Cute? She called what he was ‘smitten?’ I frowned at the back of her dark head. I guess Bri would be joining Judas and me in therapy.
“I gave it up to him in a shed. Not sure that counts as anything mind-blowing.”
I kept the confession nonchalant, doubting she knew the truth of that night. She glanced over her shoulder, a grin on her face and sparkle in her dark brown eyes.
“You and I are going to get along just fine, Riri.”
Any and all comebacks dissipated the moment I saw Pesadilla’s food court. It was the only area Judas had failed to show me. I’d smelled the various foods a mile away. No joke, I was a bloodhound for some carbs.
“Oh, my god.”
“Amazing, right?” A familiar voice came from just behind me.
I looked back, silently rejoicing when I saw my soulmate standing there with a smug grin. I was happy as hell I got her for even a small part of the day. She’d never said a damn thing about how awesome her school’s cafeteria was. Could be because no one cared about food as much as I did.
“I can feel my ass getting fatter already,” I exclaimed loud enough that a few jocks heading for one of the tables laughed.
Brianna shook with silent laughter beside me. “You know what you want?”
Everything. “Whatever you’re getting. Take the choice away from me.”
“Good girl,” Audrey joked.
“Come on then.” Brianna nodded towards the left side of the room.
Audrey fell in step beside me as Bri led us to wherever she wanted food from.
This place looked like a mall food court, not a school. All the best spots were set up inside. We grabbed some subs and drinks, then I stupidly followed Brianna to a table. Reality clicked when I saw who was already seated there.
“I’ll catch up with you later, Brianna.”
“Don’t make a scene. You can either sit at the table or I’m planting that ass on my lap.”
Audrey looked at me with her brows raised. “You have so much explaining to do,” she mumbled.
“You too, Dollface.” Another deep voice joined Judas’. If it were possible to see steam coming out of someone’s ears, now would have been that moment. That was clearly directed at Audrey, who to my knowledge had never been called that by anyone else.
“Looks like you’ve got a lot of that to do yourself,” I quipped, going without argument.
I was starving and the food looked good. It was just a table. I took a chair diagonally from Judas. Audrey sat left of me, placing herself across from the guy with indigo eyes.
Bri took the seat on the right, making her diagonal to the last guy—the one that had called me kitten. I paid none of them any attention.
I unwrapped my sub and began to eat, making sure I stayed aware of where I was. The taste of grilled chicken and pepper jack cheese exploded in my mouth, and I almost moaned.
Seeing the guy with deep set blue eyes was watching me with a hint of a smile on his face, I wiped my mouth with a napkin and eyed him back questioningly. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you haven’t noticed them.”
I was confused until Audrey spoke up.
“Everyone’s staring at us.”
I leaned back and cast my gaze around the massive room. Sure enough, half the student body was looking our way. Didn’t they know how creepy that was? To watch someone eat?
“That’s ridiculous.” I shook my head and went back to my sandwich.
“You might as well get used to it.”
I lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “It’ll fade. I’m a novelty right now. As soon as I sit somewhere else, they’ll be back to staring at the four of you again.”
His blonde brows rose, a soft laugh spilling from his mouth.
“Why is that funny?” Audrey questioned.
“Because she thinks she’ll be sitting somewhere other than here. You two don’t have a choice anymore.”
Great. He sounded like Judas. “Do you guys sit in a huddle and plan out how you’re going to be misogynistic assholes, or does it come naturally?”
Another laugh came from the guy with the sky-blues. “That’s not fair, kitten. We ain’t prejudiced against chicks. I for one love them.”
“Do you?” Sarcasm dripped from my tone.
“Yeah. I have a medical condition, and it requires multiple women to alleviate the symptoms a few times a month.”
Despite how fuck-boyish that was, I laughed.
Brianna rolled her eyes. “Ignore all of them, you two. They’re actually part of a small male population that thinks with their brains more often than their cocks. Listening to him,” she nodded, “you wouldn’t think so.”
I grinned down at the him in question. “Which one are you?”
“Owen. I’m a Rook, like Bri.”
“I was adopted,” Brianna explained their obvious differences.
“And she’s the best little sister,” he cooed.
“Big sister,” she corrected with another eye-roll.
“I’m a Knight.” The guy kind-of across from me stated.
“In name only,” Audrey muttered.
He shot her a wicked smile. “I’ll remember you said that.”
Yeah, I’d certainly be grilling her too.
“How did all four of you end up in the same lunch period?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Aside from Bri’s English class, we’re only here for pre-college electives and can opt in to any class as long as we get em done.”
Holy shit. Smart fuckers.
“Why come at all then?” Audrey asked.
I could tell by her expression that this was news to her too.
“Something needed my undivided attention,” Judas replied, his eyes trained on me.
Wait. So, he was the reason I got in? Did he have that kind of sway over his family’s reach? Throat suddenly dry, I reached for my water. What would my parents have done to make a deal with the devil?
The conversation continued to flow around us, but he and I might as well have been at that table alone. We stared at one another, neither giving too much away in terms of what the other was thinking.
