Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Collin
It’s been two days since our time at the cabin. When Aspen had told me not to eat the food, I didn’t have to wait long to figure out why. Within the hour, all three of the guys were in the bathroom, shitting their guts out while my little firecracker cackled like a madwoman. It took everything in me not to join her. After we got home, the guys kept to their rooms, probably still suffering from stomach aches. She had to know her punishment was coming, though.
I’d been enlisted to keep an eye on her while they recovered, and we spent most of the time watching movies and snacking. My ribs were starting to feel less tender, making it easier to get around. I still had a limp but could manage on my own.
Aspen was curled up next to me, her long lashes resting against her cheekbones. She’d fallen asleep after watching a horror movie with me. My mind flashed back to the cabin and to the way her mouth had felt wrapped around me. She was perfect. If it weren’t for Myles’s stupid rules, I would have already buried myself inside her. It felt like there was always something keeping me from doing just that and it frustrated me to no end.
My bedroom door flew open, startling me. Usually, it was Foster coming to exact his punishment on the poor girl, but it was Myles who entered my room, closing the door behind him. His angry gaze landed on the sleeping woman beside me, a muscle thrumming along his jaw.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
He didn’t respond. Instead, he stalked over to her bedside and ripped the blanket down her body, exposing her to us. Her nipples pebbled instantly from the cold air, but she didn’t so much as stir in her sleep. He was gentle as he rolled her onto her back, not wanting to wake her for whatever reason.
Finally, he glanced over at me. “I’m going to take what belongs to me. She not only put laxatives in my food, but she’s been denying me at every turn. Maybe this will give her the push she needs in order to crumble.” His voice had an edge of darkness to it, making chills track down my spine.
“You’re not going to fuck her, are you?” I asked cautiously.
She still hasn’t recovered from the shit we put her through at the party. I wasn’t sure she ever would. That thought had panic twisting inside me.
He snorted in response. “No.”
Without another word, he climbed on the bed, settling between her legs. A twisted smile curled the corners of his mouth as he allowed his gaze to rake over her naked body appreciatively. He was different with her since she returned. Less violent. Like maybe her death affected him just as it had me. Instead, he was torturing her in different ways, threatening her less even. In his twisted head, he cared about her in the only way he knew how to. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing, but if it kept her alive, I couldn’t complain much.
He lowered his face toward her pussy, swiping his tongue along the slit. Her fingers twitched instantly from the sudden action, but her eyes remained closed. He released a low, animalistic growl before jerking her legs apart and burying his face in her. His tongue disappeared, followed by the sucking noise of him devouring her.
A soft moan fluttered past her lips, but she still didn’t wake. I knew she’d be alert in no time, though. Myles was rough with everything he did. He wanted her to wake up to this. The thought of her waking up to see him between her legs caused my dick to stir to life. It was so wrong, yet so fucking erotic.
He pulled away, slipping his middle finger inside of her and hooking it. He pumped it in and out of her forcefully as he planted a kiss against her hip bone. His dark hair fell in front of his eyes with the movement.
Finally, her eyes fluttered open. It took a moment for her to register what was happening, but when she did, her eyes widened. Soft gasps escaped her as he continued to finger her, hitting a spot that I knew would have her exploding in no time.
I reached over, running my fingertips over her nipple before kneading her breast in my hand. She clamped down on her lower lip, her cheeks darkening with crimson.
“How does it feel?” I asked her.
She shook her head, not wanting to give Myles the satisfaction, even though it was written all over her face.
“She’s so fucking wet,” he groaned, before lowering his mouth to her clit and sucking.
She jerked against him, her hands running through his dark hair. At this point, I don’t think she cared that it was Myles going down on her with how good he was making her feel. All she had to do was give into him and then I could have her too.
“That’s it, baby,” I rasped. “Give it to him.”
Her green eyes met mine, arousal evident within them. I tightened my grip on her breast, massaging it between my fingers. She arched her back, releasing another loud moan that had my cock straining to get free.
“Fuck,” she panted breathlessly as he continued his assault, inserting a second finger while simultaneously lapping at her clit. She started moving her hips in tandem, bucking against his face as she chased her pleasure.
As soon as she neared the brink of her orgasm, Myles withdrew his fingers and tongue, sitting back on his legs. He placed his fingers to his lips, sucking off her juices. She quivered on the bed, frustration contorting her features.
“Do you want me to make you come, little dove?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. There was no missing the sadistic glint in his eyes.
“Y-yes.” She breathed out.
A smile curled the corners of his mouth. “Then you know what you have to do.” He leaned forward, placing a hand on each of her thighs. He dropped his head again, kissing along her abdomen over her tattoo, before moving up until he reached her breasts. His tongue darted out, swiping against her nipple, not seeming to care that my hand was still wrapped around it.
