Page 41 of Reckless Rebel

I feel a presence close in behind me and then Elle’s voice hits my ear, “You are so fucked, Pretty Boy.”

For the next two hours I have to ignore the fleet of girls that attempt to get my attention, and focus on the one girl who isn’t even trying, but has had it since the second she walked in. Riley is dancing in the corner with her back to the wall, like she doesn’t want anyone to crowd her, and is swinging her hips to the music. It’s clear she has more than a light buzz going on and she looks like she is having a good time. I’ve seen her little lapdog come and go, plying her with fresh drinks every so often before he disappears to who knows where, but my only focus is her.

I try to remember the last time I felt so enthralled by someone, but I know the answer. Never. I don’t know if it’s her innocence, her lack of availability, or the fact she is forbidden fruit, but I do know I fucking want her. I want her and I can’t have her. A fact that isn’t being helped as I watch her grind to the music, her tight jeans teasing me with her slender curves. How the mighty have fucking fallen, I’m jealous of fucking fabric.

“How does it feel to want to fuck my girlfriend?” Rick appears beside me with that smug smile on his face, and he follows my stare to Riley. I don't reply because I wanna do it with my fist, and he just shrugs. “What, I get it, I’d wanna hit that too if I was you.”

“The only thing I want to hit is you with my knuckle dusted fist,” I seethe, forcing myself to keep my temper in check as I turn to him.

He laughs in disgust, his glare completely degrading as he tries to look down on me. “You think you are this big player, when in reality you’re just a joke. I think so, Riley thinks so, and when I slide into that tight virgin cunt she won’t be thinking about you.”

His words slice through me and I step towards him. “I swear on my life Dick, one more word and I’ll...”

“What's going on?” Riley appears behind him breathless and panting having must have seen the tension between us and rushed over.

Rick's grin turns savage before he masks it and turns to Riley. “Just drunken scum mouthing off as usual, I’m fine, babe.” He leans in and nuzzles a kiss to her cheek, but her eyes remain fixed on mine, like she can sense the lies on his tongue. “Come on, let’s find a place without trash lingering around.”

“Rick,” she scolds quietly, and I can see the displeasure on her face.

“It’s okay, Red, Dicky is just playing around, aren’t you little one?” I take a deep swig of my beer as he turns back to me, fury staining his face. “Unless you wanna take the trash for a test run in The Ring?” I know I don’t have to confirm what The Ring is, I can tell he knows by the deep swallow his throat does.

“No thanks, scumbag, I hear even girls die on your side of town,” he spits the words out in disgust, and the flash of green eyes and black hair burn through my mind as I remember the helpless look on her face as I didn’t save her.

My jaw tightens as my fist aches to smash into his jaw and I see Riley recoil at his words. “Not as often as little boys,” I reply, ensuring there is a clear threat of violence in my tone.

He huffs a laugh, “Whatever, I’m out of here.” He doesn’t wait for Riley, just turns and storms away before either of us can say anything else.

Riley is still staring at me as I watch him leave and then I bring my eyes back to her, I know she can see the regret and anger burned into my glare.

“Are you okay?” She closes the distance between us, but I force a smile as I nod at her, “I’m fine, Riles, just go enjoy the party.” If she senses the lie she doesn’t say anything, just reaches out and gives my arm a quick squeeze and then follows the way Rick just left.

I watch her until after she has disappeared, the feeling of her touch on my arm still lingering and a new ache in my chest to go along with all the others.

Elle is right, I’m fucked.

22

Riley

I storm after Rick with a fire burning in my belly, the way he treats Jace needs to stop, he is part of my family now and he needs to accept that. I find him round the corner down the hallway and grab him, pushing him inside the closest open door. I shove him inside the bathroom and shut the door, locking us in.

“What the hell was that?” I demand.

He turns slowly to look at me and I can tell from the look on his face that he is slightly drunk like me, “Sorry, did I offend your precious Rebel?” The sarcasm drips from his tone.

“Rick, don’t do this.” I am so sick of having this same fight, I shouldn’t have to keep telling him that Jace is just a friend, just Sofia’s brother. Yet every time I do, it gets harder and harder to believe it myself.

I saw the way Jace was looking at me before, felt the words as he flirted with me, it felt good, bad, wrong, yet oh so tempting, but I have a boyfriend and we both need to remember that.

“Do what, Riley? I saw you guys flirting with one another, do you think I’m stupid?” His voice has a mean edge to it that I’ve never heard before, but I put it down to the drink.

“Just stop, you are the one I am with, the one I want,” I tell him, hoping he doesn’t hear the slight shake in my voice as I try to fully believe my own words.

Rick has been part of my life for so long that I’m not sure I can tell the difference between friendship and relationship anymore. Do I love him? I think so, but is that the kind of love that makes you want to risk it all for them, to want to give them every part of you without regret. I’m honestly not sure. The more time I spend around Jace, the more I like him, which in return makes me doubt the connection I thought I had with Rick. How do I know what I want when both my head and heart are telling me two different things?

Rick pulls me towards him. “Then prove it.”

He smashes his lips to mine, kissing me roughly and letting his hands grope along my body. His touch feels more insistent than usual and I can only guess it’s the alcohol coursing through him that allows him such confidence.Ignoring my heart and going with my head, I kiss him back with everything I’ve got, telling myself this is what I have been waiting for. Rick is the good choice, the safe choice, so how come I don’t feel anything? I used to get butterflies in my stomach just from his smile, now as his tongue caresses mine, the only thing I feel is anxious. I wait for a spark to course through my veins, I will for the passion to burst out of me, but neither come. I know I’m nervous, nerves are normal right? And surely we aren’t going to have sex for the first time here anyway?

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