“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I frown, not liking that I’ve said no. “You’re really hot. I’m sure you get that all the time, huh? Have you ever been a model? I can totally see you on the covers of… things that have models.” My eyes widen. “You could play Spiderman.”
He laughs. “I don’t think I’d like that. I don’t like a lot of attention.”
“I get that.” I nod. “I’m the same way. You’re easy to talk to, Jones.” My fingers glide through his hair. It’s like touching silk.
He smirks, grabbing my wrist. “Follow me.”
Gripping my cup, I laugh as I’m pulled through the kitchen and into the laundry room.
I set my nearly empty cup on the washing machine. “Tell me you’ve never seen a laundry room like this.” I take in the room, feeling like I’m seeing it for the first time. “This whole house is amazing, but I can’t get over the laundry room; I’ve never seen one so big.” I twirl around, and the world tips.
Jones catches me around the waist, pulling me tightly against his chest. “Close your eyes,” he whispers.
“What?” I laugh. “Why?” I look up, my smile slipping away. His eyes are absolutely amazing. It’s like looking into the ocean if the ocean was in space. “Whoa, a spatial ocean. Are you even real?”
“What?” Jones laughs. “Just close your eyes so I can kiss you.”
I do, and then I feel his warm, cushiony lips on mine. He fists my hair with one hand while pulling my hips against his. At first, the kiss is awkward because his tongue is moving so fast, but soon, I’m able to keep up.
I grip his shoulders, wanting everything he has to offer. I’m ready for it all. I need it all, and this is the perfect opportunity. Jones is here visiting his cousin, so I won’t have to see him again.
Our mouths move together like a dance. His hand trails up my shirt and slips beneath my bra. When his fingers brush against my nipple, I pull away from his mouth, panting at the intense sensation. He rolls my nipple between his fingers, and I roll my hips, grinding against his thigh. My body feels weightless, my eyes heavy yet awake.
“This is good. Feels good,” I say. “But I don’t want to see you again after this, okay?”
Looking confused, Jones pulls away. “Really?”
I nod, running my finger over the lines between his brows. “Really, really, and you can’t tell anyone about this.”
“Okay,” he agrees, his hand moving between my thighs, rubbing me over the thin fabric of my leggings.
So many overwhelming sensations. He captures my mouth again, but this kiss doesn’t last long because I’m moaning and breathless.
Jones smiles as he steps back, letting his jeans fall to the floor. Not taking my eyes from him, I grab my cup, finishing the last of it. His boxers are tight-fitting, showing off how hard he is.
“What the fuck is going on?”
My focus shifts to a pissed-off Sully, and I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up my throat. His head snaps my way, his eyes narrowed slits. I clamp my mouth shut, but my cheeks puff out from the laughter that’s trying to escape.
“Hey, man. Figured nobody would come back here,” Jones says casually.
Jones isn’t embarrassed at all that Sully’s found us like this. I guess I don’t care either. It feels good not to care. Lucy would be proud. Not proud that I’m about to lose my virginity to a stranger, but proud that I don’t care what anyone thinks about it. “My ass is bad. Wait. I meant to say I have badass.” I bend over laughing. “That’s… not…” My butt hits the floor, but I barely register it because I can’t stop laughing. “I’m badass.” I look up at Sully. “Whoa. Have you ever seen your guys? I mean eyes?”
I’m yanked up by my upper arm. Sully pushes Jones to the side as he marches out of the laundry room with me in tow. The same pleasant tingles I felt with Jones move up and down my arm from Sully’s touch, but my stomach doesn’t like the jostling, and rolls with nausea.
“Hey, Sully. Wait up,” Jones calls as he attempts to pull his pants on at the same time he’s running after us.
“Sully, stop. I’m dizzy,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut. My feet leave the ground as Sully scoops me up. I feel like I’m floating. The ceiling is so high up. I don’t think I ever noticed that before. “How did people get up there to paint it?”
My stomach rolls, so I close my eyes again. I try matching the rise and fall of Sully’s chest, but it makes me lightheaded. A door bangs shut. The music becomes muffled, and the temperature drops a few degrees.
