Page 53 of Cruel Prep (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 1)

I didn’t plan to hold her hand, but letting go seems like a strange thing to do after asking for it so explicitly, so our entwined fingers swing between us as we walk towards the front entrance of the Ravenlake Prep football field.

It is a large complex with wrought iron fences and built-in stadium seating. My father paid most of the bill, securing his spot as the school’s most generous donor by several million dollars. In exchange, he earned an enormous number of adoring fans. If there is one thing people in Texas take seriously, it’s Friday night football, and my father’s gift made it all the more special.

“Foster Stadium.” Lily studies the sign above the open gate, and then turns to me. “After you?”

“My father.”

“Both of you. You share the name.”

“And very little else, thankfully.”

I pull her inside the stadium, and we follow the sidewalk to the left, around the concession stand, and towards the locker rooms built under the ‘Home’ seats.

“Where are we going?” she asks, looking back over her shoulder. “You said this was a party, but I don’t see anyone else.”

“That’s because we’re late.”

I designed it that way. I don’t like to show up to places early. Or even on time. I want people to know I’m worth waiting for.

And with Lily in that dress, she is worth waiting for, too.

“It’s at the football field?”

“Is the good girl afraid of being caught?” I tease.

I pressured Lily into coming tonight by making it seem like the rebellious thing to do, but I’ve already bought off the cops on patrol at the stadium. Even if we get caught, no one is coming to arrest us. And the worst that will happen to me is getting kicked off the football team, which wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.

There is no risk tonight. Only reward.

She tries to pull her hand out of mine, but I squeeze her fingers tighter. Just as we walk into the entrance of the locker rooms—the voices inside growing louder—I spin her towards the wall and pin her there with my hips, grinding myself against the flat plane of her toned stomach.

“Decide right now who you are.” I bring our entwined hands to my mouth and stroke my tongue over her knuckles. She watches me do it, her eyes growing more hooded with every second. “Are you good or bad? Do you run from what you want or do you take it?”

She shivers at the sensation of my breath across her wet knuckles, and then licks her lips.

I want to fuck her right here.

I want to pull her further into the shadows and have my way with her. Screw the plan. Screw my father and Nico and revenge. Screw everything, including Lily. I want to screw her most of all.

But I don’t. Because I’m a fucking hypocrite.

At the same time Lily tells me she’s a bad girl who takes what she wants, I lead her into the locker room to continue the plan of ruination my father set out for me. The plan I wanted at one point … and maybe still do.

Though, I’m not so sure anymore.

Her hand shakes in mine as we walk down the hallway, the sounds of laughter and whistling growing deafening. When we finally turn the corner into the locker room and see the fifteen other football players assembled, their dates standing on the metal bench between the lockers, Lily turns to me, confusion etched on her face.

Before she can say anything, I grin and hold our clasped hands in the air. “Let the bidding begin, fuckers!”

Chaos erupts immediately. A dozen things happening at once.

The team roars in approval.

Bidding kicks off, one of the other seniors standing on a bench with a megaphone with his arm around the waist of a sophomore in a bikini top shaking her ass.

Beers are cracked open. The smell of weed, sweat, testosterone filling the air.

Lily digs her fingers into my wrist. “You son of a bitch! How dare you? I’m not going to be bid on like fucking cattle,” Lily shout-whispers.

---