Chapter 15
I drive down the cobblestone road connecting the student housing with the campus. It’s like a small town, teeming with students. The whole campus was created in the shape of an eagle. Never forgetting who makes it all possible: the Family.
The rest of the students all live here. On the left and right sides of the road are houses. In the middle is a shopping and entertainment complex, and the area surrounding the eagle statue holding a globe between its claws is a park.
Parking, I step out of the car and take in Mia and Hunter’s place. It’s a luxurious single-family home. Since our house is unlivable because of the fire, we will all move in with Mia and Hunter for now. Blake sits next to me on the hood of my car, and crosses his arms.
“This will be interesting.”
“Where did you disappear to?” I ask him.
He shrugs and drags a hand down his face.
“I thought we don’t keep secrets.”
He salutes me and lets himself in. Abi is next in line, parking behind me.
“I worry about him,” Abigail says as she approaches me.
Yes, his breath reeked of alcohol, and it’s not even noon yet.
“What should I do, huh? Chain him to a chair until he talks?”
“I think that’s the only viable solution.”
She eyes the engagement ring on her finger, sadness crossing her face. I curl and uncurl my hands, feeling helpless.
“I knew it would happen, but…”
I lift her chin, and her eyes turn glassy. “It’s okay. This will be over soon.”
She chews on her bottom lip, avoiding my gaze. “And then what? I already lost…”
I pull her to my side, and she sighs, schooling her features into a neutral expression.
Bailey gets out of her car. When she reaches us, her eyes are red and puffy.
“What did they do now?”
“The usual stuff.”
The usual means her parents continue to cripple their daughter by either ignoring her existence or demeaning her. Power-hungry assholes.
“Look at me.”
Bailey does, albeit reluctantly. I place my hands on her shoulders, my eyes fixed on hers.
“You have the type of power inside of you that would make anyone envious. Anything you want will be at your fingertips,” I say with confidence. At her nod, I walk toward the house.
As I step inside, I’m met with an immediate standoff. In the combined living room and kitchen area, Celine and Hunter stand on one side while our group occupies the other.
Mia makes the first move.
“Welcome. Should I show you to your rooms?”
I offer a small nod. “Thank you. That would be great.”
Upstairs, I see various doors lining the hallway. Mia points at a door on the right, and I walk inside. It’s a small room with all amenities, resembling a small suite. Nothing comparable in size to my normal luxurious room, but it’s inviting with the warm brown flooring and cream furniture.
“It’s only temporary,” Mia says.
“It doesn’t bother me.” Her eyes widen, and I smile, “Surprised?”
“Kind of.”
I throw my duffel in the corner, and she says, “I hope you don’t mind not being in the same room with your fiancée. House rules.”
“House rules, huh?”
She has the decency to look away, even though satisfaction courses through me.
Mia clears her throat. “Let’s try to keep confrontation to a minimum.”
“Will you ensure the other two behave as well?”
“Celine and Hunter always do whatever they want, but I will try.”
Anger blares through me.
But I have no moral ground to tell her to stop being with him. Even though my engagement is fake, this will be something none of us can change. But survival comes before mending hearts.
I’d sooner die than give up.
When Mia leaves, I put the few clothes I brought with me into the closet.
The room suddenly feels like it’s caving in on me, trapping me with my thoughts. I need an escape. A stress reliever.
After changing, I go downstairs. All six are gathered in the living room, seated on a curved couch where everyone can fit. A large pizza box lies on a rectangular table. Celine hasn’t even looked at me, but she steals glances at Abigail and her ring—a family heirloom.
A memory crashes into my brain. “It’s yours. Everything in me, everything of mine is yours.”
I slump onto the couch, paralyzed by the bitter aftertaste of my naivete. Every second makes it harder to wrestle my inner demons and win.So I stand up, heading to the front door when Celine stops me.
“Where are you going?”
“Dealing with my shit.”
I am torn between jealousy, imagining her with Hunter, and fucking exhaustion. Passing her by, I walk out. We both need distance. Let’s see who discovers more secrets.
I get inside my car and Abigail hops in. As she buckles up, Celine rushes out of the house and drives away.
“I want to be alone.”
“Yes, well, it’s not as if it makes a difference. I can’t be there right now to witness Mia and Bailey’s attempt at small talk.”
We drive toward the cliff only to find two familiar cars. Parked side by side, they belong to two people who have morphed from our dreams to our nightmares.
“I am going to put a stop to that.”
Abi pushes the door open, but I catch her elbow.
“And then?”
She shakes her head. “He looks so at ease.”
She tilts her head as Celine and Dane talk animatedly.
“You chose me. Regretting it now?” I say.
“To protect him. I would never choose my happiness when I know what’s at stake.”
Jealousy spreads through me like an uncontainable fire watching Celine smile at something Dane tells her.
“Let’s rain some shit down on their parade,” Abi says.
Her eyes glint, and she climbs out. I follow her, walking toward them, craving a reaction as well.
