Wicked Love

by Michelle Dare

  I blame the town for making me hungry, for forcing me to feed on those who are merely playthings to me. I enjoy the game of cat and mouse that has continually fed my yearning and satisfied my craving.

  Thorne Haven has many secrets.

  The most violent of those hidden truths would be my uncle—not by blood—who’s a fucking psychopath. But nobody knows we’re related because the family money has kept that particular fact hidden from the public eye. After the murder of an innocent girl, he was put away, and my father paid for his name never to be released to the press.

  He was a stranger. Nothing more than a madman who infiltrated the town. But it wasn’t for long. Soon, we watched him get carted off in the back of a truck with silver cuffs locking his hands behind his back.

  Which brings me back to my family. I was adopted at a young age; I don’t remember my life before living in Thorne Haven. And even though my uncle is now behind bars, he taught me how to sniff out the weak. But what he didn’t realize is there’s a fine line between illegal and just having fun.

  I know the difference.

  A grin widens on my face as I watch her talking to her friends. The pretty girl with the naughty smile and long, red hair. She’s fire. Burning bright without noticing it. And me, I’m ice: cold, barren, freezing anything in my path.

  I’m sure she’d be able to melt me with a mere glance.

  But what she doesn’t realize is when I’ve got my eye on a target, I don’t allow anything to get in the way.

  Long ago, my best friend and I started a game we would play within the dense forest that engulfs the town. We called it Burning Roses, but I’ve modified it. I’ve made it more . . . me.

  I have now named it Finders Keepers.

  Racing into the forest at night, we used to catch our willing prey. The girls who loved being caught became ours for the night. When they volunteer, it’s not much fun. It’s the unsuspecting that get my blood boiling and my body hard.

  Even he couldn’t deal with my darkness, and now that he’s gone, I’ve taken it upon myself to enjoy the game alone. My two brothers have slowly been learning, been coming along for the ride, and I’m proud of their enthusiasm.

  My gaze scans the quad. She’s moving closer to her Jeep. I haven’t read all the details about the agreement, but I will. All the information I need is at home, but I needed to look at her in person. The redheaded beauty will be as familiar to me as my brothers. I can’t help but want to get to know all there is to know about her.

  When my best friend, Damien, stepped away from our game, I was gutted. Sad he didn’t want this as much as I do. But I would take it just one step closer to the edge of insanity. I love teetering on the precipice where morals are left behind and deviance takes over. I don’t blame him. He’s better off without me.

  My grip on the photo is so tight it twists in my hand as she turns and leaves her friends to unlock her vehicle. I watch as she slings her backpack into the passenger seat. She’s dressed in a pair of tight blue jeans that seem to be painted on her slender legs. Her hoodie covers her top, so I can’t tell what she’s hiding underneath. But I I’ll find out.

  Her feet are encased in a pair of Chuck Taylors. A tomboy at heart, perhaps, but I’m almost certain she could bring a man to his knees if she were all dressed up.

  I don’t move.

  I hold my breath.

  My blood runs hot through my veins. Need and desire mingle with the hunger and yearning I’ve come to know as intrigue, which could twist into a beautiful game. She’s not my first. Perhaps she won’t be my last, but right now, she’s all I see.

  I remind myself to blink. To breathe.

  She doesn’t get into the Jeep just yet, and she’s interrupted with whatever she was about to do by her phone. I watch her pull it from her pocket, staring down at the screen for a long while, and jealousy races through me like white-hot pain.

  When I get home, I’ll be doing my research. I’ll find out everything there is to know about this beauty, and when I do, I’ll enjoy her company immensely.

  Soon, little mouse . . .

  1

  Micaela

  It’s October, and the fact that I’ve been sent all the way to the middle of nowhere is evidence that my father has lost his mind. I have to admit Thorne Haven is beautiful, but as much as I love being independent, I do miss my old friends. The classes have been good so far, and as I make my way through the quad, I find a couple of girls I know from class standing near the parking lot.

