by A. J. Logan
His eyes look to my neck as his finger twirls a wet strand of hair that’s fallen from my messy bun. His intent glare returns to me, and speaking harshly, he asks, “Who’s the coward now?”
I begin to speak as he surges forward, his face inches from mine as his hand grips the back of my neck. “Now you want to explain? You had every opportunity to but chose to hide away like a scared little bitch.”
Flinching at his words, I look away but he moves with my eyeline, keeping his face in front of mine, his eyes directly aligned with mine. I snap my eyes shut, not wanting to see the bastard in front of me. The gentle person who’d kissed me, held me, seemed so far away it felt like a dream. This is why I hadn’t shown up that night. This is exactly why I know I made the right decision, even if it had been agonizing beyond belief to send my brother instead of going to him myself. Opening my eyes, I see his wicked glower still on me. “Let me go.”
The fury in his face fades some but only slightly as he asks, “Why did you tell him about my nightmares? It wasn’t your place to say anything. Sending him to babysit me while you hide away …”
“You needed your best friend, not me.” The words escape in shaky breaths as his hand loosens from my neck, dropping down to his side as he takes a calculated step back.
Tilting his head as his devilish grin returns. “That’s one thing we can agree on—I don’t need you.”
“So it shouldn’t be that difficult to stay the hell out of my closet … and my life.”
I go to move away from him as his harsh grip captures my arm, holding me in place as he says, “Why would I make it easy on you?”
Anger and misery claw at my heart as I search the face of the deviant I recognize all too well. “Nothing about this is easy.”
His brutal mask slips for a moment as he feathers his lips over mine, his fingertips trailing up my thigh as his hand grips my ass, holding me in place as he presses against me. “Nice try.”
Remaining in place, I watch as he leaves just as suddenly as he appeared. I don’t know if I made the right choice by sending Asher, but I’m certain staying away was the best decision.
Methodically, I finish getting dressed, moving faster than normal as I want to leave before I see him again. But that doesn’t happen. When I step into the kitchen, he’s leaning against the island.
Ignoring the menacing smirk from Elliot, I walk through the kitchen to the garage, dropping into my car. Why did I think he would just let it go? I know Elliot better than that and getting far away from him is my only desire at the moment. I attempt to start up my car, but it remains silent. Looking towards the door, I spot Elliot leaning against the doorframe with the same menacing smirk. Bastard.
“Fix it. Whatever you did to my car, undo it.”
“Why would I do anything to your car?” he snickers.
Asher steps around the idiot, moving to his car and yanking his door open. “Get in or you could always ask Mom for a ride.”
Letting out a frustrated breath, I march over to Asher’s car, pulling the door open as Elliot pushes off the doorframe. “See ya at Java Knox.”
Slamming the door, I look over to my brother who remains emotionless, not realizing that his BFF is the bane of my existence. “I don’t want to stop for coffee. Just drop me off at school. It’s right across the street.”
Asher glances to me, a strange look on his face. “You sure? Seems like you could use a little caffeine.”
“You’re only going because Quinn has been there every morning with Grant.”
I’m met with a furious glare as his grip tightens on the steering wheel, confirming my suspicion. Little does Asher know, I’ve kept a closer eye on Quinn than he has because I truly know what a vile monster Grant is.
Unconsciously, my hands pull my skirt down as I stare out the window.
Moments later, Asher turns the opposite way of the school, pulling into the parking lot of Java Knox. “Damn it, Asher. It’s literally across the street! Why can’t you just drop me off first?”
Asher shoves at his door, stepping out without a word. Throwing my door open, I bail from the car, slamming it shut behind me. “You’re such a jackass!”
Asher continues as Elliot walks by, smirking at my distress solely a result of his actions. Lingering for another moment just to further my torment, Elliot goes in for another dig as he says, “Grant’s here. Don’t you want to say hi?”
“You’re an even bigger jackass, and I will get you back for this!”
