by Lindsey Iler
“We all knew, except you, Palmer, Reagan, and Marek.”
“Not fucking cool by the way,” Marek grimaces.
“We knew you’d tell Palmer without even thinking,” Breaker says.
“I’m going to hold off on yelling at you for not telling me,” I say to Breaker.
The sirens are almost on top of us.
“Shit! The police!” I say, grabbing Breaker’s hand and tugging him to the corridor. Everyone follows tight behind us.
We reach the parking lot at the same time two police cars swerve to a stop. My heart starts to race. Hollow Hill security must have heard us yelling.
The door flings open, and none other than Officer Franklin gets out of the car.
“Long time, no see,” he says. “Not going to lie. I’ve enjoyed the break.”
“The break is over,” Dixon says, tugging Reagan close to his side.
“This is what we have.” Breaker hands a flash drive to Officer Franklin. “Dixon set up software on Mr. Chambers’ laptop. When he plugs it in next, it will download and send all the information to you. This is the contract between Sky Technology International and my father. It’s contingent on my father gaining control of my mother’s foundation,” Breaker explains.
“What if he gains control?” Officer Franklin asks.
“I’m not going to let that happen.” Breaker glances at me. “Our families need to be dismantled, once and for all.”
Hearing him say it, I know it’s true. For the first time, I’m on the outside of my family. I’m no longer a piece of the legacy they’ve built, and I don’t know what that means for me going forward.
Breaker grabs my hand, and we walk towards his SUV.
“Do you know what you’re digging into? There will be blow back,” I whisper.”
“Maybe.” Breaker checks over his shoulder. “But maybe not. Only time will tell, Officer Franklin.”
Everyone is climbing into the vehicles, ready to get to the house and figure out our next move.
“Have you all ever thought about having a normal senior year?” Officer Franklin yells.
We look at each other expectantly. Palmer and Marek laugh, knowing normal isn’t possible for them. I suppose it isn’t for any of us.
“Normal is overrated.” Breaker winks at me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Breaker
“I can’t believe you actually thought he dropped me.” Madison giggles drunkenly.
“Well, when I’m left out of the loop, what am I supposed to think?” Delaney glances at me, a hungry look in her eyes.
From where I’m leaning against the glass window, they’re bathed in a soft glow from the dim lights. Ever since we got home, electricity has coursed through the room. Alcohol and excitement have a way of filtering everything. It’s foggy and exhilarating, impossible to ignore.
Madison leans forward and grabs a shot glass from the table. The whole time she pours the amber liquid, her eyes don’t leave Delaney. She downs the shot, holding the drink in her mouth for several beats. She cups the side of Delaney’s face and runs her thumb along her cheek, playing the part of vixen and angel at the same time.
“Do you want to taste?” Madison asks, running her eyes along Delaney’s lips.
My girl looks at me, the question in her eyes loud and clear. She wants my permission. She doesn’t need it, though.
Madison takes her silence as an answer and presses her lips against Delaney’s. It’s slow and sensual in a way only two girls can be together. Females are inherently delicate. Delaney covers the hand on her cheek, running her fingers down to Madison’s wrist, caressing her skin as she moves.
I swallow the lump in my throat, watching my girl with another. There’s no jealousy inside me, only hunger to know what Madison and Delaney are feeling right now. Are they enjoying each other? Are they doing this for me? I’ll probably never know, but a part of me hopes not.
Delaney giggles, running the pad of her thumb over her bottom lip. Her chest is rising and falling rapidly. As if she hasn’t gotten enough, Madison grabs Delaney’s face, crashing her lips once more. Their tongues mix and mingle, and I bite down on my tongue to stop myself from saying something that will unintentionally stop them.
Delaney reaches out her hand. My invitation.
I stalk over, slowing my pace the closer I get. Why am I not sure this is a good idea? Any other guy in my position would have his pants off already, and here I am, apprehensive.
My tongue skims the roof of my mouth, traveling over my teeth as I contemplate what to do next. Madison’s hand glides up Delaney’s leg, stopping on her upper thigh.
