Chapter Five
Isat in the driveway for a few minutes after turning off the engine, trying to get a grip on my emotions. After speaking to Bast I’d made a few calls and headed to Paige’s dorm to get things moving. The state of her room had me shaking in anger, even now, and I just wanted to hit something. The guys had met me there, and I’d got them sorted with what we needed, before making another call to get the information Bast had wanted. Now I was home, determined to see her, just to reassure myself that she was ok, but I didn’t want to scare her if my emotions got the better of me.
Slowly I got out of the car and headed towards the front door. Bast had pulled up in front of the door which was unusual. I guessed he was in a rush to get her inside. If I knew Bast, he would not be handling this well. An unknown player with goals and motivations he had no clue about? No, Bast wouldn’t like that. And if I knew him the way I thought I did, he’d be itching to get out and start finding out about it.
I pushed open the door and hesitated. Bast was standing in the hallway, staring at the wall.
“Bast?”
I walked over to him, then noticed the fist sized hole in the plaster. I raised an eyebrow.
“Disagreement with the wall?”
“Imagining Pauline Tremaine’s face,” he muttered.
I tensed. “Why?”
“Doesn’t matter, I”ll fill you in later.”
“Where’s Paige?”
“In the kitchen, having breakfast. I gave her one of your hoodies to wear. She threw up in the car. Shock, I think.”
“Oh no, not the Range Rover,” I grinned, mocking him, but he clenched his jaw.
“This is so fucked up, Tristan. You should have seen her. Shaking with fear because she messed up my car. She nearly… it was like when Nate loses it…” His fists clenched at his sides. “She can’t go home, Tris. I’m not letting her walk back into that life.”
“She’s our Persephone, Bast. Just for this year. She isn’t… ours. We can’t control what she does or what choices she makes.”
“You want to bet?” he growled.
I fought hard not to smile. I hated to think of what Paige had clearly gone through at home, but seeing Bast like this, protective and caring… it was a new side of him. Plus, if that gorgeous girl in there got him to fall for her, I’d have a much better chance getting him to help me break the Club rules and keep her after the year ran out.
“Ok, so I met the guys at her dorm and got them to have a look through, they’ll let me know when they’re done and email over anything they find, then I’ve got a crew ready to do clean up. What the fuck is going on, Bast? She has a fucking stalker? And she didn’t say anything?”
“She thought it was us. The notes started arriving around the same time as the roses, and her being followed, except now I’m thinking we weren’t the only ones following her, Tris. I haven’t read the notes, but I glanced at a couple, and he knew where she was all the fucking time.”
“That’s sick. Why would anyone want to hurt her, Bast? This is the second time someone’s set out to harm her, and I just can’t imagine why. Hang on, do you think he’s the one who set her up with us?”
Bast shook his head.
“No. The note he left made it clear he is furious with her for being with us. I think he believes he’s in love with her and our involvement has made him jealous. We need to watch her carefully. Shifts round the clock, like before, except she goes nowhere without one of us by her side.”
I nodded. “I can make up a rota for us, and Nate too. Where is he?”
“Waiting for me. Did you get that information I asked you for?”
“Already sent it to your phone. I assume you’re heading out now then?”
Bast nodded. “Nate’s already informed his father we can’t attend today. Are you ok to stay with her till… later?”
“Not a problem, I’ll just tell my tutor I’ve had a relapse with that sick bug.”
Bast frowned. “Did you ever figure out what caused that food poisoning?”
I shook my head. “Nope. What’s weird is, I didn”t eat much that day, and nothing in the evening.”
His frown deepened, then he shook his head as if dismissing something. “Right, ok. Don’t leave her side, doors locked, security on. She needs to be distracted. Oh, and Tristan, feed her as often as you can. There’s some fucked up shit with that family, and we need to start fixing it. She was scared to even go into the kitchen just now, and when I asked her to take what she wanted to eat…”
“You think Neil was knocking her around?” I asked quietly.
Bast’s jaw tightened, and he nodded. “The mother too. Possibly the worst.”
“Shit.”
I followed him back down the hall into the kitchen, smiling at the sight of Paige sitting at the island, her slender legs bare under my hoodie, and her curls braided and pulled back from her face. My cock twitched at the sight of her like this, and for a moment, I imagined bending her over that counter and making her scream my name.
She turned as we came in. “I finished it all…oh, hey, Tris.” Her voice was soft, and her smile was warm as she saw me, causing that strange lurch in my chest at the sight of it.
“Hey,” I replied, going over to join her at the table. “How are you doing?”
