by K. G. Reuss
He held me tighter, both hands on my waist.
My lips skimmed across the shell of his ear at my next words. “Trust me. If you want me to fuck you, it’ll happen.” Just not in the way you think.
“You’re right. You will.” His lips crashed against mine, making me wince as his tongue infiltrated my mouth, stealing my breath, and not in a good way. I didn’t stop him when his hands cupped my ass or when he deepened the kiss, his erection pressing against my hip.
I kissed him with my eyes open, looking at a point over his shoulder.
Fox and Juliet. Together.
She went up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. Nausea took my guts hostage. I broke off the kiss with Ian and moved to open my car door.
“He doesn’t love you,” Ian called out, glancing over his shoulder at Fox who’d been joined by Cole.
“I know,” I snapped, my hands shaking. I told myself I wouldn’t react to them. But damnit. I still had a long way to go.
“Would you look at that,” Ian mused as Juliet leaned in and kissed Cole.
I saw red. My body trembled. I dropped my keys.
“Looks like she took your spot. Being replaced like that has got to hurt. Maybe I’m trying to fuck the wrong girl. Maybe Juliet is the one I should bury myself in. Seems she’s the top pick."
“Eat shit, Ian,” I spat, snatching my keys off the pavement and opening my door.
Ian grabbed the keys from my hand. “I’m driving.”
I would’ve argued, but Enzo showed up, and just like Cole, Juliet kissed him too. All I wanted was to get the hell out of there.
The leather seats burned my thighs as I slid onto the passenger’s seat.
“By the way…” Ian glanced at me as he pulled out of my parking spot. “We’re going to my place.”
I didn’t even bother telling him no. I was too busy watching the guys who were now looking at me. Juliet gave me a smile and wave.
I gave her one back with my middle finger held high.
“I need chapter six done, and I need notes taken.” Ian nodded to his homework on his desk.
I flopped down onto his desk chair, but he was quick to haul me to my feet. He sat in the chair and pulled me onto his lap.
“I’d prefer to work like this,” he murmured, his hand high on my thigh.
I swallowed thickly and opened his history book so I could begin his chapter outline.
“I’ve been thinking,” he continued, his hand moving higher. I ground my teeth but kept working on the first section. “I want to take this slow too. Make it a real relationship where we build up into fucking. I think I’ll enjoy it more.”
“Good for you,” I muttered, my pencil scratching across the white notebook paper.
“I mean, I want to taste your pussy tonight, but I won’t fuck you.”
I tensed as he let out a soft chuckle, his hand fully beneath my skirt, skimming the edge of my panties.
“Or maybe you can suck my dick. How does that sound?”
“Like you might lose your dick tonight,” I grunted, penciling in a new section on the paper.
Ian laughed. “Fine.” He kissed along my neck, both hands under my skirt. His erection poked me in the back. “I have an idea.”
“Let’s hear it, Brainiac.”
“How about your get my homework done first, then I’ll show you.”
“Or how about you just sit there and shut the hell up so I can?”
I let out a whimper of pain as he pinched my side. The ache raced up my ribs, and tears sprung to my eyes.
“Spread your legs.”
When I didn’t, he shifted, adjusting his knees between my legs and pried them apart. I winced.
His fingers threatened the edge of my panties again. His breathing grew heavy and ragged as his fingers burrowed beneath the cotton.
“Ian,” I choked out.
“Understand something, Rosalie.” He slid his finger through my folds and wrapped his arm around my waist and cinched me to him, locking me in place. His finger slid deeper and hooked inside me, pressing against a spot I’d reserved only for the guys. “You belong to me now, and when I want to play, no amount of begging is going to stop me.”
“I hate you,” I snarled. “I fucking hate you.”
“Good. That makes this more exciting.” He pushed another finger into me. I winced, my back pressed to his front as his fingers moved in and out of me. “Now give me what I want.”
I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to block out the way my body began to tingle as his fingers moved faster. Of how he sounded as he made quick work of taking what I’d willingly given to the guys.
