CHAPTER 7
LANDRY
“Never have I ever…” Nate started, pausing to think of a good one. “Played a musical instrument.”
“Really? That’s all you’ve got?” TJ asked, rolling his eyes as he shoved Nate over, his folding chair tumbling sideways.
After the day out on the lake, we had hitched the boat back to Zayn’s Bronco, its massive tires kicking up dirt as he had pulled it up the ramp. None of us were ready to leave just yet, so we had decided to stay for one last warm evening by the water.
The guys had scavenged for rocks to form a fire pit, gathering branches and kindling from the surrounding woods and Zayn using his ever-present cigarette lighter to spark a small bonfire that soon crackled to life. The warm glow reflected off the lake’s surface, the soft hum of crickets breaking the silence of the night as the flickering light cast long shadows and painted our faces in hues of amber .
Both Bexley and Zayn took a drink, Zayn running his tattooed fingers through his jet-black locks as he turned to his left to raise an eyebrow at her in question.
“You play an instrument?” He asked.
Bexley pulled a strand of her red hair behind her ear. “Yeah. I mean, I used to, I guess. I played Piano growing up. What about you?”
“He played the drums in a rock band in high school.” Nate answered for him. That, I could actually see. I certainly would not have pegged him as the high school marching band type.
“Alright TJ, you’re up.” Nate announced.
TJ and Olivia sat to my left, sharing a seat as Olivia sat on his lap. Bexley sat directly to my right, with Zayn on her other side and Cashton directly across the fire from me. The summer was warm, the perfect last night of summer.
“Never have I ever” TJ started, looking directly at Zayn as a smile took over his features. “Lost my virginity to a MILF.”
Zayn lifted his drink to his lips, using the cigarette in his other hand to flip TJ off. Nobody else in the group moved, yet none of the guys seemed surprised by this information either, clearly already having been aware.
“Liv?” TJ asked, his blond hair glowing bright in the light of the flames as he looked dotingly down at his girlfriend.
“Never have I ever been arrested.” She stated without pause, looking around the group with a smug smile.
“Oh, fuck off.” TJ joked, taking a drink along with Zayn and Cashton. I so badly wanted to ask more, grateful when Bexley asked for me. Her eyes were wide, this information clearly a shock to her .
“Arrested? What for?”
Nate pointed to TJ announcing “Public Intoxication,” then towards the other two, “Fighting, fighting.”
So Cashton had been arrested for fighting? I had to admit that I hadn’t expected that, but I guess I didn’t know much about him after all.
“Landry, you’re up!” Olivia told me and I wracked my brain as I tried to think of something I hadn’t done that might get some people to drink.
“Never have I ever…”
I rested my arms on my elbows, thinking for a moment before something finally came to me. “Left the country.”
“WHAT?” A few of them asked in unison, all eyes on me expecting an explanation. Most of the families around here vacationed in locations like Tuscany, Bora Bora, or any other number of places, sometimes multiple times a year. It didn’t surprise me that it had come off as a shock that I hadn’t left the state, let alone the country.
“It’s not that we couldn’t afford it or anything, it’s just that my dad was always so busy with work. Politics are a year-round thing that always require him to attend all of these press conferences and campaign meetings, and it’s hard to campaign from somewhere else in the world. There were a few times where we started planning to go, but something always came up. And my mom and I were supposed to go on a European vacation this summer. We had everything planned out to go to France, Italy, and Spain for two months, but then she passed at the beginning of the year.” I shrugged, my eyes getting glossy as I smiled through the tears threatening to come up. This wasn’t the time or the place to start crying, not with six pairs of eyes on me. I suddenly regretted my choice of ‘Never Have I Ever’, not having considered where it might lead.
Olivia placed a consoling hand on my thigh, mouthing ‘I’m sorry’ and giving me a sad smile as she and the rest of the group all took a drink. Well, hey, at least I managed to get the entire group with my turn.
I looked over to Bexley on my right, nodding to let her know that it was her turn to go.
“Never have I ever…” She thought for a few moments, TJ bending down to give Olivia a kiss on my left as I looked down at my drink, desperately avoiding the burning gaze that I could feel from across the fire.
