“Look, how did you even get my number?” I ask.
“Come on, Red, I thought you were smarter than that,” he says, laughing slightly, and fuck, his laugh is deep and raspy. I feel a warm sensation flow through my body causing me to squeeze my thighs together. The realization hits me like a cold bucket of water.
“You were the one who dropped off the phones, not the school. That’s why they were already activated. You did it.”
“No comment.”
“But why give them to the guys also?” He laughs again as if it isn’t obvious. “Because I wouldn’t take it if it was just for me.” I roll my eyes, it’s not like he can see me, but I feel so dumb for not figuring it out before. A school doesn’t just hand out free phones.
“Now we’re getting somewhere, Red. Smart girl answering your own questions,” he snickers.
“Either way, we want nothing to do with your school, your hierarchy, or you. You need to leave me and my friends alone.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna be possible, Little Red.”
“And why the fuck not?”
“See, because I need to find out what you’re hiding. What your connection to my uncle is? Why they brought you here?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh.
“Well I can assure you you’re going to be disappointed to find out… there is nothing to find out.”
“We’ll see about that, Red. Besides, your friends and I, we’ve had so much fun.”
Anger rises in me. One thing is messing with me, but my friends are off-limits.
“Leave them alone, Ace. I mean it. Your issue is with me. Fuck it, you wanna play, let’s play. You’ll be disappointed to find that I’ll win. This little game of king and queen and horse shit you and your friends play is a beginner’s game. Me and mine, we’re jaded, fucked up little orphans who’ve been dealt a whole lot more than this. You want war, bring it on, Horseman. Me and my Dragon,” I laugh and hear a growl come through the phone. “We are gonna slay your little kingdom, burn it to the ground. And the only ones left standing are gonna be us. The Dragon and his Princess.”
I hear a loud grunt as I quickly hang up the phone before he can respond. I grab onto the comforter of my bed and fist it tightly in my hand. My heart is racing, adrenaline pumping through me, coursing through my veins. That was terrifying yet quite exhilarating. The phone starts ringing again, and I look down and notice it’s the same number again. It’s him. I answer, slowly bringing it to my ear.
“You’re gonna regret threatening me, Red, and I’ll be the one bringing you down,” he laughs that deep, raspy laugh that prickles along the skin of my neck. “And it’s gonna be worth the ride.”
Before I can say anything, not like I have anything left to say, he hangs up. I throw the phone and grab my shorts and underwear heading for the bathroom. I need that fucking cold shower.
It’s half past midnight and I’ve been lying in bed tossing and turning for the last three hours. The girls got back right after my shower, and we stayed up talking for a bit. They told me that Drake was being particularly grumpy because he didn’t get to see me, and they gave me Kai and Jax’s numbers to add to my contact list. I chose not to mention the conversation I had with Ace. No need for them to start asking questions. After they left, I tried going to sleep but my mind just kept going back to all the conversations I’ve had with Ace thus far. I’ve tried not paying too much importance to what his uncle has told me, but it must mean something if Ace is so sure that I have a connection to him. My phone buzzes and I see Drake’s name pop onto the screen.
Dragon Man – Come down to the front of the girl’s house. I need to see you.
Me – It’s past midnight Drake.
Dragon Man – It’ll be quick. Please.
I get out of bed and slip into my sneakers; it’s not like I was gonna sleep tonight. I’m wearing shorts and a t-shirt, so I throw on Drake’s hoodie and sneak out the front door. I manage to make it outside without being seen and as I step out the front doors the cold breeze hits me, cooling my face. I walk down the steps and don’t see anyone standing out here, so I shoot him another text to make sure he’s still here.
Me – Where are you?
Dragon Man – To the left.
I turn to the left of the building and see a hooded figure standing beneath the trees about 50 feet away. I walk over ready to give him a piece of my mind for making me come all the way out here.
