Falling Deeper (Falling Series)

by Lucia Grace

  Just as I push through the fence that separates the stands and player’s bench to get to Ember, I catch Decker’s comment. “What’s a pretty little thing like you doing all by herself over here? You must be new because there is no way I wouldn’t remember a fine ass like yours.”

  His eyes roam her body from top to bottom and back again, boiling my blood like no other. I’m not usually a jealous guy. No other girl has ever brought this kind of possessiveness out of me before. But it seems that when it comes to Ember, all bets are off.

  I pick up my pace and about snap the facemask off my helmet when I see Decker make a move and bring one hand to Ember’s face and the other to her left hip. She flinches a little and there’s no one else around to notice. Except me. Red-hot fury boils under my skin.

  How dare that motherfucker touch her.

  I’m at them in a flash and shoving that fucker away from her. I step between them and place my injured left hand to Ember’s cheek to check on her first.

  “You okay, Em?” My eyes scan the unease across her face, which is slowly easing away at my touch.

  “Yeah, I’m better now,” she replies softly.

  As she assures me she’s okay, that’s when I feel Decker get close. I spin around quickly, coming face to forehead with him since I’m a good four or so inches taller. Not to mention wider, too.

  “Hey, man, chill. I didn’t know you were already hittin’ that.” He smirks then steps slightly to the side to get a look at Ember as he addresses her. Sneer firmly in place. “Maybe when you’re done with this asshole you’ll be ready to hit it with a real man, sweet cheeks.”

  I drop my helmet so fast he doesn’t see it coming when I shove him back, out of my face, then land a solid hit to his jaw. Snapping his head to the left. Thank God we’re by the bleachers or coach would have my ass for fighting.

  Oh well though. I’d do it again. This douche bag needs to learn some respect.

  When Decker rubs his jaw then takes a step to come at me, I get ready to take him down again, but all of a sudden I feel arms around my shoulders. I turn to look back to see Damon is the one pulling me away while still making sure to keep an eye on Decker in case he decides to try to sucker punch me.

  “Man, calm the fuck down.”

  “Douche bag needs to learn some respect.” I voice my earlier thoughts.

  “Yeah, well, he isn’t worth it. Now walk away and go check on your girl. I think you upset her even more.”

  I spin around to see where Damon pointed and see Sam and Tracey consoling Ember.

  Fuck. I’m practically jogging over to her I’m walking so fast. When I make it to her I ease myself between the girls with my shoulder pads and grab Ember’s beautiful face.

  “Hey, Em, shh, I’m sorry. I didn’t like the thought of him talking to you or looking at you like that.” She seems to soften at my touch like she always does and leans into my padded, sweaty body.

  “Thank you for sticking up for me. He was so creepy.” The disgust and slight tremble in her tone makes me see red all over again.

  “Did he say anything else to you that I didn’t hear? Touch you anywhere else? Because if he did I’m turning around to go kick his ass again.”

  She rushes on before I can say more. “No, no, he didn’t, Kayson, I swear. I don’t want you getting into trouble for me. It’s okay; you made it over just in time.”

  “Ember, haven’t you realized yet that I’d do a lot for you?” She blushes and it’s one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. Just like that first time I saw her.

  “Go to the dance with me tomorrow night,” I blurt out. Real smooth asshole. Especially under these circumstances.

  “Wh-what?” She seems shocked that I’d even ask her. I notice sometimes that she puts herself down or disregards compliments. Or she’ll be surprised by my actions, like she has no clue how much I really want her.

  Time to fix that.

  I take a deep breath and try again. Without sounding like a fucking asshole. “Ember, will you be my date to the homecoming dance tomorrow night?”

  She flashes me a smile so bright I actually falter.

  Damn, that can be lethal.

  That blush I love so much rushes toward her cheeks as she nods her consent. But I need to hear it. “Tell me you’ll be my date, Em.”

  “I’ll be your date. I’d love to go with you, Kayson.” A bright, wide smile still on her face.

