Tainted Rose: A High School Bully Romance (Rosehaven Academy Book 2)

by Leila James

  Xander’s cock against my stomach is hard and thick. His hand slips down to my leg, his rough palm coasting up my thigh under my skirt. He situates my leg around his hip, and my pelvis automatically tilts to align his hardness against me.

  Oh my God, why did I choose this week not to do my laundry? I’d been left with a thong to wear today. Totally not my normal underwear and completely out of my comfort zone, especially while wearing a skirt. He’s going to discover what I’ve got on under there any second now.

  His hand explores the skin of my leg until it drifts high enough to squeeze a handful of my ass. My breath hitches, and against my mouth, his lips curve into a smile. “Damn, Red. You’ve been holding out on me.” His hand massages the round globe before fingertips slide between my cheeks, following the scrap of lacy material all the way down to my—

  “Oh, God.” I shudder. His middle finger skims over the tight pucker of my back entrance through the fabric of my thong. So dirty. He thrusts his dick against my pussy, taking my mouth with his again. I’m lost—in how I feel, in what he’s doing to me, in how my body is reacting to his so effortlessly. I whimper as he slides his hand lower, fingertips dipping under the panties to tease my core.

  Xander traces his fingers around my soaked entrance, and growls, “So fucking wet for me, baby. I knew you still wanted me.” His lips graze over my jawline, nibbling down my neck as he slips a finger inside me. He pumps slowly, achingly slowly, and my head drops back, smacking into the locker. I think I’m going to go up in flames.

  Oh God, what is he doing to me? How can I still want him like this? Why?

  I pant, out of control as I rub my clit against his erection, knowing from the quivering in my legs that I’m about to come. He adds a second finger at the same time he licks up my neck, then sucks on my skin. The combination does something to me, and a tingling washes over me as my pussy rhythmically clamps down on his fingers. A strangled cry leaves my lips.

  He groans, nuzzling his face against my neck, removing his fingers from inside me. “Was that good, Red?”

  The words lodge in my throat as it hits me all at once what I’ve done. My body stiffens, shame washing over me in unending waves. I drop my leg from around him. I had been tugging him to me, but now I shove against him, breathing hard. My hands raise in front of me, face out between us. They shake, and I close my eyes, murmuring, “I need you not to touch me anymore.”

  I swallow down the humiliation I’m feeling. Straightening my skirt, I stare down at the floor between us, unable to look him in the eye. I’m completely flustered and confused by what I’ve allowed to happen. I don’t know how something can feel so right when it is so very clearly wrong. Fuck. Why did I do that? Why didn’t I stop him? Why didn’t I put up a fight when he got close? I’m such an idiot for him. Girl gone wild. I chuckle to myself. Girl gone stupid is more like it. That’s the only answer.

  Xander’s hand goes to the back of his neck, tugging on it as he watches me. His mouth opens and closes a few times before he drops his hand. “Look, Red, I thought— I thought you were into it.”

  I turn around and work the combination on my locker. For some reason, now the stubborn bitch decides to pop right open. You couldn’t have done that earlier so I’d have been out of here before he showed up? I shove my gym bag inside and slam the door shut.

  “I know. And I was. That’s the problem, Xander.”

  He clamps his teeth over his lower lip, giving me a half smile, his stupid dimple starting to pop out again. “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t want to want you anymore.”

  He steps closer again. “Why not?” He reaches across the space between us, his fingertips lightly skimming along my jaw. I can smell myself on his hand, and the idea of it makes my face flame red.

  I jerk away, slapping at his hand. “Because you hurt me, Xander. You threw us away. You fucking shattered everything we had.” I heave out an angry breath. “I don’t trust you anymore. Not with my head, my heart, or my body. And clearly, I can’t trust myself either, so I need you to back the fuck off.”