I found it ironic that his eyes were the color of the moon, but all they reflected was darkness. Being attracted to him felt wrong knowing he was Dax’s cousin, but I couldn’t stop myself from seeing what was right in front of me or forgetting what we did. I couldn’t tell my heart that it shouldn’t speed up every time he looked at me this way, all brooding and mysterious.
I could chant a mantra that Judas Barron was devasting for my health—a direct threat to my charade of morality—but when he smiled at me, I was reminded of all the malign promises he’d made.
I was unable to help wondering if he really meant it when he said he’d make good on them.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Rhiannon
I survived. Barely.
Nothing had changed since Freshman year. Math was still my weakest subject. All those arrows, numbers, and A+B had me thoroughly regretting attending the last class. The teacher hadn’t even been expecting me until tomorrow. I’d subjugated myself to mental torture for no reason.
And if Kelly would have ‘accidentally’ kicked the back of my chair one more time, the heavy ass textbook we were given was about to ‘accidentally’ make an imprint on the side of her face.
I walked down the hall, eager to go home and get out of my uniform, soak in a bath, and mentally prepare to do this all over again in less than twenty-four hours.
Audrey was waiting for me near the weird mascot statue, her face buried in her phone.
“Hey,” I greeted.
“Hey, you ready?”
“God, yes,” I groaned.
She laughed, and we fell into step beside each other.
“Okay, so, do you want to tell me about your day first? Or about that kiss between you and Judas?”
I was hoping she’d forget about that, but who was I kidding? This was Audrey.
I chewed my inner lip, unsure what to say. I’d avoided thinking about it for the remainder of the day, which took more strength than should have been necessary.
“Both were intense,” I finally replied.
“Don’t you dare hold back from me, Rhia. I know you’ve got more to say than that. What’s up with you two?”
“Do you remember the huge Halloween party we went to a year ago? I was Red and you were Goldilocks?”
She nodded as we crossed the crosswalk to get to student parking.
“Well, do you remember me wandering off to find the wolf?”
“I was kicking major ass in flip-cup. But yeah, the one that couldn’t stop looking at you?” she laughed, sobering up as soon as what I was referencing clicked. “No fucking way!”
The kid walking in front of us damn near shit his pants she’d yelled so loud.
“Audrey,” I hissed.
“Sorry,” she apologized without meaning it. “Rhia that’s…holy shit, really? So, you two are like—”
“Nothing. We. Are. Nothing.”
I hadn’t told her anything about that night other than that I’d been with someone and it was consensual.
She’d been about to lose her shit when she saw the bruises the next morning. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake telling her now, but I had to give some reason as to why Judas was suddenly showing me any attention.
“You two are nothing, huh?” She stared down the row of cars to where hers was parked.
I groaned internally, seeing a shiny pearl Mercedes blocking hers from going anywhere, two more flashy cars idled behind it. One guess as to who would do something so blatantly arrogant.
“Want me to handle it?” she asked, deathly serious.
Get her entangled in Judas’ crosshairs more than she probably already was and risk her finding out the truth from him of all people? Hell no.
“Nope. I got it.”
“Be careful, okay? I’ve had a bad feeling ever since Dax went MIA. Did you see the last picture he posted, by the way?”
I nodded. “Something happened that made him leave.”
Judas happened, my inner voice snarked.
We came upon the Mercedes, a sleek coupe I was scared to breathe on, it was so clean. It was more diamond-white than pearl, the immaculate paint shimmering in the sun. One of the tinted windows went down and Judas’ voice carried from inside.
“Get in.”
“Since you’re clearly stalking me, you know I rode with Audrey.”
“You know I don’t give a shit.”
I sighed. “Your decorum is terrible.”
“Get in,” he repeated, the command in his voice leaving no room for argument.
Audrey opened her mouth, but I intercepted what was sure to be a nasty remark.
“I’ll text you when I get home,” I told her.
I could tell she wanted to say more, but I was already pulling the passenger door open and climbing into Judas’ car.
Considering the circumstances and all that had occurred between us, trapping myself in an enclosed space with him was not my brightest moment. I had my satchel on the floor, hands folded loosely in my lap.
The air was on, blowing the scent of his cologne and a new car smell around.
At first, I forced myself to stare out the window, doing my best not to look at the enigmatic boy beside me. But…how could I not ogle such fucked up perfection?
He’d ditched the jacket and tie, and his sleeves were rolled back, revealing the tattoos on both his arms.
The one closest to me had a tribal like pattern turned into what I was guessing was a wing of some sort.
“You smell like honey.”
I blinked, startled at the sound of his voice. “…Thank you? I think.”
“It was a compliment,” he confirmed.
I expelled a breath and glanced out the window at a Mom and Pop’s diner known for their amazing burgers. If I’d ridden with Audrey, we could have stopped. Instead, I’d gotten in the luxury vehicle of a guy who although beautiful and intelligent, was equally as dangerous and cold.
“Why did you want me to ride with you? What do you want from me, Judas?”
“I have a reason to keep you close, don’t you think?”