“This better be important, Drake. We can get caught,” I say, turning to make sure nobody has followed us out here. I turn back around and almost fall backward when I see him in front of me. It’s not Drake, but Ace standing there looking fine as hell in tight black jeans, a leather jacket, and a black beanie on his head. The skin of his chest and abdomen exposed showing all the tattoos covering his chest and running up his neck. Fuck me, he’s gorgeous. My breath hitches and the smug grin that appears on his face tells me he’s noticed.
“Fuck no,” I say, turning around heading back to the house. I don’t get far before his arm comes around my middle gripping me, turning me to face him, chest against chest, his right arm now wrapping around my lower back. I pull my head back and he lowers his face to me, his lips a mere centimeter from mine. He smells amazing, fresh, clean, a small hint of cinnamon and liquor on his breath. He licks his lips and I feel my heart pumping in my chest, my eyes trying to focus on his face. I close them to keep from reaching up and taking his lips in mine.
“Let. Go. Of. Me.” I say between breaths. It’s eerily silent. Only the sounds of my ragged breathing, and accelerating heartbeat heard.
“Make me,” he whispers, his hot breath warming my lips, and I try to push him off me only causing him to grip me harder. I slowly open my eyes and see his smile widen at my struggle, his eyes red, low, and hazy. This fucker is high as a fucking kite.
“I told you the next time you laid a hand on me would be your last.” I look directly into his eyes, now a deep dark blue that resembles the night sky. Full of hate? Desire? Lust?
“Then I’d better make it worth it,” he says, and before I can react strong lips come down on mine. He claims my mouth hungrily, feasting on me like he hasn’t eaten in days. His right arm moves slowly up my back under my hoodie, as he brings his left arm around and uses it to push me closer to him. I try to resist but fuck, the way his tongue moves into my mouth as I open for him is too good. This kiss is carnal, erratic, each one of us trying to take what we need, to forget who we are, why we’re here. His hands move up and down my body as I place my hands on his bare chest. He moans into my mouth as my cold hands caress his heated flesh. A need to be closer to him races through me and I move my hands higher gripping his shoulders tightly.
A sudden breeze is heard through the trees causing some leaves to fall and it breaks me out of my daze. I push against his chest until our lips separate causing us both to stumble backward. My mind is in a haze, but I can see he feels it too. I look up to him and slap him hard across his face causing him to falter back slightly as he brings his hand up to his cheek.
Without saying anything, I run back toward the house and up the stairs, not stopping until I make it to the front door of our quarter. My heart and mind are racing as I’m trying to catch my breath. I quietly enter the quarter and rush into my room, locking my door and throwing myself onto the bed. I can’t believe that just happened. I lick my swollen lips and can still feel him on them, taste him on them. They feel tender and are throbbing from the intensity of the kiss.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes in my pocket startling me and I open it to find a text from him.
9146662114 – Don’t ever hang up on me again Red.
I don’t bother adding his number to my contacts. I throw my head back and toss the phone on the bed beside me. Fuck. There is no way I’ll be sleeping tonight.
And I was right. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. Every little noise would startle me, and I just kept replaying the kiss over and over aga
in in my mind.
I get out of bed early the next morning and walk straight to the shower. Needing to wash away the constant thoughts of Ace’s lips against mine, the way his hands roamed up my back and around my waist gripping me for dear life. I turn the cold water on full blast with the hope that will snap me out of my lust-filled thoughts. I need to get him out of my head.
I get out of the shower and head over to the coffee machine adding an extra five scoops more than I normally would. I don’t feel tired from my lack of sleep, but I know I’ll be feeling it later today. As the coffee brews I head back to my room to change into my uniform taking longer than usual to apply my everyday makeup. I brush my hair out, pulling it up into a loose ponytail letting a few strands loose around my face. I hear the door of my bedroom open as Jade and Stella walk in, still in pajamas, each with a mug of coffee in their hands.
“You’re up early,” says Jade as she walks over sitting on the edge of my bed. She takes a sip of her coffee nearly spitting it out right after. “Damn, Scar,” she says in between coughs. “How much coffee did you put in here?”
