DARE SERIES COLLECTION

by Tessier, Shantel

  AUSTIN

  Sunday evening, we pull up to the barn at nine o’clock. We were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. We spent all day in my bed, then took our time getting ready. Cole walks around and opens the passenger door for me. I smile up at him, and he has a smirk on his face.

  He takes my hand in his and opens the barn door for me to enter. We come in, and all chatter comes to a stop. Deke sits on the couch texting on his phone. Shane and Bennett lean up against the table to the right, and Kellan stands facing them.

  “Hello, everyone.” Cole says cheerfully.

  I watch Kellan’s brown eyes narrow on him.

  “Finally.” Deke jumps up. “Let’s get this over with. We shouldn’t even be meeting tonight. We don’t have a dare to do.”

  “That’s because Cole is taking his sweet ass time fucking Kaitlin,” Kellan says, looking at me. “Not sure why. She’s a guaranteed lay.”

  I tighten my hold on Cole’s hand. He ignores Kellan.

  “I called the meeting,” Bennett says and turns around to dig into a black drawstring backpack. Identical to the one that lies under my bed. He opens it up and pulls out five white envelopes. “Here you guys go.” He hands one to Shane and Kellan. Then he walks over and hands Cole two. He tosses Deke the last one, and he catches it midair.

  “What is that?” I ask.

  Cole hands me one of them. I take it and feel the thickness.

  “This …” Deke holds his up and smiles at me. “Is payday.”

  “Payday?” I ask confused. “I don’t—”

  “That laptop you stole from Jerrold’s,” Bennett interrupts me, “had several accounts on it. I’m draining them one at a time into an account I set up. This is the smallest one. And this is your cut. We each got ten thousand.”

  “What?” My mouth falls open in a gasp. I shove my envelope into Cole’s chest and let go of it. It falls to his feet. “I can’t take that.”

  Kellan snorts. “Surprise, surprise. The princess doesn’t want it.”

  “That’s blood money,” I snap.

  “It’s whatever you wanna call it.”

  “It’s illegal,” I argue with him.

  Cole reaches down and picks up my envelope.

  “What you did to get the laptop was illegal too. Or did you forget that?” Kellan arches a brow in challenge.

  I look away from him.

  “That’s what I thought,” he adds.

  “Find anything else on the laptop?” Cole asks Bennett.

  He shrugs. “Nothing useful. The guy is into some pretty sick shit when it comes to sex. But besides bank accounts, there was nothing useful.”

  “What about cell phone records?” I ask.

  “What about them?” Kellan snaps.

  Everyone’s eyes turn on me. “What about them?” Deke asks in a much nicer tone.

  “A lot of people don’t like to log in every time they go to a site they frequent often, so they keep their passwords remembered. If you knew his carrier and typed it in, maybe it will still have him logged in. You could go through his phone records. See who he has spoken to.” They all just stare at me, and I shrug, feeling awkward. “It could be nothing …”

  “No. It’s a good idea. I’ll check into it,” Bennett says.

  I nod once.

  Cole takes my hand and turns us to face Kellan. I square my shoulders, knowing what is about to happen. “She’s not pulling out of the group,” he growls.

  “Who said she was?” Bennett demands.

  “Kellan.” Deke crosses his arms over his chest.

  “What?” He and Shane both speak at once.

  Kellan’s jaw sharpens, and he narrows his eyes on me. “Even if you could retract your dare, which I knew you couldn’t, I still wouldn’t pull out.”

  Cole surprises me and jerks me to face him. His hands go to my hair, and his lips crash down on mine. My lips part on a gasp of surprise when his tongue slides into my mouth. His hands tighten in my hair, and my eyes close on a moan. My hands grip his shirt as he kisses me like he’s desperate for me. Needs me. He tilts my head to the side, and I allow him to take my breath away. The man could kill me if he wanted as long as his hands were on me at the time. My pussy tightens, and my legs threaten to buckle as he fucking takes what he wants.

  Giving Kellan a show.

