DARE SERIES COLLECTION

by Tessier, Shantel

  I push away from him, and he allows it. I stand on shaky legs. I’m not drunk, but I’m not sober either. He sits there looking up at me. Is he waiting for me to leave? For me to shout at him? Beg him? I want to fall to my knees and tell him that it’s me he wants. That it’s me he sees. Not her. But that’s just the wine talking, so instead, I go for plan B.

  I remove my shirt and kick off my shoes. I’m shoving my jeans down my legs when he sits up straighter in his lounge chair. “Demi …”

  “Shh,” I say, straddling him again. But only now I’m naked. I place my hands on his handsome face and look at his pretty blue eyes. “I want you to fuck me, Deke. It’s just you and me. No lies. No pretending. Can you do that?”

  His large hands slide up my bare back, making my body break out in goose bumps. I shiver and it has nothing to do with the cool night. “I was never the one faking it, Demi.”

  I lean in and capture his lips with mine, done talking for the night.

  DEKE

  I wake up with an arm draped over my chest and a soft leg over my thigh. Demi’s blond hair covers most of her face, and I push it back to give me a clear view of her. After we had sex last night out on the patio, we took a shower together where I took her again up against the wall. She didn’t hold anything back from me. I think Demi is confused on who she really is, but she didn’t hide.

  I lean in and kiss her cheek, and her eyes flutter open. “Good morning, princess.”

  “Good morning,” she whispers.

  I go to pull away from her, but she tightens her hold on me. “Five more minutes,” she whispers.

  I move to my side and wrap my arms around her, pulling her small frame into me. “Five more minutes.” She closes her eyes. “How do you feel this morning?” I ask. She had quite a bit to drink last night. And I tried to be gentle with her since I know she’s still getting used to sex, but it was hard to restrain myself.

  “Like I knew I would,” she mumbles into my chest.

  “Want me to get you some ibuprofen?”

  She shakes her head. “I just want five more minutes.”

  When I open my eyes some time later, I’m alone. Sitting up, I look around to see her clothes that were lying on the floor are now gone. I throw off the covers, get up, and pull on a pair of jeans. As I make my way down the stairs, I hear voices in the kitchen.

  Demi stands at the kitchen island with her hand in a plastic container full of brownies. She places one in her mouth and moans, closing her eyes. “This is by far the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

  I lean down, and whisper, “That’ll all change once I fuck that mouth with my cock.”

  She begins to choke on the chocolate at my words and pieces are flying out onto the counter. She grabs for the bottle of water and gulps it down. Slamming the bottle down, she sucks in a long breath.

  “See, it’s already choking you.” I smile.

  She stares up at me with watery eyes from her near-death experience by her favorite snack.

  Placing my hand on her face, I say, “Cheeks flushed. Lips swollen and tears running down your pretty face.” I kiss her cheek and taste the saltiness. “You’ll be a beautiful mess, Demi.”

  Her lips part, and she licks them.

  “Good morning,” Cole announces, entering the kitchen.

  He’s a cheerful fucker. He and Austin must have made up last night. For once, I didn’t hear them fucking ’cause I was too busy doing it myself. I’ve brought girls home but never slept with them in my room unless Lilly was staying at a friend’s house. I don’t like the idea of having them around her. She sees Austin and Cole kiss and love on one another even though Austin tries to stay discreet. She’s never asked about it, and as far as I know, they haven’t sat her down to tell her anything. She’s only six. What could they possibly tell her that she could understand?

  “Morning,” I tell him.

  Austin enters a second later with Lilly on her hip. “We’re gonna be late,” she mumbles, setting her on the counter and going to the fridge to grab Lilly’s lunch.

  “Did you and Austin have a sleepover?” Lilly asks Demi.

  She chokes on another piece of the chocolate, but nods. I chuckle.

  “I wanna have a sleepover.” She starts bouncing on the counter. “Can we have one this weekend?”

  “You already have one with Mrs. River,” Austin tells her.

  She nods her little head, blond curls bouncing. “She’s my dance teacher,” she tells Demi. “It’s her daughter’s birthday.”

