Sam twisted a lock of my hair, forcing me from my obsessive thoughts. "Come on, can't tonight be like old times?" I cringed against the kiss to my neck, hating when his mouth covered the shell of my ear. "Everybody's figured out we're breaking up, Marli. They all saw you kissing both boys."
"Don't even go there," I quietly cautioned, not wanting to draw attention.
When the band took a break, I ducked outside under the pretense of going to the restroom. I checked my cell receptor, hoping for an instant message from Jordan. Instead, Jesse had left one only a few minutes earlier. Be careful. I tapped the reply drive safe, hoping he understood I wanted him gone from here and not waiting for me when I returned. Just the idea of Jesse's visit being considered forbidden made it more enticing. He existed behind a prohibited barrier and the want to crossover—to defy the rules or even break them, grew stronger each time I saw him. He had to stay away to keep me safe…from myself.
"There you are!" Alex called out. "We've been looking for you…" She blew a slow whistle. "You look soooo sexy. Sam will never let you go without a fight."
Brittany, who ended up coming with Jason after all, followed up Alex's comment with a harsh reminder. "Sam doesn't have a choice, and he certainly doesn't deserve Marli."
"'Sam bashing' now?" Alex debated. "Cut the guy some slack. He's obviously hurting."
"I doubt Sam's suffering too much," Brit replied under her breath, her expression twisted with regret when we locked eyes. She quickly explained. "I saw one of the sophomore girls hanging on him at the refreshment table."
Shoving past an unbidden ping of jealousy, I shrugged my shoulders. "She can have him. Tonight I'm breaking things off for good."
"It's probably for the best. I'd hate to see you get in trouble."
Alex giggled. "Marli's already trouble according to my mom. She called after her club meeting suggesting I reconsider my choice of friends."
We laughed at the outrageous assumption. Everyone considered Alex the "wild child." Her mother's observation, however, forced me to realize how reckless my behavior appeared. No wonder Rick always seemed riled.
I leaned over the railing, noting the clouds thickening and blocking the stars. A storm threatened, but in the atmosphere or my life? Alex climbed on the railing, holding the post for support and leaned out to look at the heavens.
"Rain, rain, go away…" she sang before pulling back under the eaves. A devilish grin brightened her face. "So what gives with Jordan's hunky brother?"
Head down, I picked at the sequins edging the slit on my dress. "The connection with Jordan is so strong, it scares me. Jesse's an escape. What I feel for him is pure lust."
Alex laughed but Brittany didn't. "Watch out. Things happen fast. You and Sam haven't gone too far, and if Jordan's in The Program you know he hasn't done anything either. But Jesse? Is he still a—"
"Virgin?" I gasped. Jesse never clarified one way or the other after he divulged his brush with the law. "I don't know and I'm not asking."
Alex slapped my shoulder. "Marli Davis, you're blushing. Mom's right. You are bad!" Out of the blue, she stopped giggling and stepped off the railing. "Uh-oh, speaking of bad, Sam's coming and he doesn't look happy."
Sam's angry footsteps echoed loudly on the planked porch. His gray eyes narrowed when he saw me. Flashbacks of the other day flickered. Being alone with Sam suddenly didn't seem the best idea.
"I better go. I'll call you tomorrow." I hurried to meet him, feeling an uncomfortable urgency knotting my insides.
Sam stared with an unnerving darkness set in his eyes. "Nice disappearing act, Marli. Let's go. This dance is lame and I'm tired of all the stares." His eyes checked off my body again and his hand lightly brushed my bare shoulder. My skin prickled. "What do you say we go someplace private?"
I pressed a fist to my queasy stomach. Private with Sam given his mood and the way I was dressed, screamed danger. For once, I decided to pay attention to the warning voices shouting in my head. Remaining at the country club kept me safe, but I needed to convince Sam to stay. I'd also call Rick for a ride home.
"What about the team party?"
His voice deepened, a finger tracing the edge of my bodice. "I don't care about the team. I want to be alone with you."