Bexley chuckled to herself for a moment, recapturing the group’s interest before announcing “Taken a shot.”
This wasn’t news to Olivia or I, but the guys around the circle seemed absolutely dumbfounded.
“Like a shot of alcohol? Are you fucking with us right now?” Nate asked, and Bexley shook her head, smiling to herself as all of they all stared at her in disbelief before we all took a drink.
“First time for everything!” Zayn mused, grabbing the whiskey bottle at the foot of his chair and extending it over to Bexley.
“I’m good,” she laughed, “It’s not that I’m opposed to it, but my tolerance is already super low since I never even had a drink before college, so I want to build it up a bit before I trust myself with anything harder.”
“Suit yourself, Red.” Zayn conceded, taking a swig himself before setting it back down .
“Fuck, what haven’t I done!” He burst out laughing, struggling to think of something. He rolled the cigarette around his fingers, eventually bringing it to his lips, a puff of smoke drifting into the air.
“Fucked a virgin.” He finally announced.
I immediately glanced over at Bexley without thinking, Olivia clearly doing the same. Bexley attempted to hide her face behind her loose hair, instantly catching Zayn’s attention.
“Shit.” He muttered, seeming almost distraught now for having embarrassed her. “Sorry, Red. I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine, really.” She stated, trying to act nonchalant as the rest of the group exchanged awkward glances.
“He has a strict no virgins policy.” Nate told us before taking a drink from his beer. Everyone in the group did the same, with the exception of myself and Bexley. I had only slept with one guy in high school, and I wasn’t naive enough to believe that I was his first.
“Nothing against them,” Zayn clarified, “It’s just that I don’t want to be that important to anyone. I mean, taking the V-card, that’s a pretty big deal. I don’t need anyone getting clingy on me. Besides, I’m not ashamed to admit that I have particular tastes in the bedroom, and lovey-dovey shit with the crying afterwards and the cuddling just doesn’t cut it for me. And good luck trying to get a kick a virgin out afterwards, you got me fucked up—”
“Dude.” Cashton cut in, speaking for the first time since we sat down. “Read the room.”
Zayn shot an apologetic glance over at Bexley, who looked like she wished to be anywhere but here at the moment, before leaning back in his seat and turning towards Cashton .
“Your turn, man.”
“Never have I ever,” Cashton started, “Known my father.”
Well damn. That took a dark turn. Nobody spoke, everyone around the circle bringing their drinks to their lips. I thought I might get an ounce of emotion from the cold-hearted prick, but he just smirked at his success, seemingly entirely unaffected by his statement.
“Beat that.” He challenged Nate.
We all looked over to TJ expectantly, ready to see what he had in store.
“Never have I ever gotten my nipples pierced.” He said, directing the statement right at Olivia. She scoffed, lightly smacking him in the chest before taking a drink. Just when I thought I might be in the clear, she whipped her head to me.
“Bitch, you have to drink too!” Everyone’s eyes turned to me as I took a small sip, mentally cursing her.
“Oh Landry, you have to show all of us now. Game rules.”
I whipped my head towards Zayn, offering him a scowl. Dammit Olivia.
“Hell no.” I told him. I felt eyes boring into me from across the fire, forcing myself to ignore Cashton’s gaze as it burned into my skin. I was going to catch on fire if he didn’t stop soon.
“Damn girl, I didn’t picture you as that type.” Nate said, leaning back in his chair.
“We got them done in High School together after the last day of cheerleading camp our junior year.” Olivia explained .
“And the only people that have gotten to see them have been Olivia, some of the girls in the locker room, and the tattoo artist who did them.” I added, making it crystal clear that I didn’t plan on offering a peek to anyone.
“Never have I ever,” Olivia announced, slightly more slurred then when we had started the game. “Had sex in a public place.”
Once again, every single person in the group drank aside from Bexley and myself. I wasn’t innocent by any means, but these guys were wild. The craziest place I had ever fooled around was… Probably the foot of the bed.
“Never have I ever,” I started once everyone had brought down their drinks, all eyes now on me. “Had any siblings.”
