A Piece of Heaven_A Reverse Harem Contemporary Romance

by Angel Lawson

“I’ve missed you,” he said, stroking my hair. “Chem sucks now. Mr. Baker tried to make me work with another lab partner but I begged off. I’m just working alone.”

  “Poor baby.” I leaned back to look at him. “And you’ve got a dissection coming up. I know you hate those.”

  He grimaced. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”

  “I missed you, too,” I told him, pressing a kiss onto his warm chest. His breath hitched and he tilted my chin upward.

  He dropped his mouth to mine, starting slow and easing my lips apart. His hands dropped to my back, pushing at the fabric of my shirt. It felt so good to be with him. So good to feel him close to me. The eagerness in his thin pants pressed against my lower belly.

  He lifted me off the ground and I wrapped my legs around his waist. The sensation between us was dizzying. My stomach clenched with anticipation. I’d waited so long to be with him, feel him, and for once we were alone and on the same page.

  He must’ve thought the same because he carried me over to the bed. I held my breath and waited for whatever came next, hoping it would finally happen. The bed, his body, this touch, but he paused.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “No one knows you’re here?” he asked, tilting his forehead against mine.

  “Just Amber.”

  “Not Mark or Spencer.”

  “No. I made sure. Why?”

  “Because I don’t want anyone sullying this for us. No photos. No creeping. Just me and you, okay?”

  I nodded, feeling relief. That’s all I wanted too.

  Anderson laid me gently on the bed, standing over me like a Greek god. Slowly we undressed, my sweater falling to the floor. His eyes widened when he saw what I had on underneath and he leaned over, poking a finger in the threadbare shirt.

  It was the shirt Anderson admitted drove him wild.

  “Remember what I said that day?”

  I nodded. He’d told me to wear it as a signal for when I was ready.

  My body, my heart, and my soul were beyond ready.

  He reached for his pajamas but I sat up, stilling his hands. I kissed both his hip bones, teeth grazing the soft skin just below his belly button. He hissed and it made me laugh. I liked seeing him vulnerable. I liked having control.

  His erection surprised me. Hard and bobbing. I touched it carefully but he just grunted and said, “It won’t break, babe.”

  That made two of us.

  I blinked and he was gone—having moved to the bedside table, knocking over the stack of books in his haste. They fell with a clatter.

  “Shit,” he muttered but ignored the mess, reaching in the drawer instead. He fumbled, finally pulling out a square package that he tore with his teeth. I watched the whole thing in fascination. Watching the perfection of his body, the dimples on his lower back that eased over the hard curve of his ass. The fine, lean muscles that corded his swimmer’s body.

  He appeared over me again, rolling the condom on, kissing me for my patience. After what felt like forever, he finally eased on top of me, lifting the orange and purple shirt. He kissed my belly, smiling when I squirmed, feeling ticklish and silly. Soon my shirt was with the other clothing, tossed on the floor. He touched my body everywhere, sending chills across my skin, and when he pushed inside, he took it slow, moving inch by inch. I gritted my teeth and clamped down on his shoulder.

  “You okay?” he asked, distracting me with a kiss.

  I nodded, savoring the pain. It was a different sort than I was used to. This was what I wanted, he was what I wanted, and I exhaled when he was all the way inside.

  We were all alone when Anderson claimed me. Alone when he pressed his lips to mine and whispered my name. It was just the two of us when he thrusted his hips hard against mine, linking our sweaty hands and mingling breaths.

  Anderson groaned, nose wrinkled, jaw tight, and I watched him through his release. His chest heaved and he rolled to his side, pulling out. I felt the loss, but his fingers trailed down my hot skin, over the curve of my hip. He touched the inside of my thigh, nudging me to open and I did, allowing him to relieve the desperate ache between my legs.

  Those long, skilled fingers moved the stars.

  After, when he pulled me tight against his chest, still sticky with sweat, I finally felt the healing begin on one of the missing pieces of my broken heart.

