Thin Skin: A High School Bully Romance (Vestamont High Series Book 1)

by Indi Bluehart

  My body was on fire.

  His hands slid down my neck, rounding over my shoulders. I wasn’t sure what took over my body, but I crawled over the armrest and straddled him.

  It was the first time since moving to Spring Meadow that I felt alive. I probably should have pulled away. Taken a breath. But Tyler’s kiss was magnetic.

  His hands gripped the hem of my shirt and twisted the fabric until it was tight against my body. He cupped my breast and his thumb glided across my nipple.

  I bit my lip, so I didn’t cry out for more. His touch was freeing. His touch turned me in a creature I didn’t recognize.

  He rolled the hem of my shirt up my body. His eyes followed along with the shirt stopping at my breasts.

  “Jesus,” he mumbled as he leaned forward and kissed the exposed skin.

  I could feel his need for me growing, pressing against my jeans. He pulled my shirt off the rest of the way and tossed it to the side.

  The movie playing behind us lit up his eyes like sapphires sparkling in a dark cave. I felt like an actress in her very own movie with the glow and scenes flickering around us.

  Tyler pulled the silky fabric of my bra down around my breast. He stared for a quick moment before his hands were on me caressing and flicking until I had no choice but sigh and roll my head back.

  No one had ever touched me the way Tyler was. I wasn’t a virgin but that experience was much different from what I was experiencing with Tyler. That was a wham, bam, we have no idea what we’re doing, whereas this moment with Tyler… well, he knew what he was doing.

  I craved his touch.

  I needed his touch.

  He made me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

  His fingers teasing and tugging my nipples was almost enough to send me to the edge. I moved my body down against his hardness, aching to feel him inside me.

  “You’re so beautiful, Alyssa,” Tyler said as he leaned forward to draw my nipple into his wet mouth.

  His fingertips slowly slid down my stomach toward the button of my jeans. My heart pounded against my chest so hard I was sure if the lights had been on, he be able to see it beating.

  I rolled my hips feeling his length through my jeans.

  There were sounds above us and my heart skipped a beat. I pulled back and covered myself.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “Shit,” Tyler said. “Probably just the pizza guy.”

  “The pizza guy just walks into your house?” I asked sharply.

  I looked at the floor through the darkness trying to locate my shirt. It didn’t matter who was in the house, I didn’t want them to see me topless.

  “Relax,” Tyler said thumbing my nipple as he kept his eyes glued to mine.

  “Tyler?” a man called out. “Are you down there?”

  “It’s my dad,” he whispered before clearing his throat. I tried to climb off of him but he gripped my hips harder, guiding me down as he thrust his hips upward. “Don’t worry. He won’t come down here. He never comes down here. “Yeah, dad. I’m just watching a movie.”

  The first step creaked. “I’m home early. The course was soaked and they’re predicting rain again tomorrow.”

  “Okay dad,” Tyler said before leaning forward to kiss my breast.

  I narrowed my eyes and pushed him back. He looked offended but grinned at the same time.

  “I told you he won’t come down here,” Tyler said before there was another creak at the staircase.

  “Let me go,” I said as I tucked my breasts back into my bra.

  Tyler swallowed but saw the seriousness in my eyes. He let go and got up to help me look for my shirt.

  “Well, I’ll be in my study if you need me,” his dad called.

  I located my shirt and quickly pulled it on. I crossed my arms in front of myself as if I still felt half undressed.

  My blood was still boiling but now it was for a different reason. The shimmer in his eyes was gone.

  “I’m sorry,” he said looking away from me. “That was stupid. I got carried away in the heat of the moment. I didn’t want you to leave.”

  “I would have just sat back in my seat,” I said anger tensing my jaw. “But I think I should go.”

  “Alyssa, please,” Tyler said following me as I slowly and carefully walked through the darkness. The scenes occasionally lighting my way. “Shit.”

