by KC Kean
“Don’t give me some shit excuse, Eden. Let’s go. Do I still need to ask if I can manhandle you?”
“Wait, what? Tobias, I’m running. I’m not going anywhere.” His lip tilts in a half-smile as he meets my eyes.
“Between me and you, Xavier is the one who saw you running alone. I came down because we both know I have the softer approach, but it’s up to you. I can give you a piggyback ride up to our house, or Xavier can enjoy exerting his control over you. Your choice.”
Glancing over his shoulder, I find Xavier standing at the top of the wooden steps leading up to their house. His arms are folded over his chest as he stares down at us, every inch of the hot intimidating douchebag that he is.
His brown hair blows in the wind as his muscles bulge beneath his black tee. Holy fuck. I can see the outline of his cock through his grey sweats from here.
“Fine.” I sigh, twirling my finger for him to turn around, and he grins as he does, dropping to the sand so I can climb on.
Effortlessly, he rises, his hands under my thighs as he takes off towards the steps, and I wrap my arms around his neck gently, my head falling close to his as we move in silence.
I feel his thumb stroke the bare skin of my thigh, sending little shockwaves to my core as I try not to squirm against his back.
He climbs the steps with no effort, but Xavier and Hunter are nowhere to be found when we get to the top.
“You want a fresh drink?” Tobias asks, turning his face to glance at me as he continues to carry me.
“Well, since you made me drop my water—”
“Yeah, yeah. Imagine if I was the person who sent the message instead. You’d have lost your water and potentially your life, so I’ll take my losses.”
I frown at him, confused with their sudden concern for my well-being. They didn’t behave like this at school today, but I guess I was always with Archie or Charlie. Come to think of it, I wasn’t alone at any point. I don’t like the thought of them intentionally planning this when it’s not required.
“It was one message. I’ve had nothing since,” I murmur, trying to downplay the situation, but he simply scoffs as he scans his hand to unlock the door that leads into the house, carrying me into the kitchen.
As we head straight for the fridge in the open kitchen, I can hear the strumming of a guitar in the distance, a relaxing tune filtering through the house, and I pull my earphones out to listen better.
“Do you want another water or a Gatorade?”
“Oh, a blue Gatorade if you have one,” I answer, distracted by the music. “You can put me down you know,” I add, and he squeezes my thighs tighter.
“I know I can, doesn’t mean I want to,” he responds, pulling two drinks from the fridge. I take them from him as he heads straight outside to the pool area.
This place really is grand. Modern, slick, and everything you would expect from them. Although it feels like there is nothing personal on display. Nothing laying claim that this is their home, and that makes me a little sad for them, because no matter where I lived, we always personalized it to us. Which makes me feel a little sad for me too, living in a home where nothing is mine at all.
The view over the ocean takes my breath away as I gape at the beauty before me. I can see a few boats out at sea, the crystal-clear blue water stretching for miles. Looking to my left, I see Archie’s house, and the others along the front, and as beautiful as they look, they look like ant houses from up here.
The Allstars of Knight’s Creek looking down over their peasants.
“Under the umbrella or on a lounger, m’lady?” Tobias asks, putting on a fake British accent as he fucking gallops, bouncing me around on his back and making me laugh.
“Umbrella.” That is all I can get out as he continues to kick his legs around as he takes me past the infinity pool. God, being in there, the water feeling like you were deep in the ocean almost makes me drool in appreciation.
The table under the umbrella could easily sit twelve, the glossy black glass finish looking like something from a magazine. Standing in front of a chair, Tobias leans backward, placing my ass on the glass table as he releases me, and quickly drops into the chair, his eyes aligning with my core perfectly.
The grin on his lips tells me he’s pleased with himself as I hand him a drink, and I don’t bother to pretend I’m coy, leaving my legs spread as they are. Slouching back in his seat, his fingers tap on his thigh as he runs his tongue along his teeth.
“So fucking hot,” he whispers, almost to himself, but I don’t respond as I tilt my head back, guzzling the blue goodness as sweat trickles down my back.