“What’s roaring one?”
“Found nin endry game.”
“Dot ink shadow drag?”
I rub my temples. “Can you speak English?”
I’m set right side up, swaying with dizziness as my body takes time to adjust. I’m face to face with Ryan. I roll my eyes. Why did Sully bring me down here? I eye the pool table Ryan’s standing next to. There are two other guys I don’t recognize, but they’re focused on the pool game they’re playing and not me.
“What can make?” Ryan says, his face inches from mine.
His breath smells like black licorice and something sweet. It cools down my heated skin. “What?” I ask.
“What drugs did you take?” he says slowly.
“Pink ones, but you’ll have to find your own.” I laugh. “I hate you so much.” I step back, stumbling over my own feet.
“Dammit,” Sully cusses, and then I’m whisked over to something soft at the back of the room.
It’s like lying on top of a polar bear. I run my hands up and down its white fur.
“You really are a whore, aren’t you?” Ryan growls, crouching down next to me.
A giggle bubbles out. He looks so mad. He needs to loosen up. I clutch my stomach as I laugh uncontrollably. He’s so serious. His face gets angrier, making me laugh more.
Sully and Jones are leaning over me now, Sully frowning and Jones grinning.
“Feeling good?” Jones asks.
I nod and smile. I feel so good.
“Get out, Jones. You aren’t getting laid tonight,” Sully says.
“Typical.” Ryan snorts, glaring at me. “Of course you’d come to the party to get some.”
“Get what?” I ask.
“Dick,” Ryan says matter-of-factly. “Just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get fucked.”
I laugh. “Whatever, stupid.”
“Go to bed. I’m not going to let you spread your STDs here tonight.”
“You have to have sex to get an STD, you idiot. I can’t have an STD because I’ve never had sex.” I roll my eyes. Stupid boys don’t know how things work. My friends passed chlamydia back and forth for a while, and Jessa’s cousin got genital warts. I guess that’s the only reason I know about diseases. I don’t remember learning about it in school.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ryan snaps. “You are not a virgin.” He scoffs.
I narrow my eyes. “Definitely not.”
“You just said you haven’t had sex before,” Sully says.
“I did?” I laugh nervously because that’s a secret even my best friend doesn’t know.
Jones’s mouth forms into an O shape, and his eyes widen. He looks so cute like that. I reach up to touch his lips, but my hand doesn’t reach him.
“See, she’s not belligerent. She’s perfectly capable of making decisions,” Jones says to someone, but his beautiful eyes are on me.
“You guys are so tall,” I say, staring up at them. “Like trees.” I close my eyes, feeling dizzy again.
“Leave,” Sully grinds out.
I open my eyes to glare at him. “I’m not leaving. I’m sick of you guys trying to get me to.”
He shoves Jones back a step. “Out, now.”
Sully’s ruining everything. I’m ready. Finally ready to get this out of the way.
He tosses a blanket at me. “Go to sleep.”
“Do not leave this room,” Ryan says.
Pushing the blanket away,
I stand up, teetering to the left, but I right myself. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
Ryan arches a brow. “This is my house.”
I feel my blood pumping. This arrogant asshole. “I live here too, Ryan.”
“Doesn’t mean you get to enjoy my parties. And you’re only living here until your probation is over, right?”
I stare at him, hating that he’s about to ruin my buzz. If it weren’t for him, I could have the life I never had. I could have been happy here. “Yes, temporarily. And I’m not enjoying your stupid party.”
“That’s right, you’re just trying to enjoy my…” Ryan turns to Jones. “What the fuck are you doing here, anyway?”
Jones doesn’t answer Ryan as he walks out the door.
“Lay down, Emma,” Sully says.
My focus shifts to him. He looks so mad but so hot. Our eyes lock, and I know he can feel this chemistry between us. I don’t want to feel it. He’s not ready to feel it. I lick my dry lips.
“Emma,” Sully whispers. “You need to sleep this off.”