I hold my breath and close my eyes for a second to control the nerves in my body. They’re relentless, sending messages to my dick that are ready to force my feet forward.
Fingers dance across my shoulder onto the other.
“What are you waiting for, baby?” A warm, wet tongue laps at my earlobe.
Delaney.
My eyes open. “Find something amusing, sweetheart?” Without warning, I grab Delaney’s neck, squeezing her to cause pleasure, never pain. Too hungry to wait for her, I assault her mouth with mine. Her hurried tongue dances nicely with mine.
“There he is,” Delaney whispers between our mouths, biting down on my lip that’s barely recovered from our last kiss. “Show me.” She holds up her arms, asking me for something she’s more afraid of than anything.
“You show me first,” I dare her.
She grips the hem of my shirt, stretching the fabric away from my body until she can’t anymore, then releasing it to sling into place. She moves to Madison, smiling down at her. This can’t be real.
I open a drawer on the TV armoire to grab the rogue joint and lighter I’d left in here, then light the end, inhaling deep. Its calming effect on my nerves is almost instant.
Until Delaney pops the top button on Madison’s jeans and toys with the top of her panties, while staring deep into my eyes.
Madison leans forward, cupping Delaney’s head, and whispers something in her ear. They grin like wild animals, amused with themselves.
I take another hit, moving closer, and hold it out to Delaney. Once she inhales, I tug it away and kiss her, sharing the smoke between us. I pull back, barely hiding my smile. Delaney is a free spirit with most things, but I’ve never seen her smoke. She always finds ways to surprise me.
Madison releases a guttural moan, and I’m given a show of Delaney’s hand inside Madison’s panties.
“You showed me,” I whisper to her, realizing I didn’t think she would. Delaney is no prude, but this is something I hadn’t expected.
“I’m not done,” Delaney warns, tugging Madison’s jeans down, leaving her in pink lace. “Go on.” She nods her chin at Madison. “Sharing is caring, baby.” She snatches the joint from between my lips and holds it up for our guest.
Smoke fills the air, clouding our judgment, and at the same time, giving us clarity.
Delaney leans forward, pressing her mouth against mine. “You can touch her.”
“What if I only want to touch you?” I ask, unbuckling the top of her jeans. Unable to resist for a second more, my hand dives into her panties, finding her slick. “Damn, baby.”
“Touch her, Break.” The way she asks, sexy and completely self-aware, arouses me more than I could ever imagine. I search her face, asking a silent question with my eyes. “Yes, I’m sure.” There’s the answer.
I move behind Madison as she slides Delaney’s pants down her legs and helps her out of them. She grazes her finger along the outside of Delaney’s panties, crowding her space. I follow her lead, shifting Madison’s hair to one side to kiss along her shoulder. As I move my lips along her skin, my eyes never leave Delaney’s.
A little red ember in the other room catches my attention. Byron inches forward enough for me to see but remains hidden in the shadows, almost forgotten by me when the first hand touches my body. Delaney and Madison claw at my shirt, tugging it
over my head. With hurried movements, they drop to their knees in front of me, exchanging hungry looks. Delaney unbuttons my pants and shimmies them down my thighs to pool at my feet.
My boxers follow, and before they reach my feet, Delaney’s mouth is wrapped around my cock. Her tongue plays with the tip, then she plunges forward, taking my full length down her throat. Her mouth creates a suction so tight, when she pulls away, a loud pop is heard.
Delaney stands, but before she’s eye-to-eye with me, her hand lands on Madison’s head, guiding her to me.
“You don’t hate this?” My eyes to shift to Madison sucking my dick.
“No.” The gleam in Delaney’s eyes is intoxicating. “There’s things about me you don’t know. Maybe this is one of them.”
I pull myself from Madison’s mouth, hurry my pants off the rest of the way, and bend Delaney over the arm of the couch. Ripping her panties from her body, I toss them on the floor, and slide inside her. A sexy moan echoes off the glass walls as I drive my cock in and out of her.
