Chapter 13 Starling
THIRTEEN
STARLING
Laughing softly to myself, I skip down the stairs, grimacing slightly at the feeling of Sebastian’s cum oozing out of me and into the ridiculously small bikini he told me to put on.
The heat from the handprint and the metal plug moving enticingly in my ass all combine, making me want to turn around and rush back to my husband instead of toward the bitch trying to blackmail me into leaving the man I love.
But this is all a part of the game we’re playing, and having a chance to not only be a total psycho, but plan it with my equally insane husband, is an aphrodisiac that I’d never considered before.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how crazy my husband can be, and he’s seen the repercussions of what happens when I take control of a situation.
But doing it together is new, and honestly, I love it.
For the first time, we’re on equal footing, both unashamedly psycho when it comes to protecting our perfectly fucked-up marriage.
Courtney might think she’s clever. She and Tom might have plotted and planned the photos and blackmail between them, like ruining us was their couple goal, but they both underestimated, or simply overlooked the fact that I’m not the same person I was in high school.
Back then I’d have crawled into a ball and been broken by the threat of those pictures being exposed. Now I’m on Team Scorched Earth, with zero remorse.
When I step back onto the patio, Courtney is perched on the edge of a lounger, her feet bare, her expression sour as she stares out at our beautiful gardens and the beach beyond.
Her parents have money, but not on this scale.
She grew up in a big house with a pool. She went on fancy vacations and drove a brand-new car, but this kind of wealth was beyond anything her family could have provided for her.
The level of excess that we live with is almost vulgar, but although I doubt I’ll ever get used to Sebastian’s net worth, I do adore our home.
It’s huge—far bigger than we’ll ever need, but it’s warm and comfortable, and it’s ours.
I love the pool, I love the beach, I love that even though I didn’t want to, Sebastian forced me to get involved with the planning and designing.
I love that every room, every feature, and every color is what we picked together.
“Sorry, Sebastian insisted on helping me pick a swimsuit,” I say on a giggle, deliberately bending over to place a towel on the lounger and making sure she can see the hand print he’s left on my ass.
“He’ll be out in a minute, he’s making us drinks,” I tell her, settling onto the lounger beside her.
“So, are you single? Married? I haven’t seen anything in the society pages, but I don’t tend to pay much attention if I’m honest.”
“No, I’m single,” Courtney says, adjusting her tits in her bikini.
“Really?” I gasp dramatically. “I guess I figured you’d be at least engaged by now, what with us being juniors and all.
” Truthfully, I think it’s ridiculous that rich people think everyone should get married and join families and wealth so young.
But if Sebastian and I hadn’t met in high school, he would have been expected to marry young but for an alliance, instead of love.
“My parents have made some suggestions, but I’m hoping for a bigger fish,” Courtney says, her eyes twinkling when Sebastian appears in the doorway carrying a tray full of drinks.
“Really?” I say excitedly. “Do tell. Would we know them?”
Ignoring me, she preens, running her fingers along the sides of her bikini top under the pretense of adjusting it as she stares at Sebastian.
“Here we go, ladies,” Sebastian says, ignoring her obvious attempts for attention, as he hands me a drink first, then passes one to her, and takes the final one for himself.
Instead of pulling up a chair, he scoops me into his arms, then steals my lounger and sits me between his thighs as he pulls out a bottle of sunscreen and starts to rub it into my skin.
I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing when his hands go from rubbing the lotion into my skin to basically groping me, his whole hand slipping beneath my tiny white bikini top under the pretense of protecting my skin.
Unable to stop myself, I let out a throaty laugh when he slips his fingers into my bikini bottoms, boldly cupping my pussy. “Sebastian,” I half whine, half giggle.
“I can’t help it, Little Bird,” he groans into my neck, nipping his teeth over my pulse point.
The more sexual Sebastian’s touches become, the more annoyed Courtney becomes. If her reaction weren’t so obvious, I’d have stopped Sebastian from putting on a show, but I can’t help enjoying her disgust.
Climbing out from behind me, Sebastian instructs me to lie on my front, then runs his hands up my calves, the backs of my thighs, then over my ass, squeezing and clearly toying with the plug—that I’m guessing he’s made sure Courtney has seen—before he spanks me again.
“I’m going to check on lunch,” he announces before he strides away.
“I can’t believe you actually married him,” Courtney says snidely the moment he’s out of earshot.
“He didn’t give me much of a choice,” I say on a laugh.
“To be honest, you were so convincing when you said you hated him. I had no idea it was just an act to land a whale.”