My ears perk up at the sound of the guitar from earlier, and I look back at the house to my right, trying to figure out where it’s coming from. It doesn’t take me long to find Hunter through a floor-length glass mirror strumming on an actual guitar. Shirtless and in a pair of boxer shorts, his blond hair messy and covering his eyes as he bites his lip in concentration. He looks like a fucking rockstar.
I instantly remember the night they chased me, and I stumbled into Hunter’s room looking for my phone, spotting a guitar propped up in the corner, but I know for sure that isn’t the room it was in.
Staring in awe, I struggle to tear my eyes away from him, the music playing beautifully.
“Holy shit. He’s amazing,” I murmur, glancing at Tobias, who’s staring at my pussy, and I roll my eyes. “I didn’t know he could play the guitar.” I tap my foot against his thigh, drawing his attention to my face, and he shrugs his shoulders.
“Nobody does,” he states simply, flickering his eyes quickly in Hunter’s direction before looking back at me.
“Well they should, there are no words for how good he is.” Taking another sip of my drink, I glance back to the window to find him glancing in our direction, and I quickly cast my eyes away, the music stopping.
“Don’t look back at him,” Tobias says with a grin, moving in closer so he can rest his arms on my legs, and I frown. “There is a secret about that window that is too damn funny for you to give away, okay?” His hands slide up my legs until they reach the hem of my shorts.
“I’d have to know what the secret was for that to happen,” I murmur, my breaths becoming a little quicker under his touch. I should tell him to stop. Tell him I don’t ever go back for seconds, but he’s intoxicating, leaving goosebumps in his wake as he slowly caresses the inside of my thigh.
“You have to promise not to tell,” he repeats, and I bite down on my lip, nodding in agreement as he strokes his thumb so fucking close to my core, I want to cry. “That’s his little music room. The window is tinted from the inside, so the sunlight doesn’t cause him any discomfort when he’s in the zone.”
“Okaaay,” I drag out, confused with where he’s going with this.
“But it obviously doesn’t have the same protective coating on the outside, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t see him.”
“I’m still really confused,” I admit, and Tobias tilts his gaze so he can glance in Hunter’s direction, a huge grin splitting across his face as he looks back at me.
“So, Hunter hasn’t realized that we can see what he’s doing.”
“But he’s just playing the—”
“He was playing the guitar. Now he’s playing with something else,” he says with a chuckle, his fingers digging into my thighs as he smirks down at me.
As I go to turn in Hunter’s direction, Tobias captures my chin, stopping me from looking as his other hand moves to my waist, holding me in place.
“Discreetly, bubble. Lie back on the table,” Tobias whispers, slowly lowering me back, coming to stand above me as he does. “Now I’m going to kiss your neck so you can turn in his direction, okay?’
I nod eagerly, my body acutely aware of every brush of his body against mine, my nipples pebbling under his gaze.
Just like he said, he lowers his lips to my neck, a moan bursting from my lips as I bring my feet up onto the table, bending my legs as I
automatically squeeze him with my thighs.
“Eden, you’re supposed to be looking at Hunter.” Tobias grins against my skin, desire tingling through my body as I remember the whole point of this.
“You’re too good with your—” My response is cut off as I see Hunter.
His eyes are half-mast, his boxers long forgotten as his palm is wrapped tightly around his cock, slowly dragging up and down his hard length.
“He’s watching you, bubble. He stopped strumming his guitar to start strumming his own guitar at the sight of you,” Tobias whispers in my ear, my heartbeat pounding in my chest, the combination of Tobias’ words and touch and the view of Hunter making me needy.
I can’t respond, words have completely left my brain. My body takes over, consumed by the need to come.
“Let him watch me make you feel good,” Tobias breathes out against my neck, and I shiver at the thought, my hand cupping the back of his head as the other grips his arm. “You like that, don’t you?” he asks, stroking his fingers against the material of my shorts, making me squirm, and I groan in frustration.