He disregards my threat, which causes more anger to surge through my body. Throwing my arms in the air, I yell a few more profanities at the backs of the two idiots entering the coffee shop. They couldn’t care less that I’m having a fit in the middle of the parking lot. Spotting Allison’s red BMW pulling into the lot, I know walking to school is a better option than going into Java Knox.
Spinning on my heel, I stomp across the parking lot, heading to the school. It doesn’t matter how far it is. I just need to get away from Elliot Bass. No need for me to make the slow, cruel torment he is hell-bent on causing me any more enjoyable for him.
As I’m walking across the street, Quinn pulls up beside me and asks if I need a ride.
Dropping into the passenger seat, I’m grateful to see her and even more grateful that I don’t have to walk down the winding two-mile driveway, although it was still the more appealing option, given the scenario. “Thank you.”
After riding the short distance that would’ve taken me forty minutes to walk, we exit the car and weave through the parking lot into the school together. I’m thankful Grant isn’t glued to her side for a few minutes. He might be attempting to torment Asher, but it worries me to no end. “Are you going to the bonfire?”
“I don’t know yet,” Quinn responds.
“Just promise me you’ll be careful if you do.”
“Are you going?”
I hadn’t planned on it, but the thought of Quinn being there with Grant makes me so nervous. And it would give me an opportunity to get back at Elliot. “Probably, it’s better than staying home.”
“Maybe I’ll see you there.”
Anxious, I look to her, wanting to tell her everything but fearing Grant would take it out on her and not me. “Yeah, find me when you get there. And please just be careful, Quinn.”
Hurrying away, I step into the bathroom. Slipping into a stall, I realize it’s time. I have to tell Quinn, or at least Asher, even if he isn’t my favorite person right now because there’s nothing to stop Grant from taking it too far. Again. And if he does, I’ll never forgive myself.
15
Elliot
Sometimes, I should give some serious consideration to keeping my big mouth shut. It’s not likely to ever happen—the consideration or the follow-through—but I’d bet my left nut that the taunting redheaded vixen swaying on the dance floor is doing so just to torture me—and it’s working, a little too well. I can make digs at her, jack with her car, go out of my way to make her life miserable—and I’ve accomplished my goal, as promised—but all she has to do is look at another guy to make my life a living hell. No effort required. And she’s doing just that, making some bastard think he has a chance with her (and he probably has a better one than I ever had). But that won’t stop me from gouging his eyes out if I have to watch the sleaze stare a trail down her body. Just like him, I take in the tight jeans she’s wearing that accentuate all the right curves before moving to the thin strap of her shirt that’s fallen off her shoulder, leaving it bare. His seedy fingers stroke up her arm as she sways to the music in sync with him. Before I know it, my feet are hauling me quickly in their direction.
Her eyes dart to me, but I ignore her, my attention on him. I harshly clutch his grubby fingers, removing them from her arm. Tightening my grip, I jerk the asshole away from her, stepping between them. “Fuck off.”
A mixture of shock and fear covers his face as he steps back, quickly disappearing into the crowd. If the shitbag knows what’s good
for him, he’s running out the front door and not looking back. If he were to look back, though, he’d see the most maddeningly beautiful girl in the world screaming profanities at me. Thankfully she’s drowned out by the blaring music, but it takes everything I have to not cover her mouth with mine. I can’t keep doing this all night. I’m the host of this bonfire and I’ve spent all night keeping an eye on her, watching as she’s enjoyed herself while I’ve tormented myself with recalling how her body felt against mine.
She finishes her colorful string of curses then spins to march off the dance floor. Against every smart thought in my head, I follow her. She halts, realizing I’m following, but I grasp her arms, hauling her along. I trudge down the hallway with a pissed off redhead in tow, and we get a few curious glares. Nothing I can’t explain away, but what I want to do to her, there’s no cover story for. Flinging the nearest bedroom’s door open, I shove her inside, slamming the door closed. Now that the music isn’t so loud, I can hear her yelling at me loud and clear until I step forward, covering her mouth with mine, finally fulfilling my need to feel her against me. I lean forward, my hands gripping her ass as her fingers cling to my shoulders. She tastes like sweet candy and strong whiskey and kisses me back, moaning into my mouth until her hands force me back.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asks, fuming. Her angry pout makes me smile.
