Page 115 of Fire Fight

It’s not true, although I lent a hand.

With our friendship slightly thawed thanks to Monday’s confrontation, I’d asked Rox for the number of the caterer she hired for Gretchen’s party, passing it to Mum so she wouldn’t have to worry about the food. Felicity had helped connect us with servers and cleaners, now booked for before and after.

But as each item is sorted, she’s become more paranoid rather than less.

I wish the whole thing would just be called off, but that’s unlikely. Especially since Arnold has invited half his client list.

Another weight on Mum’s shoulders.

I huff out a breath and Drake glances at me, laughing. The sound is so foreign to him, all the nearby pupils turn to stare.

“Just dump those books in your locker so we can get to homeroom.”

I do, taking out my second period History textbook in exchange. A book Drake instantly snatches off me. “Don’t you have a free first period?”

“Yes. Then I have—”

He shoves the heavy volume back into the cubby, swinging the door closed. “Travel light. I’ll catch up with you after home room, yeah? Take your mind off the party, tonight.”

The mischievous glint in his eye sets my body humming with anticipation. “Yes, sir.”

He pauses, the glint darkening into a salacious gleam. “That’s more like it.”

Home room passes in a blur. When I walk along the corridor afterward, rough hands suddenly seize me, dragging me into a stationery cupboard and closing the door.

My heart rate skyrockets as Drake leans against the only exit, danger lurking in his smile.

“Thought you might appreciate a tour of the lesser-known features of Ashford Crest.” He pulls an old-fashioned key from his pocket, turning to lock the door, then hooks out his waistband, dropping them inside his briefs. “The moment you’re ready to face the world again…”

“Hm. This trick seems familiar.”

He stalks towards me like a predator and my pulse beats faster, teeth nibbling on my lower lip. The heat in his eyes melts away my inhibition. When his lips claim mine, my body turns to putty, ready to be moulded into whatever shape he needs.

“Miss Rivers,” he says in a stern voice when he pulls back, leaving my lips swollen. “This room is off-limits. Unless you can show me your hall pass…”

I daintily pick the edge of my hem and lift it the tiniest fraction.

“You’ll have to do better.”

I raise it an inch, shivering when he licks his lips, easing closer as the overhead speaker crackles.

“Would Blaine Arlington please report to the principal’s office?”

We both freeze, guilt written on our faces, then Drake shrugs, coming a step nearer. “They’re not going to find us in here,” he asserts. “So, unless you have a way out…”

“What do they want?”

He shakes his head, fingertips brushing my hair back. “I genuinely don’t know and definitely don’t care. I’m leaving school to become a stripper, remember?”

But I’m too nervous to keep playing. I drop my skirt and step back. “We’d better go. I don’t want to give Arnold any further ammunition.”

Drake sighs, pulling me close for a light kiss. “But you’ll still have to find that key.”

A job that soon has me in hysterics as his defence is to tickle me whenever I come close, changing his posture to trap my wrist against his tense abdomen, the growing bulge making it difficult to locate the key, especially when his eyes turn lidded, and he groans while I brush against him.

I drag it free, on the precipice of changing my mind and ignoring the command when the speaker crackles again. “Blaine Arlington to the principal’s office now.”

He steals the key back to do the honours, emerging into an empty corridor. “Wait in the common room and I’ll come find you once when this bullshit’s finished.”

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