  Chapter 24

  After miraculously not getting caught with Anderson, I didn’t push my luck. I did everything I could to gain my mother’s trust. Engaged at dinner. Spoke about school. Never mentioned my boyfriends.

  Amber and I came up with a solid plan. One that should flush out Mark and Spencer while redeeming the Allendale Four. Unfortunately, to get everything in motion I was going to have to swallow my pride and do something painful.

  I had to call Justin.

  “Fuck no,” Hayden roared, when I told him the plan. The others didn’t have the same intense reaction, they also didn’t seem pleased.

  “I’m not forgiving him,” I said. We were once again huddled in the bathroom right after lunch. “But he’s my only way into that dance. My mom trusts him.”

  “You mom has shitty tastes.” Jackson looked guilty after he said it. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. She’s got this whole thing wrong.”

  Oliver slipped an arm around my waist. “To be fair, it’s a complicated, stupid situation. Your mother wants to protect you. I can’t fault her for that.”

  I lean into him. “We’ve got three days until the dance. If I talk to Justin tonight, I think we can set this plan in motion.”

  “And if he says no?” Anderson asked.

  We locked eyes, the heat of our connection burning hard since the prior day. It was impossible to look at him without thinking about what we’d done. I swallowed back those feelings, crossed my arms over my chest and made a promise. “He won’t say no.”

  *

  Like I suspected, my mother happily allowed me to take her truck to Oceanside and visit Justin. He eyed me warily when I pulled up and it took everything I had not to walk right up to him and slap him across the face.

  Okay, it didn’t take everything, because I walked right up to him and punched him in the jaw.

  “Ow! Mother fu—” I shouted, doubling over and holding my hand. That was a bad idea.

  “Heaven!” He rubbed his jaw. “What the hell?”

  My hand throbbed. My fingers were surely broken.

  “That was for ratting me out, asshole.”

  “And you thought busting up your hand was punishment?” He reached for my hand and I snatched it back. He made a face and I reluctantly held it out. It really hurt, but he checked it over and said he thought it was probably just bruised.

  “Did you really come here to beat me up?”

  “Actually, I didn’t, but seeing your smug, traitorous face made me snap.” I grimaced and we had a long staredown. Justin had dark, soulful eyes that when he felt bad made him look like a shamed puppy. Even though I did nothing wrong, it felt like a punch in the gut. “No. You don’t get to make me feel bad.”

  “I’m sorry, Heaven. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

  His apology sounded genuine but it didn’t change the raw, jagged wound he left on our friendship. “You hurt me, Justin. I never thought you’d betray me. Never, not after what I did for you. I protected you and took the abuse from everyone at school for you. You. And I found something good in all of it and then you just went and epically fucked the whole thing up.”

  “You’re right,” he said, eyes cast down. “You did all of that for me.”

  I inhaled deeply, ignoring the throbbing pain in my hand. “And that’s why you’re going to do me a favor.”

  He looked up quickly, forehead creased. “What?”

  “I need you to do something for me. Stop this once and for all and maybe redeem yourself in the process.”

  “I don’t need redemption.”

  “Every story needs a redemption, Justin, and here�
��s your chance to earn it.”

  He nodded, seeming to understand I was giving him a second chance. We wouldn’t be friends anymore but he could at least clean up his mess. “What do you want me to do?”

  I smiled, relieved and thankful I didn’t have to push harder. We had a lot to go over to get this right. Every move we made had to be perfect, but before we could start I held up my swollen hand and asked, “Do you have any ice?”

  Chapter 25

  I twisted, checking myself from all angles in the mirror. Smoothing the full skirt from the waist, I couldn’t hide my pleasure at the simple, beautiful dress. The style was retro—fifties, full taffeta skirt. Tight, strapless bodice. Charcoal, with layers of black and white crinoline underneath.

  Amber loaned me this one, determining my other not dramatic enough for the night ahead. She was probably right. Heaven Reeves had proved one thing over the past few months. She isn’t like other girls. No. She was bolder. Stronger. And my winter formal wear should reflect that.