I walk over to her and take the mug from her hands. I bring it to my lips, inhaling the sweet aroma before taking a sip.
“I couldn’t sleep, needed it to be strong,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“That would explain why you’re up, ready and dressed before 7 a.m.”
I grab my bag and slip my MacBook, tablet, and phone inside as I walk over to the door.
“I’m going to head down to the dining hall and get something to eat. I’ll see you guys later.” Before I walk out, I hear Jade whisper to Stella.
“She means she’s gonna go eat a Dragon, if you get what I mean.” I can hear them both chuckle as I close the door behind me.
And I must admit as I walk up the steps of the Astor House, the senior boys’ house, Jade was right. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I walk through the front door and up the stairs to the third floor where the guys’ quarter is, hearing the cat calls and snickers coming from the few guys already out and about. I make my way to their door, and as I’m about to knock, the door is swung open, with Jaxon standing shirtless on the other side.
“Oh shit!” Jax shouts, jumping back. “Scar, babe, what are you doing here this early?” He walks toward me wrapping his arm around my shoulder and drags me into their quarter. Inside the quarter looks similar to ours with gray walls, two large couches by a widescreen tv, and a small table with four chairs to the far right. The only difference is the empty box of pizza and crushed cans of beer on the floor.
“Well, you guys made yourself right at home,” I say, picking up a pair of boxers on the floor in front of me.
“Sorry, those are mine,” says a cute brown-haired guy who rushes from the couch over to me, plucking the boxers from my hand with a shy smile. His cheeks instantly blush as his eyes lock with mine.
“And you are?” I ask, raising a brow at him, a smile on my face. He’s cute, in a nerdy kind of way. His brown hair is slightly long covering his ears and part of his face, and light hazel eyes are hidden behind round frames.
“This is Jake Easton, he’s our Stella Silver. Jake, this is Scarlett Steele, she’s Drake’s leading lady,” Jax says, throwing his arm around a flustered Jake.
“Nice to meet you, Jake,” I say, extending my arm out to him.
He reluctantly takes it, letting go quickly when he hears Drake approaching from the hallway. He’s shirtless of course, his gray sweats hanging low on his hips outlining the perfect V shape of abs, his ink covering almost every muscular inch of his torso, arms, and neck. I feel a heated sensation rush to my core as my eyes roam over him.
“I gotta go,” says Jake, retreating to what I assume is his room in the opposite direction of where Drake just came out.
“Well this is a lovely surprise,” he says as he reaches out to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him. He takes my lips in his and kisses me softly and I melt in his grasp. My dragon has always been the best kisser. He may have been my first lover, but I kissed a few frogs before I found my dragon. I need his lips to consume me and erase the feel of Ace’s from last night.
“Mmm,” I moan, taking his bottom lip between mine, my hands moving up and around his chest. “Just what I needed.”
At my confession something in him shifts and he groans as his hands grab my ass lifting me up as I wrap my legs around his waist. Our kiss intensifies as he moves us over to the couch. He falls back with me over his legs, straddling him as I grind into him feeling him harden beneath me.
“Damn, who needs porn when I get to see this in the comfort of my own living room,” Jax blurts out and I realize he’s still in the room.
I tear my lips from Drake’s as I turn and scowl at him, flipping him off.
He’s sitting on the couch across from us still shirtless, legs crossed, sprawled on the coffee table, a bag of chips in his hand. I turn back to Drake lowering my head to his.
“If I don’t leave now, we might end up skipping class and I’m not sure how that’ll look during our first week.” I say, and he shakes his head softly.
“The things you do to me, Scarlett.” He looks up into my eyes and smirks. “Now get off me before I take you here and now not giving a fuck who’s in the room watching.”
I climb off his lap and he smacks my ass as I turn my back to him.
“I’ll see you at lunch, Dragon,” I say before heading out toward the dining hall.
