Cruel Riches: A Dark Bully Romance (The Kings of Crestmoore Academy, Book 1)

by Elle East

  I reached out to grab it but before I could he let go and it dropped to the floor. He grinned at me challengingly. He wanted to see if I would bend down in front of him and pick up his trash.

  I was not going to give him the satisfaction. I pointedly rolled my eyes, turned on my heel and walked in the opposite direction. When I turned the corner I stopped and peaked back around. Archer had gone off to talk to a group of girls and I was about to sneak back over and get the napkin but almost immediately a server rushed over and picked it up.

  “Dammit!” I mumbled.

  I searched around for a bit longer but then said fuck it, grabbed a pillow off a couch, dabbed as much excess liquid off my shirt as I could and then placed the pillow back hoping no one had seen. I went to go find the Queens. On the way I passed Grayson talking closely to some pretty blond who was hanging off his neck and giggling at everything he said. He brought his face closer to hers and I could see the look of desperate longing in her eyes. He had a wicked smile on his face like he was up to no good. He tilted her chin up with his finger and then ran his fingers across her exposed collarbone.

  I almost shivered for her. It looked so sexy. He looked like he was playing with her but also in complete control. He could make her do whatever he wanted because he had made her want that too.

  I saw his lips glide up to the shell of her ear and the side of his face lightly brushed against hers. I could see her eyes flutter closed. He stood there against the pillar in a casual, relaxed stance as she leaned into his body.

  I couldn’t watch anymore.

  How pathetic and weak was that girl to let him do that to her. Did she not realize that she looked ridiculous? Everyone at the party could see them and everyone knew that Grayson had a different girl hanging off his arm every day. She wasn’t special to him. Those devilish tattooed hands, those lips, those smirks, weren’t just for her.

  I realized that maybe I was being so judgmental because just maybe I was a bit jealous of her—but I did NOT want to admit that or think about it too deeply, so I rushed by and continued looking for the Queens. On the way I grabbed another drink from a table and downed it.

  I found them on the other side of the boat. They were sitting on a large elevated platform full of pillows with a bunch of other students, everyone laughing and drinking. Archer was with them and I wished I could turn around and leave.

  “Maddy!” Victoria called. I could tell by her voice that she was a bit drunk. “Come here!”

  I went over and she pulled me down to sit with them. She saw the dark stain on my shirt and frowned. “What happened?”

  “Nothing. Someone spilled a drink on me. I’m fine,” I lied.

  “Who? I’ll kick them out.”

  “No one, don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” I tried to brush it off.

  “Just tell me.”

  “No, really. It’s ok. It’s not a big deal. I’m ok. Please don’t worry about it.”

  She squinted like she was deciding something but then let it go and turned back to the group to continue laughing. I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Truth or dare!” Victoria called out. “Truth or dare!”

  Oh no, I thought with dread. This is going to suck.

  “Attention.” Archer stood up and addressed the entire party with a strong, confident voice that sounded like nothing scared him less than public speaking. The room fell instantly silent, even the music seemed to get quieter. It was disturbing to see how much power he had over the students of Crestmoore.

  “We are about to play truth or dare,” he said in a mockingly formal voice. “If anyone would care to witness the spectacle please come crowd around. Elbowing your neighbor for a better view is something that is understood—nay, encouraged—on this boat.”

  Students began to hurry over. I noticed Brett standing on the edge, arms crossed and a serious look on his chiseled face.

  “Come, come,” Archer was saying to the gathering crowd. “If anyone else would like to play well… you can’t. Except you, Chelsea.”

  He reached out his hand to a beautiful girl with long brunette hair and big blue eyes and pulled her out of the crowd to sit next to him. She giggled and looked like she couldn’t believe her luck. I saw Victoria’s reaction out of the corner of my eye and could tell that she was super pissed but trying not to show it. Once Chelsea had sat down, the game started.

  “Chelsea, truth or dare?” Archer asked.

