Eventually, they all must get frustrated because the four of them are carrying me as I try to wiggle free. It’s not helping. There’s no give in their grip. It makes me wonder if Bridger would be a part of their kidnapping, or if he would stick up for me like he used to.
He’s not the same. Get over it.
Do they not understand I don’t want this? That I would rather die than fuck random people? No one really knows who the Emeralds are, right? It’s an unspoken rule or something because Jordan is the first I’ve actually met, other than apparently those guys from that night. Not like that was information I had been aware of. Sneaking in isn’t what I’d call in the know.
Were they initiating members? Why do they all watch? Is it a lust kind of thing or more of a show-no-mercy kind of bullshit persona? Maybe it’s both, and they’re all a bunch of entitled rich fucks.
Not that any of us are any better. Since Cass died, it’s not who I am anymore, but once upon a time, you could fit me in that box easily.
“The more you struggle, the harder I get, Corpse,” Lux grunts, holding onto my waist. None of them are hurting me, but instead, holding me hostage so I don’t hurt them or myself.
If he says that to force me to stop, he’s failed. It’s not my fault he’s sick and twisted. My fight won’t falter even if it entices his perverted mind.
Attempting to smack him, I pull my arms from Ten, hating that he’s a part of this, that he would do this to me, that he’s exactly who I always figured he would turn out to be. What we shared, like everything involving these guys, was fraudulent. Not real.
I created this perfect story in my head, one where we would all be happy and together. What a load of shit. If there was any doubt that I was a teenager, this definitely proved that sentiment.
When I realize they’re still holding my mouth, I gnash at Jordan’s palm, finally getting my hands free to hit whoever is nearest. My foot connects with someone, and my hands collide with Ross. There are several what the fucks and Jesus, Corpse grunted.
“Fuck! Calm down!” Ross shouts.
My heart aches with his betrayal. I hate them all. Tears prick my eyes, not from fear or sadness, but from pure electric abhorrence. At one point, I thought I liked them all. Only took them five months to change my mind.
I lost my brother in the process of realization, and that’s what hurts the most.
“Stop kicking,” Ten hisses.
It’s annoying that they aren’t inflicting pain while still holding me against my will. It’s like they want my compliance but won’t hurt me in the process. I can’t tell if that’s an advantage or downfall. Either way, when my right foot kicks Lux, I use it to my advantage. They finally let go, and I fall straight on my ass, causing my skirt to rise entirely. Four sets of eyes connect with my bare thighs as I hit the moist grass beneath me.
Before they can catch me again, I do what I do best.
Scream.
I scream so loudly someone yells, “Is someone out there?” Scrambling to get up, Jordan levels me with a glare that promises pain and I settle back on the ground. With my luck, his glare is more sinister. Death, perhaps?
Another voice, a girl, calls out, “Are you okay?”
If only I had a rape whistle. While they probably won’t stoop to that level of antagonizing, it would be so fucking useful right now.
The guys are zeroing in on my disadvantage. I get ready to screech, but Ross hastily jumps on me, caging me in. His lips, rough and persistent, land on my open mouth, making this the most awkward, unwanted kiss of my life.
These guys take the cake for stealing kisses from me.
His tongue teases the roof of my mouth, and then I’m biting him. The coppery tinge of blood slicks our mouths, and he’s frantically pushing off of me. His mouth has red and black all over.
Maybe he should think twice before forcing himself on me, and while I’m wearing Vampire Kiss black lipstick, no less. I smile at his unpleasant grimace, glad I caused him some pain. It’s only fair. He and his fuckboy friends have done tenfold to me.
Seeing the smudges of my lipstick all over him makes me wonder what my face must look like. A black and green mess? Should have added that setting spray when finishing. Luckily, I never cried. That would cause one hell of a gothic mess. It’s never pretty when my emotions get the better of me, or when I shower without removing my makeup first.
“Going to scream again?” Jordan asks, crouching down on my level. His mouth tilts in an amused smirk, part barbarian and all insolence. That smirk transforms his face from Adonis to pure demonic.
