Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two: A dark high school bully romance

16. Abigail

ABIGAIL

“You might want to tone it down,” Reese says quietly to Elliot. “You’re so fucking obvious.”

Heat rushes into my cheeks as I look away, fighting a smile.

We’re back to hiding our relationship from the world—if you can call what we’re doing a relationship.

Every night Elliot sneaks into my dorm room and climbs in bed beside me, finding new ways to make me fall apart. But every morning I wake alone, only the rumpled bedsheets and the lingering ache between my legs a reminder he was ever there.

Part of me wonders if I gave in too easily, but Elliot makes it too difficult to hate him.

And he showed me his scars.

That has to mean something, doesn’t it?

“Stop teasing them,” Liv warns, shooting me an apologetic look.

“It’s fine,” I say. “I need to go anyway. I have a meeting with Mr Porter about my plans.” I stifle a groan.

I don’t want to discuss the future. Not with Mr Porter or anyone else. Getting through each day still feels like wading through quicksand. But the girls make it easier. And I hate to say it, but so do the boys.

In their own strange way, Oakley, Reese, and Theo have all proved that they care too.

Then there’s Elliot…

My feelings about him—about us—are still complicated, and I’m not wholly convinced that sneaking around is the right thing to do but I’m tired of fighting it.

“I’ll walk you,” he says, going to stand. But I pin him with a questioning look.

“Is that a good idea?”

“Let the boy walk you,” Theo mumbles. “He’ll only send one of us if you don’t.”

It’s true.

All week one of them has been glued to my side at all times. It’s overwhelming to say the least, but I don’t hate it.

In fact, I kind of like knowing that I still have them in my corner.

On Monday, Ethan tried to talk to me but couldn’t get past Oakley and Tally. For a second, I thought Oak was going to do something stupid and hit him.

Thankfully, he didn’t. Ethan got the message, and from the lack of stares or whispers as I move from class to class, I’m assuming that word quickly spread that I’m off-limits.

“Fine.” I concede, turning my attention to the girls. “I’ll see you later.”

“If you need anything…” Tally adds, and I nod.

“I know.”

“Come on.” Elliot presses his hand to the small of my back and follows me out of the dinner hall.

“You didn’t have to come with me,” I say.

“Actually, I did.” He scans the hallway, grabs my hand and pulls me inside an empty classroom.

“Elliot, what are you?—”

Caging me against the wall, he pulls down the window blind and rests his forehead against mine. “Do you have any idea how much it kills me not being able to touch you in public.”

“We’re at school,” I remind him. “Anyone could see and run off to tell your brother.”

A low growl rumbles in his chest as he looks up to the ceiling, trying to contain his anger.

“Elliot,” I sigh. “You know I’m right.” I curl my fingers into his school shirt and give a little tug. He lowers his face to mine and his expression softens.

“I want the world to know you’re mine.”

The intensity in his words melts something inside me.

“Your family?—”

“Fuck them.” His mouth crashes down on mine, and he kisses all the doubts right out of my head. “You matter, Abi. You and my boys.”

“And the girls, don’t forget about the girls.”

“Yeah.” He smiles against my lips. “I’m done playing by their rules. I just need some time to figure out how to make sure none of this blows back on you, okay?”

I nod. Because what else can I do?

I still don’t truly understand the inner workings of Johnathon Eaton and his family.

All I know is he hurt Elliot when he was nothing more than a child.

He hurt his own son and has still managed to maintain an iron grip on his life.

“Maybe we should be more careful,” I suggest, trying to wriggle out of his hold.

But Elliot moves closer, pressing his big strong body up against me. “Don’t do that.” His voice wavers as if he’s barely in control. “Don’t pull away from me.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I whisper.

Not because of me, I swallow the words.

“I can handle my father.” His fingers trace the scar on my face. I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let me. “You’re beautiful, Red.”

“I wish I could believe that.” I offer him a sad smile.

“You will by the time I’m through with you.”

The dark promise in his words make me shiver.

“Let me take you somewhere this weekend,” he blurts.

“Where?” I tilt my head at him.

“I don’t know yet. But I want to be alone with you.”

“Oh.”

“We don’t have to.”

“No, I want to. I just thought you meant…”

“We can invite the others,” he says. “But it might get a little awkward for what I have planned.”

For what he has…

Oh my.

My stomach clenches.

“So, is that a yes?” he asks, moving to brush his lips over the shell of my ear.

“Yes,” I breathe, knowing that if we cross this line, there will be no going back.

“I’ll make the arrangements.” He steals another kiss, and I hold on tight.

Hoping to God that I’m strong enough to survive whatever is coming our way.

“Ihear you and Elliot have a hot date tomorrow night,” Tally slides into the seat next to me.

The entire sixth form is crammed into the hall to go over the revision timetable for the looming exams. Since I’ve deferred all mine until the next year, it doesn’t apply to me, but I came anyway. Not wanting to be alone any longer than necessary.

“Shh,” I hiss.

“What? No one is paying us any attention. Do you know where he’s taking you? I asked Oak but he won’t tell me.”

“It’s a surprise.” I glance down at our row, grateful to be seated on the end.