  Demi swallows a piece of chocolate. “Is she in your dance class?”

  “Yep. She’s not very good, though.”

  “Lilly,” Austin scolds her. ‘That’s not very nice to say.”

  “That’s what she says.”

  “Come on,” Austin throws her backpack over her shoulder and scoops Lilly off the counter. “We gotta go.”

  Cole comes over to kiss them both bye, and then he walks them to the garage, leaving me and Demi alone.

  She stares down at the now empty box. I step into her, and she looks up at me. “Let me take you out this weekend,” I offer. I haven’t spent time with just her. I’ve known her all my life, but what do I really know about her? Besides she’s gorgeous with a fucked-up mind.

  “Wanna get me alone?” She arches a brow.

  I smile at her. “Maybe.”

  “Where do you wanna take me?” she asks but doesn’t let me answer. “I’m guessing the woods. Somewhere quiet and secluded so you can kill me.”

  I’m not sure if she’s joking or being serious. “The only reason I would take you out to the woods would be to bury your body.” I step into her, reach out, and grab a piece of bleach blond hair. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead.” She swallows. “I would have done it while you laid on your bed with your hands tied behind your back. I could have wrapped my hands around your neck and squeezed while you gasped for breath. I could have made it quick and snapped your neck, or I could have held a pillow over your face and suffocated you,” I whisper. “Murder doesn’t have to be messy, princess. It can be sensual, or it can be brutal, depending on my mood.”

  Her eyes search mine, clearly understanding my sincerity. “You’ve thought about it.”

  “That wasn’t the only thing on my mind that night.” My eyes drop to her thighs, letting her know exactly what I mean.

  “Okay.” Cole enters, rubbing his hands together. He spots us and exits the kitchen just as quickly.

  “I can’t,” she finally answers, pulling away from me.

  “Have plans already?” I tease, not in the least bit worried that she just turned me down. Demi Holt has gotten my attention, and I won’t let her walk away easily.

  “Yes. With Seth.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  DEMI

  FINALLY, FRIDAY ROLLED around. I’ve been able to avoid Deke since I spent the night at his house and slept with him. Again. Things were starting to get weird. The sex was too soft. He was too nice. I didn’t need him to coddle me or pretend I’m Becky. Maybe he just can’t help it, but I wasn’t gonna stick around to find out. And then the whole thing about going on a date. At least that’s what I think let me take you out means. Hell, to a murderer, it might mean something completely different. And then he told me how he would do it. I hate that it turned me on. Fuck, I need therapy. I’m gonna tell my mom to call her friend that she’s been trying to get me to see for years now. I didn’t lie about my plans with Seth this weekend, but I could tell Deke was pissed about it. He clearly forgot that I have a fake boyfriend. I didn’t stay after that.

  I just get out of my shower and enter my walk-in closet. As soon as I got home from school, I showered, ready to get the hell out of here for the weekend. Seth had messaged me earlier about going to the cabin for the evening. We were supposed to go see a movie, but the idea of getting away sounded better. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get away and clear the fog of Deke Biggs until I read his messag
e with our change of plans.

  I pull on a pair of underwear and holey jeans along with a white T-shirt that has some donut holes on it that says eat my hole. I grab my Louis Vuitton bag from the top shelf and start throwing clothes in it as I hear my door open. I storm out of my closet to see if it’s my sister. She’s been MIA ever since her argument with Austin on Monday. I’m guessing she went back to Collins, but who knows when she’ll return. I come to a stop when I see it’s my mother.

  “How was school today?” she asks.

  “Fine.” Like she cares.

  She nods her head once, and asks, “Are you making friends?”

  Really? It’s November. I’m three months into my senior year, and she wants to know now if I’m making friends. She knows the only one I bring around is Lauren. And Seth. “Yep.” If she only knew I’ve friended Deke, Austin, and Cole. She never liked Cole. Said he was evil. She thinks he killed his mother. She never cared much for Deke, but when she found out Becky was dating him, she began to come around to the idea of them together ’cause the Biggs have money. A lot of it. I’m talking millions. And she’d rather a man support her daughter than her.