She shrugged. “Better than earlier.”
“That”s good,” I nodded. “You up for chilling out with me this afternoon? I thought we could just hang out here, maybe watch a movie.”
She hesitated a moment before slowly nodding. “Yeah, okay. That sounds nice.”
“I’m going out for a while,” Bast said, glancing at me. “I’ve got some business to take care of, but Tris will look after you or you can call me if you need anything, ok? Anything, Paige.”
She nodded. “I will. But what about your car? How will you get there?”
I laughed. “There are another three cars in the garage, sunshine. Don’t worry about it.”
She blushed. “I guess I can’t comprehend having this much money,” she admitted.
I took her hand and pressed my lips to her knuckles. “Then allow us to educate you as we spoil you rotten. Starting with the size of our tv.”
I winked at her, capturing a soft giggle that had my heart fluttering, before I turned to look at Bast. He was watching us, his eyes narrowed, before he gave a curt nod and left the room.
Paige deflated a bit, her eyes wandering to the door he”d just walked through. I could tell she was worried about him, the softness in her gaze clear evidence of her growing affection for him.
“Is he always like this?” she asked, turning to look at me.
“Hardly,” I answered with a chuckle. “He”s usually worse.”
She frowned, still worrying about something. “I was sick in his car,” she said quietly.
“Don”t worry about it, sunshine, and don’t worry about Bast. He”s just concerned about you. We all are. Which is why it’s my job to distract you this afternoon. So come on, cinema room.”
I took her hand and tugged her down off the stool. Paige followed me obediently down the hall and down the stairs into the cellar.
“Wow, Tristan, this is amazing!” she said, as I ushered her into the cinema room. It was pretty great. A huge sofa that was practically a bed, and a massive widescreen tv with surround sound and every streaming platform available.
“It is pretty cool. Now,” I said, passing her the remote and showing her how to turn on the tv. “Pick a movie while I sort drinks and snacks.”
“I just ate breakfast,” she pointed out.
“Yes, but I didn’t, and it’s not a movie marathon if you don’t have snacks,” I said firmly. “Now pick something. I could tolerate a war film, but I’m more inclined towards rom coms myself.”
She giggled at that, sinking into the plush cushions of the sofa with a contented sigh and started flicking through movie choices. I headed over to the kitchenette to raid the supplies there and within a few minutes I had a huge tray of snacks - popcorn, chocolate, ice cream and drinks, and some healthier options too like apples and grapes. She might not eat all of them, but at least she”d have plenty of choices. Her eyes went wide as I laid it on the coffee table before her.
“You weren”t kidding about the snacks,” she laughed.
I shook my head. “I never joke about snacks, and I aim to please.”
I sink down onto the sofa beside her, my arm brushing hers as we settled in to watch the movie she had chosen. It was a romantic comedy, one of my favourites actually, not that I would ever reveal that to anyone, and if it kept her happy and distracted from everything else going on right now, then I would sit through it a thousand times over.
As the opening credits started to roll, I felt Paige shift slightly closer to me. Her body pressed against mine felt warm and soft - too inviting for its own good. The way her scent permeated the air around us was intoxicating.
My gaze flickered over to her as she focused intently on the screen, her lips parting slightly in anticipation of what was to come. I should have invited her over to do this before. It shouldn’t have been because of the horrible situation she was in, and I felt a little guilty for not thinking of it beforehand. I was so used to dates having to impress the girl I was with, I hadn’t realised how easy this could be, just spending time together. Then again, maybe it depended on the girl you were with. I liked spending time with Paige, it didn’t matter what we did. I just liked being around her.
I took hold of her hand, our fingers brushing softly before I intertwined them with mine. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned to me, her eyes full of gratitude and something else that I couldn”t quite place. It was a look I hadn”t seen directed at me before and for a moment, it threw me off guard.
“Thank you,” she whispered, so quietly that I almost didn”t catch it over the sound from the speakers.
“For what?” I asked, taken aback.
“For this,” she gestured around us with our entwined hands. “For caring.”
Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. This wasn”t about us spoiling her or trying to distract her from what had happened. For Paige, this was about something much more.
“I”d do anything for you, sunshine,” I confessed, my voice barely audible over the noise from the film.
She seemed taken aback by my candour but recovered quickly. With a small smile, she squeezed my hand and shifted even closer to me until her head rested on my shoulder. Her soft hair tickled my neck and I had to suppress the urge to bury my face in it and breathe in her scent.
“You”re too good to me Tris,” she said quietly. She glanced at me briefly before nestling deeper into the couch, pulling her legs up under her. The hoodie she wore swallowed her up, making her look even smaller than she was.