“Please,” I whisper, praying he doesn’t make me beg any more as I watch Hunter stand, still tugging on his cock as he moves closer to the window.
Slipping his fingers under the hem of my shorts, he instantly teases my core, feeling how wet and ready I am, and he groans against my skin.
“Fuck.”
Without sparing a second, Tobias thrusts two fingers deep in my pussy, a throaty groan passing my lips as Hunter leans his palm against the glass window, his eyes definitely on us now as he fucks his fist.
“Holy shit,” I mumble as Tobias pulls the zipper down on the front of my sports bra, my breasts spilling from the top.
Fucking me with his fingers, he palms my clit through my shorts, adding the perfect amount of friction as he leans back, squeezing my breast in his hand, and I can see Hunter’s eyes widen from here, his hand moving faster between his legs. Squeezing Tobias’ shoulders, desperate for more, I can’t stop my nails from digging into his skin.
Leaning forward again, Tobias takes my nipple in his mouth, biting down, and my back arches as I turn to face him, my hips grinding against his hand in time with his movement as my orgasm hits me.
Tobias keeps his pace, dragging out every last drop of my climax as I dig my fingers into his neck, ecstasy flooding my veins.
Coming down from my high, I turn to the window, but Hunter is nowhere to be seen. Although the white marks smeared across the window tell me exactly how things went in there, and I shiver again, another wave of pleasure rushing through me.
Pulling his head back, Tobias looks down at me, a pleased grin on his face as I turn to look at him.
“You make the sweetest fucking noises, bubble.” Slipping his fingers from my core, I watch in slow motion as he lifts them to his lips, tasting what he just did to me. “You taste just as sweet too.”
Propping myself up on my elbows, I reach my hand out to grab his waistband, but someone clears their throat, pulling my attention away from Tobias’ stiff outline in his shorts.
“I didn’t realize reminding her of the rules also involved orgasms,” Xavier grumbles, standing at the other end of the table, his eyes glancing between the two of us, but I don’t miss the way they linger on my breasts too. He stands stiff, his fists clenched at his side as he tries to keep his tone bored, but I see him. He’s either jealous or pissed, maybe even a mixture of both.
“What rules?” I ask, sitting up fully as Tobias grins down at me, making a show of slowly zipping up my sports bra.
“You can’t be alone until we know who sent the messages. So if you aren’t with Archie or Charlie, then you come here.”
“Why do you even care?” I ask, my eyebrows knitting together as I try to understand.
“I don’t. But there is far too much going on right now that I know nothing about, and until that’s resolved, you’ll do as I say.”
He goes to leave, but I shout his name as Tobias remains standing between my legs, not getting involved in the conversation.
“You expect me to tell you everything and go along with your rules, but you won’t tell me anything about Ilana that will help me out. The sooner I have information, the sooner I’ll be out of your hair,” I state. Tobias’ hands resting on my thighs squeeze, but I keep my gaze focused on Xavier.
“I don’t trust you,” he answers, barely glancing over his shoulder as he does.
“I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m asking you to tell me something, anything,” I snap, my voice getting louder as I do.
“No.”
“Fuck you and your stupid fucking no. Don’t you want me gone?” I sneer, my hands fisting at my side as he whirls around to face me again.
“You don’t know shit, Eden.”
“Exactly!” I yell. “That’s my fucking point.” Is this guy deluded?
“No, you don’t know shit about me or what I want.”
“Then fucking tell me. Tell me something, anything.” Placing my palms on Tobias’ chest, I push him back a little so I can stand, and he moves reluctantly. Xavier doesn’t move as I storm towards him, my heart pounding in my chest as my emotions bubble at the surface. “Please.” I add, desperate for anything.
His hazel eyes sparkle with flecks of gold, emotion swirling before me as he grinds his jaw. Toe-to-toe, our chests almost touching, I wait.
“You don’t deserve answers,” he finally murmurs, and any hope I had is gone.
“You’re an asshole. The biggest fucking self-centered douche I’ve ever met.”