“You,” I whisper, brushing my fingers up her bare arm, hooking the thin strap of her shirt on my finger as I move it up onto her shoulder, situating it back in place. I lean forward, brushing my lips along her exposed skin, my tongue quickly flicking over the silky surface. I straighten, moving back to look at her.
“Stop it. I know this is part of your game. You wanted to make my life miserable, so don’t be a dickhead—turnabout is fair play.” She shoves against me as I stumble back. Quickly regaining my balance, I move behind her just as she pulls the door open a few inches. My fist slams against the door, forcing it closed, and Victoria freezes in place, her back to me.
Stepping forward, her body molds perfectly with mine as I bend down, whispering in her ear. “Who said anything about fair play?”
Dropping my mouth to her skin, I tease her delicate shoulder. Moving to her neck, she tilts her head to the side, allowing me even more access as my mouth nibbles along her soft skin. My arm wraps around her stomach, pulling her to me, my hard cock pressing against her sweet ass. What I wouldn’t give to be inside her.
“You can’t keep doing this to me. You can’t say what you said to me, tell me you don’t want me, then change your mind as soon as someone else might,” she says breathlessly, her hand reaching back and grasping the jeans covering my leg as she grinds against me.
Desire and fury jolt through me at the thought of that sleazebag’s hands on her, where mine, and mine only, should be. Gripping her hip, I turn her to face me. My fingers stroke over her ass, her piercing eyes lock with mine as her hands grip my shirt. Bringing my mouth to hers, I nip at her lip, teasing as I say, “Let me make it up to you.”
She starts to say something, but I cover her mouth with mine and slip my hand under her shirt, cupping her hard nipple against my palm as I squeeze her tit. Her body goes rigid when my mouth drops to her neck, my tongue tasting her velvety skin as her fingers dig into my shoulders. Holding me to her, she moans my name.
“I just want to touch you, Victoria. Let me make you feel good.” Shifting her to the side, I walk her backward until she’s pressed against the dresser. Turning her to face the mirror above it, I press my stomach against her back. “And I want us both to see how much you enjoy my touch.”
A wild need flashes in her eyes as my fingers reach down, unbuttoning her jeans before pushing them down along with her panties. There’re at least a million reasons I should stop, leave her alone but if I can’t stick my dick in her, I’ll make her moan with pleasure as she comes on my hand.
Her head drops back against my shoulder. Keeping my eyes locked on hers, one of my hands reaches in front of her, slipping under her shirt to clasp her tit as my other hand brushes across her stomach, moving lower to slip my fingers inside her.
Fuck, she’s so wet I’m about to lose my load just feeling her and watching her as she moans. Her weight rests on me as she leans back, sliding down just a little as I hold her in place, pumping my fingers in her pussy as my thumb rubs her clit.
I feel her tense up, fighting to let go and be vulnerable with me, enjoy what her body wants and what I need to give her. Pleasure to make up for a morsel of all the misery I’ve inflicted and will continue to inflict, even if I try my best not to.
“Let go, Victoria. Just relax and enjoy my touch.”
She goes stiff for a moment before relaxing back against me, fully basking in the sensations as her hips rock in motion with my fingers thrusting inside her. Fuck, she looks hot coming undone with my fingers inside her. I struggle to push the thought of how she’d look with my dick pumping inside her out of my head. Releasing her chest, my hand reaches up, grips her throat, squeezing. I pick up the pace with the other, working her as she comes undone, whimpering when she reaches her climax. Slowly I withdraw my fingers, stroking her pussy as I watch her recover from the satisfaction I provided her. And damn, it just makes me want to do it again along with so much more.
From the looks of her, she doesn’t feel the same way. All too quickly, her happy, gratified look morphs into unease. Turning, she holds her hands in front of her, shielding her body from me as she searches for her clothes.
