“Yes, Mom.”
Later that night, Tate and me laid in a steaming hot tub of water sprinkled with Epsom salt. Our limbs were aching from our altercations earlier.
“We can’t kiss with busted lips.”
His head dipped back in laughter. “My tongue works. We’ll cuddle and I’ll lick your neck, while I’m deep inside you from behind.”
I stuck my tongue out. “Sounds good.”
He pulled me flush against him. His fingers trailed down my arm. “Our first Christmas as a couple was ruined.”
“No, it wasn’t. I mean, it wasn’t traditional, but we were together.”
“True.”
“Tomorrow, we return to the states. I’m ready to move forward with our life.”
“Me too. Sucks you’ll no longer live across the street.”
“My grandparents don’t live far. I’ll pick you up for school every day.”
I caressed his neck. “Sounds perfect.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I flopped in the red chaise lounge chair, clutching the phone to my ear. “Megan, are you sure the party won’t be lame?
“Tyler’s known for throwing epic New Year’s Eve parties. This will be my first party. I bet Tate can attest to that.”
“Megan, I’ll take your word for it. What time will you and Matt pick us up?”
“You have forty minutes bitch, get a move on.”
I laughed, then disconnected the call.
The perfect silver shimmer mid-thigh dress was sprawled across my bed. I had already showered. My hair and makeup were all that were left to do.
A loud knock rattled against my door. “Chelsea, are you in here?”
“I’m in the bathroom.”
“Hey.” Tate kissed my shoulder and braced his hands on my hips.
“How did the meeting go with your parents and Marisa’s parents?”
“Matt was pissed. He said his dad gave them a monetary gift now and will give another million after the baby’s born.”
“Does Matt know about the blackmail?”
“No. We’ll keep it like that, Chelsea.”
“What? I wouldn’t tell him unless he asked. I don’t want to be the person to ruin his perfect view of marriage.”
“Yeah. I agree.”
Tate closed the door quietly.
“You are so sexy in that black tuxedo.”
His tongue slid along my neck. Tate’s handsome blue eyes met mine in the mirror. “I can’t get enough of you,” he breathed.
He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of my panties. Tate slipped them down my thighs. My skin tingled under his touch.
“Widen your legs, Chelse.”
I unhooked my bra, and it fell down my arms to the floor.
“Chelsea, I miss living across the street.” I heard him unfasten his pants from behind.
“Only because I could see you every day.”
He circled his fingers over my nipples. I tossed my head back and a surge of energy swept through my body. “Yes, Tate.” I stroked his cock.
Tate bent me over the sink and slid two fingers inside of me. The anticipation of his next move kept me on edge. His free hand massaged my breast. He planted kisses along my shoulders. “The remainder of the school year will be a challenge. But as long as we’re together, we’ll get through it,” he whispered.
Tate slid inside me.
“Shit, I am so happy to be back in your arms.”
He hungrily kissed my lips. “I hated being away from you. No way am I bringing you home tonight. You’re staying with me.” Tate gripped my hips, quickening his pace. “I can’t believe I hated you only to learn later my brother was never dead.” His eyes slammed shut in an effort to hide the pain.
“Tate, look at me.”
His jaw tightened.
“Tate.”
Slowly, his eyes opened. Those blue eyes were dark and filled with pain. His twin betrayed him. Leaving us in an evil downward spiral for years. I hated as much as Tate we lost time. He leaned over again, caressing my chin. His tongue slipped between my lips. I almost lost the man I love to two psychos. Not a chance I’d let his brother get in his head next semester.
“Tate, stay here with me in the here and now. Not the past. We are together. That is all that matters.”
Tate slipped out of me. “What are you doing?” I cried.
He turned me around and sat my bottom on the cold marble counter.
“I needed to be closer to you.” Hooking my legs over his arms, he plunged deep inside me.
My head dropped back. “This is the best,” I moaned.
“This is the only dick you will ever get. It’s just me and you, baby. You’re my world, Chelse.” The sincerity in his eyes warmed my heart.
