Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 151765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 759(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 506(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 759(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 506(@300wpm)
Knowing how good it’d feel because just his hand holding mine was sending tendrils of pleasure shooting through me, coating my insides.
His voice was rough “Look up. Tell me no one can see this.”
I looked and had to refocus to actually see. My cousins were involved in their game.
I looked to the house. Nick was at the grill, his attention there and on his phone.
I looked more, through the window. My mom and aunt had moved to the kitchen table. Glasses of wine in front of them, and they were deep in some conversation.
“No one’s looking.”
As soon as I said it, a long finger rubbed the inside of my palm—slow, measured, purposeful.
My eyes went back to his, and his were burning into me. Then he shifted, putting my hand down and over his jeans. I felt him, felt how hard he was, how he was straining against his pants. My hand turned, cupping him, and he sucked in some air, but he leaned down and his nostrils flared.
“Yeah. You’d be all ready for me.”
“Scout!” someone yelled.
I jerked my hand away, but he didn’t move. His eyes held mine for a second before he turned around.
Kira was heading our way, almost skipping. “Hey, guys.” She collapsed in one of the other chairs, her feet going up on the brick bonfire circle like Scout had first sat. “What’s up?” But she was distracted, her face glowing and perspiring a little as she watched the rest of the group slowly coming our way.
They filtered in. Her friends, Ciara and Leanne holding back. They waited for my cousins to choose their seats and then perched on the arms of their chairs. The wooden chairs were sturdy enough and the arms were flat enough so they could almost sit normally. It was one reason I loved bonfires at Aunt Aileen’s house.
I shot up, knowing Clint would see something on my face that I didn’t want him to see.
He shouted behind me, “Where are you going?”
I held a hand up, saying over my shoulder, “Bathroom.”
Trenton yelled, “Bring back drinks! Booze preferably.”
“Trenton,” came from his dad.
“I mean, soda preferably.”
Uncle Nick grunted, but I glanced over just as I opened their sliding glass doors. He was staring at my cousins before his phone beeped and his attention went back to that. I frowned, just slightly, but my head was a mess. A lust-filled mess.
I needed time alone and time to cool down.
“I want to make you look messed and rode hard.”
Sensations broke out all over me, and I cursed softly. I needed to get a handle on whatever this was between Scout and me. It wasn’t good. It wasn’t right.
I still hated him.
“Hey, sweetie.” My mom smiled at me as I came inside.
I coughed, willing my pulse to slow down. “Hey, Mom.”
“Wanna come and talk to us? Tell us how school is going?”
That made me pause because I still hadn’t told her about the picture.
My stomach dropped.
This would be the perfect place. Perfect time.
Aunt Ailes was here. There were others here.
She couldn’t go off the deep end, which was what she’d do. It was part of the reason I didn’t want to tell her.
God.
Dread filled me, but I needed to get it over and done.
My mouth dried up.
My mom frowned, seeing the change. “Sweetie?”
Fear clamped down on my insides, shooting all of the other stuff out of the way.
My chest grew tight again. “Uh, Mom . . .”
24
SCOUT
Me: Come to the Maroney house. Kira and her group are here.
Cohen: I don’t want to get with Kira anymore.
Me: Who cares? I need some backup.
Cohen: On my way.
A hand touched my leg as Kira leaned in. She took Ramsay’s seat almost the second Ram’s ass left, and she’d been breathing on me since. “Who are you texting?”
I gave her hand a pointed look. “Get your fucking hand off me.”
She snatched it back but leaned away and arched her back, making a show of it. She licked her lips, a sultry smile stretching her mouth. “Come on, Scout. Let’s be real. You’re a teenager. Yes, you’re eighteen and you always feel like you’re in a different place than us, but you still have a dick. I know you use it.”
I shot her a look. “You don’t know shit about shit, which means you know shit.”
She laughed, her voice dipping low. Her shoulders shook a little. “I know a couple of the girls you bang on the regular. I know your deal. No strings. Just the sex and maybe you’ll do it again at your next fight.”
“Do me a favor. Stop talking.”
She laughed again, her voice rising. “Who’d you text?”
“Who do you think?”
“Cohen, huh? Your ride or die.” She leaned forward again, her head hanging between our seats. “How does that work? You’re best friends with Alex and Cohen? Who’s on top? Is there any jealousy between them? You know, for who gets you the most?” She gave me a once-over. “I know I’d be jealous. And I am. You want to fuck Williams, don’t you?”