Startling

by Arabella Rose

  Contents

  Title

  Copyright

  Dedication

  About The Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Connect With Me Online

  Startling

  Arabella Rose

  Startling

  Copyright © 2017 by Arabella Rose

  Published by Arabella Rose First Edition December 2016

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing. Except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For permission requests, email the author at arabellaroseauthor@yahoo.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places are incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy of each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was no purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Cover Design: Perfect Pear Cover Creations

  Editing: Swish Editing

  Proofreading: KMS Freelance Editing

  Cover Images: Andrew - Wander Photography

  DEDICATION

  To you, thank you for picking this book up to read it.

  Thank you.

  Three dares.

  To be carried out in one night, on the same guy.

  Lick him. Kiss him. Punch him.

  I didn’t object.

  After all, it was the last night before leaving for college, and I’d never see him again.

  Or so I thought.

  He was standing there, staring at me. I had no idea know who he was.

  Until I noticed those lips. I could never forget those lips. No matter how many nights had passed. No matter how hard I’d tried to eliminate them from my mind.

  How could one single kiss brand you with such depth and intensity? Without even knowing the person, let alone seeing his face.

  It started off as a dare, now I’m afraid of what’s to come.

  Because those lips shouldn’t be legal.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Once upon a time I was a bestselling Author of dark romantic suspense. Now I've decided to play in another genre as my alter ego, Arabella Rose...

  Arabella Rose is a writer of all things sweet, romance, with a touch of angst. Her books won't take you forever to read, so sit back and enjoy one sweet story at a time.

  She loves all things makeup, dress's, and of course shoes.

  For all updates and announcements, sign-up to Arabella’s News Letter

  Be sure to follow me here:

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  Prologue

  It was the farewell party, and everyone was expected to be there. Even some college guys were attending, those were the rumors anyway. I had graduated high school, and was officially ready to move on to college and start the next chapter of my life—once I was drunk enough. Lauren blew her fringe from her eyes and pulled my hand as we entered my ex-boyfriend’s house. I knew where to go, it was huge, and I also knew it would be the best place for a party. His parents had left for the weekend, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry was there ready for a great time. I pushed my way through to the kitchen, Lauren clutching my hand tightly as she followed behind me.

  It was time for shots. I knew where the booze was stored, so I pulled out a bottle of tequila, while Lauren found the lime and salt. We sat there until we thought we were drunk enough to dance. Because dancing sober was not something we wanted to do, or even remember. We both stood, knowing we were drunk. It was like a rush effect, and it just hit us. Lauren started giggling, and then Rani and Amy walked over. They were also giggling.

  “Have you seen the college boys?” Amy fanned her face as she spoke.

  I looked at her and realized she was becoming blurry. Whoops, I don’t think I should have drunk that much.

  “Mmm weee drunk wayyy tooo mucchhh,” Lauren basically slurred. I couldn’t help the laugh that formed and exploded from my mouth. I was afraid to talk because I didn’t want to sound like her. “Skye, I dare you.”

  My hands went up, I started shaking my head slowly and she smiled evilly.

  Lauren nodded. “You can’t back out. Three dares a year, remember? You’ve not done one.”

  We made a pact last year to step away from our comfort zones. Dares were chosen, three at a time, one from each, and we had to do them. I hadn’t done mine this year and was hoping they’d forgotten. They hadn’t.

  “Nope,” I said, shaking my head. I stopped that action quickly because it made everything spin and become blurrier. The girls turned around in a fast movement. I swear everything went silent, people even stopped dancing. I had no idea why. Then they all turned swiftly to face me. Like a freight train, each of them were in my personal space, taking it over and encasing me.

  “I dare you to lick him,” Amy said pointing to a blurry object.

  “I dare you to punch him,” Rani said smiling.

  “I dare you to kiss him,” Lauren said sounding very sober at the moment.

  I turned, and they pointed me in the direction. I couldn’t quite make out who they were talking about. I shook my head again—nope that made it worse. Then each of their hands touched my body as they pushed me toward the blurry figure. I could just make out a large black leather jacket, but that was it. I could hear them telling me to do it. I’m guessing they were trying to whisper—it didn’t work, because the tall man turned around. I was facing a white tee under a leather jacket. I wanted to look up, but I didn’t trust my eyes. Repeating the dare in my head, I was trying to work out which one was best to start with.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then I lurched forward grabbed the leather jacket and pulled him down to me because I couldn’t reach, and I didn’t trust my judgment on finding his mouth in the state I was in.

