The Sinner: A High School Bully Romance (Haven Grace Prep Book 1)

by Kelsey Clayton

  “Grayson?” Alexa looks surprised to see me. “I thought you moved.”

  I give her a one-armed hug. “I did. I’m just visiting for the weekend.”

  “Shame. I’ve missed you around here.”

  The flirtatious glint in her eyes is clear, and who am I to deny her? I finish off my drink and place the empty cup down on the counter.

  “Well, I’m here now.”

  She takes my hand and leads me to an empty room. The second the door closes behind us, my back is against it, and her lips are on mine. It’s not the first time I’ve hooked up with her, or even the fifth, but something feels different. Her lips aren’t as soft as the last ones I kissed. Her body doesn’t fit against mine like we were made from the same mold. She doesn’t taste like strawberries and summer. She’s not Savannah.

  Frustrated, I push away from the door and turn her, so she’s pinned to the wall. Running my hand up her shirt, I roll her nipple between my fingers. She mewls at the feeling, but still—nothing in me is reacting to her.

  She’s. Not. Savannah. My subconscious reminds me for the second time, and for fuck’s sake, it’s right. The little bitch has dug her talons in me. Maybe that kiss had more of an effect that I realized, and that can only mean one thing.

  I’m so fucked.

  GETTING TO SCHOOL MONDAY morning, I can already feel the tension. It’s as if I’m hyperaware of her location at all times. When she pulls up in Brady’s car while I’m smoking my morning cigarette. When we’re sitting in class and she keeps glancing over at me. When she walks into the cafeteria that’s swarming with people. I can sense her presence before I see her, and that makes me nervous. I’ve already seen what can happen if I get too close, and I can’t have a repeat of that. What I must to do is clear, but won’t be easy.

  I need to ignore her until I have more control over my feelings.

  A WEEK AND A HALF passes, and while it’s been difficult, I’ve successfully managed to ignore Savannah completely. It’s taken a little more effort than I thought it would though—actively avoiding her in the hall, and making a conscious effort to not look at her during practice. I’d hoped it would have worked by now, and it has, to a degree, but I still need more time. It’s worth the wait to make sure the revenge I have planned is executed perfectly.

  “Yo, Hayworth. Wait up,” Carter calls as he jogs down the hallway.

  I give him a look, wondering what’s so important. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I just wanted to see if you plan on coming Friday night.”

  My brows furrow. “Coming where?”

  “Savannah’s birthday. Weren’t you paying attention?”

  “No,” I admit. “I’ve been distracted lately.”

  It’s a lie. I’ve been purposely ignoring everything the second someone mentions her name, but I can’t exactly tell him that. He’ll grill me about it for hours.

  He nods in understanding. “Well, you should come. We’re going to Hypnotic.”

  “Isn’t that a twenty-one and over club?”

  Giving me a knowing look, he chuckles. “Yes, Mormon Grayson. That’s what fake IDs are for.” He takes out his phone and sends me a text. “Meet me at that address after school. We’ll get you a good one.”

  Well, fuck. I guess I’m going to Savannah’s birthday party.

  IT’S PROBABLY IDIOTIC TO go to a club when you’re this sexually frustrated—not that I could do anything about it if I tried. After the incident with Alexa, I haven’t even attempted to hook up with Kinsley. The last thing I need is for her to go around telling people I can’t get it up. Still, not going tonight could potentially make Savannah think she has the upper hand. Can’t have that, now can I?

  As soon as the bouncer hands me back my fake ID, I slip past the rope and inside. The place is nice, filled with different colored lighting and loud music. I instantly spot the guys at a VIP table. Of course.

  “Aye!” Carter says excitedly when he sees me. “I didn’t know if you were going to make it.”

  “What can I say? You talked me into it.” The level of sarcasm in my voice is obvious, but he’s too drunk already to notice.

