17. VERENA GRAVENHURST
SEVENTEEN
VERENA GRAVENHURST
Reed’s warm hand skims up the expanse of my inner thigh, his hard body pinning me against the stone wall.
He kisses me so deeply, I no longer recognize where my lips end and his begin.
Though the basement of the academy still gives me the creeps, this week has been interminable, and Reed has been an excellent distraction for quieting my inner demons and their relentless pestering.
I’ve yet to see the groundskeeper since his tirade over the weekend.
I haven’t spotted him creeping through the manor halls, or even in his usual spot in the garden, and honestly, I feel relieved.
Two fingers trail over my sensitive flesh through the thin fabric of my panties, rubbing my clit in lazy circles. Reed peppers kisses against the crook of my neck, and a breathy moan escapes me, “F-fuck, Sullivan.”
His voice is as smooth as silk as he whispers against my ear, “Come out with me tonight.”
The last time I was out with him and his friends, it didn’t go so well.
“I can’t, I… ” I trail off, gasping as he slides a finger ever so slowly into my slick entrance.
He curls it upwards in a come-hither motion, leisurely pumping in and out of me like he has all the time in the world, like I’m his favourite instrument to play.
Once. Twice. And on the third strum, he dips a second finger inside me, brushing his thumb over my clit.
“Fuck, yes!” I hiss, tipping my head back against the stone wall. My pussy throbs around his fingers, aching for release. His fingers go still inside me, and my eyes flicker open, searching his face.
“Yes?” He flashes an evil grin, teasing my clit with gentle flicks of his thumb, but refusing to move his fingers.
I buck my hips forward, greedily taking them as deep as they’ll go. “Don’t tease me, Sullivan,” I warn with a growl, and he takes it as a challenge.
Reed swipes his tongue over his bottom lip, tilting his head to the side.
“Do you want to come, Gravenhurst?” he asks, sliding out of my cunt slowly, and pushes inside me again. Once. Twice. Fuck. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and nod, praying to God he doesn’t stop again or I might just die.
He hikes my knee up between us, giving himself better access, and I glance down, my breath coming in short, ragged pants. His fingers glisten with my arousal as he pumps his fingers inside me at a pace that has my orgasm building rapidly. I moan, far too loud as pleasure trails through my body.
“Use your words. Tell me how bad you want me to make you come.”
I don’t answer, too busy riding each small wave that makes my body tremble, and he slows to a stop. “Fuck! Okay! Bad, really fucking bad.” I whimper, “Make me come, Reed, please.”
He chuckles, a low and dangerous sound from deep within his chest. “You take my fingers so well,” he praises, pushing back inside of me. My body is wound up tight from his edging, and I close my eyes, giving way to madness, as he licks and nips along my neck, seconds from release.
“But if you want to come.” He kisses me again. My chest rises and falls in heavy breaths, letting pleasure consume me. I don’t hear a word he’s saying until his fingers slip out of me, again. “You’re going to have to meet me tonight.”
Reed takes a step back, with a satisfied grin. My body mourns the loss of his warmth. My pussy aches for the release that he promised, and my arousal drips down my inner thigh. What the actual fuck. He laughs and begins to walk away.
“What the hell, Sullivan!” I shout after him.
Reed casually tucks his hands in the pockets of his slacks, flashing me a smile over his shoulder and fucking winks. “See you tonight, Gravenhurst.”
“I’ve missed you,” Reed whispers, quiet but intense as he presses me against the passenger door of his car.
“Is that so?”
“Mhm,” he rumbles against the edge of my chin, rekindling the flame he refused to extinguish earlier today.
“You just saw me a few hours ago.” I huff a laugh, and he drags his gaze over my body like he’s starving.
“Yeah, well…turns out I’m obsessed.” He smirks, pulling my hand, leading me away from the vehicle. “Tragic for you, actually.”
I hear waves crashing against the shore and people chattering in the distance, not far from the side street we parked on.
“Where are you taking me, Sullivan?” I laugh nervously, trailing behind him.
“It’s Hollow Night, Gravenhurst.”
“Hollow Night…” I repeat, confused.