I gripped his face sucking those delicious lips. “Only you and me, Tate. Fuck,” I screamed in pleasure, as my orgasm struck with force through my core. Goosebumps prickled my skin due to the intensity of our passion.
“Shit, Chelse. This is the only place I ever want to be,” he groaned against my lips.”
I swept my hands under his shirt, scratching his back. “Tate, Tate,” I cried.
He stilled inside me. “Fuck, yeah,” he growled as he came. Our chests heaved against each other.
“So happy, I’ll have you all to myself later tonight.”
“I look forward to screaming as loud as I can the next time I come tonight.” I winked.
He chuckled.
∞
Glasses brimming with champagne held in the air, we bobbed our heads to the music in the rear plush tan leather seats of the black chauffeured Maybach. Tate caressed my waist.
“Matt, this was your idea. Are we toasting or not?”
“Tate, we agreed tonight would be chill, right?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Megan and me smiled at each other.
“Ok. Here’s to having my boy back on American soil.” Matt grinned.
I plastered a kiss against Tate’s cheek. A wide smile flashed across his handsome face.
“Cheers,” we shouted.
We tossed the contents to the back of our throats.
The car rolled to a stop.
“We’re here,” Megan sang.
We poured out of the car. The guys clutched our hands leading us toward the natural stone mansion.
Guys were draped in designer tuxedos and the girls in their cocktail dresses drank and conversed upon our entry. Reminded me of a mini prom. Black and gold Happy New Year decorations hung throughout the massive atrium.
A tall muscled guy with handsome chiseled facial features and sweeping jet black hair greeted us at the door.
He and Matt slapped hands. Matt pulled him into a bro hug. “Tyler, dude the house is packed.”
They stepped apart. “Yeah, you know tonight will be fucking epic,” he grinned.
Tate stood seething. “Why the fuck did you greet us at the door?”
Matt slapped Tate’s arm. “Remember what we discussed?”
“Tate, I don’t want any shit at my party,” Tyler grimaced.
Tate’s eyes narrowed. “Dude, what the fuck are you talking about?”
Tyler stared at me as he leaned into Tate’s ear. I couldn’t hear what he said.
I tugged Tate’s tuxedo sleeve.
“Shit.” Tate pulled me close.
“Tyler, Chelsea is my woman and Marisa is Mason’s.” Tate’s jaw ticked. He didn’t want to talk about Mason tonight. Now he was forced to reveal the truth. Well partial truth anyway.
Tyler turned white as a ghost. “Tate, cut the shit dude.”
We stepped aside as more guests strolled through the door.
“My brother is alive. So, no I am not running around town with two chicks. Grab a mic for me and I’ll explain.”
“Yeah.” He nodded toward the oversized party room.
Tate’s lips melted against my temple. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” Tate was worried this shit would se
nd me over the edge.
Matt draped his arm over Megan’s shoulder as we approached the stage.
The live band’s song came to a close as Tyler stepped center stage. “May I have your attention everyone?”
Tate fell beside Tyler.
“My buddy, Tate would like to say a few words.”
He patted Tate’s shoulder.
“Good evening, Haven Saints!” He threw his fist in the air.
The crowd roared.
“I wanted to address a rumor. I am not running around town with two women.” He glanced at me.
“Chelsea is my girlfriend.” He returned his attention to the crowd.
“Marisa is Mason’s. My brother is alive.”
Gasps fell around the room.
He waved someone toward the stage.
“Oh my God,” several people stated with wide eyes, as Mason clutched Marisa’s hand, walking toward the stage.
He stepped next to Tate leaving Marisa at my side. I hated being in her presence. An eerie silence fell over the room.
“Mason was living in London. I didn’t know he was alive until recently.”
It was so weird. Tate and Mason standing on stage side by side in their black tuxedos. Identical fucking twins. And I’ve kissed both. Not willingly.
Tate and Mason waved me and Marisa onto the stage.