  I say hello to everyone else before my eyes land on Savannah. Fuck. Me. She’s wearing a white dress with lace across the top and bottom. The view of her legs is incredible, as the dress only goes down to mid-thigh. Her hair cascades down and lays gently against her chest. The gloss she has on her lips reflects in the light and draws my attention, making me crave kissing her again.

  Clearing my throat, I try to ignore her surprise at my being here. “Happy Birthday.”

  “Thank you.”

  It’s the first thing we’ve said to each other in two weeks, since I made the colossal mistake of giving myself a small taste of her. Not only did that kiss show me what I’m denying myself, but it confirmed what I assumed all along—she wants me, too. It’s a shame she ruined everything before we even had a chance to get started. We could have been explosive.

  FOR MOST OF THE night, I manage to stay in check. Keeping drinks to a minimum so my judgment isn’t clouded, and focusing more on talking to the guys than admiring how Savannah looks tonight. However, not a damn thing in the world could have prepared me for seeing the way she moves on the dance floor.

  Her hips sway to the beat, displaying her expertise so well that people around start to watch. She spins around as she smiles brightly and laughs with Emma. Anyone in this room can tell she’s a professional. Confidence radiates off of her. One thing is clear— she’s at her best when she’s dancing.

  “She’s something else, isn’t she?” Hayden says, and my hand tightens around the rail, making him chuckle. “Don’t worry, my eyes are on Em.”

  I relax slightly. “Sorry, I’m just so tired of people trying to talk to me about Savannah.”

  “I get that.” He takes a sip of my drink. “Jace said you two already knew each other?”

  “What do you fuckers do, sit around and discuss other people’s lives?”

  He laughs. “The easiest way to make sure everyone finds something out is to tell Jace or Carter.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  Whatever Hayden says next goes completely unnoticed as I watch a guy walk up to Sav and put his hands on her hips. She startles for a second, but then grins and keeps dancing—grinding her ass into him. My blood runs hot, and I bite down on my lip so hard it bleeds. She’s mine.

  Hayden watches me carefully. “Should I be concerned you’re about to kill someone? Cause you have that look in your eyes.”

  Fuck it. I throw caution to the wind and hand Hayden my beer before making my way down there. Emma sees me coming, but Savannah has no idea. In one fluid motion, my fingers wrap around her wrist, pulling her from his grasp and into my own. She catches herself with one hand against my chest, and when her gaze meets mine, her breath hitches.

  “The fuck, man?!” the douchebag protests.

  “Tell him to leave,” I order, keeping my sights on her.

  She turns and gives him a sympathetic smile. He rolls his eyes but walks away, probably to find someone else to make a move on. Meanwhile, Sav focuses her attention back on me.

  “Are you happy now?”

  I smirk and glance down at her lips for only a second before spinning her around and gripping her waist, covering his touch with my own. “Show me what you’ve got, tiny dancer.”

  13

  Savannah

  The buzzing in my ears doesn’t even begin to compare to how my body feels, pressed against Grayson’s. After he’s completely ignored my existence for the past couple weeks, the last thing I expected was for him to come tonight, let alone be dancing with me. It’s wrong, screwed up beyond belief, and I should hate him. His tendency to play hot and cold is a proverbial mind-fuck. Yet, as his chest is pressed against my back, I couldn’t care less. This is what I want—what I’ve always wanted—and I’m not about to deny myself of it—especially on my birthday.

  I reach back and place my
hand on the back of his neck, pulling him closer. The glaring looks I’m getting from Kinsley are only motivating me further. With one particular circle of my hips, a low groan emits from the back of Grayson’s throat. His lips move to the shell of my ear.

  “Keep doing that, and I can promise you the whole club will find out just how easily that dress can be torn off.”

  A shiver runs down my spine. My nerve endings come alive, and all I want is for him to make good on that promise. Repeating my actions, his grip tightens hard enough to bruise.

  “Savannah Jade,” he warns, and hearing him say my middle name reminds me that this isn’t just some guy.

  This is Grayson.

  This is Gray.

  My Gray.

