Page 55 of Eden's Deliverance

“I’m sorry, you didwhat?”

Skylar has this wicked smirk gleaming across his face, like he can’t wait to spell it all out for me until I get the full picture. Like he can’t wait to rub it in that he got to have her first, despite all the work I’ve put in. Like he’s so proud to have scored her by himself, when we’ve been flopping asBroodyandCasanova.

“You should have seen her, man. When she came on my c—”

“Cole! Finch!” Coach hollers from the sidelines, interrupting what I’m sure was a wonderfully tasteful proclamation about our girl. I guess notourgirl, anymore. His girl. “Are you two gonna stop yappin’ like a bunch of schoolgirls and play the fucking game, or should I replace ya?”

Not that I even want to be a part of this conversation, but the team definitely can’t afford for us to call Coach’s bluff. Skylar, Tommy, and I are the attackmen, and there’s a reason we’ve retained our positions for the entirety of our last four years here. I’m not about to let Skylar blow it for me now, so I shove him away with my stick and run into position.

Practice only lasts for another hour, then the team is off to Andy’s Diner for dinner. It’s a tradition I appreciate more than the rest of them probably do. With the way I grew up, cheap and greasy diner food was my version of a delicacy.

I’m halfway through a full stack of chocolate chip pancakes when Skylar tries to start up his bullshit again.

I shut it down immediately, keeping my voice low enough that the rest of the team can’t hear over the commotion they’re causing themselves. “Listen, I’m happy for you and all, but we’ve still got New Year’s Eve to figure out. We don’t even know if she’s going to come after what we did on the night of the Halloween party. And even if she does, she’ll probably be with Dario.” I turn to face him, making sure he sees the seriousness on my face when I say, “We cannot let that happen.”

ThePrincehas been keeping a secret from Scarlett, but Skylar and I know exactly who he is and what he has planned for her. Moving forward, we need to do everything in our power to keep her as far away from that creep as possible.

If Sky gives a shit about her, he’ll put aside his pride to get it done.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to say, Jules. With how she was acting last weekend, I think I can get her to stop going to the club altogether.” There’s that smirk again.So much for putting aside his pride.“I just need to convince her into something else.”

I scoff, “What, dating? I’m sure your parents will love that.”

“Fuck no, but I could tell her I want to be exclusive or something. She might go for it.”

She wouldn’t, and he knows that.

Scarlett told her journal that she’s on some ‘sexual exploration’ to find out what she likes and to experience different partners without the commitment of settling. She’s looking for the opposite of exclusivity, especially if Skylar—the only person she hates more thanBroodyandCasanova—is the one propositioning her.

“And when exactly are you supposed to get the opportunity? Are you going to approach her in the cafeteria and ask her to go fuck you in a closet somewhere?” I ask, hoping he understands just how stupid he sounds. “There’s no way she’s coming over to our place or any chance of you going to hers. Thenext time you’ll be alone with her is on Christmas, and it’ll already be too late if she decides to go to the party.”

A scowl of displeasure replaces the grin on his face. “Then we’ll just have to make New Year’s work, I guess. I already know she’ll be there. We just have to get to her before he does.”

“How do you know? She told you she was going?”

I didn’t let him get to the pillow talk segment of his story, so she very well could have discussed her plans for the holiday. I won’t be asking for the missing details—I’d like to forget he even mentioned it at all.

“I just know. Now shut up and eat your pancakes.” He smiles again, but I don’t like the look of it. Not at all.

The past three weeks have been absolute torture. Every day has been the same mundane routine: I go to school, think about Skylar fucking Scarlett, attend lacrosse practice, think about Dariofucking Scarlett, eat dinner, then jerk off to whatever my imagination can conjure up from Skylar’s description of their night together.

I’ve seen her a few times since Halloween; once at the tattoo shop when I was getting my back piece worked on, and another two times at Eden while she was with Dario.

She barely even spared us a single look, intent on making sure we believe she’s moved on. Unfortunately for her, she’ll only end up with him over our dead bodies.

It’s hard to see the point where our selfishness stops and our protectiveness starts—it all looks the same now.

Yes, we want her for ourselves, but we’re also trying to guard her from a danger she has no fucking clue she’s about to get into. Really, she’s already there.Every second she spends with that guy is a step towards the edge, and we might be the only ones who can stop her from plummeting.

Still, I want her so fucking badly.

I’m pathetic, lying here in my bed and stroking my cock to the thought of Skylar eating her pussy. I might not know how it feels to be enveloped in it, but I do know what it tastes like.I’mthe one who got that first. I’m the one who fed him the sweet juice from her pussy when he fucking begged me for it.

Playing with her was supposed to be for the both of us, but he snaked his way through a loophole and thought I’d just be cool with it.

Well, I’m not.

Now, I only want her more.

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