Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
RILEY
The parking lot for the cove was almost full by the time we arrived. The town of Salinity Cove got its name from the crescent-shaped inlet that was sheltered from the wind and provided a private setting for shenanigans.
It was surrounded by cliffs, and the only way to get to it was through a three-foot wide path. During the day, it was a hotspot for families looking to escape the world for a bit, but at night, teenagers and young adults used it to party.
It was a tradition in our town to have bonfires most Fridays during football season. There was always alcohol and teenagers in compromising positions. It wasn't my scene, but it was where the Tritons hung out.
Aiden took my arm as we neared the path between the rocks that led to the beach. Melissa and a guy named Jacob stood at the entrance with their arms crossed over their chests.
"Are they supposed to be security?" Aiden snorted and stopped when Melissa blocked our path.
She looked me up and down before pulling out her phone to text something. I didn't need to see it to know she had just told the Tritons I had arrived.
"Can you move?" Ivy put a hand on her hip and glared at Melissa. "We don't live in Riverdale."
I laughed at the comparison. Ivy reminded me of Cheryl Blossom with her red hair and feisty, no bullshit attitude.
Melissa looked at her phone again. "You two can go in, but this one can't." She pointed to me and smirked. "Tritons’ orders."
"Let's go, guys." I turned to walk away and ran straight into Jax.
Jax had his hands shoved in his jeans and his dark blue button-down shirt was rolled up to his elbows. He looked like he was going to a cocktail party or a happy hour, not a bonfire at the cove.
"What's the problem here?" His blue eyes sliced into me and left me feeling filleted open. He was so unbelievably gorgeous with his sharp jaw and five o'clock shadow that I almost forgot who he was.
"Your enforcers here aren't letting me on a public beach." I backed up a step because the woody citrus smell of his cologne was about to make me drool.
His head tilted to the side and his eyes moved down my body.
My hair was down and curled to perfection by Aiden.
It was longer than I usually liked, falling just below my shoulder blades, but he had trimmed the ends to make it not feel as weighed down.
My make-up was simple, but Ivy had insisted on a deep red lip gloss that made my lips look amazing.
Even I had to admit I looked hot.
"Let her in." Jax brushed past me and disappeared down the path.
We got to the bottom of the path and took in the shoreline, lined with bonfires and high school students laughing, dancing, and making out. We walked across the sand toward the biggest bonfire.
"He's already spotted you," Aiden said in my ear. "It's those pants. They hug your curves like a second skin."
I stopped, and Aiden and Ivy gave me questioning stare. "I don't know if I can do this."
The whole thing felt sleazy to me and was begging for something to go wrong. I never flaunted my body unless I was dancing. It wasn't that I was embarrassed with the curve of my hips or the roundness of my ass, but I didn't want to be objectified by horny teenage boys.
"Sure you can. You're already doing it without even trying. Honestly, I'm surprised you owned a pair of jeans that fit you this tight." He smacked my ass playfully as we started walking again. "Just turn on your inner siren."
I rolled my eyes and pulled at my black long-sleeve top that had a deep V-neckline showing a hint of my red lace bra. It was sending the wrong message, but to get their attention maybe that was what I needed. "My mom bought me these pants."
"Well, your mom is a smart woman. She knows a well-dressed tush is all you need to make that push." Aiden and Ivy separated from me as we stepped into the throng of partiers.
There were three bonfires spread out along the beach of the cove and most had music blaring and alcohol flowing. I spotted the Tritons, surrounded by their crew and a gaggle of girls dressed in skirts, shorts, and bikini tops that left little to the imagination.
I was way too overdressed.
Jax already had a girl on his lap and met my eyes from the other side of the flames. He looked like he wasn't having the greatest time, but a second later he was kissing the girl's neck as she threw her head to the side and giggled.
Blake had a girl on either side of him, his arms wrapped around their waists.
He let one of them pour a shot in his mouth and tipped his head back.
He was dressed in sweatpants and a white t-shirt that showed how powerful his upper body was.
He was dressed like he didn't give a shit, or he just knew that he could wear lederhosen and girls would still fall at his feet.
Morgan was standing near the fire with his arms crossed, chatting with Miles, one of the other top swimmers of the school. If the Tritons weren't around, Miles would have been the top swimmer. I didn't quite understand why he'd asked Aiden out. He’d had a girlfriend at the end of junior year.