After study hall, Stella, Jade, and I head out of Whitmoore Hall and over to the field behind the auditorium for gym class. We head into the girls’ locker room to change into our gym shorts and red polo shirts before heading out to the track field. Since we are seniors and not obligated to take the basic physical education requirements, gym class is just sort of a workout/cardio class. We can either stay in the indoor gym for the cardio machines or weightlifting, or head out to the track field to run or play any of the various intramural sports. Jade and I enjoy running and would do it regularly back in Pleasant Hills, so we decide to go out to the track with Stella in tow. The only benefit for her is that six period gym is also football and lacrosse practice for the guys. Hot, sweaty, muscular bodies are the main attraction out here.
“God, just look at them,” she says, pointing to the guys running laps around us.
“I would love to have a piece of him,” says Jade as a really hot guy with blond hair and a perfectly ripped body showcased in nothing but tight shorts and a thin tank that reads “Captain” runs by winking at her.
“Ooo he’s a good one. That’s Liam Walker. Captain of the lacrosse team and our head quarterback. His dad is Australian and his mom’s some hot ex-supermodel from Italy.”
“That explains the blond hair and perfectly tanned skin,” Jade says, twirling her hair around.
“Yeah, you should totally ask him out. I mean, he’s a total player but actually one of the good ones. He makes his way around but never while he’s dating someone.”
“Slutty but loyal. I love that in a man,” Jade says, and we all start laughing.
“Hey, Walker,” yells Stella and he quickly turns, running toward us.
“What the hell, Stella?” Jade whispers, scowling at her.
“Well, why don’t you just ask him out now?”
“Hey,” says Liam, and Jade instantly turns on her charm as he approaches.
“Hey there, handsome,” she coos.
“Hey, beautiful,” he replies, clearly checking Jade out. “So, Silver, are you gonna introduce me to your friends? You girls are new, right? I’d remember seeing your pretty faces around.” I scoff as Jade laughs flirtatiously at him.
“Liam, this is Jade Wolfe and her sister Scarlett Steele.”
“Nice to meet you, Jade,” he says, extending a hand to her. He turns to me. “You’re Ace’s girl, right?” he asks, and I instantly turn to him fuming. What. The. Actual. Fuck.
�
�Fuck no,” I shout, and he falters back at my scream.
“Oh shit, my bad. I just thought… I mean Ace said.”
“Said what?” we all shout.
“He just kind of made it clear we should stay away from you. I mean… I guess I thought it was because he called dibs. If he says you’re off limits, well, nobody’s going to ask you out. He’s laid his claim.”
Jade and Stella both turn, eyeing me curiously.
“Called dibs? What are we in middle school?” sneers Jade.
“Well, you make sure to spread the word that I ain’t a fucking piece of property to be claimed. I don’t belong to anyone, especially not Ace fucking Servite,” I say glaring at him.
“I got it, my bad again. I hope this doesn’t kill my chances with green eyes here?” he says, looking at Jade with a shy smirk.
“I think we can still work something out,” she says, and Stella and I laugh as we take off running, leaving Jade and Liam behind.
ELEVEN
SCARLETT
The rest of the week continues uneventfully, as Ace has managed to completely ignore me and the guys, which is refreshing, especially after finding out from Liam that he told the guys I was “off limits.” The nerve. But I can’t help feeling put off after that kiss we shared. I should be thankful that although Carrington has made her fair share of snarky remarks every chance she gets, it hasn’t been too often.
Now it’s finally Saturday, so I get to hide away and avoid everyone, or so I thought. There’s another party tonight. Shocker. This, however, is the first party of the new school year. According to Stella it’s the main event of the year. Apparently last weekend’s party didn’t count for this school year, as it was actually thrown to commemorate the end of summer vacation. Great. I try to get out of it by telling the girls I don’t feel good, but Jade sees right through me. So, instead I’m in my room getting ready for tonight.
The Four Horsemen : A Servite Academy For Troubled Teens Novel Page 11