The mood around the group immediately changed, everyone falling so silent that the crickets were quite literally the only sound to be heard. My stomach dropped, knowing that I had said something wrong.
The guys all snuck hesitant glances over at Cashton, who stayed leaned back in his chair with his eyes glued to mine. A muscle pulsed in his neck as he slowly brought his drink to his lips, emotions swirling in those green eyes.
Clearly, I had missed something. I debated saying anything, wracking my brain for what the right thing to do would be in this situation. Before I could utter a word, he downed the rest of his drink and abruptly stood, storming off towards the vehicle.
I looked over to Olivia, hoping to find some sort of explanation as to what I could have possibly done so wrong. She offered me a faint smile, the rest of the group staying quiet as she told me “His little sister passed away a few months ago. Wound is still fresh.”
Oh, fuck me. Just when the day had finally gotten less awkward, I went and ruined it by reminding him of his dead sister. Great job, Landry. I wanted to slap myself right across the face.
“Go talk to him!” Olivia mouthed.
“No!” I whisper-screamed back at her. “I’m the last person he wants to talk to right now!”
“Go!” She insisted, pointing her finger in the direction he went for more emphasis.
“Fine!” I threw back before getting up, wrapping my arms around myself as I left the warmth of the fire. What was I supposed to say to him? ‘ Hey, I know you hate me and all, and you can’t stand to be around me, but would you like a shoulder to cry on? ’ gosh that sounded so stupid. But I guess a talk with him was overdue after all, and maybe he would be more receptive with his guards lowered.
It would be fine. I would apologize for what I brought up, let him yell at me if that’s what he wanted, and eventually he would calm down and I could try to give him a hug or something. He didn’t seem like the hugging type, but it was worth a shot. Whatever it took to show him that I wasn’t the horrible person that he seemed to think I was.
A light breeze fleeted through the tall brush on either side of the path as I climbed my way up to the parking area, not spotting Cashton right away. I made my way to the only vehicle in the center of the dirt lot, the moonlight as the only source of light illuminating Zayn’s Bronco and the attached boat. I rounded the back, hoping I wouldn’t walk up on Cashton taking a piss or something, only to spot him sitting on the ground up against one of the tires with his head hung low between his knees. He had thrown on a hoodie and had the hood pulled up, hiding his face from sight. He looked so… vulnerable.
My breath caught in my throat, and for a brief moment I contemplated turning around and heading back to the fire. This was probably the last thing he needed right now, and I would be the last person he wanted to see. But I took a breath and a step forward, announcing my presence.
“Hey.” I started, not really sure what to say next. He didn’t move a muscle as I glanced around, hoping that words would come to me.
“Look…” I swallowed, “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
Still nothing, so I decided to continue.
“I think we started off on the wrong foot. We’re clearly going to be around each other, and I would really like it if we could get along. So, whenever you’re ready to talk, I would love to do so.”
I ended it at that, deciding to keep it short and sweet. I waited a few beats to see if I would get any sort of response before turning and walking away. I hadn’t made it two steps before I was yanked back, a strong hand gripping my throat as my back was slammed into the side of the SUV. My hands immediately raised to grab Cashton’s arm, trying to relieve some of the pressure as his grip became firmer, not cutting off air circulation yet but enough to get my adrenaline to kick into overdrive.
I stopped breathing altogether as I looked up into his hard and unforgiving gaze, his jaw clenched and a million emotions swirling through those green eyes that always made my heart come to a stop.
The slight chill in the air against all of my bare skin was suddenly forgotten, only feeling the warmth from his body as it pressed into mine. We stood there, unmoving and not breathing for what seemed like an eternity before he slowly lifted his free hand to graze my bare ribs with a soft touch so contradictive to the rough one currently gripping my jaw.
His fingertips grazed up my side so painfully slow that I couldn’t help my audible gulp. I froze completely, desperately searching his eyes for some sort of answer that I was missing, but his only seemed to darken further. His fingers eventually met with the bottom of my bikini top, grazing the underside of my breast and sending shivers through every inch of my body. Goosebumps rose on my arms, making their way across every inch of my skin at the sensation. Heat immediately pooled low in my stomach at his touch.