  “Micaela,” one of them, Paula, says with a smile. She’s gorgeous with long, dark curls and ice-blue eyes. “How are you finding your first week in our little town?” she asks.

  “So far, so good, I guess. It’s taking a little getting used to.”

  “This place will be the death of me,” Tamika says with an eye-roll. “I just want to get out of here and head back to LA.” From what I can gather, she’s been modeling for glossy magazines and designers since she turned eighteen a year ago, and before that, she was a child star on HBO. Her long braids hang to the base of her spine, and her dark skin matched up with hazel eyes is alluring. She really is a beauty.

  “This place definitely is far from the city life I’m used to.” Shrugging my backpack, I smile. “I mean, I’m used to nobody knowing who I am. And somehow, I doubt that will be the case in Thorne Haven.”

  “Oh god, no,” Paula says with a shake of her head. “This place is like the gossip pages of a magazine. Every move you make will be watched by those who love to talk. And if you ever get noticed by the Havens, you’ll only be worse off.”

  “Yeah.” Tamika laughs, bumping her shoulder against Paula’s. “This one ended up getting off with the middle Haven boy and got her heart broken.”

  “Oh please,” Paula says, her eyes rolling skyward. “He wishes he broke my heart.”

  “He did break your hymen,” the third girl, a stunning blonde, teases as she looks up from her phone. She’s been at it with that thing for a while, but when she meets my gaze, she shrugs. “Just telling it like it is.”

  “This is Miriam. She’s our local party girl,” Tamika tells me, pointing at the girl. “Anything you need to know about parties, who’s sleeping with whom, she’s your go-to.”

  “Good to know.” I grin, but I doubt I’ll be needing any party information. I’m here to finish my studies and get the hell out of town. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll catch you ladies tomorrow,” I tell them.

  “We’ll be here, same time, same place,” Paula affirms with a wink. I offer them a wave before I head away from the trio. Perhaps being here will be okay if I can make some friends.

  Prickling on the back of my neck has me stilling at my car. My gaze tracks everyone around the quad, but I don’t see who it is watching me. Growing up the way I have, you become aware of danger before it strikes. A predator doesn’t hide under the bed; it stalks you in broad daylight.

  I unlock the door and slip into the driver’s seat of my dark purple Jeep. When Dad offered to buy me a car, this was my choice. He didn’t approve, but he couldn’t refuse. My father has two weaknesses—his love for his daughter, and the loyalty to his organization. If I were to ask him for anything, he would always appease me. Some would call me a spoilt brat, others would say I’m nothing more than a pawn in a game.

  When I pull out of the lot, a shiver races down my spine, but still, I don’t see anyone who seems out of place. There are too many students milling around for me to pick out one person amongst the sea of faces.

  Perhaps it’s just the fact that I’m new. Transferred to a brand-new school midway through my studies. I have one year left, and now I have to get used to small-town living. Leaving my life back in New York, I have to focus on school, and even though I never wanted to run and hide, Daddy insisted on it. Now I find myself in Thorne Haven with sickeningly rich kids who have grown up with silver spoons shoved up their asses.

  Don’t get me wrong, I come from money too, but I know where our f
ortune originates, and it’s not ancestors and old money.

  It’s not far to the apartment I now call home, and when I pull into my spot, I kill the engine and grab my phone. I haven’t heard from Dad in a couple days, but I know if I call, he’ll only tell me to quit worrying and to enjoy my time out here. I have to be honest; it’s a far cry from the bustling city streets, and it is quite beautiful.

  Exiting the car, I lock it and head to the elevator. Once inside, I feel less stressed, and I no longer feel like I’m being watched. I can breathe again. The doors slide open on the ninth floor, and by the time I reach my apartment, nine-six-nine, I’m ready for a long, hot bubble bath, a mug of hot chocolate, and a good book.

  When I shove open the door, something catches my eye lying on the marble tiles. The item is a small black envelope with a crest emblazoned on the front. I’ve never seen it before, but the gold shimmers in the light of the sun streaming through my living room window.

