“I know who Finn is.” I had sex with him one time at a party a couple years ago. We were high, drunk, and horny. A lethal combination that almost always ends with marathon sex.
Here’s hoping he doesn’t remember because I don’t want to make an instant enemy of his girlfriend. My agenda is too important, and I don’t need additional distractions.
“I’m not after Parker’s crown. She’ll back off when she realizes that.” What I need to do requires me to blend into the shadows. To become almost invisible so I can sneak around undetected. Having a spotlight on my head would cause too many delays.
Sariah pushes her short blonde hair behind her ears. “We both know that’s a lie.”
“Yeah,” I chuckle, as I pull the car through the rusted iron gates at the front of my new school. “But it’s fun to fantasize sometimes.”
_______________
The metal detector beeps as I walk through the scanner, as I expected it would. The female security guard pats me down as other students stream through the doors, gawking at me like I’m a new science experiment.
“You can’t bring knives to school,” the guard says, frowning as she removes the dull blade from the back pocket of my jeans.
I hold up my palms. “My bad. I’m new.”
“That’s not an excuse.” Her frown deepens, and she eyes me warily. I hold her gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “I’ll be keeping this,” she adds, dropping it into a brown plastic container along with a bunch of other confiscated weapons. “Move along.”
“What was that all about?” Sariah murmurs under her breath as we take off.
“Concealing the knife I have tucked in the inside of my boot,” I quietly reply. I wasn’t joking when I said I carry my Strider SMF everywhere with me.
She nods in understanding. “Come on.” She tugs on my elbow, steering me around the corner, away from the throngs crowding the hallways. “Let’s get the paperwork shit out of the way.”
A short while later, we leave the school office. “Everyone’s staring.” Sariah states the obvious as we clutch our schedules and locker combos. Thankfully, we have lockers across from one another, and we share a few of the same classes too.
“Let them look. No skin off my back.” I ignore the inquisitive gazes of my new schoolmates, keeping pace with Sariah as she leads me down the hallway.
I’m shoving books in my locker when Sariah shrieks behind me, and I whip around, knuckles raised, ready to inflict some damage. My shoulders relax when I spot Sean with a giggling Sariah lifted in his arms.
“Hey, Lo.” Sean grins at me as he lowers my bestie to her feet.
“Hey, stud.” Sean is classically good-looking with dark hair slicked back off his handsome face. With his wide, warm brown eyes, cute dimples, and friendly smile, he’s the perfect boy-next-door type.
Which is something I’d run a mile from.
But Sariah is tits over ass crazy about the guy.
And I can see why.
He’s massively talented on the field, but he doesn’t sport an ego the size of Texas like most of his teammates. He’s down to earth, funny, smart, and loyal. He worships his girlfriend, and he’s the only reason, besides my parents I believe in the notion of love.
He’s the atypical jock, and I would’ve adored him for that fact alone.
But he’s also a decent guy, and there are so few of them around. Just because he doesn’t float my boat doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate him.
“Hey, sexy.” A hulk of a guy cages me in, leaning over me like he deserves to share my airspace.
“Get the fuck out of my face.” I shove at his solid chest, but he doesn’t budge. “Your breath reeks.”
“Back off, Cummings.” Sean appears at our side.
“I’ve got this.” I pin Sean with a “back off” look. The last thing I want or need is someone riding to my rescue. Especially on day one.
“Cummings.” I smile sweetly at him, utilizing an alternative strategy. “That’s an unfortunate name.” I trail my finger from his collarbone down lower.
He smirks, and he’d probably be hot if he lost the arrogant entitled look he’s currently sporting. “I happen to like my name.” He presses his mouth to my ear. “The ladies call me The Cum King.”
Gag. “Oh, yeah?” I feign interest, grinning as I run my hand down lower, along the rippling muscles of his six pack, inching toward the band of his jeans.
“Meet me under the bleachers after school, and I’ll demonstrate why.” He waggles his brows, and the smug expression on his face only adds to the overall unattractiveness of his proposition.
“You know,” I say, sliding my hand down over his crotch, palming the semi in his jeans. “I think I’ll pass. Because anyone who’s proud to be called The Cum King is a Grade-A douche, and I tend to steer clear of arrogant, asshole players.” I grab his junk, twisting it in a way I know is painful, digging my nails into the denim.
He howls, pushing away from me, cupping his dick and swearing. “You fucking whore.”
I roll my eyes. “So cliché.”
Sean chuckles, and I spot a few guys flanking him at the rear; some smirking, some scowling, and some holding their crotches protectively.
“You’ve just sealed your fate, bitch,” Cummings says, straightening up, his face puce.
“I’m quaking in my boots,” I deadpan, as a shadow looms over me from behind.
“Making friends already, princess?” His dark chuckle raises all the tiny hairs on my arms.
I turn around slowly, blood boiling in my veins, hands clenched tight at my sides.
Saint Lennox stares me out of it. His blue eyes radiate challenge, his cocky smirk conveys superiority, and he holds himself confidently, his body a strong, taut, physical weapon, as he silently threatens me with a dark, dangerous look that electrifies my body and fuels the rage coursing through my body.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I return his stare with a deadly one of my own.
“Didn’t you get the memo?” he says, leaning into my face, his warm breath fanning across my already overheated skin. “We just transferred in.”
I glance over his shoulder for the first time, locking eyes with Galen, Theo, and Caz. They stand stoically behind their leader with their shoulders back, heads up, and lethal expressions on their faces, danger seeping from their pores, their bodies primed to annihilate anything or anyone who stands in their path.
Galen snaps his gaze to me, glaring in a way that lets me know he still despises me. His hatred is so visceral he can’t conceal it.
I flip him the middle finger, returning his venom with my own special brand.
He steps forward, placing his hand on my shoulder and gripping me with iron strength. “Welcome to senior year, angel,” he growls, his dark eyes unleashing wave after wave of fury, an unspoken promise that he’s never letting this go. “It’s going to be your own personal version of hell.”
CHAPTER 3
“BACK THE FUCK up.” A gruff voice commands the crowd that has formed around us, and they instantly part, bowing in deference as if Finn Houston is Travis fucking Scott.