  Chapter 11

  Xander

  Scarlett wants me to back the fuck off. How the hell do I do that now? I hadn’t planned to touch her in the locker room this morning. I’d only wanted to talk to her for a few minutes. Because what I’d said was true. We’ve been apart less than a week, and I fucking miss her. That’s it. In hindsight, I realize how stupid that sounds. Regret after regret over the path I’ve chosen are steadily mounting. It’s possible that the whole mess is about to come tumbling down around me.

  It’s not my fault. She’s irresistible. Once I’d found her alone trying to get her locker open, I couldn’t help but go back for another taste. Just thinking about how desperate our kisses had become makes my dick hard all over again. And that’s the thing; however much she hates me, however much she says she doesn’t want to want me, the truth is she totally does.

  Her body understands that no matter what our relationship status is. Somehow, we’re still connected. She’d been so aroused and slick, my fingers had been coated with it. And that damn thong. Holy fuck. I wish I had taken a second to check out how she looked in it. Now my head is more messed up than it was before.

  I don’t a fucking clue what is wrong with me when I know—I know—damn well that I should be pushing Scarlett far away from me. The more I look at the note on the back of the photo I’d found in Sebastian’s office, the more it freaks me out. And the thing is, someone is urging her to delve into the past and unearth secrets that have the potential to tear my family apart. That much was obvious from the text messages she’d shown me the night I broke up with her.

  I glance at her sitting in the chair next to me in our physics class. We’ve been listening to Mr. Roudebush drone on and on about the experiment we’re about to do together, but I can’t keep my mind on it. I subtly shift in my chair, pressing my hand to my swelling cock. I swear to God, every time I’m near her, I get an insta-hard dick, and there’s nothing to be done about it in a classroom full of people.

  My mind clouds, and I zone out, visions of laying her out on the table in front of everyone slams into me. I’d flip up her schoolgirl skirt, yank that thong to the side, and dip my tongue into her aching pussy. She’d be writhing all over the table at my first touch, pleading for me to devour her whole. I’d lick and suck on all that perfectly pink skin mercilessly as she screams my name and comes all over my face. Everyone watching would stand and applaud my efforts. And then I’d go back for seconds. Maybe thirds. She’s that sweet.

  Fuck. Yes.

  I groan as quietly as I can. I’m going to have the worst case of blue balls by the end of class. I may not be able to function at football practice.

  Beside me, Scarlett takes a deep breath. “Are you ready to start?”

  My brain short-circuits listening to the timbre of her voice, and for a second, I’m back in my fantasy with my face between her thighs. I do my best to shake it off as I peer at her out of the corner of my eye. “Sure. You’re going to have to tell me what we’re doing, though.”

  “Weren’t you listening?”

  “Normally, I would have been, but certain activities this morning have me all worked up still. I can’t concentrate for shit.”

  She raises one brow, and her lips twist in a scowl. “Seriously?” she hisses, but then immediately holds a hand up. “No, wait. I don’t want to know.”

  “Yeah, you do. You fucking need to know what you do to me.” I grab her hand and press it to my hard length. “See?” I hold her hand underneath mine, not letting her pull it away. Leaning closer, I speak low, right next to her ear. “Let’s just say I was having visions of you spread out on this table. I wish I had taken time to inspect the thong you’re wearing. I want the visual. Need it.” I bite the corner of my lower lip, shooting her a wicked smile which elicits a tiny moan from her. The internal struggle playing out on her face is very real. It says I don’t want to like what he’s sayin
g, what he’s making me do—but I do. I push a little further to see how much she’ll let me get away with. I rub her hand back and forth over my dick. “Want to sneak off to an empty classroom and show it to me?”

  She finally yanks her hand away and shakes her head, muttering to herself as she turns back to our assignment.

  I lean closer and whisper, “Tell me you’re not wet at the thought of it. And because you can feel how hard I still am for you. Right here in the middle of class.” I groan. “I want to slide my hand under your skirt and make you come right here.” I touch her leg with my fingertips, and she slaps my hand away. Damn. Found her limit.