  My eyes slowly open as he pulls away. His blue eyes look over my shoulder, and he smirks. “And she’s mine. Stay away.”

  The room falls silent as I regain myself and pull out of Cole’s hands. I turn around to face them. Kellan glares at me, but his brown eyes start to burn brighter as a sinister smile spreads across his face. He takes a step toward me, and Cole yanks me back by my shoulder, ready to jump between us.

  His eyes go to Cole. “If this is how you guys wanna play it.” Then he walks past us and out the door.

  _______________

  Monday morning, I walk into the Reynolds house and see Lilly already coming down the hallway toward me. She wears a pair of jeans and a pink shirt that has a kitty on it, and her blond hair is in pigtails. She opens her arms. “Austin,” she squeals and jumps into mine.

  “Hey, princess. You ready to go to school?”

  She nods excitedly.

  “Do I need to pack you a lunch? Or do I need to give you lunch money?” I know Blanche is away this week, and I’m not all sure what she eats for lunch. Cole didn’t give me any instructions.

  “Cole made my lunch this morning before he left. It’s already in my backpack.”

  “Awesome,” I say. “Let’s get going then.”

  “Austin?”

  I look up to see a man coming toward me, and my eyes widen at how much he resembles Cole. He has his blue eyes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones. His broad shoulders fill his expensive looking charcoal suit, and he’s smiling at me. “It’s been a long time.” He looks me up and down, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand at the way his eyes linger on my legs.

  “I’m sorry. Do I know you?” I ask. Even though I know who the man is. I’m not sure what he means by a long time.

  He reaches out his right hand. “Liam Reynolds. Cole’s father.”

  I got that much. He looks just like him. I shake it. He tightens his grip to the point it’s painful, but I don’t flinch.

  “Good to see you again.”

  “Again?” I ask, sliding Lilly to my left hip. She’s heavier than she looks.

  He nods, placing his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks. “Yes. I believe the last time I saw you, you and Cole were seven.”

  I frown.

  “Your father and I have been best friends since long before he … dated your mother.”

  I almost snort at how he chose dated to describe their weekend hookup in a hotel room in Reno.

  “Last time you stayed with him, he had a cookout, and you and Cole swam together. You actually played together a couple of other times too.”

  My frown deepens because this guy must have me confused with someone else. I’ve never met Cole before.

  “Anyway,” he continues at my silence. “I must be going into the office. And you must be getting to school. Don’t wanna get in trouble.” His eyes rake over me again, and I take a step back toward the door, tightening my hold on Lilly.

  “It was nice meeting you,” I say, bending over to grab Lilly’s bag and then heading out the door.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  COLE

  “WHERE THE FUCK is she?” I growl, looking down at the clock on my phone. Austin is late as usual.

  “She’ll be here soon. She got stuck in traffic,” Becky answers, pulling her books out of her locker. She shuts her door and turns to face me. “Have you decided on what you’re gonna do?”

  “Do about what?” I ask.

  She places her hand on her hip. “Don’t play stupid, Cole. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  I look at Deke, who leans up against the lockers, hoping he will shut her up, but he just rais
es a brow. He’s thinking the same thing she is.

  I sigh. “There’s no way around it.”

  She takes a step toward me, glaring. “You’re gonna fuck her over for a dare?” She spits with disgust. “Fuck, Cole, I thought better of you than that.”

  I run a hand through my hair. “It’s not about the dare anymore. It’s about Kellan—”

  “Bullshit!” she interrupts me. “Forget about him and think about Austin.”

  “What about her?” I demand, getting tired of this subject.

  “She—”

  “Whew,” Austin interrupts her as she comes running up to us. Becky takes a step back from me, and Austin steps between us. Placing her left hand on her locker, she bows her head, breathing heavily. “Made it.” She breathes.

  “Did you just have sex in the parking lot?” Becky asks.

  “You better not have,” I snap.

