Beautiful Defiance: Cambridge High Mayhem (Kiss Starter: Cambridge High Book 1)

by Ashlyn Mathews

  One problem out of the way.

  “Again, what do you want?”

  “To ask a favor. I’ll understand if you say no. You didn’t exactly accept my apology.”

  He gets me on a technicality, and now I’m the one feeling guilty? “Apology accepted,” I begrudgingly tell him.

  “Thank God. It was all I thought about, Leigh. You could have died.”

  “No shit, Sherlock.”

  He laughs. A hint of a smile curls my mouth.

  “The favor?”

  “Keep an eye on Hannah at this party she’s going to on Thursday.”

  What is it with these kids and partying on a school night?

  “She’s been partying since you and your parents left. What’s so special about this one?”

  “The place where it’s being held at. Brody goes to Delridge. His girlfriend, Cambridge. Kids from both schools will be there, including players from the football teams. Brody plays for the Daredevils.”

  I blow at my nails painted Gypsy Ink. “I’m not in the habit of breaking up fistfights.”

  “That’s not why I need you there. Brody’s older brothers are pervs. They like their girls young. You have a good head on your shoulders. Won’t let anyone mess with you. I’ve seen the mace and the switchblade you’re packing.”

  “How—”

  “I’m sorry, Leigh. I went through your bag when my dad showed you the guesthouse.”

  “You’re a jerk.”

  “Does that mean you’ll do it?”

  “Parties aren’t my scene.”

  “Go for Hannah and the scavenger hunt.”

  “There’s a scavenger hunt?”

  “Winner gets the bag of money.”

  “How big is this bag? Is it lunch-bag size?”

  “King pillowcase.”

  “I’m in.” The money will go toward my buy-Leigh-a-car fund.

  “Thanks, Leigh. I appreciate it.”

  “Sure.” I’m ready to hang up, but there’s this tightness in my chest. Henry trusts me to watch over Hannah. Said I have a good head on my shoulders and that I’m one tough cookie.

  “Henry?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry for what I said that night you came home.”

  “I deserved it. I had no right speaking to you like that. It’s just . . . It’s been a rough couple weeks at school, so no worries, okay? Don’t worry your pretty head about anything you say to me, Leigh. You’re family now.”

  My heart does a somersault in my chest. Does Henry know of mine and Thomas’s secret?

  “Thanks, Henry. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Later, Leigh.”

  Smiling, I tuck my cell inside my backpack. Little did I know my happiness is easily wiped away by Seven’s assery.

  20

  LEIGH

  “Hey, why’s New Girl here? Does she think we’ll give her the time of day if she sits there and ogles us?”

  Ogle? As if.

  Seven’s teammate points at me and sneers. His sneers aren’t confusing in this mix of menacing and holy hotness way that Seven’s is. This jerk’s sneer is ugly, and his words, rude.

  I take the steps on the bleachers one by one, holding on to the railing for support. The steps are slippery, and with my crappy luck, I’ll slip and fall on my ass in front of the entire football team. Chatter floats from behind me on my way down. The cheerleaders are done with practice.

  With my feet on solid ground, I head for Seven. He cups the back of his head and looks down at the ground. I stop walking toward him and pivot in the direction of the school’s parking lot, his embarrassment dawning on me.

  His teammates don’t know that he’s failing his classes and is on the verge of being benched. I feel bad for him, but at the same time, I’m irritated too. Is it a blow to his ego to admit he’s not doing his best because he royally messed up? My guess is a solid yes. Seven is the type of guy who doesn’t like to admit his mistakes, his defeats and failures, or that he needs help.

  “Where the hell are you going, fresh meat? Don’t you want some something, something?”

  I keep on walking. Best not to rile up the jerk with my resting bitch face. Or to see him doing the pelvic thrust, his way of showing me his “something, something.”

  A deep voice cuts into the thick-with-tension silence. “Don’t speak to her that way, shithead. She’s with me.”

  No, it’s not Seven coming to my defense. He has too much pride. Malice walks over and slings his arm across my shoulders. He smells of sweat and grass and the cool air.

  “Thanks for waiting, babe.”