  As suspected, my mother not only approved of my dress but also my date. Justin stood in my shabby but tidy living room, in a tight, black suit and skinny black tie holding a bouquet of wildflowers. There was a distinct lack of interest in his eyes; why wouldn’t there be? I wasn’t his type, amazing dress or not.

  Amber and Benjamin showed up looking amazing and after a few rounds of obligatory photos, we piled into Ben’s car and drove to the dance.

  “Heaven,” Amber said, twisting in the front seat. “You look amazing.”

  “You look pretty outstanding yourself,” I told her. Amber’s fashion sense was bold, opting for a solid white halter-top pantsuit. The neckline plunged, but in a classy, sophisticated way. She looked like a 1940s starlet.

  “I’m just hoping I don’t spill something.”

  I laughed. “You may be testing the gods on that one.”

  The dance was at the school, of course. There was no other place to hold it in our tiny town. I'd never been to a dance before, which contributed to the nerves fluttering in my belly. Despite my excitement, everything felt off. Justin’s hand on my elbow felt wrong. I wanted a different experience—a different night with different guys. I wanted to think of ways to gyrate against Oliver while we danced, or how to get Hayden beneath the back row of the folded-up bleachers. I wanted a silly picture with Jackson and a slow dance with Anderson.

  Really? Was that too much for a girl to ask?

  "Stop it," Amber said, while the boys exchanged our tickets at the table near the front door.

  I frowned. "Stop what?"

  "All this over-thinking.”

  “There’s a lot riding on tonight, Amber. One slip and the whole plan crumbles.”

  "Ready?" Justin asked, linking an arm through mine. Once we walked through that door there was no going back.

  “I’m ready to get this over with.”

  He bent down and whispered in my ear as we walked into the gym. “You know, you really do look beautiful, Heaven.”

  “Thank you.” It meant more than it should. Things were still really tense between us. Things were really tense in general.

  "Oh look! A disco ball!" I was momentarily surprised at how not-crappy the gym looked. The dance/decoration/Martha Stewart-wannabe committee made the place not smell and feel like Teen Spirit.

  The room had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Icicles hung from the ceiling along with twinkling lights. Glittery snowflakes sprinkled across the stage, accented with blue light. I searched the room and slowly, everything clicked in place.

  I found my boys.

  Anderson tried not to stare in my direction. He failed miserably. Those candy-apple green eyes raked over every inch of my body. There was no escaping the intensity of the way he took in the way the dress hugged my curves, showing nothing and everything. I felt exposed yet powerful. We could learn a lot from our grandmothers about fashion.

  Jackson, in an expertly fit navy blue suit, grabbed Oliver’s arm to pull his attention to where I stood in the doorway. Oliver jabbed Hayden in the ribs. He jerked his head toward Oliver but stopped cold when he saw me. They whispered to one another—I couldn’t hear it over the music and from the distance but my heart pounded anyway. They looked fantastic and even if I was here with another guy, there was no doubt in my heart who my real dates were.

  “Did the temperature just rise in here?” Amber asked, watching the scene unfold. She fanned herself with her clutch. “How long until we set this plan in motion?”

  I dragged my eyes from the boys, glancing at the clock over the basketball goal.

  “Thirty minutes?”

  To my surprise, Justin interrupted. “Go, I’ll cover for you.”

  “Go where?”

  “The locker room? Under the bleachers? Oh maybe on the football field—like a movie.” He squeezed my shoulder. “I was wrong, Heaven. I can tell from here how much they care for you. Go.”

  "You think?"

  He smiled, softening his features. "I know.”

  "Make it the car, okay? The locker room is just disgusting and I’m not getting busted under the bleachers." I’d learned that lesson.

  I walked over to Amber and Ben. "I'm going to take my coat to the car. I'll be back," my eyes darted to Justin’s, "in a minute."

  Amber rewarded me with an approving grin.