I forced myself to imagine the guys with Juliet. How they chose her over me. The anger burned my chest as I relaxed against Ian’s chest, his hot breath in my ear. It made this moment easier. I spread my legs wider, eager to give to Ian what they wanted from me, even if I did fucking hate him with every ounce of my being. I reminded myself I was also saving Jamie from his abuse.
I’d take them all down. They thought they were winning as they all put their dicks in places they didn’t belong.
Ian pushed harder and deeper into my tight channel, making me cringe. He certainly wasn’t gentle as he rammed his fingers in and out of me. I gripped his jean-clad thighs as he continued his onslaught. I squeezed my eyelids closed so tightly that tiny sparkles lit up the darkness.
This was what I’d wanted. Play dangerous games, win dangerous prizes. And Ian was a danger to society. I was definitely saving Jamie and whoever else he’d target.
I was his. For now. I’d play the part. To win, I’d play the part. When the tingles grew into a sweeping heat, I didn’t fight it. I came undone on Ian’s fingers, old memories being replaced by new, ugly ones.
But this was war. And war had casualties. I knew that. I accepted that. I’d wanted the torment. Even this. It wasn’t no. It was an ugly victory, even if it broke me inside.
“Good girl.” Ian withdrew his fingers from me and shoved me to the floor. I winced as he reached down and fisted my ponytail.
“Now finish my homework. I’ll let you off for tonight. But the next time we do this, you play along a little better. I don’t like when I have to hurt you. Got it?”
“Yes,” I answered, sitting up.
He smirked down at me before padding to his bathroom.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out and stared down at the screen. A picture of mine and Fox’s old treehouse greeted me with a message.
Fox: I’m waiting for you, Rosie.
The moment I got home, I showered, my body trembling. Between my legs was tender from Ian’s less than gentle touches. I grimaced as I washed, hating my life.
When I got out my phone buzzed again.
Enzo: Why him?
I stared down at the message, my chest aching. I hadn’t replied to the guys since everything fell apart, but this seemed like a good time to. Anger coursed through me. Hatred. Remorse. Vengeance. I’d already stepped into the ring. To back out now meant defeat.
Rosalie: Because he’s not you.
I hit send, readying the game. Enzo’s message came through quickly.
Enzo: Don’t do this, Sunshine. You’re breaking my heart.
I stared down at the text, my heart in my throat, my guts twisting in agony from his words. But they’d hurt me, and they’d continue to hurt me. They’d lied. No amount of words from them now would ever fix it. It was an ugly truth none of us could run from. I’d seen them with Juliet. The betrayal was too much. I’d return it tenfold. It was one of the reasons why I’d agreed to Ian’s demands. That was why I was sore between my legs. That was why my heart fucking hurt and my mind ached. I’d finish this one way or the other.
This. Was. WAR.
So I said the only thing I could say.
Rosalie: Good.
Five
I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I was a mess. It only seemed to get worse as the hours ticked by. Maybe that wa
s why after my shitty day I was once again dressed in all black lurking in a driveway. Enzo’s message ate at me. It seemed like every time I started to calm down, one of the horsemen would pop back up like a bad fucking news bear and mess with me. I needed to take that anger out on something.
This time I was at Fox’s. He loved his damn Jeep as much as Cole loved his sports car. The jars of Vaseline and rolls of toilet paper thumped against my waist in the bag they were in as I did my best to ninja over to his Jeep. My entire plan was risky, but to hell with it.
I crept to the passenger side door and said a silent prayer that it was unlocked. When it opened, I grinned and slid onto the passenger’s seat. I made quick work of turning his stereo up to full volume and inserting a CD of farm animal noises and a little sassy song from an old audiobook I’d had when I was younger. I promptly popped off his volume knobs and power button. I snickered before sliding one of my mom’s uncooked salmon fillets under the seat. When I was done with the interior handiwork, I got out and closed the door quietly, ready for the exterior.