  I climbed the stairs feeling embarrassed. It wasn’t just that his dad had almost caught us, it was that I had let things get so far without barely knowing Tyler.

  He had seemed like one of the good guys and maybe he still was. Things just got out of hand but it wasn’t completely his fault. I just needed some time and space to think.

  “Forgive me, please,” Tyler begged. “You’re all I have in this town. I didn’t mean for any of that to happen.”

  I turned to him almost losing my balance on the stairs. He steadied me and pulled his hands back.

  “You held me there… you wouldn’t let me get my shirt,” I said nearly growling.

  “I’m sorry! I knew he wouldn’t come down and I thought we were both enjoying what was happening,” Tyler said.

  My shoulders relaxed slightly at his soft and apologetic tone. I could see that he was truly sorry.

  “Weren’t you into it?” Tyler asked confusion scrunching his face.

  “No, yeah, I was. I don’t know, I guess maybe everything was happening too fast,” I said.

  “Right, yeah. I don’t know what came over me. I definitely hadn’t intended for any of this and I’m honestly sorry.” Tyler took my hand into his. “Let me make it up to you. A real date. In public. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “Anywhere?” I asked allowing a small smile to curl the ends of my lips.

  He nodded enthusiastically. “Anywhere.”

  “Fine.”

  “When? Now?” he asked with a hopeful raise of his brow.

  I laughed. “I think I need some time.”

  “Okay, at least let me walk you home,” Tyler said.

  “I live like ten feet away,” I said finally letting my arms fall to my sides.

  I looked into his eyes and could still feel the magnetic pull between us. If his father hadn’t come home, I knew exactly what would have happened between us and there was a part of me that was disappointed it hadn’t.

  “Can I get your number?” Tyler asked holding out his phone. I typed it in and he sent me a quick message as we walked upstairs so that I’d have his number too. “In case you want mine and hopefully, you still do.”

  When we got upstairs, there was a pizza box on the counter. His dad froze in mid-bite when he saw us.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize you had company,” his dad said putting the slice of pizza down and wiping his hands on a napkin. “I guess I stole your pizza, huh?”

  “It’s okay,” Tyler said. “This is Alyssa from next door. She’s on her way out.”

  “Alyssa from next door,” his father sang as he shot Tyler a look. “A girl! Tyler never has girls here, at least he hasn’t for a long time.”

  I narrowed my eyes and Tyler shook his head. It seemed he wasn’t going to even try to explain the comment, not that he needed to.

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you Alyssa from next door. I still need to meet your parents,” he said sticking out his hand. “I’m Desmond, Tyler’s dad, of course, you probably figured that out.”

  “Yes, sir, nice to meet you,” I said shaking his warm hand. It was obvious by the firm grip that he was a businessman of some sort but then again who in Spring Meadow wasn’t?

  “All right then,” Tyler said clapping his hands as his dad looked back and forth between us as if he were waiting for one of us to report something exciting. “Let me get you home.”

  Mr. White frowned. “So soon?”

  “Yeah, I have homework,” I said.

  “Ah, are you attending Vestamont?” Mr. White asked.

  “I am,” I said trying to kee
p all expressions from my face.

  He nodded. “Good school. Great creative writing program. I wish Tyler would have stayed enrolled.”

  “It wasn’t for me,” he said shooting his dad a dark look.

  “We’ll see you again soon,” Mr. White said with a nod as he took another slice of pizza.

  Tyler led me out of the house and onto the porch. The rain was coming down harder than it had been earlier.

  “Your dad seems nice,” I said.

  “Sure,” Tyler said. “He’s usually nice to everyone except for me.”

  “Sorry.” I hadn’t known what else to say. “He seems different than your mom.”

  Tyler grinned. “In that he hasn’t walked out of the past?”

  “Yeah,” I said smiling back.

  “Wait here,” Tyler said holding up a finger. “Let me grab an umbrella.”

  In a matter of seconds, he reappeared and opened the large umbrella. He reached out his hand with hopefulness filling his eyes.

