Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 113837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Bellamy’s gaze skimmed over me. “In that dress. Nah. Don’t think so, baby girl.” He rubbed his thumb over my lip, smearing what little lip stain was probably left. “Shame. You look fucked, even though you weren’t.”
“Just to add fuel to the fire,” I mumbled as I reached for the door. “Pray for me.”
He caught my chin between his fingers, slamming his mouth to mine before his teeth sank into my lips. “I don’t pray.”
I placed a finger on the silver crucifix he always wore. “Could’ve fooled me.” Then I got out, flushed and breathless.
I opened the door to my father sitting on the bottom steps of the stairwell. Lips flat. Dress sleeves rolled up, and hands folded over his slacks. He pushed up without a word and crooked a finger, telling me to follow him as he went into the kitchen.
I was not scared of my father, but at that moment, I was.
I’d been fired for dealing weed, suspended twice, crashed his car, and been grounded. And now, he caught me sneaking back in wearing my clothes from the night before on a Sunday morning. It didn’t really get much worse.
He yanked a chair from the island. “Sit.” Then rounded the other side.
I took a seat, perching on the edge as tension set my spine ramrod straight.
“Where were you?” he asked.
“At a friend’s house.”
“A friend’s house. That’s what we call it these days?” His nostrils flared. “You are grounded, Drucella.”
“I was studying late?” Shit, that lie was weak, but what was I going to say? I was at some brothel house in Dayton with Bellamy West.
“Yes. I’m so sure.” He looked at me with the usual, loathed disappointment, laced with a healthy dose of disgust. “Where is your car?”
“Nora borrowed it. Hers broke down.” Another crappy lie.
“Well, when Nora brings it back, you will give the keys to me.”
“What? You’re taking my car away?”
“Yes.”
“How will I get to school?”
“The school bus.”
Oh. My. God. I honestly didn’t think there was anything left for him to do to make my life worse. Turns out rock bottom has a sewer.
“You will go to school. You will come home.” His finger jabbed against the counter. “And you will do nothing else. I’ve evidently not been hard enough on you, and from your behavior, I can see Black Mountain was nothing but a waste. Not even they could manage to instill a sense of decency in you.” He went to move away from the counter. “But I sure as hell will, Drucella. If it kills me.”
Then he left the room.
I didn’t even know what to say. So, I called the one person who could possibly save me from this: my mother.
Irina was nothing if not the typical rich, absent parent, but she tried to act like she cared by way of material things. Like cars.
An hour later, I heard my dad shouting on the phone from my room. With a smile, I put my headphones in and let her work her magic.
I flopped back onto the bed, and though everything was crap, I couldn’t help but think about Bellamy, of waking up wrapped in his arms.
The way he kissed me like I was more than just some girl he wanted to fuck, some girl he’d made a deal with. I could no longer pretend that was the case because we’d slept in a bed together and he hadn’t even tried to touch me.
I couldn’t quite work out when we’d gone from hating each other to this, but I wanted it. And that scared me because the things we really want have the power to break us. And Bellamy West had heartbreak written all over his beautiful body.
30
Bellamy
Nikki’s friends glared at Drew when she climbed out of my car on Monday. I threw my arm around Drew’s shoulder as we started toward the school’s entrance, falling in step with the other grumbling students. “You got a fan club, baby girl.”
“Nikki is totally going to come at me with a razor blade,” she mumbled.
“I seriously doubt that.” I had laid a claim on Drew. Which meant everyone knew not to fuck with her.
We passed by the security guard at the front door, then hooked it to the right. “When is your dad giving you your car back?”
“Pretty sure never. I’m surprised he hasn’t slapped a chastity belt on me at this point. Or acquired a house arrest anklet.” She stopped at her locker, turning the combination lock. “Thanks for giving me a lift.”
“Would’ve been better had you given me road head on the way in, but, whatever…”
She threw a smirk over her shoulder. “You’ll make me choke and ruin my mascara.”
“I like it when you choke on it.”
She shut her locker door, then leaned back against the metal. I stepped closer, bunching the material of her skirt in my hand. “Did you wear this skirt for me, baby girl?”