  Babe? I open my mouth; I’m not his girl. Malice squeezes my shoulder and says near my ear, “Play along. I’m helping you and Seven.”

  I like the words help, you, and Seven. I take a deep breath, relieved Malice isn’t a total jerk, and catch a whiff of sweat and body odor. I wrinkle my nose.

  “Shouldn’t you hit the locker room first and change out of the wet uniform?”

  He sniffs his armpit. “Nah, I’m good.”

  “You own a GT-R,” I sputter. “Beauty shouldn’t be tainted with boy BO and sweat.”

  “Boy?” He throws back his head and laughs. “I’m no boy, Leigh. I am all man.”

  To make his point, he reaches down and grabs his crotch. I roll my eyes.

  “Okay, champ.”

  “A champ who wants a piece of you, sweet thing.”

  We’ve progressed from babe to sweet thing? Wow, he’s laying it on thick. And what high school boy speaks like he’s a college dude?

  Or Malice is getting someone’s boxers in a bunch. There’s a low growl from behind us. The guys and the cheerleaders crowd us as we make our way to Malice’s GT-R. There’s crackling in the air, like a clap of thunder before lightning strikes. There’s also this silent chant, “Fight, fight, fight,” trailing behind us.

  I cluck my tongue. Kids and their thirst for blood and drama.

  “You must have it bad for her,” the jerk says. “Never heard laughter from that cocky mouth of yours.”

  “Yeah, I got it bad. Now, piss off. My girl and I need alone time.” He unlocks the car doors and holds the passenger-side door open for me. I slide inside. The smell of leather is strong.

  Malice throws his backpack and gear in the back and climbs in, his large body taking up considerable space.

  “Nice ride.” I cup the top of the gear stick. “I love manuals.”

  “You know how to drive one?”

  “Not really. I crashed my first. It was a three-million-dollar lapse in judgement.”

  His eyes widen. “What’d you wreck?”

  “A Bugatti.” My voice goes up a notch.

  “Holy fuck. What’d the owner do?”

  “Brought charges of grand theft auto on me.”

  “Double holy fuck. And totally cool.” He sticks his fist out. We fist bump.

  Seven and Trace watch us from their spot next to Seven’s pickup truck. Trace says something out the side of his mouth to Hannah and the other cheerleaders. Ginger is on the other side of Seven, her pale skin and light blonde hair contrasting nicely with Seven’s dark looks. Pitch black hair. Bottomless pool of ink colored eyes. Dark scowl on his pretty face.

  Seven catches us looking his way, and he puts his thumb and index finger together, apart, together, apart. Is he “squeezing” our heads? God, he can be so immature. I glower.

  Malice tips his head at Seven. “You helping him out of his troubles? Is that the reason you’re sitting out in the cold and rain? You waiting for Seven?”

  I glance away from Seven’s death glare. “I plead the fifth.”

  “Hey, if it helps you sleep better at night, I won’t pester or judge. But watch from inside my car, okay?”

  “Can’t.” I promised Seven never to be indebted to a Sterling.

  “You’re giving up the chance to sit inside this fine piece of machinery?”

  “Much to my annoyance, yes.”

  �
�It’s Seven, isn’t it?”

  “You know me too well.”

  He laughs. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

  “No can do.”

  “Again, Seven?”

  “Copy that.”

  He laughs again. “You’re a hoot.”

  I give him a slight nod of my head and a smile. “Why, thank you.”

  He ducks his head. His wide shoulders shake. He slides his eyes back up to mine, and wow, the dimpled smile on his face . . . My cheeks heat. Malice should smile more.

  “Can I say anything that will have you switching to Team Malice?”

  “And here I thought you were a grumpy puss with absolutely zero humor.” Is that the reason Rue dislikes Malice?

  He reaches for my hand and drops a kiss on my knuckles. “For you, I’d hang up my grumpy puss boots and give you the funnies.”

  “Brooding is sexier.”

  “You can have that too. Every part and piece of me. What do you say?” His eyes twinkle.

  “He’s watching us, isn’t he?” I ask.

  “With a laser-beam focus that can slice this ride in half.”