"But—"
I didn't get to finish my sentence. Sam pushed me against the clubhouse, the fabricated siding used to give a "log cabin" appearance, scraping against my naked shoulder blades. He pinned my arms to the rough surface, placing a hard, territorial kiss on my mouth. His tongue tasted of something bitter mixed with the lingering fruity punch flavor. I doubted any alcohol could be smuggled in under the security detail assigned to the dance, but chemical enhancements in small vials could easily be hidden inside a bra or an elaborate hair clip.
When Sam's knee pressed between my legs, the fabric at the top of the slit on my dress strained. "Samuel Jenkins, if you ruin this dress I'll kill you!" I hissed against his lips. His brow rose in a brash like I care arch. His mouth slowly grazed over the exposed skin on my chest and when he pressed his hips hard against mine, the satin finally surrendered with a small tear.
I fumbled with the receptor still in my hand, locating the "0" key. A message for help with my location would automatically dial the last number I used. Of course I thought that number would be Rick because he'd called to reinforce his concerns while Sam drove to the dance. Unbeknownst to me, however, my instant message to Jesse logged his number as the last one entered.
When Sam released my arms to indulge in a hand slide up my exposed thigh with one hand, while the other cupped a breast, I shoved him back.
"That's it, Sam! We're done. I'm calling Dad to come get me."
He scrubbed his hands through his hair, keeping his body close enough I couldn't move away. "No, don't. I'm sorry, really. I don't know what came over me. I'll be good, I swear."
"Is the punch spiked with something?" I asked, debating whether to give him another chance.
"Do you really think someone would be stupid enough to risk their graduation by pulling that stunt?"
"Yeah, I do. I tasted something metallic in your mouth when you tried to swallow my tongue."
He stepped back and drew a deep breath, his gaze turned to the golf course hidden in the black beyond. "You know me, Marli. I don't mess with that shit. I confess I had a couple of drinks from the decanter I carried into the party room because I was thirsty, but I swear I know nothing about it being laced with something." Gently, he stroked the side of my face. "Please stay."
He handed me the clutch bag I dropped when he caught me off guard with his groping fest, and begged for another chance. I hoped sincerity lie somewhere in the depth of his dark eyes and I wasn't making a mistake. I placed my cell receptor inside my purse and linked my arm through his. I'd forgotten, however, to cancel the distress call.
I stopped just outside the room Coach reserved for the team party. I never really fit in this part of Sam's world. We worked as a couple until Sam found himself in a situation where competition clouded his common sense—like the morning he caught me in Jordan's arms. His insecurities surfaced too fast for him to handle so he'd morph into the only skin he felt empowered within—a cocky smartass. I could almost see his body ripple with the transformation the minute he entered the room.
The second I stepped in the room, I regretted my decision to stay. Athletes representing all the school teams milled about, girls fused under their arms. A couple of cheerleaders sized me up from their perched positions on boyfriends' laps. My own lack of self-confidence swept through me and I fingered the slit of my dress, hoping the glittery beads hid the inch-long tear. A few loud, obnoxious boys huddled in the corner.
Sam's team captain sauntered up to me, draping an arm around my neck. "Yo, Marli Davis, 'Princess of the Porsche,' or is it a Ferrari today?"
Loud mouth Craig Hansen had been a thorn in my side since elementary school and tonight proved no exception. When he planted an unexpected slimy kiss on my mout
h, my suspicions about the punch were confirmed. The same strong medicinal taste I discovered in Sam's mouth seeped through my locked lips when Hansen tried to force them open with his tongue. I planted my knee in his groin when he came at me a second time with his ugly mouth, feeling a hand graze someplace off limits. I glared at Sam, who'd joined his foul-mouthed comrades across the room.
"Gotta watch my girl, Hansen," he shouted, summoning everyone's attention my direction.
"Shit Jenkins, she's not your girl," Hansen coughed. "She's everybody's lately. I'm just sampling the buffet."
I turned my back to the room, forcing down angry tears. Crying would only encourage the loathsome banter. Sam stole behind me and kissed the bend where my neck and shoulder met. I waited for the apology but instead, he accused me of being uptight and no fun. He gave my butt a playful swat, encouraging whistles and heckling
"Jerk!" I snarled, which he followed up with his usual "whatever" and walked over to the refreshment table. A petite blonde in short, tight skirt sidled close to Sam, holding out her glass for a refill. He hesitated before deciding which container of berry-colored liquid to pour from until Hansen gave him a thumbs-up. It appeared Sam also lied about his innocence on the spiked punch.