“It”s impossible to be too good to you, sunshine,” I replied, my heart squeezing. “You deserve the best.”
Her smile warmed me more than I thought possible. It was nice seeing her at ease, her worries momentarily forgotten as she immersed herself in the film. She would occasionally comment on something happening on screen or giggle at something comical. The sound of her laughter was the best part.
As the movie progressed, she drew closer, tucking herself under my arm, burying her face into my side. Her hand rested lightly on my stomach, her thumb intermittently drawing small circles through my shirt. The touch was innocent, but the knowledge her hand was only inches above my cock had me starting to get hard, and I prayed she wouldn’t notice. I didn’t want to take advantage of her in this vulnerable state. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the movie. Her hand drifted a little lower, and I bit my lip, not reacting.
“Tris?”
“Yes?”
“Bast said… if I wanted to do something, just to ask, and you might…” she trailed off, sounding unsure.
“What do you want, sunshine? You can ask me anything,” I said, suddenly curious.
“Can I touch you?”
I blinked. I had not been expecting that.
“Are you sure? You’ve been through a lot today.”
“I’m sure. But if you don’t want me to-”
“Oh, I want you to!” I said hurriedly. “I don’t want to take advantage of the situation.”
Her hand slid lower, fingers brushing over my cock through my jeans, and though I could barely feel it through the thick fabric, I sucked in my breath at her touch.
“I think I’m the one taking advantage of the situation, Tris,” she said, amusement in her voice.
I looked down at her and grinned. “I’m at your mercy then, Paige.”
Her hand cupped me, the heel of her hand rubbing over my hardness, and I sighed.
“Harder, sunshine. These jeans are thick.”
She obliged, rubbing at me hard enough to make my cock strain to sit up and take notice.
“Like this?” she questioned, her eyes taking on a mischievous glint. A low groan escaped my lips as an answer.
“Perfect,” I breathed out, my heart pounding in my chest.
Her strokes were clumsy but filled with a kind of innocence that made the whole situation even more enticing. I wanted her, all of her, and the fact that she was willing to explore this side of herself with me was more than I could have hoped for.
“Paige,” I breathed, closing my eyes.
“You”re not watching the movie,” she observed playfully.
With her hand still on my dick, there was no reasoning with my focus. “Your fault,” I murmured back, tilting my head towards her.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
“It”s more than okay,” I replied, managing a grin despite the torment I was under. “It”s just...this is driving me crazy.”
The corner of her mouth tilted up in a barely-there smile. “Good,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she resumed her assault. Her touch was pure heaven and sin at the same time.
I closed my eyes again, enjoying the feel of her hand moving over me through the fabric of my jeans. Her fingers moved up to my belt, and I shifted, lying back so she could work it free, and undo my jeans. She fumbled with the buttons, and it was pure torment waiting for her to undo them, but I wanted to let her take control this time. I reached down, pushing down my briefs and pulling out my cock.
She wrapped her fingers around it, and I groaned. She explored with curious fingers, and it was all I could do to bite back a groan. Her touch was perfectly innocent and yet ferociously erotic.
I opened my eyes to find her watching me intently, her lower lip caught between her teeth as she concentrated on what she was doing.
“Like this?” she asked again, her movements now less hesitant. I nodded, unable to form coherent words, and reached down, wrapping my hand over hers. Guiding her hand, showing her what I liked; the rhythm and pressure that brought me to the edge but not over it. She caught on quickly, her movements becoming confident as she discovered how to bring me pleasure. Oh God, I wasn”t going to last long at this rate.
I placed my hand over hers, stopping her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No, I just don’t want to come yet.” I slipped further down until I was lying flat, then put my hands on her waist, pulling at her.
“Tris, what are you doing?”
“I want you to sit on my face, sunshine, so I can taste that sweet pussy of yours.”
“I can’t sit on you!” she said in surprise. “You won’t be able to breathe.”
I ignored her protection, and dragged her leg over my chest so she was astride me. “Paige, if I can breathe, I’m not doing my job right. I want you riding my face like a fucking horse.”
Her mouth fell open as she looked down on me, and I grabbed her ass, pulling her up and over my face, burying my mouth between her legs. She gasped, as I reached up, pulling the lace aside and taking my first taste for what seemed like forever. Her taste was intoxicating, mixing with the scent of her arousal, as I pushed my tongue between the folds of her sex. She squirmed, trying to get away, and I clamped my hands on her hips, holding her down.
