Page 88 of Cruel Legacy

“What do you mean, no? Don’t you realize how much clout you’d get going with me?”

“That may sound great for clout chasers, but I’m cool with my current level of unpopularity.”

He looks like he’s having a hard time figuring me out. Good. I’d hate to be so predictable or easily readable. It ups my survival chances when dealing with sickos.

“Look, I know I may have overstepped by crawling into bed with you without calling first, but before that, I thought we had a moment.”

“What moment?”

“Pick one. There was the time in the alley when I saved you, and then there was the campus rescue, and of course we can’t forget all the times we went to the movies together.”

“Is that how you remember it? Because both of those times you say you rescued me, I was doing just fine on my own.”

“Did I read the situation wrong, Pet? Were you looking forward to sucking off Mikey and his buddies?”

I can’t hold back the sound of disgust.

“That’s what I thought.” He’s smiling, happier than he was a second ago. “Now that we’ve established that, my dick is the only one you want to lick.”

“Whoa, back up!” My outburst draws the teacher’s attention. I slouch down in my seat a little, but I need to disabuse Finn of this stupid idea. Right now. “I didn’t say that.”

“Sure you did. You didn’t want Mikey’s raggedy little pencil dick. You were anxiously waiting to see mine in front of Vale Tower before we were interrupted, and I was in your bed, which you didn’t seem to mind. Now we’re going to the party together this weekend, and we can finish what we started. This time, don’t wipe the blood away. That’s my job.”

“Are you hard of hearing? I’m not going to any party with some basic fuckboy.”

He leans closer and nibbles my ear lobe. Why does he keep doing that? And why does it feel so good? His breath sends a chill down my spine.

“Lady, I will touch you with my mind. Touch you and touch and touch until you give me suddenly a smile, shyly obscene.”

My head snaps up. My eyes flicking from his lips to his eyes. I’m staring, and my mouth is probably open. Am I drooling? Shit, I think I’m a little wet too. Did Finn just quote E. E. Cummings to me? I shake my head to clear the fog his melodic voice put me in, and take a deep breath, calming my raging heart.

Every time I settle on an opinion about him, he changes tactics. Quotingpoetry… now that shit’s just not fair.

Thankfully, he’s quiet for the rest of the lesson. Not that I’m paying much attention because I keep sneaking glances at him.

I’m still not interested in going to a party with him. I haven’t forgotten he and his buddies were fucking with my student accounts a few weeks ago. So this new level of interest and niceness has me suspicious as hell. What are they up to?

When class ends, Finn gets to his feet at the same time I do, as if he’s expecting me to make a run for it. I’m not running. I’m walking. But I’m definitely trying to put some space between us.

The math genius is blocking the door. My mouth goes dry as I remember the way his lips felt against mine. The way his tongue explored my mouth. How he tasted. How it felt having him rub the evidence of his arousal against me, and his hand at my throat.

They box me in. I’ve got Finn pressing against my back and Holden in front, making me the thirsty hoe in the middle of a hot-boy sandwich. I wonder if they could handle me together.No, Thea!Holdenis Coxsucker number two. Abort, abort.

I force my mind to focus on the other time they crowded me. The first time I saw them in the hallway after Pax knocked me over. I also think of how this is reminiscent of the way Mike and his buddies crowded me in that alley.

Is that what this is? Finn said he thinks I owe him for showing up andsavingme. His version of events and mine differ drastically. I was prepared to deal with those idiots that night and I can deal with the ones boxing me in right now.

I crack my neck, prepared to fight my way out of here if either of them touch me. I hold Holden’s gaze, silently daring him to make a move and subtly looking for a weak spot. Fuck, he’s like a wall. I’ll have to go with the element of surprise.

He stares at me, his brows pinching together, his jaw clenching.Bring it, asshole. I ball my fists, prepared to punch him in the dick. We’re locked in a stare off, then he steps aside. Giving me barely enough room to walk by without touching him.

Austin’s waiting for me in the hall. I look over my shoulder, making sure Holden and Finn aren’t trying to sneak up on me. It would be just like them since that’s the bitch ass move that started this feud.

They’re still standing in the doorway of the classroom, watching me. I don’t trust them. I need to make sure my car is in the same spot, my meal card is activated and my mail is still being delivered.

As Austin and I exit the building, I see Pax standing off to the side, which puts me further on edge. I know for a fact he never stands out here. Finn and Holden usually meet him at The Circle. People of habit that deter from those habits are always a red flag to me.

Finn and Holden push through the door, stepping around me to join Pax. That in sync mind meld bullshit happens as they fall into step and walk away in the direction of the parking lot.

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