by R. A. Smyth
“Thanks, Dad,” I respond, giving him a tight smile. Seeing the guys emerging through the crowd, I shake off my dad’s hand. “I better go, the guys are waiting.”
“Of course,” he agrees, nodding his head, but he doesn’t step aside to let me pass. Instead he stares at me intently, his penetrating gaze seemingly seeing right through me. “Enjoy these last few months of freedom, son. You’ll be graduating soon and we need you to step up into the role we have set aside for each of you at the company.” On that ominous note, he strides off, taking with him all of my joy from a moment ago.
As the guys approach, I plaster on a fake smile, accepting their congratulations before making my excuses to go shower.
***
Turning off the hot water, I step into the locker room. I always wait until everyone else has left before showering off the chlorine. Sure, the post-race locker talk is invigorating, but I love this moment of quiet reflection after a competition, where I can replay every moment and analyze every second.
I’m running a towel through my hair when I hear the door open. Assuming one of the other guys has forgotten something, I don’t bother to turn around, but when no one says anything, I glance over my shoulder, freezing when I see Hadley standing just inside the door.
Her eyes drop to take in my naked chest, the towel wrapped loosely around my waist, and she runs her tongue along her lower lip, her eyes becoming heated as she drinks me in. Fuck, seeing her turned-on like that is crazy hot. I don’t know what it is about her, but she has my dick all tied up in knots. I barely even know her, yet something about her constantly draws me in.
Maybe the guys are right when they say I’m all about the chase. There’s something thrilling about going after a girl, but the ones here give in too quickly. One wink in their direction and they are practically ready to spread their legs for me. It’s too easy. Hadley isn’t anything like that. She's the perfect challenge. I know she wants me, but the push-pull dynamic we’ve got going on is infectious. I can’t get enough of it. But it’s more than just chasing after her. I can feel it. There’s a hell of a lot of sexual chemistry between us, but there’s also something more, something deeper.
“What are you doing in here?” I ask, my voice husky. Her short skirt shows off her toned, milky thighs, her white shirt clinging to her tits, sending all my blood due south. I couldn’t talk my dick down even if I wanted to.
“You were great out there today,” she murmurs, ignoring my question as she stares transfixed at my chest.
Her words catch me by surprise. I hadn’t realized she was in the crowd. I didn’t see her, and honestly, I never expected her to be there. After Hawk’s one-man show last night, I’m shocked she’s even speaking to me.
“You were watching?”
She shrugs like it’s no big deal; her gaze darting nervously around the room like she’s embarrassed, but a seed of warmth sparks within me at the thought of her cheering me on from the stands. Sure, the guys always show up, and of course girls do too, but I’ve never actually wanted a girl there before. “Had to see what all the fuss was about.”
I move quicker than I’ve ever moved before—which is saying something, considering how lean and agile I am from years of swim training. My lips crash down on hers, my hands wrapping around her waist, neither of us giving a shit that I’m getting her wet.
I’ve never felt so drawn to another person. It’s like the shit in the movies where they have this undeniable chemistry. I never thought that crap was real, but there’s no denying the pull she has over me, drawing me in like some sort of succubus.
Her tiny hands roam over my pecs, squeezing my shoulders and running down my back. Every part of me she touches lights up like a fucking Christmas tree, demanding more.
I shove her blazer over her shoulders and down her arms until it pools at her feet, reaching around to grab two handfuls of her ass cheeks and pulling her in against me as I grind my dick against her core. Groaning, she breaks our kiss, her head falling back as she arches into me, the movement exposing her neck. Her hands grip onto my shoulders and I dip my head, kissing and sucking as I use my grasp on her ass to lift her up, pressing her more firmly against the locker room door as she wraps her legs around me. I know I should take the time to strip her naked, lay her out and feast on her, but I’m too fucking desperate for her. I just need to be inside her. Next time, I’ll make sure I lick every part of her before I have her screaming my name.
Using the heel of the weird-ass combat boots she wears, she dislodges my towel, my dick springing free and immediately nestling itself between her spread thighs. Reaching between us, I run my finger up the front of her panties, groaning at how wet she is, loving her soft moans as she tilts her hips, increasing the friction of my finger and silently demanding more.
Giving her what she wants, I press down on her clit, rubbing tight circles until she’s panting heavily. “Oh, Cam,” she cries out, her grip on my shoulders almost painful as her fingernails dig into my skin. Slipping my fingers underneath her panties, I slide them through her pussy lips, sinking two fingers into her.
“Fuck,” she moans, her hands sliding up into my hair, grabbing the strands and slamming her lips down on mine, using her grip on my hair to angle my head just how she wants it, her tongue sweeping deep into my mouth. My lips slide over hers, sucking her in further as my fingers pump in and out of her, the pace matching the clashing of our tongues. Her cunt clenches around me as her hand trails down the front of my chest, reaching between us until she’s holding my cock in her hand.
She gently squeezes it, causing me to groan into her mouth as our kiss turns fierce, both of us getting lost in the passion. Her hand slides up and down my dick, providing the perfect amount of pressure. Fuck, most hand jobs are just meh, nothing to get excited about unless you’re a pre-teen virgin, but holy hell, just the feel of her hand wrapped around me has my balls drawing up, that tingling feeling reverberating through me.