“Almost two years later? No. Why? You know I haven’t and will never talk. I’d be screwing myself.”
“And me.”
“Bullshit. You’re the one with the bank account big enough to fix it and family powerful enough to make it go away.”
“True, but I’m not risking you.”
“I don’t see how that would be your problem.”
“You think I’d let you go down if it ever came out?”
“Wouldn’t you? You said you hated me.”
He lifted a hand and rubbed the side of his face where the tiniest hint of stubble was evident. “I also told you I wanted you. And now I have you. Rest assured you’re safe.”
“Safe? With you?” I shifted on the leather seat. “And I have a boyfriend by the way.” This was a lie; Dax and I were beyond done. I no longer cared to speak to him and confirm this. Where he was concerned, all I wished was that he was safe.
“You’re right, his name is Judas Barron.”
I pressed my lips into a flat line and crossed my arms, repeating, “You said you hated me.”
“You said I was a self-entitled asshole. I am. Both an asshole and self-entitled. You wanna find out what I am when someone continually fucks with my patience?”
My hands tightened into fists, anger beginning to simmer in my veins. “Do you want to find out what I am when I feel threatened?”
“Would you really show me?”
His question threw me into a brief state of confusion. I expelled a frustrated breath when I realized I’d reacted exactly as he wanted me to.
“You found me in the middle of the woods. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Little Red and the big bad wolf.”
I shifted again and looked out the window. “You don’t need to rehash. I remember.”
He began driving down the road that led to my house, pulling over a few yards away.
I could see Mom’s car in the driveway, the lawn and surrounding fields freshly mowed.
“I remember it too.” He placed a hand on my upper knee, just below my thigh. “You looked beautiful that night, but goddamn if you don’t make every fucking head turn now. I’ve been trying to figure out what I can do about that. Do you know how good you look in this uniform?” Fingertips pressed to my skin; he began to softly stroke my flesh.
“Judas.” I tried to sound irritated, but his name expelled through slightly parted lips on a shaky breath.
“Know what else I remember, principessa?” His fingers danced higher, vanishing beneath the hem of my uniformed skirt. “I remember this.”
A single digit ran down my slit, my lacey thong the only barrier between us, easily tugged to the side when that same finger slowly came back up, circling my clit.
I shuddered, knowing I should tell him to stop, struggling between doing what was right or giving in to what I wanted—the wrong.
“We can’t,” I whispered.
“We aren’t. I am.”
“Dax—”
“Is gone.” He didn’t need to yell for the anger attached to those words to echo in the enclosed space.
Two fingers plunged inside me, the sudden intrusion pulling a loud gasp from my lungs.
“You’re soaking wet,” he noted, flipping his palm so the heel of his hand cupped my bundle of nerves as he went to work with his fingers, moving them in and out of me at a steady tempo.
“Judas,” I moaned, spreading my legs further.
“That’s right,” he intoned in a level voice. “When you lie in bed tonight, remember the way my fingers feel moving in and out of your pussy. Remember I’m the only one who knows about all the dirty, twisted shit inside your head.”
Unable to respond, I gripped the door handle as pleasure licked at my core, anot
her moan escaping from my mouth.
“I’m the one who tore away the innocence you so eagerly offered, and I savored every fucking minute of it.”
My legs trembled, pussy beginning to pulse as my climax built.
“I have a very good memory, principessa. And I clearly remember claiming every inch of this fucking body as mine.” He curled his fingers, pressing against something inside me I’d forgotten existed.
A hand gripped my jaw, forcing me to stare into the silver eyes I knew would haunt me the rest of my life.
There was a knowing glint in them, a calculated look on his face.
The sounds of my arousal filtered into my ears, my pulse racing as a tingle danced up my spine. The tension inside me reached max capacity, a rush of titillation blossoming inside me.
“Shit,” I whimpered, digging my nails into the leather of the door as liquid trickled from my pussy. Judas continued to work his fingers, causing a barrage of moans to spill from my chest. I came again, harder than before. Pleasure burned through my nerves and turned my brain to mush.
Before I had a chance to even begin catching my breath or pulling myself together, his fingers were at my lips.
“Taste how sweet you are.”
I obeyed without a second thought, sucking his fingers into my mouth like they were the best kind of tootsie pop.
He removed them and rubbed the pad of his thumb across my lower lip, completely composed, appraising me with an indiscernible expression.
“You know what my favorite part of that night was? Besides placing an invisible collar on your ass?”
I swallowed and shook my head, slowly closing my legs.
“I fucked the only girl I’ve ever been warned to stay away from. Fucked her so hard my dick was chafed the next day.”
Confusion worked its way into my mushed-up brain. “What are you talking about?”
“Ask the Clermonts. They know my family well.”
My surprise was barely containable. His statement snapped me back to reality. Cognizant my house was a mere few yards away, I grabbed my satchel, opening the door without another word.
Judas said something about the morning, but I shut him away without a reply, hurrying the rest of the way to my house.
Lawless Kingdom: A Dark Romance (Reign & Ruin Book 1) Page 8