Stepping back, I swipe my hands down my face. I’m done. I’m so fucking done with them and the constant back and forth.
D.O.N.E.
“We know nothing,” Tobias blurts out, causing Xavier to turn his way, giving Tobias a death glare.
“Shut the fuck up, Tobias,” he growls out.
“We don’t know what Ilana is doing, we’re as much in the dark as you are,” Tobias says to me, but his gaze is on Xavier as my breath catches. They know nothing?
He obviously doesn’t like admitting he’s out of the loop as much as I am, but he must be digging for answers if he likes to be aware of everything. He’s coming up blank, clearly.
Straightening my spine, I move away from both of them, needing to put as much space between us as possible.
“I need help finding answers. You are either on my side, by my side, or in my fucking way. I’ll let you decide. But fuck your rules. I’ll do whatever I have to do to be safe.”
With that, I turn, walking as fast as I can to the kitchen door, bumping straight into Hunter as I do. Fuck, I don’t need the memory of him on my mind right now, I’m mad. I need to stay mad.
Brushing past him, I say nothing as I slip through the door Tobias carried me in, and head for the steps. I’m halfway down the beach when I realize I left my damn earphones.
Glancing over my shoulder, I stall when I see the three of them standing side by side as they watch me walk back to Archie's. A part of me wants to flip them off, scream for them to shove it, but I force myself to ignore them. Give them a taste of their own medicine.
So much for a run to clear my mind. My head feels more screwed than ever.
30
Eden
“Are you sure you don’t want to come downstairs? Or I can stay with you, I don’t mind,” Charlie repeats for the hundredth time, and I’m already shaking my head before she finishes.
“Honestly, Charlie. I’m on my period. Eden Grady, on her period, is the worst person in the world to be around. I’m doing you a favor because I’m genuinely a raging bitch,” I respond, snuggling further under the covers as I wait for the Midol to kick in. She looks all cute in a blue gypsy top with a pair of denim shorts and her hair curly.
I didn’t go to the game tonight, my cramps have me ready to pass out, so I’m definitely not going down there and surrounding myself with all the people I don’t like. Not when I'm grouchy.
Heads will literally roll.
“Okay, but if you change your mind or need anything, just say, all right? I’ll be straight up here.”
“Go have fun,” I murmur, forcing a smile as I shoo her out of the door, sighing with relief as the door clicks shut behind her, turning the light off as she does.
Friday night, and there’s obviously another party. I love parties, I really do, but they have never really been at my home or where I’m staying before. I’m PMS-ing like a bitch, and I just want everyone to shut the fuck up and go home.
Propping myself up on my elbow, I punch my pillows, trying to fluff them up, but I just can’t get comfortable. My cramps are literally fucking slaying me. So I give up and flop back down on the mattress, trying to get comfortable.
I probably should have said I wanted some pizza and chocolate to make me feel better, but I don’t want to bother Charlie. She should enjoy having fun with Archie tonight.
I wonder if the Allstars are down there yet?
I haven’t spoken a word to them since Monday, and they haven't interacted with me either. We’ve sat in our seats, ignoring each other like we’ve never done more than that. And as much as I’ve tried to say a big fuck you to their rules, Archie or Charlie have been with me everywhere I’ve gone, until now. Finally.
They’re not suffocating me. If anything, it’s nice, but I hate knowing that Xavier is getting what he wants. Asshole. I feel a little calmer, knowing I have friends, the feeling of loss and being alone not as strong.
As I slap my hand around, searching for the remote, a knock sounds at the door before it swings open and Hunter strides in, his eyes glancing around the room before settling on me.
I knew I should have gotten up and locked it when Charlie left.
“Hunter, I am not in the mood for anyone’s shit, I just—”
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks, his face filled with concern as he looks me over. I frown at him, and he takes that as an indication to take a seat beside me on my bed. “Charlie said you aren’t coming down because you don’t feel well. What’s wrong?” he repeats, causing me to sigh.