  “Truth!” she said enthusiastically.

  Archer thought for a moment before saying, “Hmmmm, ok, I’ve got one! Is it true that you fucked Mr. Spencer so he’d increase your grade above Brett’s so that you’d have the top mark in class?”

  Everyone in the audience gasped. I saw terror spread across Chelsea’s face.

  “What? No!” Chelsea stuttered.

  The question had taken her completely by surprise and I almost felt sorry for her, but by the way she was reacting it made me think maybe it was true and I felt less sympathetic.

  “You can’t lie, remember? Those are the rules of truth or dare,” Archer explained it to her like he was talking to a child.

  “No,” she whispered hesitantly.

  “Hm.” Archer frowned and pretended to think with his fist under his chin. “I think… that you are a fucking a liar.”

  Chelsea looked like she was about to cry, but also didn’t deny it.

  “Truth or dare?” he asked her again.

  “Dare,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

  “I dare you to admit to everyone that you are a liar.”

  Chelsea hung her head and tears started rolling down her face.

  “I’m a liar,” she whispered.

  “What was that?” Archer asked. “We couldn’t hear you.”

  “I’m a liar,” she said louder.

  “Thank you, Chelsea. It’s your turn now, you can ask someone truth or dare, or you can give up your turn if you wish.”

  “I’ll give it up,” Chelsea whispered, head still hung.

  “I know you will, and now everyone else does too. Now get the hell off my boat.”

  Chelsea quickly got down from the platform and rushed through the silent, judgmental crowd. I saw that Victoria was still mad, and it surprised me. I had assumed that Victoria was jealous when Archer brought Chelsea up, but after finding out Archer’s true intentions she was still pissed.

  Archer watched Chelsea go before he put a dangerous smile back on his face and said, “Ok, Chelsea gave it up so now it’s someone else’s turn. Grayson?”

  Grayson nodded and took over.

  Archer sat back down next to Victoria who I could hear whisper angrily to him, “You didn’t consult me on that.”

  “I don’t have to consult you on what I do, Victoria. Besides, you’ve been a bit busy entertaining trash to bother finding out what’s going on.”

  My cheeks flamed in anger—and alcohol. My head was swimming a bit, and I realized I needed to slow down. I wasn’t used to drinking much. Sure, I had gotten tipsy a couple times with friends but it was not a regular thing in my life. I was usually too busy working to have time to party.

  Victoria said nothing back, and we all watched as Grayson dared a boy to shave his hair into a mohawk. The boy’s face blanched, but he didn’t hesitate when a razor was brought to him and he started shaving. The crowd erupted in cheers.

  These dares were pretty serious and I just prayed that no one would choose me, but I wasn’t so lucky and a couple dares later Victoria turned to me and said, “Truth or dare?” Fuck.

  “Dare,” I answered.

  The truths that these kids had been asking were brutal and dare seemed like the safer option. I’d probably just have to do something embarrassing and then it would be over and move on to the next person.

  “I dare you to… take Archer’s wallet out of his pocket.” Victoria got an evil smile on her face and I got a brief glimpse of what the scholarship students saw in her.

  That was it? Was this a sub
tle jab because I was poor or something? I didn’t really care. I had gotten off easy compared to the other students playing.

  I leaned over towards Archer and saw the bulge in his pocket where I assumed his wallet was—next to another subtle bulge that seemed to draw my eyes like a magnet. I reached towards his jeans when Victoria added, “Without using your hands.”

  I paused. The crowd snickered.

  How else was I going to get it? I wondered, and then realization dawned on me. I blushed scarlet. I would have to use my mouth.

  I couldn’t meet Archer’s eyes and kept mine down. I had had to crawl over Victoria and I was on my hands and knees in front of him. I thought I saw the bulge that wasn’t his wallet increase slightly, but my eyes might have been playing tricks on me.

  Just get this over with, I told myself. My ears were ringing from embarrassment—and also because of that thing that seemed to overcome me when I was close to a King. I couldn’t explain it, but it made me feel like my body was buzzing and that I wasn’t in complete control of myself.

