Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“That night. The accident. Ryan was driving. He…” I choke on my words. “He pulled me out after the crash. Forced me to take a pill.” Tears flood down my cheeks. “It wasn’t me.”
Terrence’s eyes widen and Cal stiffens beside me. It’s a shock to everyone, especially me, but I remember now.
“He hurt you,” I explain tearfully. “And he killed my baby.”
Terrence flinches at my words.
“What baby?” Cal asks, his tone a violent calm.
I turn to him. “Mine.” My bottom lip wobbles. “I was so heartbroken.”
He runs his knuckle down my cheek and kisses my lips. “I’m so fucking sorry, Charlotte.”
Charlotte.
Not parasite or loser.
Not monster or bitch.
The anguish in his eyes makes my heart stutter in my chest. Guilt flickers hot like flames in his green eyes.
“He framed me,” I choke out. “Hurting me wasn’t enough. Killing my baby wasn’t enough. He had to frame the accident to look like I did it. Why?”
Cal swallows and cups my cheeks with his palms, swiping the tears away with his thumbs. “Because he’s a psychopath. We need to tell your dad. The authorities. Your attorney. You got your license revoked and have a misdemeanor on your record. It was all bullshit. That motherfucker…” He cracks his neck and pins me with a hard glare. “He won’t get away with this.”
I hope not.
I want Ryan Cunningham to pay for his sins.
One week later…
I head for Cal’s class early. It feels good to be in a cheerleading uniform again. Orange and white. Hood River in black writing is emblazoned across the chest of the polyester uniform top. Our skirts are a little on the skimpy side, but we wear boycut shorts underneath so we don’t flash the world our lady bits. I’m equal parts nervous and excited for Cal to see me.
This week has been a whirlwind.
For one, Cal has been treating me like I’m a handful of glass that’s been shattered. Like if he holds me too tight, I might break even more. But I won’t. I’m stronger than I was last spring. I know part of it is guilt on his part, but I don’t like it. I prefer my mean boy with his cruel mouth and twisted proclivities.
I’m going to push him back to the dark side where we belong together.
I peek in the classroom, admiring my man as he stares at his laptop, scowling. When he’s in teacher mode, it turns me on. He’s not a bad Hoodlum. He’s a man. A grown-ass man with a grown-ass job. It makes me the delinquent here because I want to encourage him to do bad things.
As if I’m innocent, I prance into the classroom over to my desk without making eye contact with him. I set my bag down on the floor and then bend over to hunt for my phone. The creak of his chair sends a shiver down my spine. Snagging my phone, I stand up straight. Heat burns at my back.
The devil’s come to get you, little girl.
A smile tugs at my lips. “Good morning, Mr. Hutton.”
“Morning, cheerleader,” he growls, his hand gripping my hip. “How in the fuck is this outfit legal?”
I twist around to face him, giving him my fakest cheerleader smile. “It meets the athletic dress code. Ms. Frazier approved.”
He plucks my phone out of my hand and tosses it on my desk with a loud clatter. “You shouldn’t tease your teacher, English.”
I twist my hand around his tie, pulling him toward me. “You have twenty minutes before people will start arriving, sir. Are you going to give me detention for being a tease or are you going to fuck me like the naughty teacher we both know you are?”
“Your fucking mouth,” he rumbles. “If I had more time, I’d punish it.”
I do love to lick his piercings…
“Wipe that smirk off your face, dirty girl.” He nips at my nose. “Bend over my desk. Now. Flip that little skirt up over that sweet ass and show me what’s mine.”
Heat floods through me. This is us. Not the constant, gentle coddling. Him pushing me and testing me. The punishments. The rewards. I need both sides of Cal. The good and the bad. Pretty and ugly.
I pull away and make my way over to the desk. Peeking at him over my shoulder, I lift my skirt up, revealing my shorts.
“Not good enough, Charlie girl. I want to see that pretty ass. Maybe even give you a good little smack for being a smartass and denying me what I want to see.” His green eyes are liquid lust as he prowls my way.
I pull my shorts and panties down, letting them drop to my ankles. Pressing my palms to his desk, I bend over and push my ass out.
“Like this, Mr. Hutton?”
“Fuck,” he groans. “Just for that, I’m not closing the door. Maybe your little boyfriend, Wes, will see. The pervert needs the reminder of who you belong to.”