Page 54 of Not A Peep

God, could he yell that any louder? In any case, I don’t even have the time to pleasure myself. I’m going to be crazy late as it is.

Seventeen

As fast as I can, I remove my makeup and start all over again. There’s nothing I can do for the puffy lips or the redness of my eyes. That will go away on its own. I fix my blouse, throw my now frizzy curls into a bun, and sigh.

When I step out of the bathroom, Grant is waiting for me.

“Ready to go?” he asks. My gaze falls to the container under his arm.

“Are you takingmylunch?”

“Yup. I beat Trip in a game of rock, paper, scissors and won them fair and square.” He gives me one of those full smiles I’d seen online that he uses around his friends. Not with Trip and Jason, of course. It’s not quitethatwarm, but definitely not as cold as the one he uses when he’s with his father.

“Good for you,” I grumble, brushing by him to grab my purse off the console table and my cardigan hanging in the closet. I catch Trip rummaging through my refrigerator, studiously ignoring us. “Please put the door back on its hinges. I’d rather not have any thefts while I’m at work.”

He doesn’t acknowledge me, and Grant places his hand on my lower back and guides me past the threshold to my apartment.

“He’ll take care of it this time. Next time, let him in when he knocks, and you won’t have to worry about a missing door.”

I follow him down the steps of my apartment building. Between my legs, my clit feels uncomfortably swollen and my legs are shaky. Damn these guys and the effect they have on me. Once downstairs, I turn, heading for the visitor center parking lot. Grant’s hand grabs a hold of my forearm, effectively halting me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I turn to find him glaring down at me. Is he an idiot? It’s possible that he’s had too many concussions between football practice and the games he attends. Even as bitter as I am toward him, the scowl sends a shiver of awareness down my spine. I look away from Grant, afraid that he’ll see the desire in my eyes.

It’s only because you’ve been unfairly worked up,I remind myself.

“To work.” I try to shake off his grip but it’s futile.

“Why are you headed that way? And where’s your car?” His eyes sweep across the parking lot in search of my vehicle. How did any of them know what I drive, and why am I no longer bothered by the fact they just seem toknowthings about me? I allow my eyes to slide over his body. My lack of concern probably stems from the fact that this young man has power, looks, and a small hum of danger dancing in his aura. All the things I’m drawn to, all packaged neatly in the student before me.

“I don’t park it in front of my building.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t.” I pretend to be looking past him when he turns his attention back to me. “Now let go! You two have made sure I’m definitely going to be late and hungry—” my eyes drop to the container still under his arm, “—today, so can you please scurry off to your class or hell or wherever you have to be today?”

“I’ll make sure you’re not even a minute late,” he assures me as he drags me toward a massive black truck, lifted with flashy rims and large tires.

Of course he has a truck. A verynicetruck at that. At least he doesn’t seem to mind getting it dirty every once in a while, judging by the mud caked along the skirt.

“You’re definitelynotdriving me to school!” I can’t believe he would even entertain the idea. “What will people think if they see us together?”

“That I’ve made sure I’m in good company. You’re a respectable woman and are well liked by both your colleagues and the student body. No one will think too much about it.”

“It’s not respectable for me to be seen being driven to school by a student. And while you’ve decided that you’re ok with this and that my wants don’t matter, you might want to decide what your father would think when rumors start flying,” I hiss, attempting to yank my hand away from his. Sexually, emotionally, and mentally frustrated, words tumble out of my mouth before I stop to think about them. “You should be a good little boy and make sure Daddy’s image isn’t ruined by running around with a staff member at the college you attend. What will his inner circle think? Because that’s what you care about, right? Your image,hisimage? Don’t want to mess that up, huh?”

Grant’s grip tightens painfully on my arm as he yanks me into his chest. “Watch what you say, dollface, or it’ll be more than your ass that burns today.”

I gulp at the fury in his eyes as he glares down at me. Deciding that my day is already ruined, I go ahead and push Grant’s buttons a little more. “Is talking about Daddy a touchy subject for you?”

“You know, I was going to allow you to play with yourself on our way to school, but I think I’ll let you suffer,” Grant says, his tone turning cool. “Get in the truck, dollface, before I throw you into it.”

Ok, I’ve pissed him off now. Who knows what horrors I’ve just brought down upon myself. With an internal groan, I follow Grant to his truck. To my surprise, he opens the door for me and helps me into the passenger seat. I appreciate it since there’s no way in hell I’d be able to get in otherwise. Maybe that’s why he helped, because he knew that I’d have an excuse not to go with him. Inside the truck are red, soft leather seats, a thousand buttons, and space for days.

I’m not one who really cares about cars, butthisscreams luxury.

“Daddy buy you this nice ride?” I ask as Grant pulls out of the parking spot. I know opening my mouth will get me into more trouble, but as we drive over the first speed bump, I need the distraction. My hands grip the sides of my seat with a bruising grip.

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