“Oh, god!” Delaney groans. The upholstery creaks and crackles as she grips it. “Fuck, Breaker.”
“You like that?” I reach for her neck, forcing her to stand, completely lost inside the moment with my girl.
Movement from the corner of my eye catches my attention. Byron slinks into the room and grabs Madison’s hand.
“Come on, sweetheart. Trust me, I know firsthand it’s not fun to be the third wheel with any of these people.”
I don’t have the wherewithal to worry about Madison’s feelings as Delaney’s pussy pulses on my cock. I grasp her jaw, forcing her body to contort to my liking. Her lips search for mine, and when they find them, our kiss deepens, and our movement slows.
“You’re crazy, you know that?” I ask.
Delaney lays her chest on the arm of the couch. My hand skillfully moves up her shirt, feeling her spine contorting as she moves to find the sweet relief of her orgasm. She shakes when she finally catches up with it.
“That’s it, baby girl.”
“Fuck!” Delaney cries out.
I pull out, pick her up in my arms, and lay her down on the couch. In the less than five seconds it takes to move, my cock already misses her. She jerks her shirt off, and I lick my lips, rolling one nipple between my fingers. Her body bucks in response.
“You’re beautiful,” I whisper, slowing the rhythm of my hips to savor the time I have inside of her tonight.
“No, you are.” She runs her hands over my body, admiring what she can touch, but no inch is left unnoticed. The way she dances her fingers along my tattoos, enjoying every part of me, has fire roaring in my belly.
“I’m about to come,” I warn. At that, Delaney wraps her arms around me, tugging me flush against her. She rolls her hips in perfect sync with mine.
I finish inside of her, then take the blanket off the end of the couch to cover us. Delaney cuddles into my side, getting comfortable. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now than with her pressed against me, the feel of her heartbeat on my ribs.
Neither of us says anything. No words are necessary. Delaney and I have been through things together. This is another one of those things. It won’t tarnish us. It won’t even put the slightest dent in who we are. Everything we’ve experienced together has only brought us closer.
Delaney’s breaths even out, telling me my secrets will stay safe.
“One day, Delaney Chambers, I’m going to marry you.”
Sleep takes over, the heaviness of our day crashing down upon us. The day started out unknown, transformed to crazy, and ended how I always want it to. With her in my arms.
The sun coming through the window wakes me. Delaney’s eyes are closed. Out of nowhere, Palmer pops into my sight, startling me enough to shake Delaney awake.
“Jesus, Palmer.” I tuck the blanket over Delaney, in case Marek isn’t too far behind her.
“You’re spot cleaning that couch, by the way,” Marek warns, crossing through the living room to the kitchen without looking at us.
Dixon and Reagan walk into the room, whispering and poking at each other. Dixon stops dead in his tracks next to the couch. “This is communal space. You have a bed, you know.”
“Good morning,” Madison singsongs, joining the welcoming wagon in the living room. For fuck’s sake, did they plan this?
“Yeah, whatever.” I wave, hoping everyone will get the hint that I’m in no mood for their antics.
“Oh, I was good enough to have my mouth wrapped around your pretty cock last night, but this morning, no hello. Real nice.” Madison grins.
“Wait, what?” Palmer squeals, covering her mouth in shock.
“Threesomes sometimes happen in this house!” Byron yells from the kitchen.
“Are you guys done?” Delaney covers her face.
“Don’t even think about it.” Reagan glares at Dixon then heads for the kitchen.
“We’ll see.” He wiggles his brows, following behind her and smacking her ass.
“I’ve known Delaney a long time, and she barely lets me near her handbags.” Palmer gawks at the side of her best friend’s face.
Delaney’s cheeks pink. “It was barely a threesome.”
“Don’t diminish what we had.” Madison leans over the couch and kisses Delaney.
Did she just slip my girlfriend the tongue in the daylight? Madison giggles the whole way into the kitchen, slapping Byron on the chest as she passes him. The grin on his face tells a whole story I’m not sure I want to hear. After he dragged her away last night, I can only imagine what went down.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Palmer says, chasing after Marek.