"You lying ass! Drop dead, Jenkins!" I stormed out of the room, ignoring Sam's demand to stop. Wrenching my dress to my knees, I made a break for the exit, hearing Sam's footsteps gaining. I jumped the steps from the deck and ran down the gravel driveway, sliding sideways and landing in the dirt. The heel broke off my new shoe heightening my anger level.
A car skidded beneath the iron arch marking the entrance leading to the clubhouse and raced toward me with alarming speed. Dust plumes twisted in front of the headlights and the driver door flew open.
"Mars!"
"Jesse?"
He lifted me onto my feet and brushed the dust off the side of my gown. "What happened? I got your distress message and turned around at the first exit."
I didn't get a chance to answer before Sam caught up to us, following the oath he cursed when he saw the Ferrari. "Unbelievable!" he yelled, his echo swirling on the wind. "I can't even have one last night alone with you without one of the pretty boys showing up to swoop in and save you from 'big bad Sam.' Hell Marli. You promised."
Jesse's body stiffened and I pressed a hand to his chest. "Ignore him."
"Ignore me?" Sam raged and I cowered against Jesse. "That's all you've done tonight!" He pushed his fingers through his ebony locks, cocked his head and checked his tone. "Can I talk to you alone?"
"Like earlier?" I pointed to an old pickup across the parking lot. "Maybe you could throw me against the grill of that truck? That should leave some nice marks to match the scrapes on my back. Who knows? My whole dress could rip apart this time and you could finish what you started."
"What the hell?" Jesse drew me closer, his arms a warm shield of armor. "She's not moving an inch closer to you, jackass. I won't let you touch her again with your filthy hands."
"Going to keep your brother's mitts off her, too?" Sam smirked. "That's right, you can't. Marli's his 'government issued' property. He can do what he wants with her—things you can only dream about, loverboy."
Jess moved me behind him and took a stance I now recognized the Mason brothers did in preparation for battle. That's when Sam saw the band circling Jesse's wrist."
"Well, well. You're no better than I am with your piss-yellow bracelet. In fact, I'm guessing you're violating a shitload of regulations right now."
The gravel crunched beneath their shoes when they stepped closer to each other. I shuffled around Jesse, finding myself boxed in the middle.
"Not as many as you apparently have, asshole," Jesse answered. "Assaulting a candidate carries a hefty fine."
Sam's voice dropped, his tone menacing. "Nothing compared to 'stealing' one. I'll bet your brother would rip your head off if he knew what you were doing."
"I'd like to tear seven pounds of ugly fat from your shoulders just to shut you up!"
I pushed my arms out, keeping the two of them separated. "Jesse, stop," I begged. By now, an audience had formed along the deck overlooking the parking lot and my reputation received another blow. I watched for Coach to barrel through, or the police to arrive any second. "Guys, we're being watched."
Someone started yelling "Fight! Fight!"
Sam tossed his tuxedo jacket to the ground. "Bring it on."
"No!" I shrilled, wrapping my arms around Jesse's waist and pulling him back. "Get in the car before there's trouble." He wouldn't budge. "I'm leaving with you, okay? Please?"
Jesse's eyes shifted from Sam to me. He picked up the broken heel from my shoe and grabbed my hand, slowing his stride to match my awkward limp across the gravel.
Sam yelled after us. "Fuck you, Davis!"
Jesse immediately locked his arms around me, holding my flailing limbs tight and forcing me into the car. We sped off, leaving my memory of Senior Prom hidden behind a curtain of dust.
9
GAME ON
Rain pounded the top of the Ferrari by the time we reached my house. I stared at the droplets trickling down the passenger window and absentmindedly traced their squiggly trails with my finger. Jesse pulled close to the back porch and turned the car off.
"Mars? You okay?"
"I don't know."
"Want to talk?" Jesse's fingers drew light circles on my bare shoulder. "Or anything else? These seats do recline."