“Why do I always feel like kissing you?” I mumble. “It’s bullshit.” I push past him, only to turn around to face him again. “I’m mad at you right now, but I want to kiss you, and I never feel like kissing anyone, only you.” I watch Sully’s gaze dart to Ryan. “You’re worried what he thinks. Not that I don’t get it. Family is everything; you’ll pick him every time. That’s why we can’t kiss anymore. Just friends.”
“Emma,” Sully says in warning.
“What’s she talking about?” Ryan growls, looking between me and Sully.
“Nothing,” Sully snaps.
“You kissed her?” Ryan asks.
“Drop it,” Sully barks, glaring at Ryan.
“Whatever,” Ryan says, putting his phone to his ear as he leaves the room.
“Sully, you almost done with your sister?”
I whip my head toward the harsh voice. The brunette with the nice body is approaching, her chocolate-colored eyes narrowed at me. I didn’t do anything for her to be looking at me like that.
“In a minute, Laura. Fuck. I’m busy. I’ll see you guys upstairs.”
“So, you’re almost done?” she asks, brushing her long hair over her shoulder.
“Yeah, now go upstairs,” he says in a clipped tone.
She sighs heavily but leaves. Why am I mad that he didn’t correct her about me being his sister?
“You’re not thinking clearly, Emma. You’re on E and drunk. You’re too fucked up to have sex with Jones.”
My eyes widen. “I’m not doing that with Jones,” I lie.
“You two were halfway there in the laundry room.”
I frown. Everything’s getting messed up. Jones was supposed to be a secret.
“Come on. You should go to bed.”
I roll my eyes, sick of people telling me what to do. I’ve always listened to them, but it never does me any good. I should tell him to fuck off, but… “Yeah, bed. I should go there,” I say, trying to hide my mischievous smile and the fact my body is humming with new excited energy.
“Are you still here with her?” Ryan says from the doorway. “Come on, Sully. Let her do what she’s going to do.”
I force out a yawn. “Wow, I’m exhausted. I just noticed. Guess I’m going there now. To my bed.” I stumble to the door and push past Ryan. I force myself to move faster. The beat of the music helps me focus. I need to find…There he is. I throw my arms around Jones.
He smiles down at me. “Are you ready, babe?”
I nod, and then he presses his lips to mine.
Chapter 19.5
RYAN
“She isn’t in her room.”
I look up at Sully and roll my eyes as Amber grinds her ass against me. Can’t he see that I don’t care, and why the fuck does he? “So,” I mumble, slipping my hand into Amber’s skirt to find her bare pussy. I run my finger down her slick folds and then back up to her clit to circle her there in rhythm with the way our hips move to the music.
“Come on, Ry,” Sully growls. “Help me find her.”
I pull my hand away from warm pussy to scowl at my brother. He glares right back, looking like he’s ready to tear the damn house apart. “Fine,” I mumble. I lower my lips to Amber’s ear and whisper, “Meet me in the guest room in five minutes.”
I roll my eyes and gesture for Sully to lead the way. I don’t see why he cares about her so much. It pisses me off. Moving through the dance floor is like walking through tar. This is one of the biggest parties we’ve had this year. Everyone showed up.
Several people are gathered around the island bar, taking shots and playing quarters, but no Emma and no Jones. If she were with any other guy tonight, I would tell Sully to fuck off.
“Upstairs,” Sully hollers over the noise.
We check Emma’s room, but it’s empty. My room’s empty too. That’s when I hear a girl: a crying girl. My gaze finds Sully’s. He’s frozen. We both are.
“Fuck,” I growl, throwing Brent’s door open.
Emma’s small frame is curled up into a ball, and I see blood on the white sheets. Fuck.
Sully rushes over to her while I’m frozen in the doorway. I watch as he pulls the sheet over her and then rests his hand on her lower back, whispering something in her ear.
“I hate Jeff,” Emma growls into the pillow she’s clutching.
Sully and I look at each other thinking the same thing; who the fuck is Jeff?
“Come on, Emma. I’ll help you to your room,” Sully says, but she doesn’t budge. Sully tries helping her up, but she pushes him away.
“It hurts,” Emma whines. “Please.”
“Can you grab her an ice pack?” Sully asks, and I’m gone, thankful for the excuse to leave the room.