  Giving no fucks about my sweaty football gear, I pull her against me as best as I can to wrap her in a hug. She doesn’t seem to care either, because her arms go around my neck and her hands play with the hair at the back of my neck.

  Fuck does that feel good.

  I never usually go to these things with anyone. I like leaving my options open. But after tonight, and all the tiptoeing around my feelings for her since laying my eyes on her for the first time last month, I’m changing that.

  I don’t exactly know what it is about Ember that has me feeling this way. What it is about her that makes me want to claim and protect. But whatever it is I know I need to make my move and make her mine.

  CHAPTER SIX

  EMBER

  Oh my crap. I still cannot believe that Kayson Williams, the most popular guy in school, asked me to go to the homecoming dance with him tonight.

  He asked me as if it was the most natural thing to do, but I was so shocked. My feelings surpass that of friendship for him, but I didn’t think his did. Even though the girls are always telling me that I’m crazy for missing the way he is with me and around me, or the way he looks at me, and how he is always touching me. They try to tell me that he has never been this way with other girls. Past or present. But I can’t see it.

  Or don’t.

  Either way, why would he choose me, the new girl with a convict for a father, when he can have the pick of any girl of any age that he wants? And when I say any age, I mean any age. Cougars throw themselves at him, not that I blame them, but it’s gross.

  With that final thought there’s a knock at my bedroom door as my mom pushes through.

  “Hey, sweetheart, the girls are downstairs. Should I just send them up?”

  “Yeah, Momma. Send them—”

  I’m cut off by the girls pushing through the door next to Momma. I shouldn’t be surprised, even after just over a month of friendship it’s like we’ve all been friends forever. So them barging in and making themselves at home isn’t anything new.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Martinez, but Sam couldn’t wait any longer,” Tracey chimes in while the culprit tosses her dozen or so bags onto my bed.

  Oh dear Lord, help me now.

  “Girls, I’ve told you to call me Cassandra. Please.” Momma offers them a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She hates being called Mrs. Martinez these days, and I don’t blame her.

  “Yes, that’s right. Sorry, Cassandra.”

  “No worries, dear. I’ll leave you three to it then.” Momma’s mood improves and she claps her hands together. “I can’t wait to see you beautiful girls all dressed up.” With that she leaves us and closes the door gently.

  “Okay, girls, makeover time.”

  Oh no.

  “Sam, what do you mean ‘makeover time’?”

  “I mean exactly what I said. What do you think all these bags are for? We’re here to give you a makeover to knock Kayson ‘the King’ on his ass.” She looks at me like I’m the loony one.

  I roll my eyes. Here we go again.

  “Girl, I don’t know how you can miss it. He can never keep his eyes off of you. He is always hugging you and kissing your head. I’m telling you, we’re telling you, that he is so into you.” Tracey gives a sharp nod after she finishes her mini-rant. Sam is nodding enthusiastically behind her, unpacking a couple of the bags she brought.

  “We can agree to disagree, can’t we? He’s just being friendly like I’m sure he is with all his friends that are girls.” My stomach drops at that thought.

  Especially when I think b
ack to the other day when I overheard a couple of senior girls talking about Kayson and me in the girls’s bathroom. They didn’t know I was already in a stall when they walked in, but I have a feeling that it wouldn’t have mattered even if they did. The one with the higher-pitched voice couldn’t stop talking about how hot and smart and perfect Kayson is compared to any other guy in this school. While the other one would not shut up about how short, fat, and plain I was or how they couldn’t figure out what he would ever see in me. These are the things they were talking about and we aren’t even dating. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if we really were.

  I swallow back the hurt that starts to creep up from that reminder before I continue on.

  “Or he probably just feels like he needs to be nice to the new girl.”

  At the look on my face Tracey tosses her hands in the air and shakes her head in defeat, as Sam marches up to me, grabbing my shoulders.

  “You listen here, Ember Martinez.” She gives me a little shake before she lets go and starts ticking off reasons on her fingers.

