Page 51 of Keeping Score

He doesn’t slow his pace even as I turn to jelly in his hold, his thrusts turning frantic which tells me he’s close. He breaks our kiss and bites down on the tender flesh between my neck and shoulder, the same place I bit him. I cry out at the exquisite feeling that spurs to life inside me. His jaw clamps down harder as he grunts out his release. He unclenches his jaw from my shoulder sending a shiver down my spine when he places a tender kiss to the mark before resting his forehead against it. I wrap my arm around his neck and use my other hand to run my fingers through his hair. I soak in this moment and try to store the memory of what touching him feels like in my mind.

“Our hearts are wild creatures, Darius, that’s why our ribs are cages.” He slowly leans back so he can look at me. I wall off my emotions from him so he can’t see the anguish in my eyes.

“I don’t even know what that means.”

“It means you can’t help who you love.” His brows draw in, I cup his face between my hands as I place a soft kiss to his lips then rest my forehead against his, closing my eyes. “I fucked up. I know you hate me… I hate myself for what I did to you.” Tears continue to fall down my cheeks. “I’ll always love you.” He tenses at the sound of my whispered words. He says nothing as he slowly pulls out of me and lowers me to my feet, holding my waist until I’m steady on them. Once he’s sure I’m able to stand, he withdraws his hands. I close my eyes when I feel a rush of cold air hit me, knowing he’s just left. I cover my mouth with my hand and slowly drop to the shower floor hugging my knees to my chest as I cry. I have no one to blame but myself—I destroyed us.

“Get up, breakfast time!” I bolt upright in bed and scream in fright. “Fuck!” I dart my gaze to the door to see Crue standing there with wide eyes. My breaths come in ragged pants as I try to calm my racing heart. The bathroom door flies open to reveal an angry looking Darius who stands there in nothing but a towel with a shirt clenched in his first. He glares at Crue then swings his gaze to me. Seeing the hickey I left on him last night on display fills me with a sense of smug satisfaction.

“Shit!” he grits out before tossing the shirt in his hand at me. I catch it before it can smack me in the face. I frown. “Cover the fuck up!” he growls. “You, get the fuck out now!” he snaps at Crue as I drop my gaze and squeal. I was hot as fuck when I crawled into bed so I’m only in a pair of panties. I race to tug the shirt over my head before I bury my face in my hands in embarrassment. “If you plan to fuck my friends, at least don’t do it in my fucking house!” I snap my gaze to his, my mouth is ajar in shock that he would even think that! He shoots me a disgusted look before turning around and marching back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind himself. I stare at the closed door for so long my neck begins to cramp. I shake it off and tell myself to suck it up. I need to get used to how Darius is going to be. I did this and now I need to live with the consequences.

I sluggishly make my way downstairs, wearing my shorts and Darius’s shirt while carrying my boots and top from last night in my hand. I hear conversation coming from the kitchen, so I dropmy stuff on the couch before following the sounds of laughter. Crue and Saint sit at the table laughing with Beck. I dart my gaze to the other side and frown when I see Katie and Cody standing there helping Corvin plate up.

“Uh, what are you two doing here?” I ask. My friends snap their gazes to me. Katie’s eyes widen and Cody pales at the sight of me. When I hear the guys laughter die off, I look at them and suddenly Crue and Saint both find their plates more interesting and can’t stop looking at them. My eyes widen as I snap my gaze back to my girls, realization dawning on me. Cody steps toward me but I hold up my hand, her face falls. I open my mouth to speak when I suddenly feel Darius at my back, Corvin’s face morphs into a picture of rage.

“Don’t be salty, Sis. You fucked my best friend, so only fair I fucked yours.” My eyes pop wide as Cody’s face falls. Seeing the hurt in her eyes sends my anger soaring. I meet Corvin’s angry stare with one of my own.

“You can be pissed at me all you want but you do not get to hurt Cody to get at me.” I’m so proud of myself when my voice doesn’t waiver.

“Nice shirt,” Corvin grits out as he shoulders past me. I sigh, knowing that he won’t believe me even if I told him the truth. I close the couple feet of space between me and Cody and wrap her in a hug. She tenses for a second before relaxing and returning my embrace.

“There are so many better looking guys in the world then that idiot I share DNA with,” I say sarcastically. We both break out into a fit of laughter that eases the tension.

“Still better looking than you,” Corvin mumbles from his seat at the table.

“That’s debatable, Brother. I’d rather stare at her ass than yours.” I roll my eyes, Saint is such a dork. Darius mutters something behind me before making his way into the kitchen.He reaches into the pantry to grab his protein powder and freezes, he looks to me and I cringe.

“Did you drug all of it?” I bite my lip and shake my head, suddenly feeling so unwelcome I decide it would be better if I left given Darius’s remark has tension filling the room and all eyes on me.

“Thanks for the ride, Beck. I’ll catch you guys later,” I say as I turn and head into the living room to grab my stuff.

“Leah, wait.” I don’t listen, grabbing my top and shoes and head for the door. I grip the handle and pull it a quarter of the way open before Corvin reaches above my head and slams it shut. I spin around and glare at him.

“Wait for what, Corv? You want to call me a whore again? Or what is it this time, you gonna call me a junkie now since I doped your buddies?” I’m beginning to get hysterical now and I’m unable to stop myself. “You won, Corvin! I’m the fucking town bike according to the rumors. Your bestie kicked my ass to the curb, so don’t worry, I’ll only let the basketball team run a fucking train on me this time!” We stand here glaring at each other, not even flinching, when the sound of glass shattering can be heard from the kitchen. I blow out a tired breath and shake my head, tired of the tension and fighting. I decide to add on, “I’m going to take the rest of the semester off and take my classes online.” Katie and Cody rush around the corner looking at me with horrified looks on their faces.

“Where are you going to go?” he asks. My shoulders slump. He didn’t even try to convince me to stay, he wants me gone just as much as Darius, and that fucking stings.

I shrug my shoulders. “Does it matter?”

“You’re my sister,” he says solemnly.

“I’m not your problem, Corvin. You got your business, school, football and your friends to worry about. At least with me gone, that will be one less worry for you.” When I feel tears beginto build in the backs of my eyes, I know I need to get out of here. I reach up on my tip toes and place a kiss to his cheek. “For what it’s worth, Corvin, I am really sorry. I never meant to hurt any of you and I swear, I never meant to cause a rift between you and Darius,” I whisper before turning and opening the door. This time, he doesn’t stop me.

Darius

Three weeks…

“Throw the fucking ball then, you pussy!” I yell. Corvin takes his helmet off and throws it to the ground, then storms toward me. I do the same until we both smack into each other.

“You think you can do better?” he grits out through clenched teeth.

I press my forehead against his. “Yeah, I fucking do!” Corvin and I have been fighting daily over the stupidest things. None of us thought Leah was serious when she said she was leaving three weeks ago. When Corv went over to speak with her the next day, Cody slammed the door in his face after telling him it was his andmyfault that her best friend left. She hasn’t returned his calls or texts. He had no choice but to tell his mom and dad, they are worried sick. He didn’t tell them why she ran just that someshit went down and she bolted. He made it seem like she just gave up, when that wasn’t the fucking case at all.

“Both of you, get the hell off my field and hit the showers. You are done for the day!” Coach shouts. I shove him back and stalk off the field, heading for the locker rooms. The second I barge through the door, I throw my helmet across the room then punch the locker beside me. I grit my teeth when pain radiates up my arm.

“Hope you’re pleased with yourself.” I spin around and glare at Corvin. I clench my fists at my sides as he walks toward me, leaving an inch of space between us.

“Fuck you,” I snarl.

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