Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Peach
SEX LOVE DRUGS - Dutch Melrose, Lost Boy
" N ot yet," Elijah mumbles as he hands me the drink he just got me. God, my impatience must be written all over my face. "People aren't anywhere near drunk enough to start talking about topics no one should hear."
I roll my eyes. "Let's just go talk somewhere else, then."
He shakes his head, silently refusing me. "We'll speak during the party, don't worry."
It's barely past eight, but people are already pouring in through the front door. And I'm drunk. Not only that, but I took a pill. I needed something to take the edge off. It's nothing crazy, just ecstasy, and all I'm feeling is a little lighter. I've got a new energy buzzing inside me, and this mouse wants to play while the cat is away.
Elijah's eyes flick to the bruise at the corner of my mouth.
"It wasn't Wren," I explain as I struggle to stay in place.
"It doesn't make him any less dangerous. You know that, right? That he's extremely dangerous."
He's clearly aware of the murders and checking if I know too.
"I know."
"Have you seen it? When he snaps?" he insists.
I hesitate, biting my inner cheek. I keep hearing that word around him. Snap . Like he's some sort of beast who can't control his killing urges.
Of course I'm terrified of Wren in that sense, but I also know deep down that he would never truly hurt me. I'm not worried about my life; I'm worried about living said life freely.
"I haven't," I admit. "I don’t think so. And I want to know what that means exactly but?—"
"That's why our family has problems with him. He's uncontrollable. Dangerous."
I pinch my lower lip a little too hard, wondering why I'm suddenly annoyed at the criticism. He's not a circus freak.
"Yes, dangerous . That's the third time you’ve said it. I get it." Looking around, I add, "I thought you said now isn't the time to talk. But if it is, I would rather know how to get out of the Circle than talk about Wren."
The house fills up with people around us, the music getting louder. When Elijah catches up with everything, his eyes light up. "So, this is what SFU parties are like?"
"No, they get way worse. Busier, rowdier, and people will start fucking everywhere. Welcome to your new social life. You can thank Camila later."
He laughs, and it's nice to have a relaxing, genuine moment with him. The pill probably helps.
"Is it nice?" I ask. "To have someone? Do you even like her?"
He shrugs, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I would rather have saved you from Wren."
My gaze drops, and I wonder for a second if I would have liked that. To be stuck with Elijah instead of Wren.
Elijah is kind, a good friend. He's never crossed any line, never looks for trouble. People don't hang out with him because they look up to his older brother like he's some king, and it just so happens that Wren banished him from his kingdom. I've always hated that.
I love Elijah.
I just don't love him like I love Wren. I don't yearn for his hands on me. And maybe that's the difference between real friendship and…whatever is between Wren and me.
No, I wouldn't have liked to be Elijah's Hera. The truth is, he doesn't know me deeply like Wren does. He couldn't even understand the connection Wren and I have. But it doesn't mean I want to be Wren's Hera. No matter what I feel toward him, he took my choice away from me, and I can't forgive that.
"Thank you," I finally say. "For trying, at least."
He smiles shyly, just as my phone vibrates in the back pocket of my jeans. My vision is a little blurry, and for a second, I can't believe the text I received.
Wren: Consider this a general rule. No hanging out with my brother anymore.
I blink at it. How the hell does he know where I am? He said he was leaving for a week.
Wren: That includes his fucking hand on your shoulder.
"What the hell?" I murmur as I look up and around the room.
Either this pill is hitting harder than I thought, or Wren didn't leave. I take a step back, forcing Elijah to let go of me.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
I'm not sure what to say until my eyes cross with Achilles. My friend is holding his phone as if he's just about to text someone.
"Motherfucker," I hiss.
Striding to Achilles, I snatch his phone from his hands and barely hold myself back from slapping him when he smiles at me.
I look down, and without surprise, he sent a picture of me and Elijah to Wren.
"This is none of your business," I tell him. "Stay out of it."
I press call, and the second Wren picks up, I'm snapping at him.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?"
" The man who owns you, " he replies as casually as one would talk about the weather, and not at all surprised that it's my voice through Achilles's phone.