  Becky throws me a fuck you smile as if the thought of Austin fucking someone else would piss me off. And I fist my hands. I might be about to fuck someone else, but she better fucking not.

  Austin pushes off her locker and rolls her eyes. “I … wish …” She pants. “I couldn’t find a parking spot.” She swallows. “Had to park all the way in the back … and run.”

  Becky laughs, and I ignore her.

  I spin Austin around and she looks up at me, a soft smile on her face as she continues to pant. Her eyes heavy and lips wet. I lean down and capture them with mine. She doesn’t hesitate. I push my hips into hers, and she moans when she feels I’m already hard. Fuck, I always want her. Too fucking much. I’ve become a fifteen-year-old boy again who can’t keep my dick in my pants. But I only want the same woman over and over instead of something new. Different.

  My right hand grabs her thigh and pulls it up to wrap around my hip. Someone whistles as they walk by us, but I ignore them while my lips continue to devour hers.

  Fuck me like they’re watching.

  That’s what she had said to me and that thought has me being even more aggressive. I’ll give them a show. I’ll show them that she is fucking mine.

  Her fingers dig into my shirt as she pulls me toward her. I slam her back into the locker. She whimpers into my mouth, and I swallow it.

  When I pull away, I’m panting too. She leans her head back, resting against the locker. I smile down at her, loving that her eyes are closed and her chest heaving. I make her just as weak as she makes me.

  I take a quick look around the silent hallway and find we are alone now. The bell rang long ago. “Come on,” I say, pulling her away from her locker.

  She straightens her hair and pulls her shoulders back. Pulling herself together.

  “How was Lilly for you this morning?” I ask, walking her to her first period. I hate that I need her help, but right now, there is no one else. And she was right before. Lilly does like her.

  “She was great,” she says. “I promised to take her for ice cream after school again.”

  I chuckle. “That’s why she likes you so much.”

  _______________

  When I finally leave practice, it’s late. While I was swimming, Austin messaged me that they were going to swim and then watch a movie at her place. I planned to join them but needed to run by my father’s house on the way.

  I put my car in park and leave it running in the driveway as I run into the house.

  “Cole?” I hear his voice.

  I sigh. “Yes?”

  “My office.”

  I walk down the long hallway and make the last right and walk into his office. He sits behind his desk with his hands folded on the brown wood.

  “What?” I ask, not entering.

  “Sit,” he says, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

  “I’ll stand,” I say, resting my shoulder against his doorframe.

  He sighs heavily, showing me his disappointment.

  “I saw Austin Lowes today.”

  My brows rise at that. “She didn’t mention it.”

  He leans back in his chair. “She’s pretty. Very pretty.” I fist my hands, knowing that he looked at her that way. And I hate that he used the same word her mother’s boyfriend told her. “But of course, she is; her mother was too before she became a worthless druggie.” He sighs. “Anyway, Bruce is back in town.” I grunt. “He told me that you two are dating.”

  “Something like that,” I say, not wanting him to know that she’s getting to me. He’ll use her against me. That’s what he does.

  He smirks. “He also told me that you denied fucking his wife.”

  “That’s because I haven’t. You just assumed.”

  “Well, he knows someone is.”

  “No offense, Liam, but I couldn’t care less what his wife does behind his back. We all know he’s not faithful.”

  His nostrils flare at that. “Are you wearing protection with Austin?” he demands.

  I refrain from chuckling at that. Now he wants to have the sex talk? Doesn’t he know I’ve been fucking girls since I was fourteen? I have always used protection before, but things are different with Austin. “That’s none of your business.”

  He slams his hands down on his desk and stands. “It is when she tricks you into knocking her up like her mother did Bruce. I don’t want another unwanted child running around this house.”

  My anger rises at those words, and I push away from the doorframe, straightening my back. “Don’t worry, Father, if I knock her up, I’ll take care of my child. I already take care of yours. What’s one more?”

  “Don’t you fucking dare, Cole!” he snaps.

  “No, Dad. You fucking don’t,” I shout.