Telling myself Fox could go to hell, I dipped my hand in the Vaseline and slathered it up and down his Jeep, leaving behind big chunks of the thick, oily substance. I went through a few containers before I was satisfied. Then, I applied the pink streamers and toilet paper over the slimy mess. I wrapped it in cling wrap the best I could before standing back to admire my handiwork.
Good enough. He’ll love it. And once he gets the mess off and fixes his stereo, it’ll be about the time the fish starts stinking.
I rushed across the street and dropped the empty containers and remnants into Mrs. Ames’s trash bin before sneaking back into my house and putting my pajamas on.
Maybe I should change my middle name to Petty Bitch because that was exactly what the hell I was. Attacking the guys’ rides seemed childish, but I was new to this. I had to cut myself some slack. Ideas on how to fuck with them weren’t just streaming out of my head.
I knew Enzo would be a problem. He lived in a gated community. I’d probably have to catch him during school hours. Maybe I’d get his locker or something. But that didn’t seem big enough. I’d sleep on it.
But whatever I came up with, really had to screw him over.
I awoke the following morning to the sounds of loud swearing and banging coming from outside. Quickly, I went to my bedroom window to see Fox standing outside his Jeep, cursing up a storm and kicking his tires. Enzo wheeled into his driveway. He and Cole got out. I could see them talking but had no idea what they were saying.
With a grin, I whirled from my window and got dressed in the new clothes I’d picked out. Since I’d decided to play the part, I dragged on a pleated, plum purple skirt and tight, black scooped neck blouse. I added black, high heeled boots that went to my knees. Then I straightened my red waves until they hung in a sheet of fire down my back. I’d never straightened it before. It was a hell of a look for me.
Thick, black mascara and black eyeliner with the cherry lip gloss Cole loved so much on my lips had me looking like a whole other person. And I had to be if I was going to keep up the shit I was doing. Old Rosalie had died that night in Fox’s bedroom, and a new Rosalie had risen from the ashes. Not that I was new and improved. Just. . . different.
All this work put me a little behind schedule, making me leave at my old time. Luckily, my dad had to leave early for work, and it was Mom’s cardio day, so she was out on a run with the other neighborhood women. I grabbed an apple and granola bar then went outside to my car.
The guys seemed to have left with Enzo, which was just as well. Fox’s Jeep looked horrible. I’d really outdone myself with it.
Grinning at my accomplishment, I got into my car and drove to school, my music blaring. The inkling Fox might corner me had me nearing a panic attack as I arrived at school. I didn’t know if he’d gone to school, but I had this vision of him storming across the parking lot to beat my ass red.
Instead of him finding me, it was Ian.
“Great,” I grumbled, shutting the car off as Ian strode to me.
He pulled my door open and led me out.
“Nice. I like this,” he said, nodding his head. I only smiled back at him. He draped his arm over my shoulder and steered me to school.
And just like old times, the guys stood on the sidewalk. They all stared at me and Ian as we walked. When our feet hit the sidewalk, it was Ian who spoke, “Was it worth it?”
Cole took a dangerous step forward, but Enzo grabbed his arm.
“Was what worth it?” Fox growled, his eyes locked on me as we slowed our steps.
Ian was milking it.
“All of it. I’ve got your girl now. That’s gotta suck to know it’s me buried in her, especially knowing my dad killed your mom.”
Fox moved like lightening, his hands colliding with Ian’s chest and shoving him hard. Ian stumbled back but was quick to shove Fox back, a wild, excited look in his eyes.
“Ian, stop!” I shouted, moving forward to get between them. I wasn’t sure why. Part of me wanted them to beat each other to bloody pulps, the other part wanted to protect Fox. I hated that part. But today wasn’t the day to mess with Fox. I’d screwed with his Jeep. I was sure he was seeing red from that alone.
Ethan’s arm snaked around my waist and dragged me back, his lips at my ear. “Let them, sweetheart.”
I thought Fox was going to kill Ian. Before he could land the first punch, Juliet was at his side, talking him down.
“Fox,” she called out, wrapping her fingers around his arm and pulling him away from Ian who he was chest to chest with. “No, baby. He’s not worth it. She’s not worth it. She’s fucking the guy whose father killed your mom. They vandalized your car because that’s how pathetic they are. Let it go. Let the trash join its dumpster fire.”