His eyes lower to my exposed ass before roaming back haphazardly and connecting with my eyes. My skirt is still brushed up from the fall, giving them a view to enjoy. Heat flames my skin, too many needle pinpricks for my taste, but it’s too late to play shy and hide my bare skin. They’ve all already seen enough, some even everything.
“Fuck you,” I spit, venom leaking from my tongue. It gives me enough confidence to rise, but of course he wouldn’t have that. He places an indurate hand on my knee. Though gentle in its force, it’s enough to stop me from getting up.
“You look like you sucked a goblin’s dick, Dare,” Lux mocks, pointing at the black smears on Ross’ mouth and making a ghost blowjob gesture.
It distracts me from Jordan’s invasive personality, the one that bleeds erudition and refinement. It’s as condescending as it is attractive, heady and repulsive wrapped in a barbed wire choker.
A smile tugs free at the obvious discomfort Ross feels. Lux always has the best and worst comebacks. No one can quite challenge him like me in the clap-back department.
“Eat a dick, Lux,” Ross bites back, wiping his mouth repeatedly.
“You already did it for me. Why make me outshine you in another area?”
“Jesus fuck, shut up, both of you,” Ten chastises.
Jordan still watches me, and it makes any amusement die in result of his nearly demonic-eyed inscrutability. He sees an in or something because he takes it upon himself to lean in closer, his other hand digging into the flesh of my opposite knee.
It’s more invasive than his stare, like he sees everything, yet I haven’t said a single word. In this position, he holds all the power while I’m in the most unfavorable position. Not that being surrounded by four assholes would ever be considered an advantage.
My fingers trail the ground, barely, hesitant to give them notice, searching for a rock or anything that could be beneficial. As they only connect with the wet softened sand, disappointment unleashes inside me.
“You can act like you hate us all you want, sweetheart, but we all know you’re into it, into all of us,” Jordan explains.
He’s so damn sure of himself. His posture says it all. So does the know-all way he delivered that statement.
Rolling my eyes, I attempt to stand again. My ass is cold, and it’s not exactly dry. Why no one searched for the source of the screams is beyond me. They are above daft to just walk away and think it was nothing. It hasn’t even been a year since my brother’s body was found fifty feet south of where we are right now. What if history is repeating itself at this very moment? They wouldn’t know based off their ignorance to my desperation.
“I’m not going in that cabin with you.”
My words break their heated banter, and Jordan smirks churlishly. It’s the kind of lilt that makes girls do stupid shit but scares me. It’s one that holds knowledge and reprise. Both aren’t welcome.
“Sucks we’re not taking no for an answer. What’s the worst that can happen, Greenie?” he taunts, lifting his chin.
That ego needs an entire continent to hold it. He could probably afford one, too.
“Death,” Lux cracks, breaking the tension, laughing and making goosebumps rise on my arms.
“What the prick said,” I spit, putting up a false bravado from my lack of options.
Lux looks at me at the insult, and his jaw ticks. I’m the only person I know who doesn’t take his shi
t without serving him a new dish in return. He gets under my skin, but not as much as I wreak havoc under his in retaliation.
Not sure who hates who more, but it’s probably me.
“You only die if you don’t comply,” Jordan deadpans.
There’s not a trace of humor, but if he has any semblance of cynical humor as the rest of these asses, it’s meant to be funny. Staring at him as if he’s the dumbest person on the planet, I wait out his retaliation-filled words.
“Don’t say you won’t. There’s already a dead Hudson. Don’t need the second and only child left to die too.”
I launch at him for that, slapping at nothing because Ross and Ten are holding me back. How dare he? How fucking dare he say shit about my brother when he can’t defend himself? And something so callous? That’s low.
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will murder me ever after.
“Don’t you dare utter his name! You sick sonofabitch,” I spit, anger consuming my flight capabilities.
Jordan lets out a derisive laugh. It’s almost wet, covered in blood and stained, making my skin crawl. “Can’t handle facts, Colty?”