  “One: Kayson ‘the King’ isn’t friendly with just anybody. Hell, we’re all his friends and he does not go around hugging me and kissing my head.” One finger down.

  “Two: he isn’t just being nice since you’re the new girl. Just being nice would be showing you around, maybe acknowledging you in the hallway in passing. Not driving you everywhere and walking you to classes.” Second finger down.

  “Among other things,” Tracey adds with some sass. I roll my eyes at her.

  “Oh and three: WE ARE NOT WRONG.” She literally yells this as I blink at her. “He is so into you. Just you wait and see how he reacts when we’re done with you.” She finishes while rubbing her hands together as a slightly maniacal smile stretches across her face. Tracey cackles like Sam’s evil henchman in the background.

  Oh great.

  Two hours, a can of hairspray, and five wardrobe changes later, all three of us are ready to go. They wouldn’t let me look in any mirrors while they were priming and primping me. Not when Tracey did my makeup. Not when Sam did my hair. And not when they both dressed me. So when they spin me around to face the full-length mirror behind my closet door I can’t help but gasp. It’s me, but different. They didn’t go too heavy on my makeup, too big on my hair, or too skimpy on my dress. All like I asked.

  My hair is curled into big, loose barrel curls that hang down my back gracefully. My tan skin is accentuated with light blush, my eyes with a few swipes of mascara, and my full lips with a sheer pink gloss. My dress is shorter than I’m used to, but not indecent, hitting a little lower than mid-thigh. It’s black with a sweetheart neckline showing off my ample cleavage tastefully, and when I go to spin I notice it’s backless to a little past mid-back, allowing me to still be able to wear a bra.

  Thank God.

  Tears start to well in my eyes as I finish assessing my look, but before they can fall I spin around quickly and group hug these two beautifully amazing girls who are hovering behind me.

  “Thank you both. So much.” I choke out.

  “Girl, stop it. You are going to ruin our makeup.” Tracey sniffles.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve never had this before—girlfriends and getting ready for dances. Back home in Vermont I kept to myself and no one really took interest.” Until my dad got arrested that is. Then people wouldn’t leave me alone.

  “Okay, enough of this, you two,” Sam speaks up. “It’s time for us to make some boys drool and to prove Ember wrong. Hop along now.” She points to my now open bedroom door and slaps us on the butts as we walk by her. Well, I more like teeter since I’m wearing three-inch wedge sandals that I’ve never worn before.

  When we make it down the hall to the living room, Momma gets up from reading on the couch and tears immediately well in her eyes. I plaster a smile on my face to help ward off my own tears in reaction to hers.

  “Oh my. Don’t you girls look beautiful,” she says, as she looks us all over. “Ember, you look stunning, darling. Kayson isn’t going to know what hit him.”

  My mouth drops open when she says that. “What? How do you know that Kayson and I are going together?” I give her an incredulous look. “And he isn’t why I’m dressed like this anyway. This wasn’t my doing.” My face is flushed red, I know it.

  Momma gives me a stern look. “I’m your mother, Ember. I know all.” She looks over my shoulder then starts to shake with laughter. “Plus, Sam filled me in.”

  I spin to see Sam smiling her Cheshire cat smile as she winks at me. “What?” She tries to look innocent, but I know she is anything but.

  “Can we go now?” I huff out and head to the door, but Momma stops me before I can make it completely.

  “You do look beautiful tonight, sweetheart. I hope you have a great time, you deserve it,” she whispers to me as she gives me one of her famous hugs. “Be careful tonight, and I‘ll see you when you get home after the dance. And drive safe, Sam,” she says loud enough for the girls to hear.

  With that we all shuffle out the door, me grabbing my clutch from the side table, then pile into Sam’s four-door sedan.

  I take a deep breath, trying to quell my nerves and my racing heart. But it’s no use because it knows we’re about to see Kayson.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  KAYSON

  Ember steps out of Sam’s car and all the breath is knocked from my chest as I scan her from head to toe. Her beautiful curves are on full display in her black dress that’s like a second skin. With a delicious amount of cleavage showing.

