Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
RYE
“Rowen?”
An annoying voice comes from beside me, the pulsing bass doing nothing to drown it out.
“You looking at that pervy porn site again?” Vince asks. “You’ve been staring at your phone all night.”
“There are too many girls here for you to be talking to me, Vince.” My eyes stay on that cherry-cheeked face on my screen.
We blurred out a lot, but this photo still got thousands of likes and piqued the interest of students in neighbouring schools.
The plan wasn't to make Hannah a model. Far from that. I want her off her golden pedestal, and I’m almost there.
She looked so good spreading those legs for me.
The shake in her voice. The dampness on her skin.
Taking her crown wasn’t supposed to be this fun.
“Well?” Vince’s voice cuts off my thoughts. “Is that website back?” He leans over, but I’m quick to lock my screen. We're standing by the bar. Hannah's bar, our backs against it.
“Go away.” I bring my drink to my lips, not even looking at him.
“You’re not captain anymore, Rowen, you can’t tell me what to do.” He sounds like a five-year-old.
“I’m still a Crown,” I remind him, taking another lazy sip. “So, try me.”
“This isn’t even your place.” He nudges me with his elbow, my muscles tensing. “You had to get a loan out since your dad cut you off, didn’t you?”
I slam my glass on the bar before stepping to his face. “You sure you want to keep talking?”
“Ladies.” Mac approaches, pushing between us. He hands us both a fresh glass of whiskey, the smell wafting up my nose. Scotch. “To another night of carnage.” He clinks his glass to each of ours before turning to Vince. “A minute.”
Vince nods, glaring at me like I stole his goal before he wanders back into the party.
“Did you invite him?” I ask, downing half of my drink.
“Why?” Mac takes Vince’s place against the bar. “You mad he has eyes for Hannah?”
My jaw tightens as two naked girls chase each other, running by us with giant feathers in their hands. “Now, why would I care about that with a party like this?"
Tonight is even more unhinged than the last. Guests aren’t afraid to take over Hannah’s lake house and let loose from boring studies, expectations and high standards.
Students pack the dance area in the dining room, the bass rattling framed art worth more than our tuition.
A small group rolls around naked on the kitchen tiles, chocolate sauce smeared over their bodies.
“You sure won’t lose your shit if I said Ember told me Hannah is…” Mac’s words trail as the party slows.
A smirk pulls at my face, seeing who walks into the living area in nothing but a sparkly lace number.
It’s not black or red like the dress code requests.
But it’s not not the dress code. It’s a strappy piece adorned with crystals, a sparkling pair of translucent pumps to match.
She looks like a very expensive porn star from the eighties.
It works for her. At least my cock thinks so.
She doesn't look angry this time, that chin lifted, those tits raised to the heavens. She walks with a confidence only she has. Like she still owns this place. Like she still hasn’t learned her lesson.
She notices my gaze, a smirk on her face. It gets warmer in here as my gaze travels around her body in that outfit. Then she winks, slipping onto the dance floor.
“You alright, Rowen?” Mac asks.
“Yeah.”
“You sure? ‘Cause you look—”
“I’m fine.”I down my drink before slamming the glass on the bar, my feet guiding me to the dance floor.
It’s easy to spot her. She’s right in the middle of the room, the sparkle of the chandelier making her skin glisten.
She finds my eyes as she sways to the music, moving to the hypnotizing rhythm of a trance song.
Those hips sway side to side as I approach her, her hands tracing up her body and through her hair.
When I get to where she stands, she doesn’t stop.
That confidence is back tonight. Like this is her party. Her place.
I’ll fix that.
“Rye back on the dance floor?” Her voice blends with the music in a way that makes me want to pin her against the wall. “Two parties in a row.”
She’s right. I wouldn't set foot on the dance floor on a regular night, and she knows dancing with Marisol was bait. It’s something I still cringe about, but if this is what it takes to knock her to her knees, I’ll do it.
"Making your way through the posse or just the ones that look like me?” she asks, those glossy lips upturning.
“Just the ones that make you mad.”
That pleased look fades, her eyes narrowing into mine like she’s trying to read my mind. The longer she stares, the harder it is to forget about the last party.
Moving behind her, I escape that look on her face as I bring my hips close enough to her swaying ass.
Close enough that her next movement makes her press right into me.
My hands come to her hips, locking her in place before I bring my lips to her ears.
“Thank you for playing by my rules tonight, your highness.”
She moves with me. “Did I?”
I move my fingers under the strap of her bra, the temperature on the dance floor rising as heat swells between us.
“What designer is this?” I trail my fingers along her collarbone.
That spot that makes her shiver. “Looks like you spent a lot to get back in here. But you’re right, it’s not exactly code. Is another punishment in order?”
“I refuse to lower my standards to get into your silly party when it's in my home with my friends.” She moves harder against me. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
My grip on her hips tightens, pulling her swaying ass back on my growing staff. She gasps. I smirk. “Why are you here, Hannah?” I lower my lips to her ear, my fingers trailing each side of her arms. “If not to be under my control again?”
“There’s a party in my house, so I might as well have fun.” She’s swirling her ass on me like she’s in a music video. “Especially after I cleaned all this up.”
“If it makes you feel better, I cleaned your wetness off my belt.” She pushes back harder, my cock pushing against the silk of my boxers.
“I thought you were only into sharp things, but I was mistaken.” She stops swaying, her body stilling like I uncovered some hidden secret.
“Why don’t you admit what it is that turns you into such a good whore for me? ”
“Fuck, Hannah.” The room rushes back to me when Vince comes in front of Hannah. “You look fucking incredible.”
“Go away, Vince.” My words fire out of my mouth, so firm that they make Hannah jump. “We’re in the middle of something.”
His eyes move between us. “Are you two a thing or not?”
“We’re not.” Hannah reaches forward, wrapping her arms around Vince. She keeps her ass pressed to me. “Don’t worry. He can’t handle me even if he really, really tries.” She keeps her arms around Vince, making him move with us like we're a throuple.
Fuck that.
Grabbing a hold of her hair, I wrap it around my fist. Yanking her head back, the smell of strawberry and coconut comes with it. “You’re acting like a whore—fuck!” A pain strikes me, her heel digging into the tip of my slipper. It makes my hold slip before she leans further into Vince.
“I think we’ve made him angry.” She runs her hand through Vince’s hair as she giggles like some bimbo.
She’s smarter than that. But she knows how to get simple-minded Vince eating out of her palm.
“What do you think he’ll do if you bend me over that weird chair and…
” Her voice trails as she cups her hand, whispering into his ear.
My fists clench, my heart jackhammering inside my chest.
“Rye!” A voice pulls me away from stomping Vince’s head in. Mac. He stands next to me, a concerned look on his face.
“What?” My eyes flash back to Hannah, who slides her nail up and down Vince’s bare chest.
“It’s Krystal.” And that’s enough for me to pull my eyes away. Mac tilts his head. “Come.”
What did she do now? Glancing back at the dining room, I follow Mac to the front door. Krystal leans against the wall, her head hanging.
“Krystal?”
When she raises her head, her left eye is dark purple and bruised. A long scar bleeds across her face, from her left eye to her lip.
My fists tighten, and I can’t hear the music anymore. Only the blood rushing to my ears as the entire room turns red. “Who the fuck did this?”
She looks up, her eyes blurring. “Dad.”