Pushing forward again, he smiles, and it’s so diabolical that I wish he would die. That’s not something I ever wish on anyone, but this piece of shit deserves my hatred.
“Dude, back off,” Ten chides. I turn to his face and see his disgust. “I didn’t agree to this.”
Jordan stalks to Ten, gripping his chin tightly. It’s domineering in a way I didn’t realize existed between these guys. It’s an odd sight, but it strangely makes so much sense.
“Don’t be such a pussy, Tennison. You know what you got into when you joined.”
Joined?
No.
He wouldn’t.
“What is he talking about?” I barely whisper, feeling my gut seize with every accusation.
“Didn’t they tell you, Colton?” Jordan snides. “Gov is Emeralds. Emeralds is Gov.”
The words repeat and repeat and repeat, but they don’t stick. They can’t. I wasn’t an Emerald. I didn’t do the shit I heard them do. Yang didn’t... No. This is... No. Plus Lux and Jordan can’t be the President. That’s not how anything works.
What the hell does this even mean?
“I can see those wheels turning,” he mocks, his teeth showing as he half-scowls, half-smirks. It’s unnerving, the way he’s two sides of a coin at the same time. “Yang and you weren’t worthy of the title yet. Yang, because of her gender. Cassidy, though...”
My skin crawls. What had Cass gotten himself into? It makes sense, though, why he told me no. Why there were bags under his eyes. Why he never came home on the weekends.
“D-Did—” I don’t know how to ask. How does one ask the guys you planned on being with in some aspect if they all fucked and my brother...?
Bile rises, and I’m shoving Ten and Ross away as I heave, wanting to puke everywhere.
My heart catapults. My mind races, and my skin feels itchy and unbearable. I would rather be anywhere but here right now.
No one rushes me as my body heaves continuously. There’s nothing left to purge. I haven’t been eating, but my stomach doesn’t seem to get the memo.
“Did we fuck him? That’s what you’ve got to be wondering underneath those toxic locks of yours,” Jordan prods somewhere from behind me.
His voice is closer than anticipated. When I turn to him, he’s right here, inches away. Gross. The way his eyes hone in on me remind me of a snake’s.
“Ask, Corpse. Ask us.”
Twenty-Four
“Well?” Jordan prods, raising an eyebrow at me. The scathing glare that I send him doesn’t stop him from pushing closer until his palms hold my shoulders. “Ask.”
How can such a simple question make me quiver and shake with both fear and intrigue? As much as I don’t want to know if my brother fucked each of these guys I’m attracted to, knowing anything more about him drives me.
“Did you fuck my brother?” My question is quiet, but in the silent woods of Arcadia, it’s as deafening as a bomb that detonates between us all as they stare at me.
“Would that make you jealous?” Ross questions, his black and bloodied mouth curling into a cynical smirk. He pushes his way between Ten and Lux, making sure he’s in my line of sight.
“She’s not answering because the answer is yes. Isn’t that right, Corpse?” Lux prods, folding his arms across his chest.
“Why do you care?” I ask, wanting the answer but not at the cost of their questions.
“Maybe it makes my dick hard, thinking you want it inside only you,” Lux taunts, pushing Jordan off me so he can invade my space.
It’s always him, isn’t it? The one who sets me off, pushes me off my axis in hopes my balance entirely fails me. That’s him, the meanest one, the one who took so much and offered so little in return.
His hands replace the ones Jordan put on me. The difference between the two is obvious. Lux’s palms are like big veiny mitts, large and apparent, gripping me tighter and with more familiarity and aggression. He wants me to falter, to fall back, and show fear.
I’m not scared of him.
No matter how much fear swims through me from not knowing what they did to help this town cover up Cassidy’s murder, I’m still not scared for those reasons.
What terrifies me is how my heart beats faster, in tandem with my heavy breathing, indicating how his close proximity turns me on more than it should.