“Victoria.”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, grabs her panties and jeans from the floor before quickly pulling them back on.
Grasping her arm just before she reaches the door, I pull her against me. Silently imploring her to look at me, her eyes fail to meet mine.
“Don’t just walk away from this, from me. There’s no way something could feel so good if it’s not right where I belong.”
“Nothing’s changed. It was a moment of weakness on both our parts, but nothing’s going to be different when we walk out the door to your awaiting audience.”
“I call bullshit. You want this as much as I do.”
“No, I don’t,” she whispers. Clearing her throat, she turns a pissy stare on me. “And you don’t either because if you did, you wouldn’t have spent years treating me like nothing but a tag-along sidepiece that is only necessary at your convenience for a quickie behind closed doors. Then, when you realize it might interfere with your precious friendship, drop me just as fast.”
“I didn’t get shit out of this quickie. Your come is on my hand.” It’s not totally true because I enjoyed pulling pleasure from her, but the way she’s dismissing what just happened strikes a raw nerve.
Embarrassment mixed with rage flashes across her face, and she looks at me through hooded eyes. “Good. Then it won’t be a problem for someone else to handle it next time and save you the trouble.” Shouldering past me, she jerks the door open, rushing away, but I follow her into the hallway.
“Mine, Victoria,” I shout, watching as she freezes in place. I step behind her, close enough that she’s within my physical reach, but I refrain from wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her to me, knowing the part of her I need isn’t anywhere within my reach. Maybe it’s the drinks, maybe it’s just the hold she has over me, but I don’t care who’s listening or that I won’t be able to explain my way out of this one. “You’re all mine. You know it, and I know.”
Spinning to face me, she jabs her finger into my chest as she speaks through gritted teeth. “No. I’m not, because you’ll never get past who I am—Asher’s little sister.”
If she only knew.
Spinning on her heel, she storms off in Quinn’s direction. Perfect, I have yet to greet her. Hot on Victoria’s heels, under the guise of playing the perfect host, I drape my arm over Quinn’s shoulder. “Welcome, Quinnster. Mi casa es su casa.”
Though I’d intended to remain close, duty calls when someo
ne hollers my name from across the room. I watch Victoria and Quinn head out to the patio, where they relax on a pair of lounge chairs. I’m ridiculously relieved she’s given up on dancing with losers for the time being.
Over the course of the night, I can’t keep my eyes off her, wanting to be next to her, even if she doesn’t want the same. Tonight, I’m just going to make it easy on myself, I decide as I spot her sleeping soundly. She looks at peace for the first time since I’ve started doing nothing but torturing her.
“She’s out.” I can’t help but chuckle as I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. If she were awake, she’d be cussing me out, but thankfully, we can put that on hold and resume the battle tomorrow. Tonight, I’m accepting defeat handed to me by a set of emerald eyes that pierce straight to my soul every time they look my way. Sitting on the end of Quinn’s lounge chair, my eyes remain on the source of my sweet surrender.
“Yeah, I was going to head upstairs, but I didn’t want to just leave her asleep here,” Quinn says, causing me to be thankful Victoria had someone looking out for her.
Standing, I motion for Quinn to do the same as she rises. Pushing the lounge chair as close to Victoria as it will go. “I’ll keep an eye on her. I need a break anyways.” A much-needed break, and I have a feeling I’ll get a good one just having her near.
“Great party, by the way,” Quinn laughs.
Situating myself on the lounge chair, I tuck my arm behind my head, wishing I could wrap it around Victoria instead. How can someone drive me insane in so many ways? I hate how she makes me feel, yet I sit here, craving her even more each day.
“How do you get up there?”
Glancing to see Quinn pointing to the balcony, my eyes close as I respond. “Take the kitchen staircase, and it’s the last door on the right.”
Quinn says thanks as I tell her to thank me tomorrow because I’ll need all the appreciation I can get when the torment resumes.