She tears her lips away from mine, her head falling back against the door. “Fuck, Cam, I’m going to come.” Her eyes drift closed, her hand still pumping my dick as I circle my thumb over her clit and curl my fingers over that magical spot.
“Fuck. Fuck. FUCK,” she cries, her pussy clamping down on my fingers, her juices dripping down my hand as she comes.
Pulling them out of her, I bring my fingers to my lips, sucking them into my mouth and groaning at the taste of her on my tongue. Her pupils are blown, and she watches transfixed as I lick her off me.
“Mmm, baby, you taste so good.”
She licks her lips, her teeth digging into her bottom lip, her chest rapidly rising and falling with her heavy breaths.
“Cam,” she breathes. “Condom.” It’s a husky demand, overflowing with hunger and carnal need.
“Yeah, baby,” I agree, my lips meeting hers as I wrap my arms around her thighs, carrying her over to where I left my stuff. Dropping her to her feet beside my locker, I dig in my bag until I find a condom. She snatches it from between my fingers, tearing it open and rolling it down my dick before I’ve even comprehended what’s happened. Damn, I love a girl who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants.
Towering over her, my forearm leaning against the metal locker above her, I tuck my fingers under her chin, lifting it so she’s looking up at me. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a girl more than I do in this moment. With raw lust in her eyes and heat on her cheeks, she looks fucking incredible. Dick-blowing. Literally.
My hand slides round the back of her neck, my lips descending on hers, loving that she can taste herself on me. She moans into my mouth, her tongue sparring with mine as we swiftly fall into that all-consuming heady sensation of being wrapped up with someone physically.
She lifts her leg up, hitching it over my hip, the heel of her boot digging into my ass. Lifting my arm off the locker, I run it up her thigh, tucking her panties to the side before holding her leg securely in place as my cock stands at attention, aimed perfectly at her ce
nter.
Nudging at her opening, I slowly sink into her, our kiss breaking as we are both overcome by pleasure. My eyes drift shut and I groan at the feel of her wrapped around me, her sweet heat like fucking ecstasy as I bottom out.
“I knew you’d feel fucking incredible,” I breathe, my forehead pressed against hers.
Tilting her head, her lips brush over mine as I pull back. My hand clamps tighter around her thigh as I push into her again, savoring the feel of her clenching around me. Maintaining a slow pace, I thrust in and out. The tingling at the base of my dick spreads to my spine and I know I’m close to blowing my load, but I’m so not ready for this to be over yet. She feels far too fucking good.
Linking my fingers with hers, I pin her hand to the locker above her head. Holding her thigh in my large palm, I pick up my speed, ramming in and out of her, her soft moans of pleasure pushing me on as I bury my face in her neck, sucking and biting at the soft skin.
I can feel her clenching around me, her soft cries letting me know she’s close to coming. Inching my fingers up her thigh until I can feel her puckered hole, I dip lower, feeling my slick dick sliding in and out of her. Collecting some of her juices, I circle my finger around the rim of her hole, feeling her soft gasp against my cheek as she realizes what I’m doing.
I’ve barely pushed the tip of my finger inside her when she cries out, her walls slamming down around my dick in the best way, breaking through the last bit of resistance I had as I let go, grunting out her name as I go over the cliff with her, into orgasmic bliss.
We stay like that for a long moment after, both of us breathing heavily as we come back to reality. With my head still buried in her neck, I kiss her skin again, not wanting to leave this moment of contentment.
Eventually, though, she shuffles, and I have no choice but to lower her leg, pulling out of her. I keep the rest of my body flush with hers though, my hand wrapping itself in her hair.
“That was definitely not a one-time thing,” I promise. “I’m nowhere near done with you.”
***
It’s changeover day again. I can’t say I paid any attention to Missy last time, and why the fuck would I when I can be chasing someone like Hadley? And holy fuck, was she worth it! I knew it the second I slammed myself balls deep inside of her—she’s so much more than a simple fling. I don’t know what the fuck she is or what it means, but I want to do it again and again.
That’s why I’ve made my decision. Hawk’s going to shit a brick, and West and Mason might be pissy about it, but I don’t give a damn. It’s the right thing to do.
The four of us stride into the dining hall and all eyes turn our way, everyone following our every move as we make our way to our normal table. I hate that we have to eat here every morning. We have our own damn kitchen, yet we have to come down here to appease the masses. It’s a control thing, to remind the school who owns it, but I’d much rather have breakfast in our apartment every day, away from prying eyes.
After breakfast, all of us get to our feet. That buzz of excitement I felt the first month is back, and I can barely stand still as I wait for Hawk and Mason to take their turns. Mason once again picks out a curly-haired blonde, and I can’t help but notice the similarities to Hadley. Is that just a coincidence? He barely knows Hadley. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him talk to her. Yeah, they’ve sat at the same table in the library once or twice, when the two of us have been working on our English assignment, and we all have business class together, but other than that, I don’t think they ever cross paths, and he’s never mentioned her before.
