Page 17 of Vendetta

I whipped my head towards Zayn, offering him a scowl. Dammit Olivia.

“Hell no.” I told him. I felt eyes boring into me from across the fire, forcing myself to ignore Cashton’s gaze as it burned into my skin. I was going to catch on fire if he didn’t stop soon.

“Damn girl, I didn’t picture you as that type.” Nate said, leaning back in his chair.

“We got them done in High School together after the last day of cheerleading camp our junior year.” Olivia explained.

“And the only people that have gotten to see them have been Olivia, some of the girls in the locker room, and the tattoo artist who did them.” I added, making it crystal clear that I didn’t plan on offering a peek to anyone.

“Never have I ever,” Olivia announced, slightly more slurred then when we had started the game. “Had sex in a public place.”

Once again, every single person in the group drank aside from Bexley and myself. I wasn’t innocent by any means, but these guys were wild. The craziest place I had ever fooled around was… Probably the foot of the bed.

“Never have I ever,” I started once everyone had brought down their drinks, all eyes now on me. “Had any siblings.”

The mood around the group immediately changed, everyone falling so silent that the crickets were quite literally the only sound to be heard. My stomach dropped, knowing that I had said something wrong.

The guys all snuck hesitant glances over at Cashton, who stayed leaned back in his chair with his eyes glued to mine. A muscle pulsed in his neck as he slowly brought his drink to his lips, emotions swirling in those green eyes.

Clearly, I had missed something. I debated saying anything, wracking my brain for what the right thing to do would be in this situation. Before I could utter a word, he downed the rest of his drink and abruptly stood, storming off towards the vehicle.

I looked over to Olivia, hoping to find some sort of explanation as to what I could have possibly done so wrong. She offered me a faint smile, the rest of the group staying quiet as shetold me “His little sister passed away a few months ago. Wound is still fresh.”

Oh, fuck me. Just when the day had finally gotten less awkward, I went and ruined it by reminding him of his dead sister. Great job, Landry. I wanted to slap myself right across the face.

“Go talk to him!” Olivia mouthed.

“No!” I whisper-screamed back at her. “I’m the last person he wants to talk to right now!”

“Go!” She insisted, pointing her finger in the direction he went for more emphasis.

“Fine!” I threw back before getting up, wrapping my arms around myself as I left the warmth of the fire. What was I supposed to say to him? ‘Hey, I know you hate me and all, and you can’t stand to be around me, but would you like a shoulder to cry on?’ gosh that sounded so stupid. But I guess a talk with him was overdue after all, and maybe he would be more receptive with his guards lowered.

It would be fine. I would apologize for what I brought up, let him yell at me if that’s what he wanted, and eventually he would calm down and I could try to give him a hug or something. He didn’t seem like the hugging type, but it was worth a shot. Whatever it took to show him that I wasn’t the horrible person that he seemed to think I was.

A light breeze fleeted through the tall brush on either side of the path as I climbed my way up to the parking area, not spotting Cashton right away. I made my way to the only vehicle in the center of the dirt lot, the moonlight as the only source of light illuminating Zayn’s Bronco and the attached boat. I rounded the back, hoping I wouldn’t walk up on Cashton takinga piss or something, only to spot him sitting on the ground up against one of the tires with his head hung low between his knees. He had thrown on a hoodie and had the hood pulled up, hiding his face from sight. He looked so… vulnerable.

My breath caught in my throat, and for a brief moment I contemplated turning around and heading back to the fire. This was probably the last thing he needed right now, and I would be the last person he wanted to see. But I took a breath and a step forward, announcing my presence.

“Hey.” I started, not really sure what to say next. He didn’t move a muscle as I glanced around, hoping that words would come to me.

“Look…” I swallowed, “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

Still nothing, so I decided to continue.

“I think we started off on the wrong foot. We’re clearly going to be around each other, and I would really like it if we could get along. So, whenever you’re ready to talk, I would love to do so.”

I ended it at that, deciding to keep it short and sweet. I waited a few beats to see if I would get any sort of response before turning and walking away. I hadn’t made it two steps before I was yanked back, a strong hand gripping my throat as my back was slammed into the side of the SUV. My hands immediately raised to grab Cashton’s arm, trying to relieve some of the pressure as his grip became firmer, not cutting off air circulation yet but enough to get my adrenaline to kick into overdrive.

I stopped breathing altogether as I looked up into his hard and unforgiving gaze, his jaw clenched and a millionemotions swirling through those green eyes that always made my heart come to a stop.

The slight chill in the air against all of my bare skin was suddenly forgotten, only feeling the warmth from his body as it pressed into mine. We stood there, unmoving and not breathing for what seemed like an eternity before he slowly lifted his free hand to graze my bare ribs with a soft touch so contradictive to the rough one currently gripping my jaw.

His fingertips grazed up my side so painfully slow that I couldn’t help my audible gulp. I froze completely, desperately searching his eyes for some sort of answer that I was missing, but his only seemed to darken further. His fingers eventually met with the bottom of my bikini top, grazing the underside of my breast and sending shivers through every inch of my body. Goosebumps rose on my arms, making their way across every inch of my skin at the sensation. Heat immediately pooled low in my stomach at his touch.

His thumb continued to tease the bottom of my top, the muscles in his neck straining as we stood there, neither of us breathing. His face was shadowed beneath his dark hood, his presence commanding the energy around us. He was stunning. Terrifying, intimidating, and dangerous. But beautiful.

His thumb slid under the fabric, exploring places that had never been given attention before, and my whole body shivered. Heat coursed through me, warmth pooling between my thighs as I fought to gather control of my racing mind. I felt so small in his hold, completely at his mercy.

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