Page 187 of Cruel Steps

“We don’t have time,” he argued.

“You might not, but I sure do.”

Holden growled, but started the car and pulled out of the lot. Mer looked at me, her brows raised in question, but I only smiled. I pulled her leg over mine and skimmed my hand up her thigh. Her eyes widened a moment before her head fell back to the seat.

“Oh, God. Yes,” she moaned.

“Fuck. Her panties are soaked, Hol.”

“Goddammit, Colt.”

“Payback for making me drive last time.”

Holden hissed as Mer moaned, my fingers stroking her clit and smoothing her wetness around. “Please, Col,” she whispered, her body riving as she arched into my touch.

Plunging into her wetness, I kissed her as she rode my fingers. Our tongues battled, desperate for one another as I brought her close to orgasm. I’d only meant to tease her, but as usual with Mer, my restraint went right out the window.

Holden whipped the car into a parking spot just as her orgasm crested, and she moaned out her release into my mouth. I pulled away to find him snarling at me as I licked my fingers. Mer panted next to me, her cheeks rosy and her pupils blown.

“I’ll get you back for that,” Holden threatened.

“I planned on it.”

He stared, then chuckled, his anger dissipating. Mer sat up and straightened her clothes. Her nerves reappeared, though lower, as she fiddled with her bag. Holden nodded, now understanding my tactic. I’d wanted to pay him back, but my first priority was her.

“Wildcat, you’re gonna do great. You’ve been practicing for months. You got this, badass.”

She nodded, lifting her head with a smile. “Right. Badass time.”

Mer had made it into the finals of the choreography competition after showcasing three routines. There were five finalists, and each had to demonstrate their routines in an actual production. Hendrix had agreed to let Mer use the Wildfire room, and she’d recruited dancers from the club, Wolfettes, and her old dance crew to be part of it.

Taylor had decided to transfer to Hayward. Despite things not working out long distance with Dillion and Eric, she wanted to be closer to Mer and loved the feel of Hayward. I told her it was all Mer, and she said she knew. Brighton hadn’t been the same without her.

Tonight was a big night for her. Not only to showcase her skills as a choreographer, but to allow her two worlds to meet. Milton, Rose, and Hope would be part of the audience, too.

Holden up-nodded the guard at the door, and he scanned us all in. I’d become a regular over the last two months and was on a first-name basis with most of the staff, unlike my best friend.

“Don’t miss Mer’s show later, George. It’s gonna be hot!”

“I’ll be there. Everyone is fighting for spots, but I was lucky enough to win one,” he said, smiling at Mer. “Good luck tonight.”

“Thanks, George.”

The three of us headed into a room off to the side once Holden unlocked it. Hendrix had given Mer a small room to use for costumes, equipment, and to keep her personal things. Though I think he’d discovered we would sneak off at times to fuck, and he didn’t want a lawsuit on his hands, so he’d given her a room with a lock.

I wasn’t one-hundred percent positive. Just a hunch.

The next hour flew by as we helped Mer prep the dancers behind the stage. There was a flurry of movement as girls and a few guys walked past in costume. Hope peeked behind the curtain and stepped through when she spotted us.

“They’re here.”

Mer swallowed, nodding her head like a bobble doll. Hope squeezed her hand. They’d grown closer, their bond healing as Hope continued to show with action that she indeed was sorry for the person she’d been. Hope had gotten into the University of Santa Barbara on the west coast, and would be leaving after the Rose Bowl. I was happy she had the chance to make her own way and start fresh.

After the encounter with their dad at the Homecoming parade, Hope had asked Holden and Rose to attend bi-weekly appointments with her therapist for family sessions. Holden had been hesitant, but after Mer said she’d see someone to process the stalker ordeal, he’d relented. He’d been hounding her to talk to someone after she kept waking up from nightmares. They’d both healed a lot from the sessions, and Rose, Hope, and Holden had grown closer as a family by letting go of the pain they’d all held onto.

I’d even reached out to my parents, thinking maybe they’d changed over the past four years, but their response to my life choices was what I’d expected. They didn’t accept me, so I cut them off for good. When we got married, I’d change my name, too. I didn’t want to be a Donovan anymore. My future was with them.

“You got this, sweetheart.” I kissed her briefly, and Holden followed suit as we exited the stage and took the booth with Rose, Milton, and Hope.

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