  “Good. How are things with Seth?”

  What is with all the questions? “Good. He’s busy with football.” Not a total lie. They have a bye weekend this weekend. That’s why he wanted to hang out tonight.

  “Going somewhere?” she asks, looking at my bag.

  “Yeah. Lauren asked me to stay the night with her tonight.”

  She reaches up and grabs her pearls that hang around her neck, usually a clear sign that she’s gonna turn me down. I used Lauren as my excuse when I passed out at Deke’s Tuesday night. She didn’t like it, but she didn’t ground me over it.

  “She had a bad day,” I add. “You know? With her parents and all …”

  “Ahh. I see.” She glances around the room. It’s spotless. I have a thing about tidiness when it comes to my personal space. The rest of the house I couldn’t care less about. “Is your homework done?”

  I hold in a sigh. “Yes.” From a young age, my mother drilled into me that education is important—make good grades and make something of yourself—but she never once said that to Becky. It was like Becky was destined to marry royalty, and if I didn’t get into college, I’d be scrubbing toilets. And I find nothing wrong with that profession.

  “May I go?” I ask, trying not to show my anger. I hate that Becky gets to come and go as she pleases, yet I have to ask. I still have three months before I turn eighteen, but that won’t matter. As long as I’m in school, I’ll have to do what she says.

  “I suppose.” She sighs before leaving the next second. No goodbye. No I love you. Nothing. And I’m totally fine with it. I’m used to not being shown any kind of affection.

  _______________

  An hour later, I’m pulling up to the cabin and see his Jeep is already here. I grab my bag and get out.

  Walking in, I find him sitting on the brown leather couch. He looks away from the TV, noticing me, but doesn’t smile, which is unusual. Seth is always in a good mood.

  “What are you doing here tonight?” I ask him. He hates this place. Says it’s too low class. It belonged to his grandmother or some shit, so his parents kept it but never use it. His mom and stepdad are filthy rich. They’ve got a house on the lake and several homes all over the world. They even have a yacht in the marina where they sometimes stay.

  “Felt like getting away,” he answers, looking back at the TV.

  I can understand that. I plop down beside him and cross my legs, trying to put Deke out of my mind. I haven’t heard one word from him, but why would I? He got what he wanted. Sex. I hate that I crave it again. It hurt just as much this past Tuesday as it did the first time, but it was still amazing. The way he held me and kissed me. My skin tingled for days after. And last night, I craved it so much, I took care of myself thinking of him. “What are we watching?” I try to focus on Seth.

  “Friends.”

  Of course. Pretty sure he’s seen every episode more than twice.

  He leans forward, picking up a green cup, and hands it to me. “I made you your drink.” I don’t take it, and he sighs. “Demi …”

  “You know I can’t drink that,” I say softly. Ever since Becky drugged me, I have this thing about drinking from a cup that I didn’t make. My father warned us about it back in middle school, but I never thought my own sister would betray me in that way.

  “Fine.” He places it back on the coffee table.

  “You can have it,” I offer.

  “I’m not in the mood to drink.” He gives a clipped answer.

  I frown. Seth is always up to party. “Is something going on with Hayden?”

  He doesn’t respond, but I notice the tic in his jaw, so I drop it.

  “What movie are we gonna watch?”

  Again, he doesn’t answer, and it sends up red flags. I sit back and watch him. His right knee bounces up and down nervously. He pulls his bottom lip in and chews on it. His breathing has picked up.

  “Seth …” I place my hand on his shoulder, and he jumps. “What’s going on?” I demand, starting to get worried. He’s never like this.

  He picks up the remote and holds it out in front of him as a long silence fills the room. When he finally speaks, his voice wavers. “You let Deke fuck you, right?”

  I stiffen. Why does he care? And more importantly, why is he asking a question he already knows the answer to. He knew what my plan was the night of my Halloween party because he helped set it up. But he only knows about that first night. I haven’t filled him in on the fact that Deke was in my bedroom Monday night when he dropped me off at home, or that he fucked me three times Tuesday night. “Yes,” I respond slowly.