  I could hear whispers and quiet laughter from the crowd.

  I leaned closer to his crotch. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this.

  I tried to stay as far away as possible from his bulge—which I could see was definitely growing larger and it gave me a thrill that I refused to analyze. It’s just biology, I told myself, a perfectly natural biological response to the situation, it would happen to anyone.

  When I reached his wallet, I heard Archer hiss. I had to bite my lip to keep the surprised moan from escaping.

  I was able to pry his wallet from his pocket with my teeth, but it was a lot harder than I had been expecting—in more ways than one—but I finally got it and sat up, the wallet hanging triumphantly from my mouth.

  I couldn’t help but glance at Archer. His eyes were dark and slightly glazed as he stared at me. His lips were parted and he was breathing quicker. It was one of the sexiest things I had ever seen and I flushed with pride to know that I had had that effect on him.

  “Just another gold digger trying to fuck their way into his wallet,” Grayson said.

  The crowd burst out laughing and the moment was ruined. I sheepishly looked down and took the wallet out of my mouth.

  “Your turn to ask someone, Maddy,” Victoria said. “You can pass if you want to.”

  I handed the wallet back to Archer without looking at him.

  “I’ll pass,” I said, grateful that I didn’t have to come up with a dare or a question.

  “Ok, I’ll take your turn for you.” Victoria pretended to think for a moment before saying, “Maddy, truth or dare?”

  “But I just went!” I protested.

  “Sorry, those are the rules of truth or dare.” She shrugged apologetically.

  “Fine.” Bitch. “Dare.” Despite what I had just had to do, dare still seemed safer than truth.

  “Ok, I dare you to… kiss Grayson.” She smiled evilly.

  My mouth dropped open. “Like kiss kiss?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Yup, for ten seconds.”

  I looked over at Grayson who was on the opposite side of the seating area. I could tell that he was shocked for a second before he recovered. He narrowed his eyes at me. He looked like a tattooed devil.

  “Truth!” I blurted out.

  “Sorry, too bad. You chose dare, you can’t back out now,” Victoria said.

  “I can’t.” I shook my head.

  “You have to,” Victoria said firmly.

  I looked around at the unsympathetic faces of all the rich kids surrounding me. They were reveling in my discomfort. I felt like I was in the Roman coliseum and they were about to release the lions to tear me to shreds simply for their amusement. When my eyes passed by Archer, I could see that his were burning.

  I turned back to Grayson. A smug smile had spread across his lips. I had no choice. I had to kiss one of my tormentors or I’d be kicked out.

  With resignation, I slowly crawled across to him. He shifted forward.

  “Ten seconds,” I repeated firmly.

  His smile got even wider.

  Up this close I could smell his moss and cloves scent and it made my nipples hardened against my will.

  I needed to get this over with so I leaned forward and a second later our lips touched—I felt an electric jolt shoot through my body. I could hear the crowd counting down, ten!… nine!… eight… His lips were soft and warm.

  I had planned to stay still and wait for the ten seconds to be over but Grayson had other ideas. He started moving his lips slowly against mine and my body responded immediately. Of their own volition, mine started moving too.

  Seven… six… five…

  The kiss was like a slow dance and Grayson was an incredibly talented dancer. The way his lips moved against mine was slow and playful. I didn’t want to think about why he was so good at it.

  Four… three… two…

  I felt his tongue lightly run along my bottom lip and my mouth opened automatically in response, begging for him to deepen the kiss.

  One!

  I barely heard the crowd, and it didn’t register that our time was up. All that existed at that moment was Grayson and our mouths on each other. We kept kissing for a few more seconds until laughter cut through the fog and snapped me back to reality.

  I flung myself backwards away from him and landed back next to Victoria. The crowd was laughing at me and I didn’t blame them. A kiss a couple seconds long and I completely lost control of myself. Grace and Jayla were giving me death stares and I dreaded that I would have to deal with two pissed off Queens on top of everything else.