“Your boyfriend is looking for you,” I say in a low tone.
Celine stiffens while Dane groans low in his throat.
I drag a hand over Abigail’s shoulder while Dane snaps his head at us.
“Hunter’s not my keeper.”
“Hmm. This one is known for taking girls who are not his.”
Dane glares at me, his body vibrating with barely contained anger. He has such a short fuse, but in his defense, I have Abigail next to me while her finger sparkles with my ring.
Celine places a hand on Dane’s chest. One moment, I struggle to process what is happening; the next, I see her inching closer to him. I fucking lose it. Not even Abigail can hold me back. Before their lips can touch, I’m on him. I push him back and punch him square in the face, sending him to the ground. He spits blood and jumps up, coming after me.
Abigail shrieks, pulling me back, but I shrug her off.
Blood and dust cover us and Celine yells. “Stop!”
That moment of hesitancy gives Dane an advantage. Because she makes me stupid, he hits me in the corner of my eye, causing me to step back. A piercing scream resonates first before the ground slips from under me.
I smile, knowing nothing will cushion my fall.
See it. Fucking see it, Celine. For me, it will always be just you.
I catch myself by clinging to branches off the side of the cliff while pebbles roll next to me. My name out of her lips undoes me. She grips my hands, her eyes swimming with tears.
“You can’t pull me up,” I say.
“Don’t even think of letting go.”
She twists her head to the side and Abigail says, “Just keep holding him.”
“No problem, sweetheart. If he falls, I will console you with my dick,” Dane grumbles.
I burst into laughter. This is not how I imagined I would die.
“Stop laughing,” Celine says.
“It’s funny, don’t you think? You can’t hold on much longer. Your hands are clammy, and your arms are trembling.”
“Quite the motivational speech.”
Her lower lip quivers.
“Celine, look at me.”
“No.”
“Baby, I need you to look at me.”
She does. There’s the love of my life.
“Death will be the best thing, not feeling, not caring, and especially not having to see you day in and day out and not have you or claim you as mine.”
“You do not give up on me.”
I’m losing my grip, making me drag her down with me. Her upper body is already half off the cliff. I would sacrifice myself time and time again for her.
I try to yank my hands from her, but her fingers dig into my wrists.
“You’re falling too. Stop holding me.”
She grips tighter, nails clawing into my skin. My heart both inflates and deflates in my chest.
“You’ll follow me to death? The guy who’s going to marry and have children with another girl?” I need to anger her enough to get her to let go.
Her eyes narrow on mine. “You get to live and look at me with guilt eating at you. Do you hear me? That will be your damn punishment.”
So many words remain unsaid while I try to think of what I can say to make these last moments count.
“In the end, it was and will only be you, about you…”
The moment vanishes when Dane appears, holding a rope. He throws it at me, helping to pull me up.
I land safely on the clifftop, and I fall to my back. When I lift my chin, my eyes find Celine’s teary ones.
“Sky, baby…”
One second she’s rocking on her ass; the next, she punches me in my shoulder.
Abigail screeches and says, “Are you out of your damn mind?”
“Easy there, sweetheart. He asked for it,” Dane says.
“You two… you are like two deer flashing their Bambi eyes, filled with abandonment issues, when you have no idea what it cost––”
“Abi, enough.”
I understand better than anyone what she’s going through, but it was our decision and now we must live with the consequences.
“What do you mean?” Dane asks her.
“That you don’t deserve her,” I say, brushing the dust from my shirt.
“With your ring on her finger.”
I push myself up and pass him by, unable to look at Celine. I can’t. Everything is just too raw.
Abi and I get back in my car and drive back to campus.
She places her hand on my arm and says, “I hope when she finds out the truth, it will choke that hurt out of her.”
At this rate, I doubt it.
Seeing Celine tonight, relaxed and smiling, I know she will move past me. One day, I will no longer have any claim to her. And all I wish is to be fucking dead before witnessing that.
I park in front of our new temporary home.
“I need to clear my head,” Abi says and goes to her car.
After inhaling a few fortifying breaths, I leave the car and enter the house.
Inside my room, I head for the shower, discarding my clothes.
The water cascades down my body but doesn’t wash away my misery. I miss Celine with every fiber of my being. Palming the wall, my head drops.
Fingers snake around my torso. It’s her. Everything in me recognizes her. The air carries a distinct note of my favorite smell: an intoxicating flower bouquet mixed with her natural sweetness.
At her nearness, my skin buzzes. My heart picks up. Her arms wrapped around me feels like she’s holding me together.
She kisses between my shoulder blades.
“What are you doing, Celine?”
She stills.
What did she expect? That I wouldn’t recognize her? That would be fucking impossible.
I turn to her. Those dark blue eyes that have put a collar around my soul, look at me with uncertainty. She shrugs, her bottom lip trembling.
“What do you need, baby?”
Her face drops, and I drag her to me.
“Take what you want.”
“You can’t give me what I want,” she whispers, wrecking me with the truth while everything in me screams for her to test that.