  Another silence falls between us before he presses the button on the remote to turn up the volume. Ross’s laughter rises to the point it hurts my ears.

  “Seth, what are you …?”

  He turns to face me. Brown eyes full of regret. I push myself farther into the couch.

  “Demi, I’m sorry.” I barely hear him whisper over the blaring TV.

  “For what?” I look around the empty cabin. It sits on three acres, backed up to the lake with a small dock, there’s not another close by. You would only turn a TV up if you didn’t want someone to hear what you are about to do. “What’s going on?” He doesn’t answer. Instead, he places the remote back down on the coffee table.

  I stand on shaky legs, picking up my bag. “I’m gonna go.” And begin to walk toward the door.

  But he jumps to his feet and walks up behind me. He grabs my arm, spinning me around, and slams my back into the front door. “Demi.” He sighs my name, staring down at me.

  “Stop, Seth.” I try to shove him away, but he doesn’t budge.

  He pushes his body into mine instead, holding me captive against the door. Seth has played football all his life and got a scholarship to the University of Texas for his ball skills. He’s not a little guy by any means.

  “Seth,” I snap. “Stop.”

  His brown eyes narrow on mine. “I would if I could.”

  “What the fuck …?” He grips my hair, cutting off my words, and yanks me from the door before slamming me face-first onto the hardwood floor.

  BECKY

  I drive down the gravel road with my windshield wipers on. I hate Collins, Oregon. It’s always cloudy and rainy, and I prefer sunny days and warm weather. I need to move to a beach where I can sunbathe all year round. Taking a deep breath, I get out of my father’s car and enter the clubhouse. I’m here to see Bennett.

  “Hello?” I call out, the sound bouncing off the walls and high ceilings. Looking at the table that sits to my right, I smile when a black duffle bag catches my eyes. I remember all the things the GWS always keep on them from Austin’s journal.

  “What are you doing here?” I watch a man step out of the bathroom at the top of the stairs. He stands there, drying off his hands with a white towel
before he begins to descend the stairs.

  I roll my eyes. “Cut the shit, Shane. Is Bennett here?” I need to talk to that fucker. He’s been ignoring my texts and calls. He doesn’t wanna piss me off.

  He shakes his head. “Just you and me.”

  “Well, I’m not staying.” I turn to leave.

  “Why are you here?” he presses.

  “None of your business,” I call out.

  “How’s your sister?” he asks.

  I stop and turn back to face him as he hits the bottom step. “Taken care of.”

  “Doubtful.”

  “Why do you care?” That bitch will die after what she did to me. I haven’t decided what I’m gonna do with Deke just yet, but Demi will suffer before I end her miserable life.

  “I tried to get them to kill her.” He shrugs. “But he wanted to protect her for some fucking reason. They all did. From me. Ever since Kellan shot Austin …” He waves a careless hand in the air. “No one trusts me anymore.”

  “No one should trust a shark,” I snap.

  He laughs. “Deke will fall in love with Demi, you know. If he hasn’t already.”

  “He’s supposed to love me.” I feel like if I say it enough, it will happen.

  His lips curl up slightly, and he rubs his chin while looking me up and down. “No one can love a slut, Becky.”

  I slap him across the face.

  He slaps me back and growls. “Don’t confuse me with Deke.”

  I want to laugh it off, but tears fill my eyes at the sting that lingers. “Austin hits harder than you.”

  He chuckles. “Any girl Cole falls in love with would have to be strong.” He leans in close to my face. “A lesser woman would be dead by now. He would have torn her apart. She was made for it.”

  “Whatever.” I roll my eyes, holding my hand over my throbbing cheek. “Fuck her.” I’ve now put her in the same category as my sister. They’ll both get what they deserve.

  “Would you be saying that if she knew everything you’ve done?”

  My heart begins to pound in my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “No need to play dumb, Becky. It looks ugly on you,” he whispers. “You know …” His hand comes up, and he runs his knuckles over my sensitive cheek. “Kellan and I were the closest. He told me everything.”