Having them all circling me like I’m prey makes me innately aware of what power they have over me. They shouldn’t. They’re worse than the plastic polluting the ocean, yet they’ll kill me all the same.
“Pretty sure everything makes your dick hard, Lux.” I feel nothing behind the bitter words leaving my lips, but he glares anyway.
Instead of retorting, having our wordy battles like usual, he hauls me to him, taking my mouth with his.
When will they learn? Do they not realize they steal kisses like the fucking boogeyman steals sleep from every child?
His mouth crushes mine, and I hate how perfect his lips feel against mine. Out of every Arcadia boy who’s taken my mouth, his is righteous, burning, almost scorching in its wake.
I’ve waited for this moment, the time where he would take and take and take, reminding me how little power I have over my emotions when he’s involved. Fuck. His mouth, the way he captures me with every pull and brush. His tongue teases, seeking permission, and it’s in this moment, where I realize how well he kisses. I shouldn’t want more, but do.
As I let him in, we both let out a little groan at the contact of our tongues. It’s greedy and irreverent. It’s a hostage takeover that turns deadly, and as his hands rise to my jaw, gripping me possessively, I lose all sense of right and wrong. I lose me, the girl who has fought tooth and nail to escape their thrall.
His hands leave my face and trail to my ass, hoisting me up, forcing my legs to wrap around his waist. If I was unsure of how he felt for me at any point, his rumbling noises and hard dick leave me without a doubt. He’s as into me as I am him.
Whistles echo from around us as he grinds into me, breaking me from this stupor. Fuck. What have I fallen into? Why did I like it?
My stomach clenches from the repercussions of our actions. He won’t care. He’ll probably even brush it off, but I can’t deny the sensations thrumming through me. It’s always a game with them, but it’s never been one for me.
He leaves a final bruising kiss on my lips, making my thighs ache with how much I clench them. Then, he lets me down, but when we’re fully untangled, I see it in his eyes. Change. It’s like he realized that made a difference for him, too.
“Now that you’ve got your rocks off, can we move along?” Jordan drawls, annoyance lacing each word. If you didn’t pay attention, it would be less apparent, but his eyes are dark. He’s almost jealous. Maybe even a little frustrated.
Talking shop doesn’t appeal to me. Knowing if they fucked my
brother won’t either. Even if it led to answers, knowing he touched them, it would ruin me.
“Inside,” Ross suggests.
My eyes meet his before landing on a clenched-fist Ten. His jaw is taut, his cheeks almost hollow with how his anger seeps in waves flowing straight into me.
“Where’s Mel?” I deflect, needing to at least know she’s okay. It’s not like they’re saints. Maybe she’s their plan to physically hurt me for real this time. They seem the type to destroy and never ask questions after.
Ten turns and brushes past Ross to head inside the cabin. Jordan rolls his eyes, giving me a once-over before turning to wait for us to follow. Are they just going to ignore me?
“Jealous, Corpse?” Lux breaks the silence before grabbing my head and leading me to the one place that haunts me in more ways than one.
I’ll never admit it to any of them, but yes, I am jealous. Bridger and I had something special. Call it a connection, lust, or even kindness when little was offered. Either way, him being with Mel unsettles me.
I can lie and claim it has everything to do with her well-being, but my heart would beat against its cage, calling me out for the fraud I am.
“Why does it matter?” It comes out smaller than it should, meek and fragile, like my stupid beating appendage. They’ve made me raw tonight. Every fucking one of them has messed with me in some shape or form. It’s demoralizing and painful. Their mix of aggression and kindness gives me more whiplash than the Adamson’s drama network. What makes it worse is they realize their power, and they use it.
He halts me from following the others. “Just admit it, Colt. You hate the idea of sharing us with anyone other than yourself.”
I go to interrupt his quick judgement, but he grips my chin, holding it with his thumb and index finger, digging, grasping at my need to submit.
“Don’t try and lie here. The only people you’d share us with is each other.”
Here Lives a Corpse: A Dark Bully Academy Romance (Here Lies Book 1) Page 17