  “Just because we’re partnered in this class doesn’t mean I’m speaking to you about anything beyond the assignment. Keep your filthy comments to yourself. I told you I needed space. I meant it.” Her eyes glow with angry fire.

  It only makes me want her more.

  Somehow, we manage to finish the experiment by the end of class. Definitely not because of me. It’d all been Scarlett. But man, I love watching her, seeing her brain at work as she puzzled through what we needed to get done.

  When the bell rings, the class clears quickly. Scarlett is up at the front of the classroom talking animatedly about something with Mr. Roudebush. I hadn’t realized she’s a bit of a science nerd. I take my time putting my things into my messenger bag as she finishes up, then patiently wait.

  She gives him a big grin, then spins on her heel to collect her things and stops dead in her tracks. She visibly sighs, then stalks back to her things, expressly trying to ignore me. “Xander, what are you doing?”

  “I told you this morning, I want to talk.” I shrug. “We never really got the chance. Someone got distracted by the orgasm I gave her.”

  “Someone got distracted, all right, but it was you who was distracted by me. I went along with it because, apparently, I’m really fucking stupid when it comes to you and it felt good. I told you—I don’t want to talk right now. You might miss me. But I don’t care what you want.” She grabs her bag and hurries from the classroom.

  Of course, I follow. The halls have cleared quickly. I guess everyone else has somewhere better to be on a Thursday afternoon. I have to get to practice, and I know she does, too. Unfortunately for my football career, my need to be near her overrides everything else. I have so much I need to say to her and it’s bubbling inside of me, wanting to burst out. I’ve got to explain why I’ve been treating her the way I have. I want to tell her every last thing.

  She slams her locker shut and grabs her bag, but I catch her by the elbow, spinning her back around, pinning her with my body to the locker. I have both of her hands in mine, down at our sides. She begins to struggle, but the second I put my lips to the soft skin below her ear, she stops. No matter how pissed she is, our bodies always speak the same language.

  We stand there, her curves pressed to the hard planes of my body for what may have been thirty seconds or three minutes. I’m not sure. Anyone walking through the hallway catching a glimpse of us would think we’re very much into each other. Sharing a sweet moment. I don’t know if I’d call it sweet when I can’t get my dick to stand down. It hardens again at the proximity to her.

  Finally, she makes a little noise at the back of her throat. Her chest rises and falls against mine. “Xander. I don’t understand what you’re doing. You did whatever you could to get me in bed. You fucked me, Xander, then told me to get out.”

  “All true,” I growl as I inhale her scent—coconut and notes of some sort of sweet flower. She’s intoxicating. I feel her swallow, scrape the scruff on my cheek against her jaw. Ghost my lips over the abraded skin, my tongue flicking out to taste her.

  She flinches. “You dug under my skin and into my heart so far I thought I was safe with you. I thought— I thought you lo—” She breaks, sagging against me, and shudders. Her wet eyes flick up to mine. “I never thought I’d say this, but I should have fucking listened to Aria. For once, she was being one hundred percent honest with me, and I ignored her warning. I’m such a freaking idiot.”

  “Don’t do that to yourself.” I nip at her lips, wanting her more than ever.

  She squeezes my hands. “Why? Tell me why not? I let you in when I hardly ever let anyone anywhere near me. I did things with you I’ve never done with anyone. You made me trust you. I gave you my body. I gave you my heart. I gave you everything.” Her forehead drops to my chest, and her entire body trembles against me. “Why, Xander?”

  I draw in a breath and hold it. I don’t even know what to say. She’s fucking right. I release the air in a steady stream. The words scrape up and out from my throat. “I want you. So fucking badly, Red. But I can’t fucking have you. You have to listen to what I’m saying. You have to.” I release her hands and slam the locker above her head with both fists, frustration seething through me. She jerks at the sudden outburst. I dip my head, looking directly into her eyes. “Stay away from me, Scarlett. I wish I could tell you why—I wish I could. And I wish I was strong enough to stay away from you on my own, but I’m not.”