The row behind us begins to fill up and I’m hardly surprised when Elliot and the boys file in.

His eyes lock on mine, sending a blast of desire through me so potent my breath catches.

“Oh my God, you’ve got it bad.”

“Tally, please stop.”

Oakley hooks his arm around her neck from behind and pulls her back for a wholly inappropriate kiss.

“Mr Beckworth,” one of the teachers warns. “This is neither the time nor place.”

“Sorry, sir. It’s just that my girl is looking sexy as fu—” Reese elbows him in the ribs and everyone around us starts snickering.

“Oakley!” Tally shoots him a death stare.

“I’ll make it up to you later.” He winks, and she silently fumes beside me.

But I catch the heat in her gaze. The longing.

Mr Porter commands everyone’s attention and begins outlining the plans for the next few weeks. I barely follow, too aware of Elliot behind me, his eyes burning holes in the back of my head.

He shifts behind me, stretching his long legs out beneath my chair, the tips of his shoes hitting the backs of my legs.

Tally smothers a laugh beside me, grinning like the cat who got the cream.

‘Stop,’ I mouth, not brave enough to glance back at Elliot.

But I feel him. Watching me. Toying with my hair.

My heart flutters wildly as I will myself to pay attention.

“Psst, Abs,” Oak whispers. “Want to swap seats?”

“Oakley, you’re going to get us all into trouble,” Tally chides.

“Relax, babe. Porter isn’t?—”

“Mr Beckworth,” he booms across the room. “Something you care to share with the rest of us?”

“Just eager to start revising, sir.”

“I’m sure you are.” Mr Porter’s lip twitch with disapproval. “Now as I was saying, we expect all second years to attend their respective revision classes at least twice a week. No exceptions.”

“Bullshit,” someone coughs along our row causing another round of snickers.

“Okay, okay.” He loosens his tie. “I can see that some of you are unable to sit quietly for more than ten minutes. Please exit the hall in an orderly fashion and don’t forget to take a revision timetable from the table.”

“Thank fuck,” Reese murmurs as we stand and wait for our rows to file out.

Oakley moves one of the chairs and pulls Tally through the gap. “Come on, Abs,” he adds.

“I…”

Elliot gives me a reassuring nod and I slip into their row, standing awkwardly at his side.

“Hi,” he whispers.

“Hi.”

“I missed you last night.”

He didn’t stop by because of some rugby team thing. The girls had showed up instead to keep me company.

“I missed you too.”

“I missed you three.” Oakley shoves his head between us and grins.

“Fuck off, idiot.” Elliot pushes him away and apologises.

“It’s fine. I’m used to his antics by now.”

“See, she’s used to me.” He winks, slinging his arm around Tally’s shoulder as we begin to move down the row.

“Can we go somewhere?” Elliot asks over my shoulder. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Now?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” Dread churns in my stomach.

“Follow me when we get out of here, okay?” He slips around me, and I nod, my mind going to a hundred places I don’t want to think about.

Students hurry to their first lessons of the morning as Elliot cuts a path through them and down the hall. I say goodbye to Tally and take off after him, keeping a safe distance between us.

He seems agitated, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s going to cancel our date tomorrow.

I follow him all the way to the end of the hall and out of the back door leading to the gym. Elliot waits under one of the few shelters dotted around the campus.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I want to be honest with you, okay?”

“Okay.” My brows furrow.

“I need to go out tonight… with Lauren.”

“What?” My heart tumbles, the ground going from under me. “But I thought…”

I stop myself because I don’t know what I thought.

All I know is, I didn’t expect this.

I stare at my feet, trying to get my emotions under control.

“Abi, look at me.” Elliot reaches for me, fisting my blazer and pulling me into his chest. “She means nothing to me. Nothing. But until I figure some things out, I need to play the game.”

“I… I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I need you to say you’re okay with this,” he pleads.

“If it was the other way around, would you be okay with me pretending to be with another boy?” A stone mask falls over his expression, and I let out a bitter laugh. “Then it isn’t fair of you to expect me to be okay with it.”

“I know. Fuck, I know. But she’s on our side.”

“You’ve talked to her about me?”

I don’t know how to feel about that.

“Not in so many words,” he replies. “But she doesn’t exactly like our arrangement either. If I don’t show, it will raise suspicions and I can’t give Scott any more reasons to go after you, I won’t.”

“I’m not scared of your brother, Elliot.”

“You should be.” He drops his head to mine, inhaling a shaky breath. “I won’t kiss her. I won’t even touch her, I swear. But I have to go.”

Anguish lines his face, and I can see how difficult this is for him. But it’s not exactly easy for me.

“I saw you with her, Elliot. She’s beautiful,” I admit, shrinking into myself. “You looked good together.”

“But she’s not you,” he says. “She doesn’t know me, Abi. Not like you do.”

“Fine. Go. Do what you need to do. But if you cross that line with her?—”

“I won’t, I swear. I’m yours and only yours.”

“Elliot, I?—”

“Don’t say anything.” His thumb drifts across my bottom lip. “Just let me have this.”

Elliot seals his mouth over mine, sealing his promise with a kiss.