  IT’S ONE O’CLOCK IN the morning by the time we’re all leaving the club. After spending hours on the dance floor, I’ve never been so exhausted—and so turned on—in my life. The second we finished dancing, he went right back to the quiet, brooding guy I’ve come to see him as, but his eyes stayed on me.

  As we get to the parking lot, Jace pulls up in his Mercedes. Carter walks toward the passenger side, and Jace motions to the backseat.

  “Come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”

  I hesitate, but as soon as I open my mouth to answer, Grayson comes out of nowhere.

  “I’ve got it.”

  Carter beams like a proud parent while Jace snickers. “About damn time. Come on, Kinsley. Get in.”

  “B-but…”

  Standing up through the sunroof, Carter points at her and then the car. “Let’s go, or we’re leaving you here to walk home.”

  She sulks like a child as she gets in the back and closes the door behind her. I give her a fake smile and wave as Jace drives away.

  “Come on.”

  Grayson and I walk to his car in total silence. He unlocks the door, and we both climb in. There are so many things I want to say to him, but judging by the look on his face, he doesn’t want to hear it. Gone is the hot and fiery guy whose jealousy took over tonight. Instead, he’s stone cold.

  Halfway through the ride home, I can’t take the silence anymore. I reach to put the radio on, but he immediately turns it right back off. Rolling my eyes, I turn to look at him.

  “Thank you for giving me a ride home. I wasn’t sure what to tell Jace back there.”

  Nothing. Not a smile, or a hum. He’s just blank. I focus on staring out the window, watching the lights go by as we drive out of the city.

  We pull up to my house, and I sigh in relief when I notice my dad isn’t home. He already forgot my birthday, not that I expected him to remember. The last thing I wanted was to deal with him asking me where I was tonight—like he has any right to act like a parent now.

  “Thanks again.”

  He doesn’t say a word as I get out of the car and run inside, leaping over the rotten parts of the porch that I have committed to memory. A part of me considers just going to bed, but the club was so crowded that I feel grimy and disgusting. I grab a towel from the linen closet and go into the bathroom.

  Throughout the duration of my shower, I can’t shake the feeling of Grayson’s touch. It lingers everywhere. His hands on my waist. His lips at my ear. The length in his pants as I ground against him. It’s taking over my mind and making it hard to focus on anything else.

  Sliding my hand between my legs, I press two fingers against my clit—rubbing in a circular motion. I close my eyes and imagine it’s Grayson. My head lolls back against the tiles as I try to picture him doing this to me, but I know nothing is close to the real thing. That kiss in the hallway did more than take my breath away. It ruined me for even myself.

  Giving up, I turn off the water and climb out before wrapping a towel around my chest. As I reach my room and shut the door behind me, a shadow cast on the wall tells me I’m not alone. I’m about to scream, but something stops me.

  “Grayson?” I flick on the light to find him sitting on my bed, staring at his hands. “What are you doing here?”

  His eyes meet mine before gazing over my body, reminding me that I’m only in a towel. Within a second, he gets up and stalks across the small room. My back is against the door, and he’s so close I can taste him. Our breaths mix together as he runs his knuckles down my arm, and the conflicted look on his face makes my heart hurt.

  “Tell me to stop, Sav.” He all but whispers. “Tell me to leave. You have to.”

  I should, that much is clear. No good could come of this. Not when he hates me. Not when his sole mission in life is to destroy me. And yet, I want him here, more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

  “Stay.”

  Like the crack of a whip, his restraint snaps, and for the second time in two weeks, his lips are on mine. I gasp at the sudden movement. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he slips his tongue into my mouth and intertwines it with my own. He tastes the way he looks—sexy and dangerous, with a small hint of home.

  “Fucking hell,” he groans as he presses against me. “You don’t know how bad I’ve wanted this. Wanted you.”

  My head falls to the side when he starts kissing my neck. His mouth is like magic as he licks and sucks on the sensitive skin. I can already feel how rock hard he is. His hand starts sliding up my thigh, lifting the towel just enough. He’s tender at first, rubbing me in all the right places. My body is entirely at his mercy, and I’d stay like this forever if given the chance.