Oh, I bet he thinks I'm so predictable.
" Now listen, you can stay and enjoy your party. Or you can be a good girl and go home. But I just want you to know something. If you so much as talk to Elijah again, I promise you the second I'm back in Silver Falls, his head is going to meet my fist so many times he won't have a functioning mouth to talk with anymore."
I inhale through my nostrils, attempting with all my might to keep my calm.
" Is that clear, Penelope baby?"
"Crystal," I push past gritted teeth.
" Atta girl. We'll speak tomorrow."
Achilles is still smiling by the time I hang up. "Want me to walk you home?"
"Go fuck yourself."
I'm forced to ignore Elijah when I walk past him again, but I don't miss his hurt expression. His shoulders slump, but I keep moving. I might not be able to talk to him, but I'm going to be at this party until the sun rises, I can promise that.
I wake up with a mean hangover, the knowledge that I blacked out at yet another party, and the memories of those weird flashes I sometimes get.
Oh, and of course, a message from Wren.
Wren: No more drugs. This is the one and only warning.
I put a pillow above my face, screaming into it before I answer. Is this what my life is going to be from now on? Him giving me orders without reason and me having to do whatever he says?
Peach: I'll just add it to the list. It's called: Everything I hate about Wren Hunter.
Wren: You should rename it the Good Girl List.
Peach: Fuck you
Wren: Funny you say that, because all I can think about is fucking you. Do you think about my dick inside you, Trouble? Because I can't forget the way you feel.
Peach: I hate you
Wren: Makes it sweeter to know that you come for me even when you hate me.
I choose to ignore him. What I can't ignore, though, is that feeling between my legs. And it stays all week. Every time I get a new text, something that tells me what to do or not to do, I get angrier and hornier. He makes up new rules every day. Sometimes he's caring, and sometimes he's borderline insane. All I know is, his control is giving me whiplash.
Don't skip lunch again.
How was your day?
You stayed too late at the library last night.
I miss you.
No talking to Camila. She's Elijah's Hera.
I want to sleep next to you.
Never. Take. The. Necklace. Off.
I put it back on the second I got home, and that was yesterday. Now I'm on my way back from the hospital with Achilles driving me, because today was the day they took my splint off. He's been following me everywhere, and I'm starting to get fucking claustrophobic.
"What do you want now, Achilles?" I huff as he follows me inside my house. I've got another text from Wren. This one saying to not go back to cheer practice until he can see with his own eyes that I'm better. I'm going to lose my mind.
"Why are you mad at me? I'm just being a good friend."
"To him ," I snap as I turn around. "I can't stand your face anymore, always somewhere around, sending him pictures, snitching to him, telling him what I eat, and how long I stay up, and where I am. Back. Off. "
"Do you know what I haven't told him about? Your little secret meetings with Elijah at the back section of the library."
I freeze, eyes narrowing on his. "If you keep your mouth shut, I won't have to shut it myself," I threaten.
"Do you kiss or something back there? Do you even know how Wren would react? You don't care because Wren is a puppy for you, but you're definitely putting Elijah's life at risk."
"We're just friends," I defend. "And Wren doesn't get to decide who I'm friends with. How would you feel if Wren had said I couldn't hang out with you ."
He thinks for a second, smiling to himself. "One less unbearable person in my life?"
I don't even grace him with an answer, and he follows me as I head for the living room.
"Do you want a picture of me getting changed into my cheer outfit?" I snarl.
I’m still looking at him as I turn into the living room.
"Wren said not to?—"
"I don't care! He's no doctor. I have the all-clear from a real doctor telling me I can practice. So, if he wants to be a little bitch about it, he can say it to my face. He can come back and be all Shadow about it." I imitate Wren's stern voice. " Penelope baby, I'm going to put you on your knees and make you beg for forgiveness if you go to cheer practice ? —"
"Penelope baby, I'm going to put you on your knees and make you beg for forgiveness if you go to cheer practice when I said not to."
I jump in surprise at Wren's voice ringing out from behind me.
