Page 47 of Darkened Truths
Deep. He’s so deep that I moan and bite my arm to keep quiet.
“I’m going to ride your ass, Riley, and you’re going to come for me. Do you understand?” I nod, lost, feeling every nerve ending fire. He collars my throat, pulling me toward him, my back still perfectly arched to accommodate his size. “Answer me.” He growls and tightens his fingers, cutting off my air.
I suck in a labored breath, but I need more. My vision blackens and dots around the corners. It should terrify me. He could do some serious damage, but I feel nothing but a euphoric high. I’ve never had this feeling in my life. It’s as if I’m floating. I barely recognize my voice as I whisper “yes” and he reaches around me and rubs my clit. I clench down so hard on him and my knees all but give out as I come.
“There’s my good girl,” he coos as he finds his own release moments later. I press my face against the cool wall as he pulls out of me and tosses the condom. I don’t have it in me to move. He slides my hair off my shoulder and kisses it gently. “You take my cock so well, beautiful.” He picks up my discarded panties and helps me back into them. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
I’m the literal definition of stars in her eyes right now. I have never had an experience as thrilling as that in my life. And as I’m relishing in my high, the thought hits me. I really know nothing of importance about him. He’s from New Jersey and his brother died when he was seventeen. I know from social media he’s a playboy, but the more time I spend with him, the more I know it’s all an act. I take a steadying breath and ask, “Will you tell me more about you? The real you, not the social media playboy.”
He’s silent as we walk and I’m afraid he won’t answer me, but then he says, “You don’t want that man, Hellcat.”
TWENTY-THREE
WESLEY
No one ever wants to get to know me. I screw and chew. It’s the best I know how. I don’t even know where to begin. Talking about myself is such a foreign concept. The only time I've come remotely close to telling Julien and Zander my sordid past is when I was piss ass drunk on my brother’s one year death anniversary and I started punching a wall.
Julien pulled my arms behind my back, holding me in place as I spewed word vomit. I’m not even sure how coherent my rant was, but after that, things were different. That’s when my playboy persona came out. I knew I had to hide my pain in order to make it through Pointebreak—to climb to the top of the food chain. And that’s exactly what I did. I buried my brother deep within the recesses of my mind, never to show the light of day. Just like his cold, dead body buried six-feet under.
“I want all of you, Wes,” she says, looking up at me like I’m some fucking hero.
“Come on, let’s get some lunch,” I say, changing the subject.
She huffs in annoyance, but follows me out of the room and into the quad. I take her hand in mine, needing to feel her. I always want to touch her or be near her. Something about Riley's soft voice and steady gaze always manages to settle myanxieties. The only other person in the world that used to make me feel that way was my mom. Well, until Elias’s untimely death. Zander and Julien are my found brothers, and I would do anything for them, but Riley is my heart. She makes me feel complete.
I know I’m not going to be able to push this conversation off. If there’s one thing I have learned about Riley in the short time of knowing her, it’s that she lacks patience. She’s going to be in for a world of hurt if she can’t control that. Julien’s on his own timeline. To hell with anyone else. And Zander knows nothing but patience. He watches until he has every angle figured out. That’s why it’s no surprise that he caught wind of Riley coming to Pointebreak even before her father announced it on his campaign tour. Thank God he did. I think Julien would have attacked her if he had been surprised when she stepped from the car.
I’ve seen the video. Riley's shocked and hurt face when she heard the news will forever be ingrained in my mind. I felt for her that day. The one person she thought she could trust to have her back turned on her without batting an eye. Then she broke a little more this weekend when her dad lied on TV about talking to her. I was watching her from the door and heard the audio from her phone before making myself known.
I would know that prick’s voice anywhere. I’ve heard it enough over the last three years when Julien told us the plan to get his old man out of jail.
Riley’s playing with the food on her tray instead of eating. I know she has at least one more class today and then she normally spends a few hours in the library doing her homework. I usually give her space at that point and Zander makes sure she’s safe from the video monitors. When Zander’s home, he’s tuned in to everything she does. Every conversation, and every place she visits on campus.
That’s how he knows Ava and Nick have been seeing one another behind his back. He’s letting it go for now, after some convincing on my part, but it won’t be long before his protective side comes out again. He doesn’t want Ava anywhere near this life. But he also knows unless he kills his old man, there’s little he can do to save Ava. She’ll be married off as a pawn. It’s not uncommon for arranged marriages to happen in our world. It’s a business acquisition. A way to unite families with common interests.
“I’ll meet you outside the library tonight after you finish. We will go somewhere private where we can talk.”
Her head snaps up, and she looks deep into my eyes, waiting for the catch. “No one needs to hear my fucked up life.” I let a humorless chuckle slip free. “Most of us here have some kind of sad story. No use spreading it around for others to exploit.”
Riley offers me a warm smile and nods her head. “Okay. I’d like that.”
Nervous energy flows through my body and I can’t stop pacing outside of the library. The evenings are getting chilly even though it’s only mid September, but before long the ground will have a frost on it. I run my fingers through my hair and tug at the ends, needing to get a hold of myself. It’s a crazed mess, but I don’t care. This is insane.
“Hey,” Riley says from behind me.
I stop my pacing and scoop her into my arms, kissing her warmly. She sighs contentedly into my embrace, the scent of her hair filling my senses, and I feel myself relax. I take her bag from her and the two of us walk across campus. I knowour conversation will remain private because these buildings—excluding the gym—should be empty. Julien was at home when I left, but Zander ran out of there without so much as a hi.
We stop in the middle of the quad, where I’ve set up a blanket and a small spread of fruit, crackers, and cheese. She looks at the blanket and back up at me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I help her sit and hand her another blanket to place over her legs. Her fingers trace the soft edge of the fabric as she waits, her gaze distant and unfocused. The sun is setting, and before long, it will shield us in the cloak of darkness. Exactly how I want it.
“How much do you know about my family, Hellcat?” I know she’s looked into all of us. She’d be a fool to not, and comments in passing have made it clear she has.
“Not much. I’ve only found your socials. I looked up your brother after getting his name from you, but the information I found is…lacking. From what I know of you and where you come from, I assume it’s by design.”
“Yeah. All for good reason. It’s easy to keep things out of the press and offline with enough money thrown at the situation.” I take a deep breath.
“My father is Christos Bastian. He’s heavily known for his dealings in skin.”
Her eyes widen. “Like sex trafficking?” she asks.