I ground my teeth, my eyes narrowed at her. I couldn’t wait until I could sink my claws into her eyes.
“Easy, sweetheart,” Ethan murmured in my ear as I tensed in his hold. “She’s the one who’s not worth it.”
“Says the guy fucking her,” I hissed back, elbowing him hard in the ribs. “What’s that make you?”
He let out a soft grunt and released me.
Enzo glanced at me, his lips parting like he wanted to say something. Instead, it was Cole who made a move.
He seized my arm, his grip so tight I winced. “What the fuck are you doing, Rosebud?” His voice was so low in my ear I had to strain to hear him.
I tried to pull away, but he only tightened his hold.
“I asked you a question,” he snarled, giving me a shake.
“Don’t fucking touch her.” Ian shoved Cole away from me, tugging me to his chest like a shield. Asshole. I knew it was so Cole wouldn’t launch himself at Ian and beat him half to death. Ian planted a kiss to my temple, his arm around my waist, binding me to his front. “She’s with me now. She’s my girl.”
Fox’s gaze locked on mine. There was so much torment in it I had to look away, my guts clenching with nausea.
“Hey, Cole,” Ian called out, backing away with me still in front of him. Cole’s icy blue gaze leveled on Ian. “How are those sloppy seconds of Fox’s?”
“How are mine?” Cole growled back.
“Fucking delicious.” Ian let out a bark of laughter.
“You’re dead,” Ethan snarled, his fists clenched at his sides. He took a step forward as Ian pulled me back. Ethan still looked rough. If possible, the circles beneath his eyes had grown darker. His once brilliant green eyes were glassy and unfocused.
Enzo grabbed Ethan, stopping him from whatever he planned on doing. I’d never seen Ethan look so menacing before, but in that moment, I believed his threat.
“You’re making a big mistake,” Enzo called out. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or Ian, but it didn’t matter.
“You see that? Your fuck boys are nuts,” Ian grumbled as he gripped my arm tightly and yanked me along.
“Where are we going?” I demande
d, trying to get him to release my arm. His grip tightened.
“They made a threat. We aren’t going to sit back and let them get away with it.”
“We? There is no we, Ian. It’s me. And it’s them. You barely register as human on my radar.”
He pulled me to a hard stop and caged me between his arms at my locker.
“There is a we, baby girl. In fact, I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be fan-fucking-tastic if I put a baby inside you? Imagine that. Together forever.”
I couldn’t control myself. I spit in his face. In a move so fast, he had me jerked into the girls’ bathroom, locking the door behind us.
In all my time knowing Ian, I never thought he had a mean bone in his body. His recent highlights had changed that. If there was any doubt of what sort of monster he was before, his painful shove which had me crumpled on the floor confirmed he was a complete prick, and nothing he’d done previously had been out of desperation. He really was an asshole.
“Oh god!” Tears rolled down my cheeks as he landed a hard kick to my ribs.
With a hiss, he fisted my hair and pulled my face up. “Don’t fuck with me, Rosalie. I’m not a fucking pushover. You are not in control here, understand?” His eyes flashed before he full on spit in my face.
“Fuck you,” I choked out. “I’ll fucking bury you, Ian. I hate you. I’m going to call the cops—”
He responded by slamming my face to the tiles, pushing so hard I saw stars.
“I’ll kill your fuck boys. I’ll kill Jamie. I’ll kill your parents and even your fucking cat. Go ahead and try me, Rosalie. I will tear your whole world apart and make you watch. Is that what you want? Huh?” He backed up a bit.
“No,” I sobbed. “N-No.”
“Then do what the fuck I tell you to do. Be a good girl for me so I don’t have to do those things.” I flinched as he reached out to touch me. A look of frustration crossed his face before he tried again. This time I let him, my body stiff and aching.
He cradled my face, his gaze sweeping over me. “You’re so fucking beautiful when you cry.”