She raises on her tiptoes, and I tug at her hair, exposing her neck. “You wanted to kiss another guy tonight?”
“Another girl is wearing my ring. We’re not even close to even.”
“I’m wearing you on my skin. In my heart. No one but you.”
I slam my palm on my chest where her name is etched in white lines.
“Pretty lies…”
We’re both breathing heavily. Desire sparks. Madness unleashes. Obsession wins. Our need and love for each other is a supernova––unstoppable. Without hesitation, she jumps in my arms.
In one rapid move, I slam her against the wall, crushing my mouth against hers.
I devour her lips until we’re both panting again. Then I nibble her neck, and her little moans drive me insane.
Pushing her down, I want her to remember who she belongs to.
“Suck me. Take me. Take all of me.”
She trails her tongue down a vein on my cock, licking the tip and sucking on the head. A current shoots through my body, the intense pleasure pulling my muscles taut.
“Like this?”
Fisting a hand in her hair, I yank her head back. “Keep the teasing up. I’ll take it out on your mouth and then your pussy.”
“Promises. Promises.”
There is no apprehension but a lot of desire and mischief in her voice.
I swipe my thumb against her lips and slip it inside. “You know what happens with bad girls?” Her eyes liquefy with desire, being a bad girl who wants to test my restraint.
She sucks on my thumb, batting her eyelashes and biting down. “They get fucked?”
I love what comes out of that smart mouth of hers, but now I want her stuffed full of my cock. I thrust inside of her mouth until she gags and her eyes turn glassy.
“Just like that, be my good girl and let me fuck this perfect mouth of yours.”
She opens wider, and I slide down her throat. With my palms on her cheeks, I thrust in and out. Her garbled sounds and my groans mix. She looks like a vision: lips swollen, a reddish hue on her cheeks and neck, and spit gathering on her chin.
“So fucking beautiful, Sky. So eager to please me. Should I reward you with my cum?”
She moans around my length, opening even wider, and I slip even further down her throat.
“Do you deserve it?”
If her eyes could shoot laser beams, I’d be fried. Pushing her head up and down my length, I control the pace while she controls my pleasure. The sensation is so intense that I buck up. But I want inside of her. I want to see my cum leak out of her.
I need to claim and mark her so she thinks twice about letting another dick get near her.
When I pull out, she gasps for air, all flushed. I drag her up and back her into the shower stall. Thrusting inside her to the hilt, the pleasure almost knocks me out.
“Whose are you, Sky? Fucking whose?”
She bites into my shoulder, and I keep up my punishing pace. I want to bury myself in her and never come back. It’s better losing myself in her than not having her.
“You don’t deserve the answer. Now, fuck me. Make me come.”
Her nails bite into my skin as I hit that spot inside her. I am so deep. Her pupils roll back in her sockets.
“Not so fast. I’m not done with you.”
Pulling out of her, I turn her around, smacking her ass cheek. She slaps the shower stall while my hungry eyes take in the curve of her back and the two dips on her round ass. I spank one cheek, then the other.
Two rosy imprints look back at me, and then I am back inside her tight, warm, and wet pussy. She feels phenomenal. Her head falls back, and I suck gently on her neck while rolling her nipples between my finger and thumb.
“Why does it always feel this good?”
“Because you’re fucking mine. That’s why.”
“Keep fucking, stop talking.”
I pinch her nipples and pump so fast and hard inside of her that her nails cut half-moons on my arm.
“Like this. Such a greedy pussy.”
A shudder rocks her. “Yesss. I’m almost there…” She’s lost in a haze of pleasure while I suck on her earlobe, biting down. “Then come. Come on my fucking cock.”
When she falls apart, she moans my name so loud I am sure everyone in the house heard her. But I don’t fucking care. I want the entire planet to hear her and know who she belongs to.
When her walls clench around me, I lose all control and spill all I have inside her––my cum painting her walls. Unprotected again.
All calmness and remnants of release evaporate.
Celine is staring at me, gauging my reaction. “You’re back there.”
I turn my back to her, chest heaving with my pants.
“What do you know about my pain, Celine?”
I watch her from the corner of my eye. She flinches, but I step out of the shower and yank a towel from the rack, wrapping it around my waist.
From the bed, I watch her shower. All I can picture is her belly swelling with my child while the Family hunts us down, and I wouldn’t be able to protect them.
Breaking her heart was the deal; I would take it every time.
I expect her to gather her stuff and leave. Instead, she goes to the closet and takes a shirt out.
“What are you doing? This is not your room.”
She rolls her eyes at me as if I said something stupid and climbs into bed next to me.
“Celine?”
“Shut up already. Good night.”
She turns on her side, and I debate if I am imagining things.
In her sleep, she curls into the fetal position. She always did that when she missed her parents, and everything became too much.
I do what I did then, led by the instinct to comfort her.
I wrap my hands around her, drag her to my chest, and say, “Shh, I’m here. I got you.”