  His blue eyes narrow on me before he slowly lowers himself back down into his seat. “Go ahead. Knock her up and see where you’re at in five years. Your swimming career long gone. And a child with a woman who can’t keep her legs closed for other men.”

  “You know nothing about her.” She’s all mine.

  “I know enough.”

  “What Bruce has told you?” I snort. “Like he’s been there for her.” He doesn’t even know what her mother’s boyfriend has done to her. Or he does and doesn’t fucking care.

  His eyes meet mine. “I know that you’ve become obsessed with the whore, and that you made a deal with Bruce.” I grind my teeth at him calling her a whore. She doesn’t spread her legs for anyone but me. And it’s going to stay that way. “And the moment you give her up, he’s gonna nail you to the fucking cross for taking something from him that didn’t belong to you.”

  I’m not surprised Bruce told my father that I stole his car. They tell each other everything.

  “Why do you care? I’m out of here after graduation no matter where I go.”

  His lips thin. He hates that I have my own money and that he can’t control me. “Don’t start acting like a father now, Liam. You never have before.” Then I turn around and walk out of his office.

  _______________

  When I walk into the Lowes house, the lights are off, and the grand foyer is covered in darkness. I know that Bruce and Celeste aren’t here. Whenever he is home, they are either at the country club or out on his yacht. He likes to entertain people in this city, and they love to bow at his feet like he’s a fucking saint.

  I walk up the stairs and open the door to her room, but it’s empty, so I continue down the hallway to the media room. Beauty and the Beast plays on the screen, and I walk around to face the couch. My chest tightens at what I see.

  Austin lies on her left side with her back to the cushions, her arm hanging off the couch. Lilly is also on her side facing her, cuddled up to her. They’re both passed out.

  I go to the stack of blankets over in the corner and grab one, covering them up with it. I sit down, my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands.

  She’s in my head.

  Fuck, even my cock is always hard for her. She’s everywhere. And consuming me.

  You gotta fuck Kaitlin.

  I wasn’t ly
ing to Becky earlier today. This is no longer about Kaitlin or Austin. This is about the game. The feud between Kellan and me. I’m not willingly going to walk away from this dare and leave the group. I can’t. I have more dignity than that.

  So what are you going to do?

  I sigh, not having a fucking clue.

  “Cole?”

  I look up to see Austin blinking. She slides her arm out from underneath Lilly’s sleeping body and sits up, rubbing her eyes. “What time is it?” she whispers.

  “Almost nine.”

  She covers up a yawn. “Man, I didn’t realize I was so tired.”

  I stand. “I’m gonna take Lilly home.”

  “No.” She throws off the covers and gets up, making sure not to wake Lilly. “Let her stay here.”

  “Austin …”

  “She’s fine, Cole. She’s already asleep. And I’m taking her to school in the morning anyway. All her stuff is already here from when I picked her up earlier. I will just put her in my room. She can sleep with me.”

  I go to protest more, but she picks her up and carries her out. I turn off the movie and fold the blanket up before putting it back where I found it.

  I shut the door and walk down the hall to her room. I enter and find them both already in her bed, cuddled up and the covers to their neck.

  My stomach knots up. Shit is going to hit the fan soon, but it’s not going to be because I fucked Kaitlin. It’s going to be because more secrets are going to catch up with me, and they are going to blow up in my face.

  AUSTIN

  Becky and I are walking down the quiet hallway, late to class as usual. The bell rang over fifteen minutes ago. Lilly and I picked her up this morning, and they wanted donuts. I tried to tell them we didn’t have time, but Becky turned on me and had Lilly chanting donuts along with her at the top of their lungs.

  Becky crams the last part of hers in her mouth. “We’re so dead,” she mumbles.

  My phone dings as we stop at our lockers.

  Shark: Where are you?

  I roll my eyes. “It’s like he thinks I’m incapable of getting Lilly to school.”

  Becky laughs and pieces of her donut fly from her mouth. I chuckle. “Well, you do get her there late.”