Chapter 20 #2
I know he doesn’t want to talk about her. It’s written all over his face. So I decide to change the subject. “I’m starving. Got anything to eat around here?”
He gets up and pulls a shirt over his head and gives me a once over. “You look good wearing my clothes, Hellcat. Better with them off, but no need to give the guys a free show, eh?”
I smack him lightly in the chest and lean into his embrace. Then he takes my hand and leads me downstairs. The smell of freshly brewed coffee has me closing my eyes and smiling at the nutty aroma.
“I definitely need some of that coffee. The stuff in the cafeteria isn’t cutting it.”
“One hot cup coming right up.” He opens the cabinet door, pulls out two mugs, and adds a heaping amount of cream to mine, then hands me the cup.
I freeze, my fingers slowly wrapping around the mug when the air changes and I feel someone walk up behind me.
The hairs on my arms stand at attention as I pull my shoulders back, waiting for the inevitable fight to happen.
“Mornin’,” Wes says, looking over my shoulder.
We’re greeted with a grunt from the doorway. I turn and put my mug to my lips, blowing on the hot liquid. I stare at Julien, every nerve screaming to step away and closer to Wesley; but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear.
“Good fight last night,” I offer the olive branch.
“You shouldn’t have been there,” he says, his eyes trained on my mouth as I take a sip.
“Wes invited me.” Jesus, could this man be any less likeable?
“Mmm.” He offers and takes the mug Wesley offers to him without breaking eye contact with me. “Don’t make it a habit of letting your fuck buddies spend the night, Wes.”
I scoff and pop my mouth open as I stare at him in disbelief. He’s joking, right? Like, there’s no way he’s being serious right now.
“Julien Azarian, you can kiss my ass.” I blurt.
His lips draw into a sneer, as if the very thought of touching me was so repulsive he would rather have his toenails removed.
“I wouldn’t kiss it, Princess. I’d smack it red and then fuck it.
Hard.” He steps into my space, and I press my back against the counter. “You shouldn’t be here,” he repeats.
I clamp my thighs together, not wanting him to know the effect he has on me. Why does that turn me on way more than I want to admit? “I’m not going anywhere, Cupcake .”
“If you kids can’t play nice, I’m going to have to lock you in a room until you learn,” Wesley teases. “Julien, leave her alone.”
Zander picks that moment to walk into the kitchen and looks down at my bare leg and oversized t-shirt. When he reaches my eyes again, they are dark. Darker than I’ve seen them before.
“Better yet, I’ll let Zan tie you down and beat it.” Julien taunts.
Zander looks at him and back at me, but I can’t read his expression.
That doesn’t stop my mind from picturing the three of them together in a room with me.
I now have images of all three of them spanking me, and let’s just say it doesn’t sound half bad.
A breathy sigh escapes and I don’t miss how quickly Zander snaps his head in my direction.
I bite my lip and look at my feet, trying to hide whatever thoughts and emotions are rocking me to my very core.
Wesley comes around the counter to stand behind me, almost like my own personal bodyguard.
The other men move around us, the conversation from moments ago forgotten.
He kisses the top of my head and motions for me to take a seat at the counter while the three of them work in tandem to cook up some breakfast.
I’ve seen nothing like it. They are all perfectly coordinated. It’s alarming how well the three of them can read one another, and I suddenly feel like I’m invading in their personal space.
“I need to check my phone. Be back in a minute.”
I find it in my jeans pocket with a new message.
James:
What’s Contend? I’ve been on the road with Michael. We were in Portsmouth last night.
No. That’s not right. I'm pretty sure it was him. I bite my lip and reread the message, then pull up a search and see James is right. My dad was in Portsmouth last night. I click on a video clip of him answering some questions from audience members.
“How’s your daughter, Riley, doing at Pointebreak?”
His smile is wide as he beams at the crowd. “She’s doing wonderful. She’s really taken to the curriculum and is enjoying herself. We spoke just last night, in fact.”
I scoff and shake my head as my heart sinks.
I haven’t been able to get in touch with him at all this week.
He keeps sending me to voicemail. I’ve been pretending I don’t care because I’m still mad at him, but it’s actually affecting me a lot.
I check my phone way more than I should, hoping for a message or email from him, but I get nothing.