We stood at our boyfriends’ sides.
“We will all be in attendance at Haven Saints High in the new year.” Tate passed the mic to Mason.
“I am back home and ready to fucking party,” he roared.
The room full of rich kids screamed with excitement, throwing their hands and drinks in the air.
Hundreds of camera phones snapped our picture throughout the room. Tate turned to the side, pulling me flush against him. His blue eyes gazed into mine.
“Tate, don’t.”
His lips tightened. “Fuck them.” He tipped my chin swiping his lips across mine lighting my core on fire. I gripped his lapels deepening our delicious kiss. In my mind, I had erased the people in the room. It was just me and Tate. The most popular guy in school was my boyfriend. So surreal.
Kyle threw his arms around Mason’s neck the second we were off the stage. “Dude, I can’t believe you’re alive.” He had his best friend back.
I was surprised Tate didn’t out Mason for botching the football game.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Guys patted Tate’s shoulder. He had a death grip on my hand as we strolled out of the crowded room.
“Where are we going?”
“Doll, there’s always an exclusive party room for the most elite kids at Haven Saints at every party. The space is set aside for us so we can party freely. Sometimes, Tate and I hang out in the space and other times we chill elsewhere. But I hate to say, Mason has become the star of the party tonight.”
“Matt, chill out. We don’t want the girls to think we won’t have a great time. We’ll chill in the room for a little while then we’ll chill with the others.”
“Others?” He said it like they were commoners. My boyfriend was definitely privileged. His father might struggle financially for a while rebuilding their family’s empire, but Melissa’s family was also filthy rich. Tate’s other grandfather Harlon Hughes was a real estate tycoon. He owned real estate all over the world. So, Tate was never broke. His grandfather bought him a G-wagon for Christmas. Said his mother deserved to have her truck back. I couldn’t talk either. My grandfather also gave me a new car for Christmas. A gold Bentley coupe awaited me when I returned to Atlanta. I wondered if granddaddy felt guilty for all I’d gone through in London. Pulling up in that beauty at school on the first day of the new semester would be epic.
White double doors opened as we approached. Tate and Matt fist bumped the oversized guys manning the doors. My favorite song blared through the speakers. The DJ stood in a booth in the back corner of the large room filled with snobby teens. They drank and smoked as they sat on the edge of pool tables and threw bowling balls down the glow in the dark lanes. Waiters filled their trays with glasses of champagne at the bar before catering to us. Who needed to party elsewhere?
“I told you,” Megan yelled over the music in my ear.
I just realized my mouth hung open. Placing my hand under my chin, I forced my lips shut. Shit, I looked as if I wasn’t a part of this crowd. Not long ago I wasn’t.
First outcast, now jock princess.
Tate’s lips melted against my ear. Fuck, would I make it till the end of the night? I was hungry for Tate all the time. So thankful to have him back.
“Babe, I need to have a conversation with a couple of assholes. They’re begging for my attention.”
They yelled obscenities from across the room.
“Tate, you’re a pussy and a cheater,” they spewed.
“And I plan to give them my undivided attention with my fists.”
My hands splayed his chest. “Tyler said he didn’t want any trouble tonight.”
“Oh yeah, well maybe not out there, but in here I think he wants a show. Tyler played his part pretty convincingly at the door. But he knew Mason was alive. They were friends growing up. I’ll ask Rocco to do a little digging, but I bet I’m right. Take a peek.”
My eyes swept over the room and Tyler. He was whispering to another guy. They appeared to be conspiring in regard to something. I wasn’t sure what, but Tate felt he knew.
“He’s wearing the shittiest, snarkiest grin I’ve ever seen. That fucker nodded to the guys near the bar.”
I pulled back meeting his angry gaze. “You don’t have to do this?”
“Chelsea, I do. I knew the shit would hit the fan. Thought I had another week.”
“Fuck, Tate,” the stalky guy shouted from across the room.
Tate stood to his full height peeling off his jacket.