  The gym lobby was crowded when I passed through it, filled with stragglers. I wove through the crowd and noticed them noticing me. I pushed my shoulders back and held my chin high—they could stare all they wanted. I didn't care. Tonight was the night I stop playing games.

  I slipped through the double doors to get outside, fresh air slapping me in the face. The door opened behind me, closing with a click. I didn’t look back. I expected a shadow, more than one, and the thought made the coil in my chest loosen.

  By the time I reached the parking lot, I heard footsteps behind me and smiled to myself. I began walking intentionally, slowing my gait, trailing my hand over the curves of the closest car. The heels of my shoes clicked against the pavement until I reached the trunk and paused. A warm hand wrapped around my waist and I melted into it.

  "Seeing you all like that and not being with you? That was painful," I said, leaning against the car, pulling his weight with me.

  "Oh, yeah?" asked a voice that was decidedly not one of my secret boyfriends. He smelled smoky, like stale cigarettes. I froze, everything except my heart that pounded in fear. “Seeing you like this just makes me want you that much more.”

  Self-preservation brought me to my senses and I wiggled against his weight and in the shadowy light saw exactly who'd followed me out here. It wasn’t my boys. Or Justin or anyone else I called a friend.

  Chapter 26

  "Spencer!" I yelled, using both hands to push him away. "Get off me!"

  "Why?" he asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he approached me again. "Who are you out here meeting? Your date is inside."

  Again, I pushed him away and glanced around, hoping someone—anyone was out there to witness it.

  "Back. The. Fuck. Off! I'm not meeting anyone out here. And I don’t have to justify myself to you. But I am about to head back to the dance where my friend is waiting for me. I really don't think you want to deal with him if he sees you fucking with me."

  Spencer didn't seem deterred by the threat of Justin, which was weird. Justin was a big guy, much bigger than Spencer. But he stood before me, grinning all sly and smirky and not in that cute way Anderson does when he wanted to grope me next to the water fountain. Or the adorable lopsided one Oliver gave me when he picked me up in the morning.

  No, his smile was filled with danger and disturbing thoughts. Fear ran down my spine.

  He took a step toward me and moved so close I could smell the sour alcohol on his breath. "I'm not really the one who has to worry."

  "W—what are you talking about?"

  He reached in the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out his phone, sliding his thumb ove
r the screen. "I know about you and your circle jerk of perverts, but do they know everything about you? Like you and Anderson sneaking off and fucking in Oliver’s apartment? In his bed?”

  He passed me the phone. Dread filled my belly like a sinking stone. It wasn’t a photo but a video this time of me and Anderson in Oliver’s room. It starts with us hugging, then kissing. I looked away when he picked me up and carried me to the bed.

  “How…how did you get this?” I reached for the phone, but he snatched it back.

  He shrugged. “Seems like you should be a little more careful about the electronics in your room.” He nodded at his phone. “Or the ones we carry around. There’re people out there that want to take advantage of girls like you.”

  “My electronics?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t be so naïve, Heaven. We’ve all heard the spiel about watching the programs and apps we use. Not making friends on the internet that we don’t know. Never. Ever. Posting things you don’t want out there…” He ran his finger down my arm. “What do you think the others will say when they find out you chose one guy over the rest? That Anderson was the first and not one of them? Was he your first?”

  “They won’t care.” My voice wavered, almost betraying me. I held my chin high.

  “Maybe they won’t, but I think your mom will care and Ms. Hemmingway and the principal. I think my step-dad may care and the sex crimes department with the police. It would be a shame if he decided to make you and your boyfriends an example to the community about the dangers of social media, when you could fix this so very easily.”

  All I could do was bluff. "How do you know the guys don’t know about me and Anderson already? We’re in a relationship together. It’s not a crime. It’s consensual. The only criminal here is you.”

  “So you finally admit you’re a whore.”

  “Is that all you wanted? Was for me to admit that? Fine. I’m in a relationship with the Allendale Four. We’re happy. We love one another.”

  "Do they know you're still hooking up with Blackwood?"