My guilt is making me nauseous. I should have tried to stop her. I knew she was out of it, but I didn’t care. I knew Jones wouldn’t be gentle. Even most of the more experienced girls shy away from his rough ways.
I head back upstairs with an ice pack, a kitchen towel, Tylenol, and a bottle of water. When I get to the top of the stairs, I see Sully with Emma in his arms, the sheet wrapped around her. I follow him into her room, setting everything on her nightstand as Sully lays her on the bed. Her eyes are closed and her cheeks wet.
Sully takes the ice pack, wrapping it in the towel before placing it between her legs. She hisses, her eyes snapping open, but they aren’t focused.
“I’m going to fucking murder him,” Sully says. “I told him to leave her alone.”
“You know he did this because of me,” I say, shaking my head in aggravation.
Sully’s hands are balled into fists at his side. He’s got that look in his eye, that look that I recognize. Jones is fucked. He’s brought out the monster that my brother works so hard to hide.
I look over at Emma. Her eyes are closed and her breaths shallow. She’s asleep.
Sully and I leave the room quietly, locking the bedroom door behind us as we go. Brent comes out of his room with a redhead tucked under his arm.
“Dude, someone had sex in my bed. Fucking chick was on her period or something. This is bullshit,” Brent says, grimacing. “Can we use your room? We’d go to the guest room, but Amber’s in there with the door locked.”
I lock eyes with the chick. “I need to talk to my brother. He’ll find you later.”
The bitch rolls her brown eyes but moves from under Brent’s arm to walk down the stairs.
“Where’s Jones?” Sully says through a clenched jaw.
“I saw him downstairs earlier,” Brent says, and Sully’s gone. Brent focuses on me. “What’s up? I’ve been trying to get with Connie for weeks.”
I sigh. “Jones got Emma wasted and then fucked her on your bed. I guess Silex was right about her being a virgin.”
Brent’s eyes widen. “Oh, shit.” He looks to the empty space where Sully was standing. “Sully?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck,” Brent says. “
Guess we better go back him up.”
“Yep,” I say, and then we head downstairs. Who would have guessed we’d be beating the shit out of the guy who took Emma’s virginity? Not me.
Chapter 20
I wake up naked and my whole body aching, but my vagina hurts the worst. It feels bruised but is also burning. I clench my thighs together. I need something—ice. Ow, fuck.
I look between my legs and see dried blood on my thighs. I cover my mouth with my hand as grainy memories flash through my mind. I took a pill and drank way too much. I squeeze my eyes shut.
Jones.
I had sex with Jones. I remember wanting to do it, but I don’t remember much of actually doing it. Not remembering, defeated the whole purpose. My life is one fucking mistake after another. I can’t do anything right.
I slowly get out of bed. There’s bruising around my wrists and hips. I remember kissing Jones in the laundry room, but I don’t think that could have caused all this bruising.
I throw on sweats and a loose shirt. My vagina feels like a brick’s hanging from it; it’s probably broken. I broke my vagina.
There’s a soft knock on the door before it’s pushed open by Sully. He looks as tired as I feel, with bloodshot eyes and a five o’clock shadow. His dark-blue shirt is wrinkled, and his gray sweats are torn at the knee.
“Hey,” I croak, my throat sore and scratchy.
“You okay?”
I shrug. “Fine.” I study his face, trying to see if he knows anything. Why does he think I might not be okay?
He steps further in. “Do you need anything?”
I narrow my eyes in confusion. “Like what?”
“Something to eat or... another ice pack?”
I suck in a breath. “I’m fine.”
“There’s Tylenol next to your bed if you need it. What the…?” Eyes trained on my wrist, he moves to grab my arm, but I step out of reach.
“She okay?”
Ryan steps in behind Sully. He looks put together, dressed casually and hair styled in its usual way. I see the judgment in his eyes as he takes in my disheveled appearance. I glare at him. Not everyone can look like you after a night of partying, asshole. My brows pinch together. Wait, did he ask if I was okay? Why would he care?
Bullies Love and Lies Page 14