  “Nice.”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “You should know better than to mess with Seven. He can be a mean mother-effer.”

  “Thanks for the warning.”

  “You sure you won’t change your mind?” He stares at my mouth.

  “I’m certain.”

  “He’s lucky you have his back, Leigh.”

  Before I realize what’s happening and can put a stop to it, Malice clasps my head in his palms, pulls me close, and plants a kiss on the top of my head. I close my eyes, wishing it were Seven instead. The car shakes. There’s pounding on my window. I turn, and the cliché of if looks could kill . . . The expression on Seven’s face would slice and I’d bleed red.

  Malice doesn’t give Seven another chance to mess with his sportscar. He cranks the engine and peels out of the parking lot.

  “Did I get him in the nuts with the rocks that fell from his truck’s chassis?”

  I glance in the side mirror. “He’s upright and not grabbing at his crotch.”

  “That fucker. It’ll take a full-body assault to take him down.”

  Brutal, but Malice is wrong. It only took the threat of his parents’ marriage failing to wound Seven. His mom leaving his dad cuts deep, and I won’t let him continue to hurt.

  I’ll help him even if what goes on in my room doesn’t go past the walls.

  Seven says I’m his, but he never said he’s mine.

  Big difference.

  21

  SEVEN

  Seething, I watch Malice drive off with Leigh. I get in my truck, ignoring Hannah and her curiosity. She’s been asking a shit ton of questions lately since that comment of Leigh’s, the one demanding I put a sock on my snoring.

  Between classes, Hannah pestered me for what happened the night Henry came home. Said Henry’s friend posted something on social media about drowning a rat in the Stevenson pool. As far as she’s concerned, they don’t have a rat problem.

  I can think of a handful of rats I’d like to exterminate. One of them being my dickwad teammate John for giving Leigh a hard time. The second rat is Malice for saying Leigh is his girl. Third rodent is Henry. No explanation needed. And, I’ve saved the best rat for last.

  I’m a rat bastard for not speaking up for Leigh. A coward for not owning up to my mistakes. I’m also a sorry excuse of a leader.

  As soon as John opened his mouth, I should have put a nail in that bastardly coffin and put him in his place for talking trash to a girl who’s done nothing wrong other than to help a guy from failing his classes.

  Hanging my head, I turn the ignition, shift the truck into gear, and make my way home.

  On the driveway that’ll get me to the house, I make a U-turn and park my truck alongside the fence separating the two properties. I have the house to myself. Dad is MIA. He was gone when I woke this morning. During lunch period, he texted saying he’d be gone for the week.

  Did he find out where Mom is staying? Is he with her now, talking sense into her? It’s what I wanted to text back, but I kept my text short.

  Me: K

  Leigh’s right. I have been distracted. Have been getting into fights. Anything to get rid of the ball of aggression building in me since I overheard my mom accusing Dad of cheating on her. I’ve been there, except me and Allison weren’t marriage-vow serious.

  Yeah, it pissed me off that she cheated. I should’ve had the good sense to end things between us before it got to that point. Instead, I let her talk me into keeping our lifeless relationship going.

  Mom and Dad, though?

  They made vows.

  I grab my backpack, get out of my truck, and don’t bother locking the doors. There’s no chance anyone will steal the old girl. The only local thief I know of is home. I bypass knocking on the front door and go in through the open window.

  “Leigh, if Malice is in there with you, you better tell him to scram or I’ll fuck up his pretty face.” I drop my backpack on the floor and climb inside, shutting the window behind me.

  “Such language.” She tsks. “He’s not here.”

  She’s sitting on the bed, looking sexy as fuck in a pair of those yoga pants girls love to wear and us guys love seeing them wear. On the front of her gray T-shirt are the words, “Got Buns?” Below the writing is a picture of Princess Leia.

  “Did he stick around?”

  “Are you really asking if he stuck around long enough to stick his tongue in my mouth or his junk in me?”

  “Leigh, fuck’s sake, you and your mouth.” I cram my hands in my pockets and pull my shoulders inward. “Well, did he?”

  “No. He dropped me off and didn’t let anything go further. He’s a gentleman.”