She shuddered against his touch, another soft gasp leaving her plump lips. He sucked her into his mouth, rolling his tongue around against the sensitive part of her breast before he started working his way up again until he reached her neck. I watched as he grinded against her, rubbing his thickened cock against her through his pants.
“P-Please,” she stammered, her eyes rolling back.
“Please what?” he demanded, his voice coming out in a low growl, making her whimper. His hips rolled in a circular motion as if to show her what she was missing.
“Make me come.”
He released a dark, sinister chuckle before pulling back completely, straddling her legs. “Do you want me buried inside you, Aspen?” He reached forward, taking the breast opposite me and started massaging it.
A crease formed between her eyebrows as the wheels turned in her head. Almost like she was weighing her options. A defeated sigh left her lips, and she glanced up at him, seeming to come to her senses.
“Fuck you,” she snapped.
“So, close .” he tsked, shaking his head. “But wrong answer.” He climbed off her completely, jerking his head in my direction. I moved my hand from her breast, leaving her completely void of touch.
He backed away from the bed, the hard-on in his pants straining against the material. “You aren’t allowed to get yourself off until I say otherwise. I’ll know .” He winked. His gaze flicked over to me. “And if you cave?—”
“I won’t,” I assured him abruptly.
His jaw tightened like he didn’t entirely believe me. Not that I blamed him. My track record was a bit fucked when it came to women—especially her. He nodded anyways before striding over to the door, casting one last look at Aspen before disappearing through it.
Fucking asshole,” she muttered, slouching back against the mattress.
I laughed, despite the raging hard on I was currently sporting. The last time I’d gotten off was when she gave me that blow job at the cabin, and fuck…I was yearning for the real thing. My gaze darted down to her pussy, the wetness coating her from both her juices and Myles’s tongue. Thankfully, the blanket covered me enough so she wouldn’t notice. I didn’t need anymore wicked thoughts sprouting in that pretty, little head of hers.
“Do you want to eat dinner with me in the cafeteria tonight?” I asked, not wanting to stay cooped up in this room any longer. While I’d been injured, it was more convenient for me to stay in my room and have the guys bring me food, but now that I could get around much better, that was the last thing I wanted to do.
She glanced at me in surprise, the frustration waning from her features. “Like this ?” she asked, motioning to her naked body.
As much as I enjoyed seeing her naked, Myles’s rule was stupid. Not only was he torturing her, but we had to look at her everyday and we weren’t allowed to touch her. Not like she’d let us anyways. I knew the only reason she came on to Hunter and Foster was because she was higher than she’d ever been. As for me, she was using me to piss off Myles. The thought made my chest tighten. Knowing that there was a chance she’d never forgive me for the part I played in what happened to her and her friend that night.
I cleared my throat, shoving those thoughts to the back of my mind. Aspen was still staring at me, waiting for a response. “You could wear some of my clothes,” I offered.
She snorted in response and shook her head. “Your clothes don’t even come close to fitting me. I’d have better luck fitting into something of Hunter’s.”
She was right. Out of all of us, Hunter was the closest to her size. Foster was slim, but he was at least six feet tall. Hunter was close to my height, but was also on the slimmer side.
“I can text Hunter,” I continued, reaching for my phone that was face-down on my beside table nearest to me.
She released a frustrated huff of air. “I have clothes on campus. If you would just let me go grab something, that would solve all of our problems.”
I stared at her for a long moment, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. The thought of her walking out that door and disappearing again had my stomach turning. I just got her back. There was no way I’d risk her leaving again.
As if reading my thoughts, she rolled over on her side and turned my face toward her. The smooth press of her fingertips around my chin made my heart thump harder for entirely different reasons.
“I’ll be back,” she assured me.
Myles would beat my ass to an inch of my life if she vanished under my watch. Hell, Foster and Hunter would probably even help him. I’ve seen the way they both looked at her.
“You know I can’t let you leave.”
“Collin—”
I shook my head, showing her that my decision was final. The last thing I wanted to do was control her, especially after everything we’ve put her through already, but it wasn’t worth the risk. Guilt still sat heavily in my chest, and I’d make up for it eventually. Somehow.
She dropped her hand from around my face and crossed her arms angrily over her chest. After a few moments, the wheels started turning in her head as she plotted other ways to get what she wanted. I’ve grown accustomed to that look. The way her face hardened, right before softening as an idea popped up in her brain. She glanced over at me again with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Come with me then.”
I reeled back, surprised that she’d even suggest it. I’m sure Myles wouldn’t care if she wore something to the cafeteria. He was possessive over her and didn’t want anyone seeing what belonged to him beneath her clothes.
“Where?” I asked skeptically, knowing that her clothes had been cleaned out of her room.