He's standing right there, in my living room, with a hand in the pocket of a black suit and a folder in the other. All six-five of him. His square shoulders, his defined arms stretching his black shirt. His perfectly brushed and gelled chestnut hair, and his annoyingly captivating eyes. Yeah. All of him is back.
"Fuck," I whisper, finding no strength in my voice. There's no way he didn't hear that conversation about Elijah. "You scared me."
Cocking his head to the side, he purrs, "I think you're nowhere near scared enough when it comes to me." His eyes go to Achilles. "Thank you for looking after her. I owe you."
"He didn't look after me," I mutter bitterly. "He just looked at me. He looked at me for six whole days, and it's creepy."
Achilles chuckles behind me, and I feel surrounded by crazies again.
"I don't think anyone can complain when they're being tasked to look at you. You're back early," he tells Wren.
Wren's eyes bore into me, up and down they go, analyzing my entire body and setting me on fire. "Yeah," he finally says. "I missed being home."
"Let me guess." Achilles snorts. "Home is Peach."
Wren's tongue darts to his lower lip, his beautiful eyes not leaving mine as he makes me melt entirely.
"Home is Peach," he confirms.
"In that case, I think what you missed is fucking home."
I snap around. "Get out of here!"
He laughs to himself as he leaves, muttering a last tell me I'm wrong, though. And I'm left all alone with the man who has been obsessively occupying my thoughts.
He doesn't move for a minute, observing me from afar. Every movement of his eyes as they roam over my body makes my heartbeat accelerate. Why is it so hard to breathe in his presence? And why do I always lose myself in the idea—scratch that, the reality —that Wren only has eyes for me. It's so…special.
That's what he makes me feel. Special. Like I'm his favorite, his everything. And who wouldn't want to feel that way? I just wish the man who makes me feel it had at least an ounce of morals or laws he could live by. Something like, Don't force a girl into a relationship with you.
My knees almost buckle as he approaches me. He doesn't utter a word until he's right in front of me, and I feel his minty breath on my skin as he talks.
"I missed you." His low voice holds the truth. I can hear it reverberating with undertones of longing.
He did miss me.
His hand comes out of his pocket, and he brings it to my throat, caressing my skin with the knuckle of his index finger. I gulp, and I can tell he feels it because the corner of his mouth lifts in the sexiest yet most annoying way.
"Did you miss me, Trouble?" he carries on.
The truth is, with him taking over my every move with something as simple as texts , all my thoughts have been focused on him. I have no doubt he did that on purpose. He turned my life upside down and left me alone for six days, forced to think of him and how to navigate our new dynamic with no help whatsoever, and no way to adapt. Did I miss him? I don't know if I missed the man who played on my vulnerabilities to get me to become his Hera. But did I miss Wren? My Wren? Of course. I always miss him when he's not around, but I can't admit that. That would make it too easy for him. So, I focus on his part of the deal instead.
"Did you find my biological parents?"
His eyebrows raise. "Are you too scared if you admit that you missed me, you'll be making things too easy for me? Do you think you're punishing me by not telling me the truth?"
It's my turn to smile. "Oh, Wren, honey. I know I'm punishing you by doing that. So, did you find my parents?"
He takes a step back, and I cross my arms over my chest, tempted to tap angrily with my foot.
"I can't just find your parents . It's a bit more complicated than that."
"Well, are you getting anywhere? Because I've been here playing the docile little Hera and obeying every order you dare throw my way, so you better hold your end of the fucking deal, find something, anything , or even the Silent Circle won't be able to protect you from me."
He smiles smugly. "I do have something." He waves the folder in my face. "I didn't find them, but I have some information."
Something takes over me, and I can't control myself anymore. My hand swiftly reaches out for the folder, desperation pouring out of me, but he's too quick and lifts it way above his head. Somewhere he's sure I can't reach.
"That's not funny," I snap, my gaze searing. "Give it to me!"
"Why don't you calm down and take a seat first?" His attention flicks to one of the three couches in the living room. It's the one facing the giant screen.