  I scoff. “A Sterling is far from being decent. Remember that.”

  I take my hands out of my pockets, grab my notebooks and textbooks from my backpack, and strew everything, including my body, on Leigh’s bed.

  “Why do you have an off opinion of Sterling guys, including Malice? Did they give you a wedgie or one too many knuckle sandwiches?”

  “Not funny, Leigh. And yeah, one of them crossed me. He’s the douchebag Allison cheated on me with. Thing is, she’s telling me she doesn’t remember going with him into one of the bedrooms at this party our junior year.”

  “She was raped? Did she go to the police?”

  “She’s ashamed as fuck, Leigh. Blames herself for what happened. She told me last week.”

  “I . . . I’m sorry, Seven. I see why you don’t like the Sterlings.”

  “They’re a tight family. Huge too. They propagate like rabbits in heat.”

  She scrunches her face. “Ugh, the imagery. What will I do without the images you put in my head?”

  I’d like to put other dirty images in her head. Ones of us fucking like rabbits. In every position my horny eighteen-year-old mind can come up with.

  “Does that mean you forgive and forgot what happened at practice?”

  Rolling off my back and onto my stomach, I talk my dick down from its erect pose. It’s uncomfortable as fuck when I’m trying to have a serious talk with Leigh.

  “If you promise not to mess with Malice’s face, I will. I’m partial to his face. He’s very handsome. Must be his perpetual scowl.”

  “Leigh.” Have I mentioned I hate that fucker and his scowl?

  “Promise, Seven.”

  Why do I have the gut feeling she’s got something up her sleeve? I give her my promise. We have a shit ton of catching up to do, and this business with Malice is holding up the show. Not to mention, talking about the Sterlings gets me in a foul mood fast.

  “Pinky swear.” She crawls to me on her hands and knees and sticks her face near mine.

  I reach up and pull down her bottom lip. Run the pad of my thumb over the cut that’s healed.

  “What happened, Leigh?”

  She tips
back and sits with her legs tucked under her ass. “If I tell, I would have to give up someone else’s secret, and I can’t do that. I’m sorry.”

  Her words are cryptic and stoke my curiosity.

  “Don’t ever be. You’ll tell when you’re ready for my help.”

  “I’ll never—”

  Done with her defiance, I shove the textbooks off the bed, shove her back, and then flip her on her stomach. My hands toy with her waistband.

  “Seven, what are you doing?” She glances at me over her shoulder. Watches as I slide my finger inside her waistband and caress her skin from hip to hip. Her eyes flutter closed. Long lashes sweep over smooth tan skin. Her lips part.

  “Seven.”

  Fuck, I’m hard.

  “Scared?”

  “Of you? Never.”

  Good. I tug at the waistband. “Yes or no, Leigh?”

  She drops her head onto the pillow. Her answer is muffled.

  “I didn’t hear you.”

  “Yes. Jesus, Seven.”

  “Lift your hips, baby.”

  She does. I take off her yoga pants and palm her ass through her Captain America underwear. She trembles. I coast my fingers down her bare legs.

  She kicks them up and down and nearly nails me in the family jewels. It’d be worth getting kicked in the balls ’cause when she did the scissor motion with her legs, she gave me a glimpse of how wet she is. Leigh is so wet, her underwear clings to her pussy.

  I bite down on my knuckles and groan.

  “Crap, did I kick you in the balls?”

  “You mean my very blue balls?”

  Since those corner mouth kisses of ours, all I think about is kissing up and down Leigh’s body and having her put her mouth on other parts of me. I would go down on her in a heartbeat. Eat out her pussy for hours if she asked it of me. Her giving me blow? I’ll always leave that in her hands. I would never force or pressure a girl for blow, a hand job, or sex.

  “Is it that bad?”

  “Since our kiss,” I admit.

  “Should we stop?”

  “Hell no!”

  Low laughter from her.

  “Don’t blue balls hurt?”

  “I can get off using my hand.” The tips of my ears heat. I’ve never told a girl that. Or admit to one that she gives me blue balls from her kisses alone. Then again, no girl’s affected me like Leigh has, including Meisa.