I smiled against the glass. "And my father's bedroom window is right above us."
"Right." His hand dropped. "Marli, has Sam ever physically hurt you? You acted afraid of him tonight."
I jerked my head his direction. "Huh? No. Sam hasn't ever been mean. This whole thing with Jordan and me has him a little nuts, that's all."
"He's not the only one."
Jesse climbed out of the car and ran to my side, keeping his leather jacket over our heads until we reached the back door. A ribbon of light from the lamp in the upstairs hallway drifted across the kitchen floor. Jesse reached for me and I settled against him.
He rubbed my arms briskly."Your skin feels cold. Have you got anything hot to drink?"
"There's some herbal tea in the cabinet above the beverage maker and cream in the refrigerator."
"Go tell your dad you're home and I'll brew a couple cups."
I paused at the top of the stairs, my heart beating two different rhythms; one for Jordan, the other for Jesse, both frightening me.
"Jess, thanks for being my hero."
"Anytime. It was the highlight of my day."
I tiptoed into Dad's room. The viewing screen played without sound. He lay asleep on his back, his mouth open and the beginning sounds of a snore rattling in the back of his throat. I kissed the rugged skin of his cheek.
"I'm home," I whispered.
"W-What?" He rose on one elbow, turning the clock to face him. "You're early. Is everything okay?" Something in my face told him no. He turned on the lamp, patted the edge of the bed for me to sit. "Things didn't go well with Sam, I take it."
"No. Tonight turned into a disaster."
He tucked my hair behind my ear, exposing my face. "Anything I should worry about? Do I need to have Sam arrested?"
Sam locked away sounded perfect. "No, nothing that serious." I stood and leaned against the corner of the wall, not sure how he'd handle my next revelation. "Um, Jesse brought me home."
Dad swung his legs off the side of the bed and put an old pair of glasses. He pressed his palms on his thighs ready to pounce if necessary, and I straightened, ready to run if that happened.
"Jesse? What was he doing there?"
Telling Dad Jesse answered a distress signal I triggered meant subjecting myself to a relentless cross-examination, possibly landing Sam behind bars. As angry as I was at him, I didn't want to jeopardize his scholarship to Ohio State. The lame explanation I quickly invented, however, didn't go much better.
"Jesse said he had a hunch he sh
ould stick around. I think he had my phone tagged so he knew if I even went to the bathroom," I joked to lighten the situation, which had the opposite effect.
"Stalking is what I'd call it. Why did he bring you home?"
"I didn't want to stay with Sam. Someone spiked the punch and I didn't trust him to drive."
Oops. My revelation brought Rick to his feet.
"You're through with Samuel Jenkins, Marli, understand? Done! Over! Grounded forever if I hear you so much as talked to him, got that?"
"Fine with me. He's a total jackass, anyway."
Rick's finger shook dangerously close to my eye. "And another thing. You need to be on guard regarding Jordan's brother. He's got an agenda."
"Okay, we're not having this conversation. Jesse knows the boundaries." I lied through my teeth on that statement. Jesse only knew how to cross boundaries, not stay behind them.
"But do you? Kissing your assigned candidate's brother is a definite crossover. I'm sure Jordan wouldn't be thrilled if—"
"Enough already! You made your point. Go back to sleep. I'm going downstairs and sit with Jesse a while."
"He's not spending the night, Mars. I'm not running a hotel for the Mason brothers."
"I know! I know!" I marched across the hall to my room.
"And I'm keeping my door open!" Rick yelled before I slammed mine.
My cell receptor flashed on my bed. Sam. The guy had guts.
"Leave me alone!" I screeched and hung up, not waiting for a response. I deleted his number and muted my computer. I wasn't reliving my prom-night-from-hell with Alex or Brittany, either.
My satin dress hissed like a poisonous snake with my angry paces. I desperately needed someone to talk me down and only one person could do that. Jordan.
"Marli? What's wrong? It's barely eleven. Are you all right?"
"Yes," I answered, strangled by the word. "No, that's a lie." I bit my lip and the room rippled behind tears.
Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut Page 10