  Locking myself inside the apartment, I head straight for the kitchen and open the envelope. Inside is a card with a rose printed dead center, and just underneath it is a time, an address, and a scrawled see you soon.

  Ice sneaks up my spine, settling at the base of my neck, ensuring the hairs stand on end as goosebumps rise in the wake of the promise in those three words. My fingers release the card, allowing it to flutter to the counter, but my gaze is still locked on the unfamiliar script.

  If someone from New York is here, toying with me, my father will have to be informed. But if this is just some childish prank by one of my classmates, I don’t find it funny. Tomorrow, I’ll ask around. But even as I think about who it could be from class, I don’t see any one of them doing something like this.

  I race for the bedroom and grab my laptop. Opening the lid, I log into my account and pull up a browser. Tapping in the address from the invite, I wait for the page to load. Onscreen are images of a beautiful castle-type house I recognize from the hill in town.

  The old structure is still in perfect condition. With turrets and gargoyles, it’s certainly a fairytale monstrosity. I overheard students talking about a party that takes place there every year, but I never paid much attention because I’ve never been allowed to go to parties back home. Here, however, it seems someone has noticed me, and I have a feeling it’s not a good thing.

  Clicking on the website, I scroll through the information telling me about the family who lives in the house—Haven. The name causes a shiver to trickle down my spine when I recall the town’s name, along with the girls talking about the Haven guys earlier. I enlarge the slideshow of images, showing off a masquerade ball. All the people in the photos are hidden behind exquisite masks and draped in dresses and suits I’m sure cost a fortune.

  There’s not much information on the family besides their last name and the fact that there are three adopted sons of Mr. Haven, who, apparently, remarried after his first wife died after the boys were all grown up.

  No more mention of her name, and no photos of any of the family members. Even though I know a bit more now than I did before, I’m still confused as to why I received an invite.

  Shutting my computer, I strip off my clothes and make my way into the bathroom. My apartment is much bigger than most students would be able to afford, but Dad ensured I’m taken care of, and I’m lucky enough to have space. The bathroom itself boasts a tub as well as a shower with countertops in black marble and chrome taps.

  I wanted to soak in bubbles, but right now, I’m too nervous to lie back and relax, so instead, I step into the shower and turn on the spray. I allow the warm pinpricks to attack my shoulders as I close my eyes. The tension coiled in my muscles doesn’t untangle, and I’m still anxious by the time I step out and wrap myself in a towel.

  I haven’t been here for too long, so the only connections I really have made were the three girls today. Perhaps one of them knows what this means. Once I get to class tomorrow, I’ll ask them. Maybe since Miriam is the party girl, she’ll be able to pinpoint just who the stranger is who’s invited me to the party.

  2

  Creed

  My brother Keirin stares at me as I take a long pull on the cigarette pinched between my fingers. I don’t always smoke, but I’ve been tense since I saw her in person. He’s the only one of us that’s blond with fucking blue eyes. A pretty boy.

  “Are you seriously going through with it?” he questions, arching a golden brow at me. His curious expression makes me chuckle. He’s more levelheaded than I am, and I’m more willing to take risks when it comes to our game of choice. When I told him the redhead is mine, he argued, but when I explained my reasoning, he realized there was nothing he could do to change it.

  “Yes,” I tell him while blowing out a cloud of smoke. “Why would I not do it?” It’s a challenge. They all know what I’m like. Brody, our third and youngest brother, is similar to me, a wild card if ever I saw one. At twenty-two, he enjoys the chase. My need for control takes hold when I’m playing the game, and they both know it.

  “I gotta admit, Man.” Keirin shakes his head. “She is a stunner.” He pushes to his feet and heads for the window, tugging the curtains just enough for him look out over the vast expanse of our backyard.

  We all three came from broken homes. Octavius, our father through adoption, along with his first wife made us all feel as if we were their own. She couldn’t bear children, and we became the closest thing to family they knew.