  I licked his lips—yes, licked them. He tasted sweet, so I licked him again. He was rock still. Then I opened my mouth and went in for the kiss. He did nothing at first, so I pulled him down further by his jacket. He didn’t stop me. He could have. After all, he was bigger than me, I was sure of it in my drunken state. Then when I remembered the last dare, I pulled my lips away, and my fist came up and punched him in the gut. Hastily, I turned around and ran fast. I could hear the girls giggling behind me as they followed.

  “You did it! Holy shit! Everyone was watching. Holy shit! You actually licked him,” Amy squealed.

  Her obnoxiously loud voice hurt my ears. So I began walking down the road, my house wasn’t far. I knew I could make it home within a matter of minutes. They all followed while I tuned
them out as I walked, trying to shake those lips from my memory. I don’t even remember the face, just those lips. They were full, and I wanted to bite them. I wanted to suck them.

  “Fuck Skye! Let’s hope you don’t run into him tomorrow at school,” Lauren said.

  I stopped. It couldn’t be possible, could it?

  “He was in college?” I asked sobering up a little from the hit of fresh air.

  They sang a “yes” in unison.

  “He was sooo dreamy,” Lauren said.

  I wish I knew.

  I can’t remember.

  I should have paid more attention.

  Who the hell did I kiss?

  Chapter 1

  My hands are shaking. I feel like at any minute I might throw up. Looking up, the sky is blue and the clouds are near and far with small breaks in between them. I need to calm myself because I’m about to be sick everywhere. And that’s the last thing I want to do on my first day of college. Everyone’s bustling around since it’s officially move-in day. I decided not to move too far from home, it’s only a three-hour drive, and my parents offered to drive me.

  None of my friends are attending—I’m officially alone for the first time. I don’t quite know how I feel about that, because well, I’ve always had someone. My father comes up behind me, his hand touching my shoulder, and he squeezes. My mother’s not far behind us. She’s carrying a cooler, and in that cooler is food because she’s afraid I will starve to death if she doesn’t supply me the right sustenance. A girl walks past me. She doesn’t look at me, but she looks at my father instead. I roll my eyes. How does my mother stand it? I can’t stand it, and I’m his daughter. I turn to him, his eyes are on me, worry etched within them. So I smile to reassure him.

  My parents had me young—very young. They were high school sweethearts, and I’m the outcome of their sixteen-year-old wild days. My father is built. I don’t think he has an inch of fat on him, he’s all solid muscle. My friends crush on him, and the guys in high school call my mother a MILF. They both are just so… beautiful. I often wonder if I’m there’s. I’m not ugly, I know that. I just didn’t inherit their outstanding good looks.

  My father has dark hair, and so does my mother. Hers is wavy, it always seems to be perfectly styled. I have dark hair which is always straight, but I wanted the curls. Her legs are long and fit. Mine, well, they’re average.

  I push my glasses up my nose as my father pulls me into his arms. He doesn’t want to let me go, neither does my mother. I’m their only child and they have spoiled me, making sure I’m always happy as any daughter can be. They’re the best. Once my mother finishes packing away the food, my father picks up my bags from the ground. My mother rushes over and grabs my hand as we walk up to the dorms where I’ll be living. I was glad when I found out that I’d have a ground floor dorm, I didn’t want to trek upstairs at all.

  The Residential Assistant or RA as everyone calls them, greets us when we enter—while her eyes linger far too long on my father—she finally offers to show us the way. We trail behind her while she talks non-stop. I don’t know if I’m having a roommate or not. I was originally assigned one, then I had been told that plans changed. So I have no idea what to expect. She pulls open the door and two single beds with a desk on each side greets me. There’s not much else in the room. Stark off-white walls, blinds on the tiny window and a small ceiling fan which rotates and throws light flashes around the room.

  “Your roommate is arriving tomorrow. Her name is Nash,” she finishes. I tuned her out for most of her spiel, until that last part.

  Nash—that sounds like a boy’s name.

  I nod my head just before she turns to leave. She eyes my father again and my mother doesn’t even notice or doesn’t care, either way.

  “I can’t do it,” my mother says, standing in the middle of the room while still looking around.

  “Sugar, she isn’t our baby anymore. Skye needs to do this. She’s worked hard for it.” My father’s hand comes to my shoulder, and he squeezes before he walks to my mother and pulls her into his arms. She goes willingly and her eyes close for a brief second.

  “She will always be my baby.” I’m waiting for the tears that I know they’re not far off. As much as I adore each of them I need to break free, just this once.

  “I know, but you know she’s ready.”

  My mother nods her head once then walks to me, her tiny arms envelop me when she squeezes hard.

  “I love you, pumpkin,” she whispers.

  “Okay, I’m going to pull you away now. Skye needs to get settled in, and having her parents here will cramp her style.”