She bit her lower lip nervously as if she was afraid to say anything. This only set me on edge, though, and made me more determined to know. “If I tell you…you have to promise not to tell the guys.” She grabbed my hand in hers, clutching it tightly. “I mean it, Collin. This is important to me. If you don’t keep my secret, I’ll never forgive you. For anything.”
No pressure or anything.
What could be so bad that she was afraid of the guys knowing? Has she been staying on campus this entire time? My mind started spinning as the questions came one after another. Was I willing to keep this secret for her? The hopeful glint in her eyes made my chest tighten. She was trusting me. Willing to confide in me. Maybe this was the first step in getting her to forgive me.
Blowing out a breath, I nodded. “I won’t tell them.”
A relieved smile graced her lips. “Thank you. Seriously.” She squeezed my hand before dropping it completely and climbed out of bed.
I watched as her ass jiggled with every step she took, making my cock strain painfully against the fabric of my sweats. She stopped once she reached my dresser and pulled out one of my T-shirts, slipping it on over her head before grabbing some of my sweats. She was right. They hung loosely around her hips even after she tied them multiple times.
“Are you coming?” she asked, turning to look at me.
I shuffled out of bed, my ribs aching with the movement. At least it wasn’t excruciating anymore. I strolled over to my closet, grabbing two hoodies and tossed one at her before slipping on my shoes. She tugged the green hoodie I’d given her over her head, and I did the same with my black one.
“Let’s go,” I said, opening the door for her.
Aspen didn’t hesitate, slipping out into the hall with me right behind her. It felt weird walking down the hallway like this with her after everything. The first encounter I had with her was in this very area. Raven had been by her side. Guilt started eating away at me again, making me hate myself for what happened to her. I’d never been big on murder and knowing that Aspen was still torn up about it just twisted my insides.
As we neared her old dorm room, Aspen’s footsteps slowed. Her gaze darted to the door, and I watched closely, noting her reaction. Her breathing picked up and pain slithered across her face.
Hesitantly, I reached forward, grabbing her hand in mine. To my surprise, she didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, tugging her against my chest.
She tensed for only a moment before her arms snaked around my waist. “Myles isn’t,” she replied in a low voice. “He said he wanted to do it. Basically implied that he liked it.” I clenched my teeth.
“Myles is a psychopath,” I told her. “He likes killing people in general. That’s what he meant when he told you that.” It was the truth. There was no bad blood between Myles and Raven. He was always looking for a reason to kill someone. When he received the go-ahead on Raven, he didn’t hesitate. Blood fascinated him like nothing else. The only time I’ve ever seen him hesitate on killing anyone was with Aspen, and she survived because of it.
“That doesn’t make me feel better.” She laughed softly.
“I know.” I pulled away from her. Her eyes were glazed over with unshed tears. The sight of her in so much pain was like a knife to my chest. It took a long time for me to come to terms with how Myles was. His head worked differently than a normal person’s. To him, life was meaningless. Everyone died eventually, so he liked to speed things along and got off on it as he did.
She rubbed her eyes, wiping the remnants of her pain away before we started walking again. I expected her to lead me to another dorm room, but instead, she led me outside. Good thing I came prepared with the hoodies then.
We walked in silence, the cool wind licking at our skin and blowing Aspen’s hair around. Strands of purple slapped me in the face, but it went unnoticed by her. Her gaze remained focused ahead, ignoring everything around her.
As we approached an apartment complex, my eyebrows furrowed. This was where the teachers lived. I glanced at her curiously, ready to ask her if we were in the right place, when she grabbed my hand and pulled me forward to a door. She didn’t even knock, opting to step inside of her own free will as if she lived here. It was well after school hours now, so the owner of this place had to be here.
I looked around the living room. A decent sized couch sat against the furthest wall with a coffee table placed in front of it. To my right was an island with barstools seated on the outside. Around the island was a small kitchen with a dining room set up connected.
Footsteps sounded against the hardwood, making my pulse thunder in my ears. Aspen shot me a reassuring smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
Fucking Monroe stepped into the living room, his eyes widening when his gaze landed on me and the girl at my side. His hair was wet, letting us know he’d just emerged from the bathroom. Without missing a beat, he stalked forward and grabbed me by the front of my shirt, clutching it tightly in his fist. He sneered, pure fury radiating off of him.
“Monroe,” Aspen said impatiently, tapping her bare foot against the floor.
“Do you know how fucking worried I’ve been?” he growled at her, keeping my shirt clutched in his hand. I stood there limply, unsure of what to do. “I was about to kick all their doors down.”
“I know. My phone is still at the club, and I haven’t had any way to reach you.” She reached forward, prying his fingers from around my shirt.
I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she’d been here this entire time. While we all thought she was dead, she’s been living right under our noses. With Monroe of all people. Jealousy skittered through me as my thoughts went wild. She’s fucked him before. What if they’d been fucking this entire time?