Once they’re gone, Delaney and I are alone. She sits up, tucking the blanket under her arms.
“I heard what you said last night when you thought I was asleep,” she says, grinning over her shoulder as if she didn’t already know the way I feel. Her eyes are thoughtful, taking me in.
“And?”
“And nothing. Just wanted you to know I’m fully aware of how you feel about me.” She steals the blanket from me, jumps off the couch, and runs out of the room, leaving my nakedness exposed. “Oh, and, Breaker!” she yells. “I’m looking forward to one day.”
******
In the week since we’d forced Tripp’s hand, he hasn’t contacted Delaney, which is surprising, considering the USB file we gave him had nothing but dick pics, courtesy of the four of us. Delaney had far too much fun helping me out with that task.
Madison and Delaney have grown closer in a way I hadn’t expected. After our tryst, because there’s no other way to describe what happened, I had assumed it would be awkward. We didn’t talk about it after the next morning. Nothing needed to be said. We hooked up. A part of me worried Delaney had been indulging me. She’s reiterated several times that she wasn’t, and the jealousy part didn’t come into play, especially since the second my cock touched Delaney, Madison had pretty much been forgotten.
“You ready for today?” Delaney asks, coming out onto the balcony. Her arms wrap around my waist. I sigh, satisfied with the feel of her chest against my back.
“Honestly?” I circle around, leaning my forearms on the banister. Delaney tries to give me space, but I tug her into me, maneuvering her arms around me. She grins, happy to oblige. “Not really, but there’s no better time than now. I can’t let him near my sisters.”
“This will change everything.” Delaney’s eyes widen. “What we’re doing today is choosing to remove ourselves from our family ties.”
“You have your mom,” I state, not realizing how it sounds. “I mean . . .”
“No, you’re right. I do have my mom, and I need to remember I’m lucky for that.” She stretches her calves, rising to kiss me, sadness in her eyes. “I wish I could have known yours, had a chance to meet her.”
“She was radiant.” Time stops as I remember different things from my childhood. “She used to bake cookies a lot. Probably more than sh
e should have, but she always said she loved watching me grab at the chocolate chips she dropped in. For the most part, I had a pretty normal childhood, and it was all because of her. She worked really hard to hide my father’s shortcomings.”
“Do you have a picture of her?” Delaney asks. It’s such a simple question, but it brings a satisfying heaviness to my chest.
“I do.” I grab my wallet and remove the oldest thing I own, handing it over to the only person I would trust with it.
With delicate hands, Delaney holds onto the tattered, fading paper, running her finger in soft brushes over it. “You have her eyes.”
“You think so?” No one ever talks about her anymore, so it’s foreign to have a simple conversation like this one.
“Oh, yeah. Definitely.” Delaney peers at me through her thick lashes, love so deeply rooted in her stare that it may as well reach out and choke me.
“We better get going,” I say, taking the photo from her and tucking it safely in my wallet where it will stay until it disintegrates.
Everyone is around the kitchen table. Their voices hush when we walk in.
“What’s going on?” I ask, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach.
“Umm . . .” a quiet voice says behind me, followed quickly by a loud gasp.
Delaney covers her mouth, barrels past me, and stops in front of Madison, blocking me from seeing her.
“What happened?” Delaney asks.
Madison moves to the side, revealing her face. A cut on her brow is caked with dried brown blood. The swollen eye, though, is what holds most of my attention and rage. It’s bruised and puffy, hiding the blue eye behind it.
“Oh my god!” I hiss out a breath, joining Delaney, but glancing at the table. Everyone looks away. “Did you guys know about this?”
“Madison called me last night,” Byron explains.
“I made him promise not to say anything,” Madison pleads. “I’m okay. Well, I’m okay now, but it hurts. More my pride than anything else. I can take a punch most days.”
“Who did this?” Delaney grabs Madison’s arms and brings her over to the table. Byron gives up his chair, and looms behind her like he’s watching guard.