  I scrunch my nose up at him and his lip twitches up at me. My mother pulls back, then she kisses me on both cheeks saying to call her every day. I agree. Then just as they’re leaving, my father pulls me in for one of his bear hugs, and when he pushes back, he takes my hand and places a wad of cash in it. I look down then back to him as his finger comes to his lips and he winks before leaning in to kiss my cheek.

  I have no plans for the rest of the night, so I stay in and unpack everything. By the time I go to sleep it’s late, so the next morning I sleep in until I hear my door opening. The RA pops her head in past the door and then once she sees me she pushes the door all the way open. A girl stands there behind her, a bag in each hand. She is beautiful. Her hair pitch black, dropping down past her shoulders. Her green eyes are so intriguingly beautiful, I instantly feel like a chump.

  I slide out of bed wearing only my boxers and a shirt. My hair is pulled up in a messy bun on top of my head. Nash walks in following the RA. She’s introducing us when someone calls her name. The RA quickly smiles and then she runs out the door. I stand there awkwardly, not really sure what to say, and it seems neither does she. I smile, then she smiles, and now it’s beyond awkward.

  “So…” I start to say.

  She walks to the spare bed, placing her belongings on top of it. Then turn back to me.

  “I took the left side, I hope that’s okay?”

  She smiles and nods her head. Just as I’m thinking up my next remarkable speech, the door is kicked open and four girls—who are all as stunningly beautiful as Nash—run in and they tackle her to the bed. My eyes go wide, and I grab my clothes and shower bag and dart from the room to the girl’s bathroom. They are all obviously friends, I don’t want to intrude.

  I wash quickly and walk back looking half decent. Nash and her friends are still in the room chatting. I step in quietly, but all their heads turn toward me. Most of them smile then turn away.

  Nash is staring at me. “So, we’re going to our first frat party tonight. Would you like to come?” She stands and walks toward me, her hands brushing down on her clothes.

  I do need to make some friends, and I may as well start with my roommate. Except I’ve never been to a college party. Yes, I’ve been to many parties, I was social in school and had friends, but this is going to be an entirely new experience.

  “Sure.”

  She turns to her friends and smiles, then starts to introduce me to them. I forget all of their names as soon as I’m told, except one. That’s because it’s the same as my best friend, Lauren. Lauren, however, looks completely different to my best friend. Where friend-Lauren is short and is always blowing her fringe from her face because she likes the style but it gets in her way, this Lauren has her blonde hair tied back in a tight ponytail.

  I don’t try to make conversation, and I’m not invited into any either. I leave with a quick wave and go for a walk around the campus. I think about going back and asking Nash what I should wear tonight, but I don’t want to sound not cool enough. So I ring Lauren on my way to the bookstore to collect my books for the semester.

  “Yo, you there? You safe? Oh my God, I still can’t get over the other night. Can you believe you kissed that guy? All the girls are asking if you knew him. Supposedly, he’s a big deal, and here you are face fucking and licking him.”

  I shake my head. If you
ring Lauren, never expect to get off. She could talk until your ears bleed, and don’t expect to get a word in either.

  “I can’t even remember what he looked like. All I remember is his lips.” I sigh, they’re some mighty fine lips that’s for sure. I’m not paying attention—my mind is firmly on those lips—and I smack straight into someone. That someone is carrying a very hot drink, which happens to spill all over us both. My cell is at my ear, I can hear Lauren still chatting away, but I’m not paying attention. Just as I’m about to apologize, the very tall blonde pushes me backward, and I land on my ass, my glasses dropping into my lap. I have no idea where my cell is. I think it may be up my ass right now, but I don’t care, because Miss Godzilla is death glaring me so hard I’m waiting for the kicking to begin. I reach for my glasses placing them back on my nose and stand up. Looking down, I see my cracked cell lying on the pavement. Great.

  “Do you have eyes, four-eyes? Look where the fuck you’re going in the future. You just ruined a five hundred dollar top. Fuck!”

  My mouth opens for a comeback, then snaps shut when I realize how much she said she’d spent on a piece of material that actually looks hideous.

  Is that her only top?

  Is that the reason she’s so angry?

  Who spends that much on top, anyway?

  “I’m sorry,” I say backing up. Her friends’ noses turn up at me. It’s then I realize what she called me. My back stiffens, and I’m just about ready to clock her and give her a piece of my mind, when she snubs me and walks off.

  Four-eyes.

  Really?

  We in elementary school?

  I don’t bother with getting my books, nor with calling Lauren back.

  I’m glad when I finally arrive back at the dorm and walk into my room. Nash is there, lying on her bed reading a book. I don’t care when I tear my shirt from my body. Fuck it. She’s going to see me in less anyway if we’re to room together.