“Tris,” she whispered, her hands threading through my hair, pulling me closer. A moan of pleasure escaped her as my tongue swirled around her sensitive nub, her hands gripping the headboard for support. The taste of her sent a thrill coursing through me, her creamy warmth coating my mouth and teasing my taste buds. Every flick of my tongue brought a new sound from Paige, each one driving me crazy with desire. She began to move over me, rubbing herself against my mouth, and I didn’t think she realised she was doing it. It made me hard as hell, and I fought the urge to push her back and bring her down on my cock. She was Bast’s first. That was the arrangement. I just wish he’d hurry the fuck up.
Her rhythm was erratic at first, but then she found a pace that had her writhing above me. The scent of her filled the air as I lapped at her sweet juices, every sound she made an intoxicating symphony that was music to my ears. She shifted her position slightly, leaning back giving me even better access, but then I felt her hand wrap around my cock again and I groaned against her pussy, making her jump.
“Mmm...Tris,” she moaned, her voice soft and husky as she started stroking me again. It was a slow, torturous rhythm that had me seeing stars. I sucked on her clit, eliciting a gasp from above me as her strokes became erratic.
My desire for her was overwhelming, the taste of her sweetness mingling with the heady scent of her arousal driving me to the edge. Her hand on my cock was absolute torture but I didn”t want it to stop. Not when it felt this good.
“Paige...” I groaned against her wet heat, my breath fanning over her sensitive flesh. She shuddered above me, her grip on my cock tightening in response.
“Don”t...stop,” she panted, her body starting to tremble.
I kept up the assault on her clit with renewed vigour, determined to drive her over the edge. Her grip on my cock became unbearable, squeezing and sliding in a maddening tempo that made it difficult for me to breathe.
I slid a finger in, and then a second, the sensation of her tightening around me making me groan. The sounds she was making were driving me wild, her body moving in rhythm with my tongue. Her hand tightened in my hair, her obvious pleasure making my cock harder than I thought possible. I pushed a third finger into her soaking pussy making her gasp, then dragging it back to push against her ass. She jerked against me as I pushed it inside her back entrance.
“Fuck, Tristan!” She whimpered and moved faster, her walls pulsing around my fingers that I thrust deep inside her. Her hand on my cock matched my rhythm, and I sped up, thrusting my hips up, needing more.
She was on the edge; I could feel it. Her body began to quiver above me, her movements more erratic. And then she froze, her body locking up as she cried out. Her sweet release gushed over my mouth and onto my fingers.
“Fucking hell, Tris!” She cried out, her body trembling as the waves of her climax washed over her. Her grip on my cock tightened almost painfully, and I groaned against her flesh as my own orgasm built.
She didn”t stop, but kept on riding me, riding my mouth and hand even as she came apart. I sped up my movements, pushing up into her hand as I drank down every drop of her sweetness. She continued to shudder against me, little aftershocks coursing through her body.
“Tris...I need to stop...” she gasped, trying to slide off of me. I held her hips firmly in place, not allowing her to move.
“No, you don’t,” I growled against her heat before diving back in. She gave a startled yelp that turned into a moan as I resumed, only increasing the pressure, wanting to devour every inch of her again.
“Tris, Tris please,” she pulled away, then pushed back down, her hips riding my face, chasing another climax. Watching her inhibitions fall away as she lost control was enough to tip me over the edge, and I groaned her name against her soaking pussy as I came in thick hot spurts over her hand. I pushed my fingers deeper, curling them round and she screamed my name as she came again, shuddering as she fell apart on top of me. I continued to lap at her pussy until the waves subsided, and gently eased my fingers out of her and pulled back slightly so she could slide down onto the couch beside me.
“That was...” She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
“Amazing?” I supplied with a grin. She looked at me from beneath long lashes and nodded. “You tasted divine,” I said leaning over to give her a soft kiss, before getting up and heading over to the kitchenette for a damp towel. After cleaning myself off, I found another clean one, and passed it to Paige, taking that moment to do up my jeans again to give her some privacy.
I sat back down, but this time, I pulled her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her. Her body moulded perfectly against mine as she snuggled into me. Her fingers began tracing idle patterns on my chest, and I held her closer.
“How do you feel?” I asked her.
She thought for a moment. “Safe. Happy.” she yawned, and I laughed.
“And tired.”
“And tired,” she admitted with a smile. “What about you?”
“Much the same,” I said. “And a little confused.”
“Confused?”
“Yeah.” I nodded towards the screen at the actress currently falling into bed with the male lead. “I thought she was going out with the other guy?”