Page 2 of Charming Cruel Boys

Neither of us moves for what feels like an eternity. Duke rests his forehead on mine, staring into my eyes with his dick still seated inside me. Then he lowers his mouth to mine and kisses me slowly like he’s savoring every last second we have together.He needs to go home soon. It’s late, and we have our first day of junior year in the morning, but I just want to soak up all of his affection for a few more minutes.Finally pulling away, Duke checks his phone for the time and shoots straight up, his eyes wide, his face a little pale.

“What?” I ask nervously as I sit up beside him, wincing at the ache between my legs.Don’t look, don’t look, I chant in my head. If I do, and I find a bunch of blood, I’m going to die of embarrassment. Nothing is sexy about bleeding all over the place.

“I don’t know, something’s wrong. Knight called me six times.” Duke hits redial on his phone and puts it to his ear, waiting for his brother to answer. Then he curses. “Voicemail,” he grits out in explanation.

Worry twists in my gut. Maybe we’ve been caught and Knight called to warn us? Why he would do that, no clue, but my sex-drunk brain is thinking up all kinds of crap. Knight and I have hardly exchanged a handful of words in all our time at Saint View High. The few times we’ve interacted, he’s been standoffish and… stiff? It’s the only word I can really think of to describe the way he seems to hold himself around me. Like his guard is way the hell up or something and he’s scared to talk to me like a normal person. So no, he definitely wouldn’t be sending out a warning for us right now.

“I should go,” Duke says, looking apologetic as he quickly gets dressed, frantically yanking his jeans and hoodie on.He’s giving me those damn puppy eyes that got me all fucked for him in the first place.

“Don’t give me that face, babe. I get it,” I tell him with a soft smile. As much as I would love to stay in his arms all night, I can’t. All of our intimate moments are like this. He’s told me a hundred times that his parents would love me, but that’s not what I’m worried about. It’s my father. I’m not allowed to date, and if word got out somehow, he’d force me to end things with Duke. That’s just not a risk I’m willing to take. So, sorry Duke’s parents, but I’m keeping this thing a secret. It’s been going great just the way it is.

In the dead of night, when we should be sleeping, that’s when I give myself fully to him. And over the weeks, it’s nights like this that have made me fall in love with Duke. When he shows me all the songs he’s written and talks about his dreams of becoming a musician. The long conversations about leaving town after we graduate and what schools we want to attend. The way we laugh and tease each other and how he kisses me slowly before leaving every night.I realized a few weeks ago that I’d fallen head-over-heels in love with Duke Ashbury, and tonight is the perfect night to tell him.

Crawling off the bed, I pad over to him as he silently opens my window, preparing to sneak out.My window is right above the garage, which sits out a bit from the rest of the house. Duke can climb up the trellis on the side, skate across the garage roof, and get perfect access to me.

“Duke?”

“Yeah, baby?” he says, looking back at me with a warm expression, a soft, lazy smile growing on his handsome face.

“I love you,” I whisper, my cheeks heating up. I drop my gaze to the floor before I even finish saying it. What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if he’s upset that I said it first?I should have waited.

He lifts my chin with gentle fingers, forcing my eyes back up. A triumphant grin stretches across his face, his blue eyes lighting up, the moonlight illuminating that unruly blonde hair. “I love you too, sweet girl. So damn much. You are everything in the world to me. Now crawl back into bed and dream about me like I do with you every single night. I’ll see you at school in the morning,” he says before kissing the breath right out of me and then slipping away into the night.

I smile and touch my fingers to my kiss-swollen lips as I stare out the window. I’ve never been more excited for school than I am right now. Tomorrow starts a new chapter for Duke and I. We can eat lunch together, study together, go to football games together. As long as we’re not all over each other, it’ll just look like we’re friends. Why does that matter? Oh, well, because my father just happens to be the principal at my high school.

If we’re careful, Duke and I can be happier than ever. We can start to plan our next steps for the future. I just know it’ll all fall into place. Duke’s it for me, there’s no alternative.

I’ve never been more sure about anything.

***

Standing in front of my locker the next morning, I check my phone for the hundredth time.

7:18am – Me:Good morning, babe! Meet you by the lockers before 1st period?

7:21am – Me:Also, what happened last night? Is everything okay with your brother?

7:49am – Me:Hey, you never told me that you made it home safely. I’m getting nervous...

Still no response from Duke.I’m not one of those super clingy girlfriends who need to text twenty-four-seven, but I’ve also never been ignored by him before. All I can think is that whatever happened last night, whatever reason Knight was calling so much, must have been bad. Otherwise, I’d have heard from Duke by now.

I type out another quick text, anxiety and worry swirling together in my stomach.

8:02am – Me:Please tell me you’re alright

I hit send, and just as I’m about to put my phone away, someone knocks into my shoulder, sending it flying out of my hand and skidding across the floor. “What the hell?” I curse as I whip around.I widen my eyes when I see who’s in front of me. Dark blonde hair, navy blue eyes, a jawline that could cut glass. So devilishly handsome, any girl would drop to her knees in front of him and beg for a taste. Except me because I’m staring at the wrong twin.

Although Duke and Knight are identical, Duke wears his hair shorter while Knight has it grown out almost to his shoulders. They’re the same height — ridiculously tall — but Duke is leaner where Knight has a bit more muscle to him, thanks to his spot on the football team. Also, their clothing choices couldn’t be any different if they tried. Duke typically wears fitted jeans that hug his glorious ass just right, a simple tee or button-up, and his Vans. Knight goes for a darker approach. Today, he’s wearing black jeans with rips in the knees, a black shirt, and his go-to black combat boots.

I take in his heavy expression, pursing my lips at the scowl he’s throwing my way. There are dark bags under his eyes and his hair is an absolute mess, like he’s been wringing his fingers through it for hours. Unease skitters along my spine and I almost step forward. Something about his distraught, angry face makes me want to curl my arms around him and squeeze. It’d probably be our first and last hug, and he might strangle me, but geez, the guy looks like he could really use it. I barely manage to keep my hands to myself.

“Knight, what’s wrong? Where is Duke?” I ask as I search the crowded hallway behind him. Knight and I don’t talk too much. He’s always been rough around the edges, a bad boy compared to his brother. Not that I know him enough to confirm what people say about him, but I’m not exactly eager to become his bestie. Anytime we’ve interacted, I just feel so unbearably awkward and unsure of how to talk to him. If it weren’t for being in love with his brother, I’d probably avoid the guy entirely.

Over the years, I’ve caught his gaze on me across the classroom or during lunch and it’s always so freaking intense that I swear he’s been slowly plotting my murder. Either that, or he’s secretly in love with me, but that thought nearly has me barking out a laugh. That’s just insane, really.

When he continues glaring daggers at me without saying a word, I repeat myself slowly. “Where is Duke?”

Knight pushes me against the lockers, and I cry out as a lock digs into my back. There’s clusters of students milling about before the first bell rings, and a few eyes swing our way, but Knight pays them no mind. He steps into me, curling his hand around my throat and squeezing, his eyes darkening with lethal danger.

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