“Surely you’ve heard of it.” He peers at me from over his shoulder. I shake my head, and Reed slows his pace to match mine.
“Once a year, in autumn, the town lights a huge bonfire. We call it Hollow Night. Supposedly, the tradition stemmed from town folks and founding families, burning a fire high and mighty as a way to scare off evil spirits, diseases and bad luck,” he explains, voice deepening as if he’s telling me a ghost story.
“But nobody really believes that anymore. Townspeople use it now as an excuse to get drunk and party together,” he explains, slinging his arm over my shoulders.
My shoes sink into sand, and I break my gaze from Reed, staring straight ahead at the massive bonfire and the ocean crashing up against the shore right behind it.
Reed guides me through the crowds of people, old and young, until we reach a wooden picnic table occupied by his friends.
I sigh, my anxiety at an all-time high when I’m around these people.
He squeezes my hand, letting me know he’s got me.
Jenkins is the first one I notice. I haven’t seen him since our quarrel at his party, and if I had it my way, I’d never have to see him again.
He’s wearing an oversized leather jacket, his curly brown hair hanging loose over the collar.
No one else has noticed us approaching yet, and I debate asking Reed if we could skip out on this altogether.
“Hey, ladies,” Reed calls out. His friends whip their heads toward us, genuine smiles spreading across their faces, and then falter when their attention settles on me. Fuck. This should be interesting. A slow, demonic smile crawls across Jenkins’ lips.
“I’m shocked your friend agreed to hang out with us again, Sullivan.” He huffs a laugh.
“Girlfriend, actually,” he corrects, and I stiffen next to him, “and you’ll treat her as such from here on out.”
My eyes whip up to Reed, and his jaw tics.
“Is that right?” Jenkins asks, as he glares at Reed. The tension is so thick in the air, I’m practically choking on it. They seem to come to an unspoken understanding, because Jenkins throws his palms up in mock surrender. “Very well, then.”
His attention returns to me, smile still in place as Reed tugs me closer to his side. A white pick-up truck is parked in the sand, just a few steps from the picnic table; music spills from the open doors, echoing into the night. The hatch is open, and Reed grips me by the hips, lifting me onto it.
“Reed!” I screech, and he laughs, brushing his nose against mine, placing a small peck on the tip. “Whose truck is this?”
He shrugs. “Jenkins’.”
My eyes widen. “Are you trying to get me killed?”
“Relax, Gravenhurst.” He smiles and reaches into the blue and white cooler next to me.
He positions himself between my knees, pops the cap of a cold beer off and holds it out for me to take.
I hesitate, looking over his shoulder at Jenkins.
His smirk has completely vanished, and the way he’s glaring at me tells me that if looks could kill, I’d have died five times over.
“He’s watching us,” I seethe in a hushed tone.
“Good. Men like him forget their place if they aren’t reminded. If he’s smart, he’ll take the hint. If he’s not,” Reed shrugs lightly, “well, lessons get uglier when I have to give them.”
“This lesson may result in my death, Sullivan,” I tease, shrinking behind his tall frame, though I feel like there’s some truth to my words. Reed’s expression softens as he slides his free hand against my cheek, concern etched in his features.
“I’d never let anyone hurt you. You trust me, don’t you?” he asks, and the way he looks at me makes me want to believe him.
I nod, and he kisses my hand. When his lips pull away, I smirk. “So…Girlfriend, huh?” I tease, raising my eyebrows.
“Only if you want to be.” His eyes trail over my lips.
“Hmmm…” I tap my finger against my chin and peer up at the night sky, pretending that I need time to think about it.
Reed smiles, nodding slowly, his tongue pressed into the inside of his cheek like he finds this entertaining.
I laugh, hanging my arms loosely over his shoulders and pull him in a little closer. “What’s in it for me?”
Reed grins, a dimple appearing on his cheek as he leans towards me, his voice low and teasing. “What do you say we get out of here, and I’ll show you?”
I bite my lip, nodding, arousal instantly coming alive as I recall the feel of his fingers curling inside of me only hours ago, denying me any release. “You do owe me an orgasm.” I smirk and laugh, wrapping my legs around him as he lifts me from the truck bed.