  I exhaled and took his hand.

  The rain falling around us as we walked was calming. At least it had been until I heard the car tires squealing behind us.

  I didn’t even have to look to know who was driving down my street. Once quick glance confirmed that I was right.

  Silas was speeding down the road.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Silas slowed his car as he drew nearer. The passenger side window rolled down but both Tyler and I ignored them.

  Something rolled several times before it stopped in front of me on the sidewalk. A crumpled-up bag of fast food started to uncurl several inches in front of me.

  Apparently, Silas liked throwing his trash at me. Last time it was a can of beer.

  “You really get around, don’t you?” Silas shouted from the driver’s seat. His buddy in the passenger seat burped loudly before laughing.

  “Friends of yours?” Tyler asked as he glanced over at them.

  “Definitely not,” I said. “Just keep walking.”

  The car crawled forward, staying at our side as we walked. I couldn’t help but feel like running to my house and slamming the door.

  It hadn’t been that long since I’d been sitting in that seat. Silas had mostly been treating me like a normal human being but now here he was throwing trash at me.

  “Oh, hey, I know that guy,” Silas shouted from the passenger seat. “That’s the one that tried to rape Aria a few years ago.”

  My eyes shot up at Tyler. His jaw was clenched and the knuckles on his hand holding the umbrella turned white.

  My mind shot back to our little moment in his basement. His hands had been all over me… and he’d held me there when his dad was descending the stairs.

  “Is this creep bothering you?” Silas shouted.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, of course not but it’s not like you would even care if he was.”

  The car jerked to a stop. Silas flew out of the car and walked over toward us. Even the passenger of his car looked surprised.

  “I don’t want any girl getting raped,” Silas said setting his face inches from Tyler’s.

  “He’s my neighbor,” I said with an awkward smile, hoping to diffuse the situation. “He was just walking me home.”

  Silas’s lip curled into a snarl. “No one is safe with this guy. Just ask Aria.”

  “There you go with that ask Aria thing again as if that’s an option,” I groaned. “Seems to me that Aria doesn’t like any guy.”

  Tyler was surprisingly silent. He wasn’t defending himself. He just stood there, staring back nearly as still as a statue.

  “He wouldn’t have left school if he were innocent,” Silas said.

  “Oh please,” I said knowing just how far from accurate that statement was.

  “Why don’t you tell us all what happened that night?” Silas said. “Clear your name once and for all.”

  Tyler was still.

  “Well?” Silas shouted shoving Tyler so hard the umbrella fell out of his hand and dropped to the ground behind us. “Something wrong with you that you can’t talk?”

  Tyler’s fist was shaking. He took a step back, inhaled, and picked up the umbrella. He grabbed my hand and started walking me toward my house, doing his best to ignore Silas.

  Silas laughed as we moved away. Rain dripped down from thin peaks of his soaked hair. “The hell you think you’re doing?”

  “Taking her home,” Tyler said between his teeth. “Feel free to wait for me here.”

  “No,” I whispered. “You can come in until they leave.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Tyler said keeping his eyes forward. “I can take care of him.”

  I shook my head. I’d seen Tyler with his shirt off. There was no doubt in my mind he’d put up a good fight but he didn’t need to. I didn’t want him to.

  Silas reached his arms around my waist and pulled me back away from Tyler. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

  “Let go of me!” I said hitting my fists into Silas’s arms.

  If anything, he tightened his grip. I was just a pesky mosquito to him.

  Silas let go a bit roughly and stepped out in front of me. “I’m not letting you take her anywhere.”

  “Jesus Christ, man. Why don’t you just mind your own business?” Tyler said throwing the umbrella behind him onto the lawn.

  Tyler walked up to Silas and grabbed his shirt before launching his fist toward Silas’s face. He’d hit him so hard the sounds of squishing and cracking made me queasy.

  Silas turned his face, grinning before taking his turn. His fist landed just under Tyler’s eye. Silas hit him with such force it knocked him off balance.