  Chapter 12

  Scarlett

  Xander’s eyes are like a dark storm cloud as he gazes at me, a thousand unreadable emotions churning inside them. He obviously wants me. I don’t think he ever stopped. But he insists he can’t have me.

  His words and his actions have me so confused I could scream. Pain ricochets around my chest. “Why can’t you leave me alone, Xander?”

  He stares into my eyes, his jaw rigid. He growls, “You’re stronger than I ever will be, Scarlett. I can’t control myself when I’m around you.” With a look of regret, he backs away from me. “You should go.”

  I pick up my broken heart and jam it back inside my body. And I do exactly as he says. I grab my bag, and with one last look at his tense body, I tear down the hallway—away from Xander and every frustrating moment of that conversation.

  Later that evening, I mindlessly chow down on the fajitas Uncle David made for dinner. I glance up at Aunt Liz to find her gaze pinned on me.

  “What?”

  “I’ve hesitated to bring this up because you’ve been a little preoccupied lately, but I wanted to make sure you were aware David and I are taking a trip next week. We’ll be out of town Wednesday through Sunday.”

  “Oh. Okay. Where are you going?”

  “Texas, actually. A big writing conference I booked last year. David had planned on coming with me, to make it a vacation of sorts.”

  “Cool. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine here on my own.” I know Aunt Liz attends conferences. I’ve actually been surprised she hasn’t been to one since I moved in.

  Crap. I hate that she’s put an important component of her career on hold for me. I hadn’t even realized she was doing it until now.

  “I was going to suggest maybe Daphne could come stay with you. I could talk to her parents if you wanted to do that.”

  “Oh. Well, I’d have to talk to her and see if it’s something she’d want to do.” I shrug. “Maybe a night or two, especially on the weekend. I’ll see what she’s got going on and let you know. I’ll be fine here on my own, though. No babysitter needed.”

  Uncle David has the good sense to look chagrined. “Sorry, Daphne was my idea. I—”

  I hold up a hand, grimacing. “Don’t say it. I know. You have concerns, especially after what went down with Xander. But there’s nothing happening in that department right now. I’ll probably spend the entire time you’re gone at practice, work, or binge-watching the rest of Pretty Little Liars.” I look between them. “I’m glad you’re going. I know you probably haven’t been attending as many conferences as you usually do because of me. Please go have fun with it and don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Promise.” I push back my chair. “I’m going to go get some homework done and then call it a night. Practice wiped me out today.”

  Aunt Liz nods. “Okay. Promise you’ll call if you need us while we’re gone.”

  “I will. But I won’t n
eed to. You’ll see. I’ll be fine.”

  Upstairs, I spread my precalculus textbook and notebook out on my bed and get to business. I’m about halfway through the problems assigned when my phone buzzes at my side with a text message notification. I chew on my lip, my mind still pondering where I messed up the problem I’m working on. Glancing at my phone, I see it’s a message in the group text from Max. Without really paying attention to it, I tap on it. I don’t look immediately, but when more texts come through in rapid fire succession, my attention is grabbed.

  Max: So I learned some crazy shit today.

  Max: I went into guidance after school because I finally figured out where to find the log of visitors to the office.

  Max: That list has a reference to who each person was seeing.

  Max: So, combined with figuring out the date that the donation came in for your “scholarship” I was able to narrow it down to two people.

  Daphne: I’m here. And whoa.

  Max: TWO.

  Max: … Scarlett?

  Me: Sorry, I was working on precalc.

  Me: That’s nuts. And I’m scared that you aren’t just spilling.

  Max: That’s because it’s big.

  Daphne: OMG the suspense.

  Max: Like I said, two visitors logged in for the bookkeeper the day the money came in.

  Max: Joseph Grey

  Max: and Sebastian Coventry.

  I blink. What? Xander’s dad. And his stepfather. What are the odds that both people who’d been there that day would be linked to Xander? I worry my lip as the ramifications roll through my brain.