  My dick starts to jack to life when she turns around to finish her conversation with the girls as they get out, my jaw hits the ground and my dick is hard as fucking steel. Holy fuck. The dress is pretty much backless, and that ass that stars in most of my fantasies is showcased to perfection.

  This is going to be a long night.

  The dress must be on loan from one of the girls because no way would Ember own something like this. She may not be mine yet, but I know my girl, and seeing how uncomfortable she looks, I know this dress can’t be hers.

  She’s blushing as she walks up to me, and I know it’s because of the blatant look I’m giving her. I’m clenching my fists so tightly my knuckles pop from trying to restrain myself from hauling her over my shoulder and doing the things I’ve been dying to do to her. When she finally makes it over I notice instead of her head hitting the top of my chest she’s up to my chin. Those damn shoes she has on can’t be hers either. Nonetheless, she looks gorgeous, and I am one lucky son of a bitch to have her here with me.

  I wrap an arm around her waist to bring her in for a hug when she’s within reaching distance. “You look gorgeous, Ember. I can only imagine the amount of ass I’m going to have to kick tonight.” Pulling away, I see her blush darken along with a confused look cross her face, and I can’t help but smirk.

  Fuck is she beautiful.

  And as if I didn’t think she could become any more beautiful, her lips part and a smile so bright splits her face that I’m rendered speechless for a minute.

  With that one smile, clarity hits me like a blow to the chest. Out of nowhere my world is forever changed. Ember is no longer just a girl I want to fuck, but a girl I want to know. To live and breathe. Looking at her right now, blush staining her cheeks and a pure smile stretching across her face, my world is on fire. It’s burning and blazing and I need her. I crave her and I haven’t even had a taste yet. With that one shy look and perfect smile I’m fucked. So screwed. My soul screams for hers. I know it now, what this feeling has been that’s consumed me this past month. I’m lit up from the inside out. She is exactly what my desolate world has been craving. And with that thought I know I will stop at nothing to make her mine.

  As determination swirls through my veins, Ember and I wait side by side for the rest of the crew to make it over. My hand staying firmly, but gently, to the small of her back as we wait.

  Sam passes us first and smirks then winks as she walks
by, giggling something to Ember that I can’t quite make out as she opens the doors to the gym. I’m shaking my head at that girl’s antics as I watch Ember follow through behind her with a frowning Tracey at her side. Ember whispers something in her ear that has her dropping then shaking her head.

  I start to make my way after them, more importantly Ember, when Damon finally walks up with his latest flavor of the week, clinging to him like her life depends on it. He gives me a chin lift and without saying a word follows me into the homecoming dance I was once dreading to attend. I’m now thankful as fuck I’m here as I watch Ember make her way to a table with her girls. That luscious ass dropping into a seat has me walking over quickly to make sure no one else tries to make a move.

  EMBER

  As a yawn breaks free I cover my mouth to hide it from Kayson. But he notices anyway and leans in close to my ear so no one else can hear.

  “Let me get you home, it’s been a long night of dancing for you.” He smirks and my insides turn to jelly.

  He is so damn beautiful.

  An odd thought to have about a guy, I know, but it’s so true. He’s not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well. He has an amazing heart and is so smart. He’s a contradiction really—coming from nothing but being envied by all. He’s the definition of not letting his circumstances define him, which makes him even more beautiful to me.

  After shaking off my thoughts I agree with a nod, and a smile stretches across his face. We stand from the table and say goodbye to everyone, calling it a night. Sam flashes a wink as Tracey wears a knowing smile.

  I shake my head and turn away quickly before they can see me blush. Gosh, I do a lot of that lately.

  I slip off my wedge heels from my aching feet before we leave the table and hold them in my left hand as Kayson grabs my right and pulls me through the gymnasium. He flinches as I clasp his hand. I realize too late that it’s his left hand I’m holding and I must have clasped his tender hand tighter than I should have. I go to drop it and apologize when he stops and pulls me flush to his chest in the middle of the dance floor.