Realizing it’s my turn, I shake myself out of that weird train of thought and circle round to the front of the table. Unlike the last two times, I don’t make a whole song and dance out of the thing. I know what I want this month, and I’m not about to let another second pass without her.
Stepping into the middle of the room, I turn to face her, looking directly at her as I call out her name. “Hadley.”
Chapter 16
“Hadley.” That one word, my own goddamn name, obliterates the last shred of peace I had constructed for myself here at Pac Prep.
I slowly turn in my seat until I find Cam standing in the middle of the dining hall with a stupid-ass grin on his face, looking proud as shit. God damn, I just want to strangle the sexy idiot. He’s got no idea the damage he’s just caused.
Meeting his eyes, I try to communicate how sorry I am. I don’t mean to hurt him, but that’s exactly what I have to do because there is just no fucking way I can be a girl of the month. I don’t even agree with the fucking concept, and I thought the idiot knew that.
Rising to my feet, I steel my spine, running my tongue along my suddenly dry lips. I cast a glance around the rest of the hall, ignoring Hawk’s murderous glare and Mason’s tight expression.
“No.” The word comes out like a whip, swiping the excited look from Cam’s face as it falls, shock and hurt evident for only a second before he composes himself, donning an impassive expression.
“You can’t say no,” Hawk barks out, surprising me. I thought he, of all people, would be more than happy for me to turn Cam down. He’s been telling me to keep my distance for weeks now, and when I finally do as he asks, he’s not happy? Fucking infuriating shithead.
“He’s right,” West agrees. Of course he does, because when one of them decides something, the rest of them immediately jump on board and back them up.
“He can’t choose a scholarship student,” I retort.
“Also true,” West nods, his brows furrowing as he tries to work out which is the bigger issue—Cam asking out a scholarship student, or a girl turning him down.
“Who says I can’t say no?” I question, adamant that regardless of whatever they say, I am not becoming a girl of the month. “Just because a girl has never said no before, doesn’t mean it’s not allowed.”
West nods his head, that small movement allowing me to release the tense breath I’d been holding. He leans in to whisper in Hawk’s ear, the two of them having a private conversation. I can’t make out any of it, but I keep my eyes locked on them, refusing to look in Cam’s direction and see the pain and confusion written all over his face. Why the fuck didn’t he just talk to me first? I could have explained myself to him in private and saved both of us from this embarrassment.
“We need to discuss it,” Hawk finally says, addressing the room. “We will have an answer for you by tomorrow.”
What the fuck does that mean?!
Before I can argue, West steps forward, quickly picking a girl and dragging a still frozen Cam back toward the table. Cam shakes him off halfway, though, storming out of the room.
With shaky legs, I sit back down at my table. I’ve been sitting alone since Halloween, but I can’t help glancing toward where the scholarship students sit, finding all seven of them are gaping at me with mixed looks of awe, shock, and displeasure.
Fuck my life.
***
“What the hell was that?!” I demand, sitting down beside Cam. I deliberately left the dining hall as soon as I finished eating, hoping to track him down before class. I looked everywhere for him before giving up and coming to English early; and apparently he’s been here the whole time.
He doesn’t even look at me or acknowledge I’ve spoken.
“Cam! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to do that?”
“What does it matter?” he snarls, his head snapping my way so he can glare at me. “Would you have given a different answer if I’d consulted you first?”
“No,” I respond truthfully. He gives a tight nod of his head, his gaze dropping back to his table.
“At least tell me why.” His voice is quiet now, sad, and it only breaks my heart for him. I never wanted this to happen, but there was no way I could say yes; submit to someone like that, give them that power and control over me, not when I’m here to gain my own freedom, to live my own life.
“I...It’s complicated.” I sigh we
akly, rubbing my hands over my face in frustration, unable to explain any of it to him. “It has nothing to do with you, though. I just...couldn’t say yes.”
We lapse into silence, neither of us speaking again as the class fills up and Mr. Greer begins today's lesson. The air between us is fraught with tension and the second the bell goes, Cam darts out of his chair like it’s on fire, storming out of the room.
The rest of the day goes by in a blur, but I don’t miss the glares thrown at me by the girls, everyone whispering, trying to work out why Cam would choose me. They aren’t the only ones asking themselves that question. I can’t understand why he would do that, why he would openly acknowledge there’s anything between us. Of course, the guys seem to have decided it’s because I’m good in bed and catcalls have been following me around the halls all day. It takes everything in me not to lash out at one of those motherfuckers, but I can’t afford to lose my spot here and that is the only reason several of them aren’t sent to the hospital today with fractured arms or broken noses.
That night I’ve just flicked the desk lamp off—having crammed enough school work nonsense into my brain for the day—and I’m getting ready for bed when my tablet goes off. Ugh, who could be messaging me so late? The only person who ever did was Cam, and somehow I doubt he’s sitting in the dining hall wondering if I’m going to show up for our usual midnight date.
Hawk: Dining Hall. Now.
Seriously? Does he think I’m some sort of lapdog who’s just going to come when ordered?
The device vibrates with another incoming message.