My heart raced, and I clenched my fists, holding my breath.
“Not to worry, princess. I got this.” He placed his jacket in my arms. Tate and Matt stalked across the room.
Megan clutched Matt’s jacket.
“What the fuck just happened?” Her brown brows rose over her perfectly arched eyebrows.
“Tate and Matt felt they had to teach those guys a lesson.”
Tate grabbed the guy up by his lapels then slammed his fist into his jaw.
“You don’t ever speak ill about me,” Tate roared.
Matt and Tate pounded the faces of the guy and his entourage. I glimpsed across the crowded room again. Tyler snickered, drink brushing his pink lips, now holding a girl under his arm. He was a little too tuned into the scuffle happening near the bar that he didn’t bother breaking up. Before I knew it, our guys were back, pulling us to the dance floor. Tate placed a vodka cranberry in my hand.
“Was that necessary?”
“Yeah, it was. If we weren’t at Tyler’s home partying, I would have bashed his face in too. Didn’t want to wreck the entire party. I won’t let those fuckers ruin our night. I am with the most beautiful girl.” His lips grazed my neck as he gripped my waist. We needed to rivet the year behind us. His big strong hands found my ass as our tongues tangled. Megan was right the party was epic. We left the elite party room and danced toward the middle of the main room. The banging of the drums pulsated through my body as Tate swayed my hips to the beat. Veronica and Rachelle giggled as they stared at me from across the room.
“Chelsea?”
I tore my eyes away from trouble and glanced in the direction of the voice to my left. “Connie, Rocco, Trevor.” My face lit up as I hugged my friends.
“I am so happy y’all are here.”
“Babe, catch up with your friends. Matt and I will be back.”
I stared up at him. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you need time with the geek squad.” He and Matt chuckled.
My fist slammed into his broad chest. He smacked my ass before walking off.
“Are y’all loving this party?”
“Fuck yeah,” Conn
ie grinned.
“How did you guys enjoy your holiday?” I yelled over the music.
“Shit, not as fun as you bitches holiday in London.” Connie’s arms crossed her chest, and she quirked a brow.
I peeked at Rocco. “What the hell?”
“It wasn’t like that. Well maybe it was. I couldn’t help tell Connie and Trevor about the Christmas party fight involving Mason and Tate.” He winked.
I exhaled inside. “Sorry guys.” I glanced between Trevor and Connie.
“I had no idea Mason was coming back from the dead.”
“Good evening.” We turned to the waiter balancing a tray of drinks.
“Ms. Culver, this drink was sent over from the gentleman across the room.” I followed his gaze to a tall brown haired guy with gray eyes. He raised his glass. Who the fuck was he? He must’ve walked in after Tate’s public display of affection.
I smirked. “I can’t accept it. Tell him thank you, but no thank you.”
“Understood.”
Tate would kill him. I was saving his life.
“Could you bring me a vodka on the rocks, please?”
“Right away.”
“Guys, do you know him?”
They shook their heads.
I scanned the room. Tate and Matt stood talking to Stephen and a few other jocks not far from Veronica.
Another waiter walked by. My friends swiped glasses of champagne and plates of hors d'oeuvre off the tray.
“Megan, are you and Matt an item now?” Connie waited for her answer as she sipped the champagne.
I snickered as I snatched a shrimp off of Megan’s plate.
“We are just having a little play time. Nothing more.” She downed the glass of champagne.
“Whoa, what the fuck?” I glared at her.
“So you two aren’t a couple?”
“No, we will never be a couple.” Her lips fell flat. She pondered on a thought, then a plastic smile lit her lips.
What the fuck was going on with my friends? “Megan, you need to spill,” Trevor pushed.
“I cannot, guys. If it were only that easy.”
Connie gripped Megan’s arm. “We’re your friends. You can tell us.”
All of our curious eyes stared at her.
She slipped a prosciutto wrapped date into her mouth.
You're To Blame 2: A High School Bully Romance (Haven Saints High) Page 8