  Silas dropped down on top of him but Tyler was strong enough to roll him over. Fists were flying everywhere.

  I tried to get into the mess of flying limbs to pull Silas off of Tyler but I nearly got hit in the process.

  “Get her out of here,” Silas shouted.

  My eyes narrowed and before I could say or do anything his friend from the car was behind me. He wrapped his arms around me so tightly I could barely move.

  I wiggled a hand free and clawed at his leather jacket covered arm. My legs were flying around but it didn’t do any good. He was stronger and I was powerless.

  “Let me go, dammit!” I screamed as he climbed up my front porch.

  My mom opened the door and the guy let go of me. I stumbled forward and my mom caught me before I could fall on my face.

  “Sorry ma’am,” the guy said before running back toward the fight.

  “Mom!” I said in a short gasp as I turned around. Silas was already stuffing a weakened Tyler into his car.

  “What’s going on?” my mom asked in a squeaky concern-filled voice.

  When she squeezed my shoulders, there wasn’t anything I could do to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. “I don’t know. They… they… they’re taking Tyler.”

  “Taking him where?” my mom asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  Silas’s buddy slid into the passenger seat and closed the door. He pulled away from the curb and I bolted toward the car shouting at them to stop. I only made it halfway down the yard before they made a left turn and were out of sight.

  Raindrops smacked into my face as I stared down the road. I knew they weren’t coming back but I couldn’t help but hope I’d be wrong.

  They’d turn around and drop him off as if it were some kind of cruel joke. It wasn’t like Tyler knew them. He surely hadn’t gone with them by choice.

  My mom wrapped her arm around my shoulders and led me inside the house. The rain mixed with my tears so thankfully she couldn’t tell just how upset I was.

  “Tell me what happened,” my mom said once we were inside. “Should I call the police?”

  “I don’t know,” I said shaking my head.

  “Do you know them?” she asked.

  I nodded. “They’re boys from school.”

  “Good boys?”

/>   “Does it seem like they were good?” I asked sharply even though I didn’t think she’d seen them fighting. “Honestly, I don’t really know them. And Tyler doesn’t either.”

  “Tell me what happened. Everything,” she said holding my shaking body.

  I told her starting with the moment I left Tyler’s front door. She didn’t need to know what had happened in the basement. I also left out the part about them accusing Tyler of raping a Aria.

  It was true that I didn’t know Tyler well but it didn’t seem like that could have been true. It sounded more like it was something someone had made up to make Tyler look bad. A way to get him out of school. Just like they’d tried with me and the story about having slept with two guys in one night.

  They were mean.

  They were bullies.

  They were assholes.

  And I didn’t think they’d stop until they got their way.

  Knowing Aria was behind the accusations made them less believable. What were the odds she’d have trouble with both Reed and Tyler? Slim.

  They’d succeeded with getting rid of Tyler. And now they were going to do what they could to isolate me.

  “Go get changed and I’ll call you father to see what we should do,” my mom said. “You know who’s car that was, right?”

  “I do,” I said.

  “Okay, get changed and come right back down here,” my mom said before walking out of the room with her cell phone in hand.

  I listened to her retell the story to my dad as I walked up the stairs. Rain pelted against my bedroom window as I quickly changed into dry clothes.

  Lightning cracked into the earth nearby and the rolling thunder shook the house. It also struck me with an idea.

  I had Tyler’s number.

  I pressed call as I walked down the stairs. It ran at least six times before he finally picked up.

  “Yes?” Tyler asked.

  “Are you okay?” I said as my mom stepped into the living room with her arms crossed.

  “I’m fine.”

  I glanced at my mom and she narrowed her eyes. “My mom thinks we should call the police.”

  “No!” Tyler said quickly. He coughed and then cleared his throat. “There’s no need for that.”

  “Where are you?” I asked.

  “Look, I can’t talk now,” Tyler said. “Or maybe ever again. Delete my number.”