  “Oh God.” I breathe, quivering from the pleasure.

  He smirks. “You haven’t seen anything yet, baby.”

  The pet name alone turns me into a puddle of mush. His lips find mine again, and he kisses me, hard yet sweet. Still holding the towel around me, he places his hand over my own and slowly starts to pry it off.

  “Can I?” he asks, voice full of sincerity. Like if I told him no, he would respect it. Like I’m in control.

  I nod and release the only thing covering me, allowing him to slide it down until it pools on the floor. He lets his eyes sweep across my body and bites his lip.

  “You’re perfect.”

  Gripping my hips, he lifts me up and carries me over to my bed. He gently lays me down before pulling his shirt over his head. I need to resist the urge to whine at how physically flawless he is. The term “washboard abs” was invented with this boy in mind. I’m sure of it.

  My hand reaches up and rests on his chest, then makes its way down. I feel over every muscle, memorize every dip. He stays completely still until I reach his pants and pop open the button. I pull the zipper down slowly as he watches me.

  “Take them off,” I tell him. When he still seems unsure, I look him straight in the eyes. “I want this, Gray.”

  He’s fighting something as he takes a few breaths. “Do you know what you’re asking? I know you’re a virgin, but I won’t go easy. I can’t. I don’t know how.”

  “H-how do you know that?”

  “You told me,” he admits. “The night you were drunk and I brought you back to my house.”

  Fuck me and my drunken admissions. I can only imagine what else came out of my mouth. However, it still doesn’t change the fact that I want this, want him. I grab his shoulders and pull him down onto me, pressing my lips to his.

  “Take it, Grayson. It’s yours. It always has been.”

  He growls before standing up, pushing his pants and boxers down in one go. His hard cock springs free, making my eyes widen. He’s big, probably eight or nine inches, and thick. I timidly wrap my hand around it, and he hisses as his head falls back. Moving to the edge of the bed, he watches me as I stick my tongue out and lick the tip—tasting the small bead of pre-cum that has accumulated.

  “Fuck,” he murmurs.

  I take the head into my mouth and swirl my tongue around it as I pump the rest with my hand. His reaction only encourages me to keep going. I slide him in and out a few times until he hits the back of my throat. Grayson moans, fisting his hand in my hair and pulling me off him.

  “You keep doing th
at, and this won’t last long enough for me to take anything.”

  As I lay back, he steps out of his jeans and climbs onto the bed beside me. He kisses my neck then proceeds to move further down my body. When he reaches my breasts, he takes one nipple into his mouth and sucks, while his fingers tease the other. I arch my hips as I release a loud whimper. I know I should be quiet, in case my dad comes home, but I can’t help it. It feels too good.

  “Fuck me, Gray. Please, fuck me.”

  He groans and rests his forehead on my chest. “Christ, Sav. You can’t just say things like that and expect me not to combust on the spot.” Moving even lower, he blows a cool breath over my belly button. “Soon, baby.”

  I’m about to argue it when his tongue grazes over my clit, and I instantly see stars. He flicks his tongue a couple times, making me quiver and squirm on the bed, before slipping one finger inside of me.

  “You taste so good,” he murmurs against me before diving back in for more.

  My hand reaches down, lacing into his hair to pull him closer and get more friction. As I start to grind against him, he pulls his one finger out and replaces it with two. The sting is uncomfortable, but only slightly. Like he can sense my discomfort, he applies more pressure and sucks my clit into his mouth. His fingers work to spread me open as his mouth makes me feel things that could put even the best drugs to shame.

  Pressure starts to build, and I find it harder to stay quiet. He adds another finger to the mix and moans as his tongue and thumb rub me in ways that push me right over the edge. My orgasm explodes inside of me as I scream his name.

  “Holy shit!” I pant while coming down from the intense euphoria. “That was amazing.”

  He picks his head up and licks his lips, pulling a condom from the pocket of his jeans. “We’re just getting started.”