  This year, I’ll be twenty-eight, while Keirin turns twenty-five. We grew up learning how to live with each other. I wasn’t used to having others around, but we quickly found how to interact with each other. And now we’re closer than I could have imagined we would be.

  “Perhaps we can share her,” Keirin suggests with a sly grin, but he doesn’t look at me because he knows I’ll never agree to it. He and Brody have shared girls before, and they’ve had fun doing it, but I’m far too selfish.

  “Keep dreaming, dickhead,” I bite out, before taking another long pull on the smoke. The nicotine hitting my lungs, calming me as I watch my brother.

  “I’m heading out tonight,” Keirin tells me, before shutting the window and turning around. He’s tense. I can tell by the way his hands fist before he shoves them into the pockets of his jeans.

  “Don’t get into shit,” I bite out, the warning clear in my tone. As much as he can be levelheaded, there are times Keirin gets bored and does something stupid. That means I’ll have to bail him out of whatever bullshit he’s about to start.

  He heads to my bedroom door, stopping on the threshold, before throwing a glance at me from over his shoulder. The smirk curls his lips, a promise that tonight or early tomorrow morning, I’ll be going out to find him and bring him home.

  “I mean it, shithead.” I launch a pillow at him, but he catches it, lobbing it back at me, before shutting the door behind him, leaving me to think about my little redhead.

  I can hear Keirin laughing all the way down the hall. My brother can be a pain in the ass, but I love him all the same. I know that even when he fucks up and gets himself into shit, he has a good heart and wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  Me, on the other hand, I have a volatile nature. An obsessive streak I’ve found, at times, can be tiring because once I get an idea in my head, I can’t let it go. Not until I’ve satisfied my craving.

  And right now, that particular thing is a pretty redhead who’s strolled into my town. I reach for the nightstand. Opening the drawer, I pull out the photo I have of her. Only one. I’m not a stalker.

  I hold it up as I lie back on my bed. She’s smiling, the pixels making up a beautiful creature who’s both alluring and mysterious. I do love a good mystery because I enjoy solving them. Digging into the depths and carving out those secrets. I love the challenge of picking out just what makes people tick. And I know I’ll find out all I want about her, because she’s not getting away until I’ve discovered every last hidden gem.

  I close my eyes, imagining what she’d fe
el like above me. Her legs straddling my hips, her long, red hair hanging down her naked back. The smoothness of her creamy skin under my fingertips.

  She moves like a gazelle. Her hips rolling as she takes me inside her. In my mind, I conjure up her sounds—whimpers and moans—and I can’t stop the smile from spreading on my face.

  My dick is solid fucking steel.

  My fantasy.

  I reach for my crotch, my hand squeezing hard, the bite of pain mingled with the seed of pleasure that’s planted itself in my gut. Twisting and blooming, it grows faster and faster as my palm strokes my erection through the material of my jeans.

  Her body is emblazoned in my mind. Her tits bouncing as she takes her pleasure from me, but she doesn’t realize the more she takes, the more I’ll steal.

  I want to bite down on her creamy skin, taste the saltiness and metallic flavors of her. A unique flavor no other woman can have because it’s hers alone.

  My hand moves faster until I reach the edge. I rip my hand away from my body, leaving myself painfully hard. Patience may be a virtue I haven’t truly possessed in a long time, but it’s one I can master just to experience the full pleasure of when I finally have my redheaded beauty.

  3

  Micaela

  Walking into class after the strange night I’ve had, I’m exhausted and ready to get back into bed and sleep. Even though my dreams have taken their toll, I am focused on finding out who left me the invitation and what it means.

  I’ve had an eerie feeling since I got home, and I don’t think it’s going to change until I know who sent me the invite and what the party entails. A shiver races down my spine, and it has nothing to do with the cool weather that seems to have turned icy overnight. Unless I’m just allowing my exhaustion to get to me.

  I’m settled in my desk when the three girls who I spoke to yesterday sidle into class, offering our professor long looks. Granted, he is handsome, but I’m not here to notice things like that. I promised my dad I would stay safe, and allowing someone into my personal life would only make matters worse.