Morgan looked like he had just gone to a biker rally. He wore distressed dark jeans, leather boots, and a tight black shirt under a leather jacket.
Jax's eyes narrowed the closer I walked to the bonfire. A wave of confidence washed over me knowing he was watching me. He stood as I stopped next to Morgan.
"I'll only race that asshole if he lets us examine his bike first. Last time he almost beat me and I'm pretty sure he had a mod on it." Morgan still had his attention on Miles, but as soon as Miles looked at me, he turned his head. "Can I help you?"
His eyes landed on my lips before moving down to my chest and then down the rest of my body. I slipped my hands in my back pockets, making my chest more prominent.
You can do this.
"I want to dance." I parted my lips slightly and wet my lips. Morgan's eyes moved back to them.
"You want to dance?" He uncrossed his arms and turned toward me. He looked over my shoulder and then a grin spread across his face. "Okay, vixen. Let's dance."
Vixen was better than murderer.
He led me to where a mass of bodies was dancing. He pulled me flush against him and we began swaying to the music. It wasn't like on the ballroom floor when we could actually move our feet; we were limited because of the sand.
He put his mouth against my ear over my hair. "Jax is going to kick my ass. I hope you appreciate me sticking my neck out like this."
"Consider it repentance for all the shit you've done to me." I slipped my arms around his neck and tried to keep my body from touching his without much luck. "Where'd you learn to dance?"
"I told you. YouTube." He smirked. "You can learn anything off there."
I rolled my eyes and he moved his hands right above my back pockets. "Where were you three today?"
"Aren't we nosy?" His eyes sparkled in the firelight. I couldn't stop my stomach from fluttering. "We were dealing with some oil spill aftermath."
My stomach turned sour and I tried backing away, but he tightened his hold on me. "Let me go."
"You wanted to dance." He turned me so we were both facing where Jax had returned to his spot perched on a log, glaring at me.
Something about his glare excited me more than it should have. I didn't know why these three guys made my body have a reaction. It was probably because I was a hormonal teenager.
Morgan's hands were on my hips as we moved to the music. "You weren't at the football game tonight."
My body trembled as he slipped his hands into my front pockets and hooked his thumbs in my belt loops. "I was getting ready."
"Whatever you're up to... I like it." His fingertips dug into my thighs and I tried not to react.
I hadn't wanted to believe Ivy and Aiden about Jax wanting me, but the proof was right in front of me as he balled his fists on his thighs as he watched us dance. Even with a girl hanging off him, his eyes were locked on me.
"Move your hair out of the way for me, vixen." Morgan's purr interrupted my thoughts.
My body was on fire, and not from the heat of the flames nearby. I wanted to run away, and I would have, but my body refused to do anything except stay plastered to his front.
I moved my hair to one side. His fingertips dug into my upper thighs again, closer to my apex. I put my hands over his and pushed down on his hands, causing him to groan.
His lips lowered to just under my ear. "You are so incredibly irresistible." His breath tickled my neck and my nipples tingled as they hardened. "It fucking sucks."
His lips brushed against my neck and my skin exploded in goosebumps. Jax was scowling and pulled a blonde into his lap, sliding his hand up her thigh and under the short fabric of her dress. His eyes were locked on mine as he let her kiss him, her tongue immediately probing at his lips.
I shut my eyes so I didn't have to watch.
"Let's go to the parking lot." Morgan took a handful of my hair and turned my head toward him. "I want to kiss those pretty little lips in private."
My heart raced, and I looked back at Jax, who ripped his lips away from the girl he was kissing. He took the cup that was in her hand and tipped it back to drink the entire contents. He stood and grabbed a different girl, pulled her against him, and kissed her.
I gasped as his hand went under her short skirt to cup her ass.
"Let's go." I stepped away, breaking my contact with Morgan.
He jogged to catch up as I walked toward the parking lot and slung an arm around my shoulder. "You know this doesn't change anything, right? We're just going to have a little fun."
I stopped as soon as we got to the top of the path and faced him. "Did you put fish in my dorm room?"
His eyes widened and his lips pulled at the corners, fighting a smile. "You think I would do something like that?"
"Yes." I saw Ivy and Aiden walking up the path and grabbed his hand. "You can make it up to me. Where's the car?"