My few texts have also gone unanswered. The only person who has answered my calls is James, and even that was a brief conversation with him cutting me off.
Me:
NVM, guess I saw your twin.
I look up when I hear a knock on the door, and Wesley fills the frame. “Everything okay?”
“Yup.” I put my phone back in my pocket and drop the pants on the floor.
“Breakfast is ready.”
I lick my lips and worry my bottom one between my teeth. “Not sure I should eat with you three. I feel like I’m intruding in your personal space.”
“You’re not,” he assures me. “Come on, it’ll be fine. His bark is worse than his bite.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” I mutter as I take his hand and he leads us back downstairs. I sit at Wesley’s right with Zander next to me and Julien across from me. It’s all very…domesticated. And dare I say, kind of nice?
“Where are you guys from?” I ask when I can no longer stand the silence.
Three sets of eyes look at me, and when he swallows, Wesley answers first. “I grew up in Connecticut. Zander’s family is from New York and Julien is from here in New Hampshire.”
I sit up straighter. That’s a surprise. “Oh really? Whereabouts?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he says.
I snort. “Of course not,” I mutter, playing with the food on my plate. “Um,” I clear my throat, “so why Pointebreak? I’m sure you could have gone to any school you wanted.”
“Family tradition. Our fathers came here, and it was the expectation.” Zander’s deep timbre sends a thrill through me. He speaks so rarely that it almost always catches me off guard when he does. “Those who attend Pointebreak are more successful than those who don’t.”
That seems surprising to me. There are many Ivy league and highly rated schools I would think would look better on a resume than Pointebreak. “How so?”
“Think of this place as an exclusive club. Everyone here has something to offer, or some connection to make. They don’t let just anyone in.” Julien snorts and rolls his eyes, but Zander continues. “Even you.”
“Zander,” Julien warns.
Zander glares at Julien, but picks up his fork and takes a bite of his eggs. It seems like that’s all I’m going to get out of them right now. Except, now I have more questions than answers.
Wesley places his arm on the door frame next to me, tilts my chin up, and places a gentle, almost loving kiss on my lips. If I could melt right now, I’d be a puddle on the floor outside of my room.
“I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning for training, Hellcat.”
I nod. “See ya later.” Then I let myself into my room and lock the door behind me.
Ava’s not here, and I mentally send up a thank you.
I need to get Leah some more information.
She’s been champing at the bit, waiting.
It’s only been a week though, so it’s not like I have a lot more to share with her other than what I’ve already sent.
I dial her number, and she answers on the first ring. “Have you forgotten all about me since joining the mafia?” She teases.
I roll my eyes. “Funny. No, I wanted to call and tell you about my classes the rest of the week. Swim was pretty boring, nothing of interest there. Get in, do laps, blah blah. My gun class was interesting, though. I’m not allowed to shoot the damn thing until I can successfully take apart and rebuild it. ”
“Really?” she asks, the last bit of the word she says with a shrillness to her voice.
I laugh. “Yeah, really. Who knows if I’ll even be shooting one this year! The other classes are basically business, and math, things like that. I would have loved having some sort of art or something fun, but it’s not as terrible as I was imagining.”
Thoughts of Wesley last night pop into my head and I can’t bite back the smile that spreads across my face. I share everything with Leah and it’s been killing me to not share the guys with her.
“So, um, I’m kinda seeing someone.”
“Damn girl, you work quick! Who is it? Is he hot?”
This is why I love Leah. No disdain, no hate, just pure excitement. “His name is Wesley, and yes. He’s wicked hot! Like book boyfriend material, hot.”
She gasps and squeals. “Give me his full name. I’m going to stalk him.”
My smile fades at that. And for some reason, I don’t want her to.
I don’t want her possibly uncovering a deep, dark secret about him I haven’t already tried to find.
I learned a bit about him and his family last night, and I don’t want to add to the heartache.
And I know Leah. She won’t stop until she finds something.
Just then the door unlocks and Ava comes in. Saved by the bell.
“Hey, I gotta go, but I’ll tell you later. Talk soon.”
“Okay. Bye, babe.” We hang up and I plug my phone in, so the damn thing doesn’t die.
“Hey.” Ava waves and tries to hide the smile on her face but misses by a mile. She has a towel wrapped around her and hugs it closer as she locks the door.
“You look like you’re up to no good. Tell me everything.”