Page 35 of Dare To Break

“Don’t fucking call me that.” The bitterness of my tone only makes his smile widen. “What happened to you to make you so spiteful and vile?”

A blank expression shutters his face, but his eyes gleam dangerously. “Get the fuck out of my art studio, you piece of trash.”

I grab my sketchbook, and bolt for the door. His stare burns into my shoulder blades the whole way. Why does he have to ruin my peace and solitude? Did he deliberately set out to find and torment me?

I clutch my book to my chest, rushing blindly down the hallway, anger, irritation, and fear vying for dominance.

Rough hands grab my hips, and before I can fight, I’m twisted around. Lips smash down on mine. The kiss is slow and clumsy.

“Stop it.” I push Jace away.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t.”

His brow dips in a frown. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

Jace tips my chin up with his finger. “You don’t look fine.”

“I had a run-in with Eli.”

Jace swears under his breath. “What did he do?”

Shifting nervously from foot to foot, I glance back along the hall toward the art room. “He just tried to intimidate me.”

Jace’s expression hardens. “That son of a bitch needs to be taught a lesson.”

When he takes a step in the direction of the room, I grab his arm. “Leave it. Please. I don’t want you to get in any trouble because of me.”

“Want me to walk you back to your room?”

Eli’s cruel words echo through my head.

Shouldn’t you be on your knees for Jace? Why don’t you fuck off out of here and go suck his dick? Get practice in for when you follow in your mom’s steps and hook yourself a rich sugar daddy.

I shake my head. I don’t want to encourage him into thinking he can grab and kiss me whenever he wants. “No, thanks.”

Laughter erupts along the hallway. We turn to see Garrett, Kevin, Evan, Miles, Brad, and Lacy heading in our direction.

Evan’s face lights up when he sees us. “Hey, Michigan, you coming out tonight?”

Kevin elbows him in the ribs. “Keep your fucking voice down, you idiot.”

Bracing his arm against the wall behind my head, Jace leans in closer. “After dinner, a few of us are sneaking out to the woods. Do you want to come?”

“After curfew?”

He nods. “We smoke and talk. Someone might even bring a six-pack.”

Evan throws his arm around his friend’s neck and makes kissing noises. “Make out.”

Jace rolls eyes and smacks him on the head. “Shut up.”

Rubbing his forehead, Evan laughs, backing away. “Of course, she’s going to come. Right, Arabella?”

All eyes turn my way. Heat crawls up the back of my neck. I’m almost overwhelmed by the need to fit in.

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