  Victoria was laughing too. “Your turn, Maddy, unless you want to pass again?”

  “No! I’ll go.” I wasn’t making that mistake again. “Um, Claudia, truth or dare?”

  “Dare,” she answered.

  “I dare you to… take a shot,” I answered lamely.

  I heard a couple boos in the crowd. I just wanted my turn to be over and didn’t want to make anyone else mad at me. Claudia shrugged, picked up a shot from a nearby table and downed it easily. She then took her turn and the game continued.

  I sat quietly as the game went on around me. I was trying not to look at Grayson or think of the incredible kiss we had just had. I had never been kissed like that before. It was effortless but also sensual and playful. It had been like he was teasing me in the best possible way with the movements of his li—not thinking about it, remember? I reminded myself and turned back to watch the game.

  Archer was staring at me and my eyes caught his. He looked sullen and another emotion that I found hard to place. Jealous? Was that jealousy I saw on his face? Maybe it was just anger. He was probably mad that I had made out with one of the Kings. He had practically the entire female half of the student body desperate to get with him. There was no way he was jealous of one little kiss—but I found myself secretly wishing that he was.

  A couple more rounds passed before it was Victoria’s turn again—and of course she picked me again.

  “Truth or dare?”

  “Dare,” I sighed.

  “I dare you…” She thought for a long moment.

  I was probably going to have to give Brett a blowjob next, I thought derisively, but at the same time I couldn’t help the flash of excitement that rushed through me at the thought of actually doing it—obviously there was no way I was actually going to, truth or dare be damned, but thinking about it made my insides heat up.

  “I dare you to steal the headmaster’s watch,” Victoria finished slowly.

  The crowd gasped.

  “I can’t do that,” I said in disbelief.

  Victoria shrugged. “You know the rules.”

  I looked around the room for support but there were no friendly faces. All the other students wanted to see me do it. They didn’t care if I got expelled—actually, they wanted to see me get expelled. Well fuck them, I thought. Maybe it was the couple drinks in my stomach or ma
ybe it was my love for my mom, either way I decided that I needed to continue to be part of this group of rich assholes, so I would have to get that stupid watch.

  Chapter 18

  I stood up without a word and started walking outside. The crowd parted for me. When I made it to the deck, the cool breeze caressed my hot skin and cleared my head a bit.

  “I’ll go with her to make sure she actually does it,” I could hear Archer say then a moment later he was next to me on the deck.

  I groaned.

  “I don’t need a chaperone,” I hissed.

  “I just want to see this. There’s no way you’ll actually go through with it.”

  I rolled my eyes. Arrogant prick, I thought. I’ll show him.

  I went over to where Brett had helped us jump down from the rocks. Archer came over and instinctively was about to help me up. He reached out to put his hands on my waist—but there was no way I was letting him help me so before he could I hopped up onto the rock myself. I stood up and looked back down at him. He was surprised, and I realized that he was only used to dealing with girls who were waited on hand and foot, not ones that could do things for themselves.

  “Are you coming or not?” I asked.

  He frowned before effortlessly jumping up next to me.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  We walked down the path and through the woods in silence. The island was quiet, the only sounds were the waves gently lapping at the shore, the wind in the trees, and the occasional hoot of an owl. It was a bit spooky at night and I would never have told him but I was happy I wasn’t alone.

  We eventually came to “the Village” where the staff lived. The headmaster’s house was the largest one there, but it wasn’t very big. It was an old two-story stone structure with flower boxes under every window. As we walked towards it, what I was about to do became real and I started getting nervous.

  The lights were on in one of the rooms on the main floor. Without a word, Archer and I crept forward to peek in the window. The headmaster was sitting on his couch reading a book. There was a tv in the background but it was turned off. That’s not fair! I thought, the teachers let themselves have tv but don’t let the students have any entertainment that isn’t educational.