His thumb continued to tease the bottom of my top, the muscles in his neck straining as we stood there, neither of us breathing. His face was shadowed beneath his dark hood, his presence commanding the energy around us. He was stunning. Terrifying, intimidating, and dangerous. But beautiful.
His thumb slid under the fabric, exploring places that had never been given attention before, and my whole body shivered. Heat coursed through me, warmth pooling between my thighs as I fought to gather control of my racing mind. I felt so small in his hold, completely at his mercy.
He slowly bent his head down, a hot breath brushing the shell of my ear causing my eyes to flutter. I had never gotten close enough to smell him in the past, but now I was suddenly engulfed in the scent of cedarwood mixed with the mint on his breath.
“Never been seen, huh? Never properly played with?” He whispered, his voice deep and raspy in my ear as his thumb moved so painfully slow towards my nipple, my body lighting up at the feel.
I closed my eyes, betrayed by how turned on I had become. My breathing grew faster as he slipped his entire hand under my top in the next movement, his other hand still holding a bruising grip on my jaw and keeping me immobilized.
His thumb brushed across the hardened peak, toying with the metal bar before coming back to pinch it between his fingers and twirling it around. I sucked air in through my teeth, my core throbbing. He chuckled, clearly seeing how badly his touch was affecting me. My head was already spinning and all he had done was play with a single nipple. This man was dangerous, no doubt about it, if he could bring me down with so little as a soft touch.
“Tell me, princess,” He whispered, his lips now brushing my ear, “How wet are you for me right now?” I held my breath, my entire body frozen as the same hand moved down, slowly grazing over my bare stomach.
He took a small step back, once again locking his gaze with mine right before his hand slipped into my swimsuit bottoms. I let out a harsh breath, my nails clawing at the arm still wrapped around my throat. His fingers ran up and down my entrance, swirling around the slickness that was completely betraying just how aroused I was. The corner of his mouth lifted in a cruel smile at what he found .
“So fucking wet for me.” he breathed. Without warning, two fingers plunged deep inside of me. I let out an involuntary whimper at the intrusion, my hold on his arm slackening as my eyes fluttered, my head falling back against the side of the vehicle. I hated how amazing it felt.
“I saw the way you watched me while I was getting my dick sucked that day at the pool. I could practically smell the lust coming off of you, those big doe eyes taking it all in, wishing it was your pussy that I was fucking instead. Tell me, princess, what did you do after you got home? Did you slip those fingers into your pretty little cunt while you thought of me?”
My eyes flew open at his crude words, finding that his had never left mine to begin with. He studied me, taking in every inch of my face as he curled his fingers inside of me, hitting that sweet spot that forced a moan from my lips. My breathing grew faster, trying to swallow down air as he pumped harder into me, already bringing me to the edge.
My hands gripped him tighter as my climax neared, holding on to him for dear life. My entire body lit up in flames, a sensation stronger than I had ever felt before causing my brain to short-circuit. I was so close. I was about to come on Cashton’s fingers, and I couldn’t find the strength to care about how wrong that was as he continued to work his fingers inside of me, bringing every nerve ending inside of me to life.
Tension built in my abdomen, my eyes rolling back as I felt myself let go, completely at his mercy. “Open your eyes. Look at me while you soak my fingers, Landry.”
My name on his lips pushed me over the edge, stars erupting on the edges of my vision as I came all over his fingers. A moan erupted from my throat as I let it consume me, riding out every wave until I was fully spent. My body went fully limp, my knees unable to hold me up any longer as I sunk back against the vehicle.
I had never experienced such a violent orgasm, one that curled my toes and drained me to such an extent. He held me for a few moments longer, slowly releasing his hold on my neck as I attempted to pull myself together, my body shaking. My breathing was ragged, my brain scrambling trying to put together what had just happened as I stood on shaky knees, unable to meet his gaze.
Just as quickly as it had all happened, he turned around and left me there, leaving me with nothing but Zayn’s Bronco to hold me upright as I tried to steady my breathing. Well, if my head wasn’t fucked enough from the fall earlier, it sure was now.