“I just stopped by to get some clothes,” Aspen continued, looking between the two of us cautiously. Like she was afraid he’d attack me at any moment.
Monroe’s eyes narrowed into slits, settling them on the purple-haired girl at my side. “And where do you think you’re going?” he demanded, acting like he was her parental figure. A grimace captured my face at that unsettling thought.
She sighed in response. Seeing their dynamic was interesting. He seemed…protective over her. It was a side to him I’d never seen before, and why would I? He was nothing but our history teacher up until this point.
“With Collin,” she answered after a few moments.
Monroe’s gaze darted over to me, anger radiating off him in waves. “The hell you are,” he snapped. “They fucking drugged you and kidnapped you from work. I’m not letting you walk right back into that.”
How he even knew that was beyond me. He had a point, though. We had a history when it came to hurting Aspen, and us drugging her and forcing her to leave with us probably didn’t earn us any brownie points.
Aspen ran a hand down her face in frustration. She was silent for a few moments while she worked to compose herself, and then she leveled him with a hard look. “I appreciate everything you and Rocky have done for me, but you knew I couldn’t stay hidden forever. I know what I’m doing.” Her eyes darkened as she attempted to communicate with him silently, which drove me crazier.
Rocky. As in Rocky Barlow.
It suddenly made a shit ton more sense now as to why he was sneaking around the teacher’s complex lately. He’s been coming to see her. My fingers twitched at my sides. No wonder he beat my ass so brutally in that ring. He knew . If I’d fought back, I wouldn’t have been in such poor condition in the end, but at the time…I needed it. It made me feel again. At the time, anything was better than the constant guilt and sadness I’d been enduring.
“Why are you doing this?” Monroe questioned, a crease forming between his brows as he dropped his tone to a lower octave.
Blowing out another breath, she shifted nervously from foot to foot. Almost like she couldn’t come up with an answer to his question on her own. This was one thing I hadn’t thought through. It was me against Monroe—someone who was well-versed in combat, much better than I was. If she wanted to stay here with him, then there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
Aspen’s gaze cut to me, her lower lip sinking between her teeth as she mulled over his words. There was a look on her face that I couldn’t quite comprehend. It wasn’t one of anger, or sadness. Confusion, maybe? Finally, she returned her attention to our history teacher, another level of determination spilling from her.
“This is my choice. Yes, they took me against my will. But they’ve been…different. They haven’t harmed me. I’m safe.” I knew she didn’t actually believe that. Her hands trembled at her sides as she said those very words, indicating just that. She was still weary of us, and I couldn’t blame her for it one bit.
“You honestly believe that?” he countered, narrowing his eyes like he could see right through the lie.
“I do.”
I had to give it to her. She was one hell of an actress. Maybe she knew she had to leave with me, or I’d tell the guys of her whereabouts, putting a damper on her safe haven. Myles and Foster would storm the place, making sure she was right back in our possession, regardless of what Monroe had to say about it. Hell, Myles would probably even kill him if he got in the way.
Monroe studied her for a moment before clenching his jaw tightly and nodding. Aspen visibly relaxed, her shoulders sagging with relief.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
The object of my obsession glanced over at me again, inclining her head for me to follow. She started down a narrow hallway, leaving me to trail behind her. I watched as she pushed through a door on the left.
The room was plain for the most part. There was a Tv mounted to the wall across from a Queen-size bed. The walls were all bare, except for the furthest one which had a dresser pressed against it. Reluctantly, I closed the door behind us, securing us in the average sized room. There was no telling if the two were still sleeping together, but if they weren’t, he definitely didn’t need to watch her get dressed.
Aspen drifted over to her closet and grabbed a long sleeve shirt and some gray leggings. She stripped out of my clothes, revealing her milky, white skin that had my heart thumping wildly in my chest. It didn’t matter how many times I’d seen her body; it always affected me like it was the very first time. She walked over to the dresser and tugged out a black bra and lacey, seamless panties that matched. She got dressed quickly and then ran a brush through her long hair, looking brand new.
As sexy as she was without clothes, I enjoyed seeing her all put together like this. She was nothing like the usual girls I tended to chase after. She was strong, fierce, sassy, difficult, and edgy. Maybe I liked that she didn’t give in easily—that she had standards and didn’t fall to our feet like the other girls at the academy did.
She slipped on her combat boots that she always liked to wear and paired the outfit with a new, leather jacket. This one was similar to the last one I’d seen her in but contained a designer label right along the breast pocket.
“Better?” I asked.
A genuine smile graced her lips, one that didn’t cross her features often. “Much. Now, let’s go before Monroe slaps an ankle monitor on me.” She laughed.
I knew I’d probably get a lot of shit for bringing her to the cafeteria, but we both needed to get out of the room. It could be good for her, and it would show the school that she wasn’t missing. That could work in our favor.