“Oh, I did hate him,” I tell her honestly. “But he wore me down, then he put a ring on it,” I sing-song, wiggling my ostentatious engagement and wedding rings toward her.
“Did he make you sign a prenup?” she asks boldly.
“No.”
“So, half of everything he has would be yours. You’d be loaded.”
“I guess I would,” I answer vaguely.
“So, is that the plan? Wait it out, then take him to the cleaners for revenge for the way he treated you in high school? You must know how much you’re looked down on by his friends and family. I mean, you’re hardly one of them,” she asks, almost excitedly.
I can’t help it. I laugh. A loud, obnoxious laugh.
“What the fuck is up with you, Little Sis,” Evan says, walking onto the patio in swim shorts and shades, carefully guiding Sammy, who is rocking her baby bump in a pale-blue bikini.
Waving my hands, I try to speak, but I’m laughing too hard. Sucking in air, I manage to calm down enough to talk, just as Sebastian strides out of the house.
“Courtney asked if I was only staying married to Sebastian so I could ultimately divorce him and take all of his money as revenge for the way he treated me in high school,” I manage to blurt before giggles overtake me again.
Evan, Sammy, and Sebastian all start to laugh, leaving a clearly embarrassed and flustered Courtney red-faced and silent.
“Oh, that’s hilarious,” Sammy says, sitting down in the seat Evan is holding out for her.
“Hi, I’m Evan Morris,” Evan says, holding his hand out to Courtney like he had no idea who she is.
“Evan, we’ve met,” Courtney says snippily.
Evan furrows his brow, then tilts his head and looks at her, like he’s trying to decide if he recognizes her. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we have.”
Biting my tongue, I fight a smile. “Big Bro, this is Courtney. She and I were friends in high school,” I tell him.
“In Maine?” Evan asks, doubling down.
“No. Green Acres Academy,” Courtney snaps. “I was Sebastian’s date to your father’s wedding.”
Evan’s mouth falls open before he closes it, then narrows his eyes at her. “Huh, I don’t remember him bringing a date. He was so hung up on Starling, I don’t think he’s even glanced at another woman since they met.”
Courtney’s jaw twitches before she forces her expression to go neutral. “It was a long time ago, I guess we’ve all changed.”
“Huh, maybe, although I rarely forget a face. Well anyway, it’s nice to meet you. This is my wife, Sammy.”
“Sammy Morris,” Sammy says, waving at Courtney as she rubs her stomach.
“Congratulations,” Courtney says, pointing at Sammy’s belly.
“Thank you,” Evan says, leaning down to press a sweet kiss against the bump.
“Sammy, do you want some of your apple juice?” I ask her, climbing off the lounger and readjusting my tiny bikini as I get to my feet.
“Yes, please.”
“Big Bro?” I ask Evan.
“I’ll take a beer if you have one.”
Handing them their drinks, I sit back between Sebastian’s legs again.
“Courtney’s single, we need to set her up.
Do we know anyone single?” I ask in the bitchiest tone I can muster.
“She’s holding out hope of landing a big fish, but I’m guessing we probably know a bigger fish she can get her hook into.
” Turning to Courtney, I smile. “And honestly, with senior year on the horizon, you need to get someone tied down. You don’t want to graduate without even a rock on your finger. ”
Courtney forces a fake smile onto her lips, while the guys throw out names of available men, and Sammy types something on her cell.
Hunter and Bunny arrive next, both dressed for the pool.
“Hey guys,” Bunny calls, rubbing Sammy’s belly as she passes, before taking a seat on the lounger beside mine.
Hunter follows a pace behind her, his gaze lethal as it lands on the back of Courtney’s head. His expression softens into a smile as he leans down and presses a kiss first to my cheek, then to Sammy’s. “Hi, Hunter Rossberg,” he says, holding his hand out to Courtney.
“Hi Hunter, long time no see,” Courtney says flirtatiously.
“I’m sorry, have we met?” Hunter asks, with clean confusion.
“We went to high school together,” Courtney snaps.
“Don’t feel bad, I don’t recognize her either,” Evan says.
“Oh my god, you guys are terrible. Courtney and I were besties in high school,” I say.
“What, in Maine?” Hunter asks, and I have to fight back the laughter that’s bubbling in my throat.
“No. Green Acres Academy,” Courtney spits.
“Apparently, she was Sebastian’s date to Harry and Cassidy’s wedding,” Sammy interjects.
“Sebastian doesn’t date. He hasn’t so much as looked at another woman since he saw Starling on her first day of high school,” Hunter says airily.