Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Why’s that?”
“Kayden’s not some kid anymore.”
I bristle at her words. “Neither am I.”
“He carries a gun,” she says in frustration, pulling back to look up at me.
“Used to.” I smirk. “Now it’s sitting at the bottom of Hood River.”
Her nostrils flare. “And he’ll just get another one. But now you’ve put a target on your back. You don’t want to mess with him.”
“Are you afraid?” I demand, the fierce need to protect her consuming me.
“For you.”
“I can handle myself.”
“Your track record for that is really shitty,” she grumbles. “If I promise to stay away from him, will you do the same?”
“I can handle that.”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “Okay. I need to get back there and check on him.”
As she starts to walk away, I can’t stop myself from taking her hand and squeezing it. Her fiery eyes search mine out, silently questioning what sort of games I’m playing with her. Truth is, I don’t know. I can’t have her for myself because she’s too young and forbidden territory, but I want her anyway.
“What do you want?” she rasps out.
The only answer I have is her name. I tug her back toward me, my other hand seizing her hip. “Only one thing.”
“What is it?” Her head tilts up and her eyes flash with such vulnerability, my heart cracks down the middle.
“Something I can’t have.”
“Maybe you could have it.” Her whispered words set my soul on fire.
“I can’t.”
“Maybe…”
I lean forward, stealing a chaste, forbidden kiss. “I can’t. I won’t. Don’t make me. Please don’t make me.”
She tugs her hand away from mine and touches her lips I just pecked. “You worked your whole life to make sure no one hurt me.” She pulls her fingers from her lips and presses them to mine. “And yet here you are, hurting me more than anyone has in my entire life.”
Her words shred me.
“Roux…” I trail off, my voice husky with emotion.
“Good night, Jordy. I guess I’ll see you at home.”
This time, when she walks away, I let her. I watch her leave me with such an overwhelming longing inside my chest, I think I’ll suffocate.
I hurt her.
Worse than anyone.
I’m a fucking monster.
Roux
“Come with us,” Kayden bites out, spitting out more blood. “It’s not a request.”
His friend Zac snorts out a laugh that boils my blood. If Jordy heard him talk to me this way, he’d be nursing a broken nose too.
“I can’t. Roan said no.”
Kayden’s dark eyes dart back to the campfire where the guys are back at their posts, standing guard over the entire party like they’re the Kings of Chaos rather than Hoodlums.
My brother has a possessive arm slung over Hollis’s shoulder, glaring into the fire. Cal’s hands are in some girl’s hair as she works her way down his body, but his eyes are lingering at where Ryan and Charlotte are talking. Terrence’s attention is on one of the freshmen getting mouthy nearby, his shoulders tense and ready for a fight.
Then there’s Jordy.
He sits in a chair, sipping on a beer, with his legs spread apart and his gaze locked on me.
“It’s because of him, isn’t it?” Kayden asks, drawing my attention back to him. “Jordy?”
“W-What? No,” I blurt out, my tone a little too defensive. “You know how Roan is. He’s overprotective.”
“He’s not your dad.”
I bristle at his words. “No, but he’s doing the best he can to look after me.”
He softens and lets out a sigh. “I’m sorry.” His hand lifts and he toys with a strand of my hair. “I’m just stressed and I don’t need the Hoodlums giving me shit.”
“What are you stressed about?”
“Just some shit my brother wants me to do.” He flashes me a devilish grin as he grabs my hand, pulling us behind his car that’s hidden in the shadows. “Nothing for you to worry about, Roux-Roux.” He pulls me to him, his palms roaming over my ass. “Your only job is to give me a kiss.”
I used to melt over his sweet words whenever he’d blow me off about what’s going on with him. Now, I find them irritating.
“Why are you carrying a gun?” I demand, slightly pushing away so I can see his eyes.
He scowls. “I told you I’m doing shit for my brother.”
“I don’t like it. It’s dangerous. You could get hurt.”
“Nah,” he says, flashing me a smug grin. “That’s what the gun’s for. So I don’t get hurt.”
“Can you please stop provoking the Hoodlums?”
“Me?” he bites out. “They fucking started it and you know it. We were just fine until they decided I’m not good enough to date you.”
He starts to kiss me, but I duck out of the way, ignoring his pouty frown.
“You’re all bloody.” I lean back in to peck his cheek before pulling away. “Drive safely and text me later.”
“Tomorrow we’ll go party somewhere else. Figure out a way to sneak out since they won’t let you come with me,” he says, taking my hand. “We haven’t had much time alone and I miss you.”