“Ayyyy Riri!” I whirl to see the ginger sex on legs walking my way with his group of friends. His hands glide through his loosely styled curls. “Well, hello there, Love,” August says as he finally approaches.
My body warms at his closeness. I feel things I shouldn’t, not for one of the heirs and not if I want to keep a low profile. Schooling my features I try to give off a feeling of indifference.
“How can I help you, August? Don’t you have someone else to objectify?” I ask, dryly.
“Why Riri, there’s no one else more worthy of my objectification than you. Have you looked in the mirror, Love? I would be a fool to try and have my attention on anyone else.”
Glancing at Shay, I try to see if she believes any of the bull coming out of this boy’s mouth, but she’s too busy laughing.
So much for being in my corner. I’m not even going to grace him with a response, instead turning to stride into the room, except August has other plans because he grabs my hand. I yank to tug out of his hold, but his grip is ironclad, almost bruisingly tight.
“August, let go of me,” I demand. My glare must be piercing because he quickly loosens his grip but doesn’t release my hand, deciding to instead rub gentle circles in the area where his firm hold was.
“I just want to talk to you. Why don’t we exchange numbers and continue our chat via text?” His eyes almost look as though they are pleading with me.
Ugh! As cute as August is, I’m not here to meet anyone. I have one goal and he’s definitely not it. However, if I want to get this over with, it can’t hurt to just give him my number. I can always respond when and if I feel like it.
I don’t want any extra drama, and if I turn him down now there will just be more to deal with. “Sure, August.” I take his phone and put my number in it. This way he’ll have to be the one to text me. As I hand it back, he eyeballs me like a cat that caught the cream.
“I look forward to our chat session, Love, and I’ll see you in sixth period.” He winks as he leans over and kisses my cheek. I can instantly tell I’m flushing, as heat rushes to the apples of my cheeks. Scanning the area, I notice I’m not the only one in shock.
Shay’s mouth is open and all of August’s friends’ faces are sharing similar looks of disbelief. Well, all of his friends minus Rowan who just looks constipated or like his upper lip stinks with the way his face is contorted.
After the kiss and everyone’s reaction, August walks away. Giving me the perfect opportunity to watch his firm backside. He must know I’m checking him out because he turns around and smirks. I shake my head.
Yeah, this is going to be a long ten months.
AUGUST
The day is flying by, and I only have one more class with my love. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s mine. I’ve been watching her all summer. As she planted flowers in her front yard. When she was working at the diner. At first it was to know who the new family was that was being allowed to move in, but it quickly morphed. I never interacted before today- just watched.
When Emma stepped out of her car and stood up to Sam, I knew I had to have her and not just as my next bedroom buddy, but as my everything. I need to figure out how to get the rest of the guys on board with this plan. She’s it. She is going to be the one who will solidify our bond. But, I know Rowan is going to be a problem.
He’s always been a hard-headed fucker. It’s to be expected with how he grew up
– how we all grew up. He doesn’t think we will ever find someone who can handle our level of depravity. Someone who won’t take advantage of who we are. Someone our dads can’t control.
I know Emma is that girl. I know her crazy can match mine. It’s there in her eyes, the spark that will burn the world to the ground if pushed too far. The guys will see what I already know, in due time. I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of having to choose some girl to compete for our hands, but now that Emma’s in the equation, the math makes sense.
I sent a message to our dads about her and was given the green light. She’s going to be my pick. No other girl will do. Now, I’ll wait and see who the rest of the assholes choose. It’s going to kill me, but she’s worth it.
A niggling feeling sparks in the back of my mind, telling me I should be weary that I got the green light so quickly. But the idea of having her at my mercy overpowers that thought. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she finally finds out. My dick is hard at the prospect of her fight. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like fighting her into submission. Groaning, I grip my dick through my jeans underneath the lunch table. I wonder if I have enough time to rub one out before next period?
“What the fuck, August?” Rowan growls out as he takes his seat at the table. “Why are you talking to that urchin? You know the rules.”
Welp, there goes that plan.
Lips rolling up into a smirk, I meet the fucker’s glare head-on. He, of all people, should know I don’t follow rules. I make them. Not to mention, we are equals in this quintet. So, he can take his rules and shove them straight up Sam’s worn-out cunt.
“Rowan, remove the stick that has obviously found its way into your ass. Emma isn’t the issue and you know it, or at least you will once you stop sniffing around that black hole of a pussy you keep dipping your dick into.”
I know he had to get close to Sam for information, but no one said he has to keep screwing her. Bulging eyes convey his shock as his eyebrows hit his hairline. He didn’t think we knew. I swear this guy forgets who we are sometimes.
“What? You think we didn’t know that you’re still fucking her? You see what that’s leading to. You were instructed to get close, not turn her into an obsessed overzealous nag,” I state, angling my gaze level with his now annoyed one.
Rowan is always doing self-destructive shit. The closer it gets to the date we choose our wife, the worse it’s becoming. I know shit in his house is far from okay, but we all have crosses to bear.
If the council tells you to do whatever it takes, you comply. Of course, it doesn’t help that his dad’s in charge and is a major hard-ass. However, what you don’t do is continuously dip your prick in poisonous snatch, and that’s what Sam has. She’s an opportunistic black widow vying for a position she’s not worthy of. She’s been trying to find an in for years, and the stupid fucker keeps giving her one.
All thoughts of my hard dick are gone. Sam has that effect on people. Instant boner killer. Just another reason to loathe her.
“You can’t possibly think some random out-of-town chick is worthy of us? Sam might be a bitch, but at least she knows her place,” he spits out.
Keeling over in laughter, my hand slaps the table.
“The only place Sam knows is on her knees or her back,” I shoot back between catching my breath.
“Will you two quit fighting? We won’t choose which parent we go to if you get divorced,” Liam interjects cheekily, used to our daily sparring matches.
It’s what happens when you put a group of alphas in one tribe- constant fights for dominance. The difference between us and those in the wild is we draw from each other’s strengths. Well, that and we’re forged in the darkness together.
“Honestly, I think the new girl is five-alarm fire hot, Rowan. I’m not sure what your problem is with her,” Karl adds. Rowan turns his ire on Karl.
If he’s smart, he’ll dial back that glower some. We all know Karl isn’t one you want to look at like that. I’m sure he’s playing with one of his knives under the table- always at the ready.
“The problem is, she doesn’t belong. We know nothing about her. You don’t find it remotely odd her family not only moved into town during a selection year but also moved into one of the Elite-owned properties? For Christ’s sake, have you seen where she works?” the pretentious bastard says. I love the man, but honestly, he can be such a snob.
“Rowan, I think you protest too much, man. You’re going super hard at the chick, and you barely know what the deal is with her. None of us do. Even if she’s here for the selection, you’re being an elitist ass. Who the fuck cares if she’s not from money?” Karl responds.
Thinning lips and a tightening jaw indicate Rowan might actually blow his top. If there’s anything he can’t stand, it’s being called out.
While he stews, the object of my obsession strolls into the cafe. I don’t know how I found any girl attractive before Emma. The golden goddess walks into the room like she’s already the queen of zero fucks given. She’s with Shay Warren and they’re heading toward the kiosk to order their lunch.
I’ll see her again after next period. I’ll let her enjoy her time with her friend for now. But soon enough she’ll be entirely at our mercy or, at the very least, mine.
I focus back on the conversation just as the whiny voices of Sam and her troll brigade attack my eardrums.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.