go. I'll talk to you later." He stands up off the bed and slides his shoes back on, acting like we just talked about our homework instead of him just getting me off on the most intense orgasm of my life.
"But – but what about you? Do you want me to…" I point to the obvious bulge in his pants.
He looks down and then readjusts himself. "No."
"But-"
"Rose." I stop at the firm tone in his voice and look up at him. "I'm fine. I'll talk to you later, yeah?"