Shivers of anxiety make my lower back tremble. This is big. Whatever he has, I want it. The hole in my stomach that grows every time I think of my biological parents is contracting, twisting, making me emptier than ever.
"Wren, give it to me," I rasp.
"Sit." His strict demand deepens my vulnerability, and I feel myself losing composure.
Slowly, I round the sofa, my ribcage feeling bruised from my heart beating out of control. When I sit, he stays behind, and I keep my gaze ahead until he drops the folder next to me. My hand shoots out, but he grabs my wrist, followed quickly by the back of my neck as he pushes me forward so my nose practically touches my knee.
"Here's the issue, Trouble." Grabbing my other hand, he pulls it behind my back. "You haven’t held up your end of the deal, have you?"
I feel something between my wrists, the texture coarse against my skin.
"I did," I squeak in panic. "What is that?"
"Rope."
He tightens it, and my wrists crash against each other.
"See…" Continuing, he wraps more of it around my now bound wrists. "An obedient Hera would have done what she's told when I said to stay away from Elijah, not see him at the back of the library, hoping no one catches you. What is he, your secret, forbidden lover? Because whatever you have with him is just him being a pathetic boy trying to get to me. Do you understand?"
"He's my friend," I say as he brings me back to a sitting position. My eyes dart to the folder again. It's right there, so close yet so far, and Wren is going to make me suffer for what I did.
"He’s whatever I decide he is. And that is nothing ."
He rounds the sofa, standing tall in front of me. "Now I have to punish you. Isn't it such a shame?" It’s purred with the voice of someone who’s looking forward to said punishment.
"I want to know what’s in the folder. Let me see." I pull at my wrists, claustrophobic. "Let me see, Wren. Fuck, let me see!"
Shaking his head, he brings a hand to my cheek. "Not yet. First, you're going to suffer, and then you get your reward."
I release a deep groan, a ball forming in my throat and making my voice waver. "How can you do this to me? Hold my most wanted wish over my head like it means nothing to you."
"Do you think I like punishing you?" he asks seriously. "I want you compliant to the point I'd barely have to think of something for you to execute. That’s the opposite of enjoying punishment." He caresses my jaw, my collarbone, and finally, his fingers undo the top buttons of my uniform shirt.
"You're not leaving me with a choice, Peach. How can I have an obedient perfect version of you if I don't train you? Training is always hard. The quicker you get used to it, the easier it'll get."
I suck in a trembling breath. "I hate you," I exhale.
"You made a deal with me. Be a big girl about it."
My upper lip curls as I watch him take the folder and put it on the far end of the couch.
"I won't hurt you. You have my word." Sitting next to me, he takes the remote for the TV. "We'll just watch a movie."
I can't think straight as he goes on a streaming platform and selects my favorite movie, Death Proof .
"I don't want to watch a movie," I say quietly. "I want?—"
"I know what you want," he says as he wraps an arm around my shoulders and presses play.
This feels creepy. I have this horrible impression that I'm being held hostage by a psychopath in my own home. I’m stiff as a board, my wrists burning from the ropes as he relaxes next to me.
"Oh, I almost forgot."
He pulls something I can't quite see out of his pocket and flips my skirt up. My eyes round when he pulls at the waistband of my underwear. Not to remove them, but like he's about to look under. Only, he doesn't look, just brings his other hand holding the object closer.
"What is it?" I try to squirm away.
"Don't move."
I hate his orders. I hate them and love them, and they make me feel every emotion and sensation possible under the sun. It's because they hold that specific tone he had never used on me before this shift in our relationship. It scares me and turns me on. It makes me furious and docile. It melts everything inside me, yet sets me on fire.
I stay perfectly still as he slips what I now see is a bullet vibrator into my panties. He presses it right against my clit, puts the waistband back in place, and pushes my legs closed. Out of nowhere, the toy starts vibrating, startling me.
"Fuck," I pant, my breathing picking up as the film keeps playing. I notice the remote control in his hand. He presses again, and the vibrations slow down but don't stop.
Kissing my cheek, he says, "Only one rule. You cannot come before the end of the movie."