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  Another Round

  Copyright © 2019 Nikki Belaire

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Play List

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Bonus Epilogue

  Extra Bonus Epilogue

  Other Books

  About Nikki

  Wow—Post Malone

  La La Land—Bryce Vine

  All My Friends—AJ Mitchell

  Sucker—Jonas Brothers

  Power Over Me—Dermot Kennedy

  Here With Me—Marshmello, CHVRCHES

  When The Party’s Over—Billie Elish

  Wake Up—Travis Scott

  First Time—Seven Lions, SLANDER, Dabin, Dylan Matthew

  “Come on Evie. Just let me fuck you.”

  I turn away from the hot, heavy breath blowing across my lips. Trendy craft beer stinks just as bad as the cheap stuff. Especially when you’re already disgusted from his tongue swirling in your mouth. His hands groping your breasts. His erection grinding between your legs.

  I force myself to giggle against his cheek from his slurred request. Like I’m totally drunk too. Like he’s actually got a chance. Like we’re really going to have sex on this countertop with only a closed pair of sliding wooden doors separating us from all the other people partying throughout the rest of the trashed house.

  Pushing lightly against his shoulders that I hope he takes as playful rather than as revulsion, I shake my head. Letting the long dark strands brush over his bare arms. Muscular and tatted which I normally like. A shame to be wasted on him because I don’t like him. At all. I actually fucking hate him despite how sexy he is. “How about I give you a little taste first?”

  His gorgeous green eyes pop open from my insinuation, whispered against his damp skin. Studying my face intently, despite the alcohol making his gaze droop heavy and dark, to confirm I’m serious. I give him my best flirty smile while I hop down from the granite. Looking up to him with all the adoration I can feign, I caress over the black ink adorning his sculpted pecs. Grateful I was able to get his shirt off so easily. Falling completely for my admiration of him and his perfect body. Dumb ass.

  Now I just need to get his pants off too so he can receive the punishment he deserves for fucking over my best friend. I trail my fingertips lightly down his eight pack and tug on his button fly. “Unless you don’t want to put your cock in my mouth?”

  Of course, he can’t get naked fast enough from my filthy question. His turn to push me out of the way. Although he’s not playful or gentle. Asshole.

  The jeans and boxer briefs hit the floor in about two seconds, and his heady gaze meets mine. Waiting for me to praise his average size dick bobbing in the air. And as much as I hate to, I pretend I totally want him. Licking my lips. Uttering a little gasp. Reaching out to touch him. Ever. So. Slowly.

  Making him groan and throw his head back once I finally brush over the tip. Teasing and tempting so I only have to touch him with my fingers. I caress across the silky taut skin before slowly turning him around by the cock so now he’s the one pushed up against the island. Rewarding his obedience, I drag my fingernails down the entire length and tickle his balls.

  His huge hand swallows mine, wanting more. I smirk from his desperation. Safe from any retribution with his eyes clenched shut. So predictable. He’s doing exactly what I thought he would. And, exactly what I need him to do except for one last thing. “Show me what you like Caleb. Show me how to do it.”

  Together we start to jack him. Stroking up and then down again. Mimicking the sweat beading and rolling off his temples. It is blazing in here. Him hot from desire. Me hot from the dying air conditioning, killing itself trying to cool a hundred people in this heat. After a short minute, I murmur in his ear and tug my fingers away. “Keep going baby. I just want to lock the door.”

  Swearing under his breath, he nods. Slowing to a snail’s pace to keep himself from getting off before my mouth and tongue and throat take over. I have to move fast though because he won’t be patient much longer. I step backward, never tearing my attention from him, until my back hits the smooth wood. Praying the doors don’t squeak or squeal when I gradually push them apart. He frowns as the thudding music fills the kitchen from the widening opening. Luckily he keeps playing with himself as I nod to Lucy who waits for the signal. An enormous grin lights up her face, pleased our plan is actually working, and she squats down to yank the cord lining the baseboard.

  Absolute silence as the song suddenly disappears and everyone stuffed in the living room stills, wondering what the hell just happened.

  No other sounds except for his guttural grunts.

  The slap of his palm against his dick.

  My satisfied sigh.

  “What the fuck, C? You’re fucking yourself?”

  One of his frat brothers pauses from sucking shots off the stomach of a girl in a red bikini sprawled on the sofa and yells at him. But I can’t hear Caleb’s response over the raucous laughter from the rest of the stunned crowd.

  Rage fills his expression as well as his rigid body when he bends over and yanks up his clothes pooled around his ankles with a furious jerk. Tucking his now sad, limp penis back into the black silk of his designer underwear.

  “You bitch.”

  Now that insult I hear. And I fucking love it. Relishing in his embarrassment. Enjoying his shame. Savoring his downfall. Star running back just humiliated himself in front of a good thirty people. Although it will take less than a minute for the entire campus to know with all the phones whipping out to document the indignity. “Yep.”

  He storms toward me. Already drawing his arm back to punch me. I lift my chin to meet his bulging eyes. He’s more than a foot taller, outweighing me by a good one hundred and fifty pounds. I’m terrified, but I refuse to flinch or back down. I’d rather be hit than have him or anyone else think I’m a coward.

  A blur flies from the left just as his fist slams into my cheek. Lessening the force but still hurts enough to make my stomach lurch when I crash onto the tile. Agony fills my head, and I can’t get up regardless of how much I want to. I hate being weak.

  “Dude you fucking hit a girl!”

  “Coach’s going to kill you!”

  “She’s not worth it!”

  “Come on! Come on! Let’s go!”

  “Get him out of here, or I’ll fucking kill him.”

  Voices and footsteps swirl around me. I don’t recognize any of them except for my cousin Theo and his raging threat to kill Caleb. I can hardly see anything either from my spot on the floor.
Not with my throbbing face and swollen eye. But I can make out, despite Caleb’s contentions that I’m a fucking cunt and got what I deserved, his friends dragging the cheating bastard away. Which is good because Theo really will slaughter him and then my father will have to figure out a way to cover up another murder. Which will not end well for either of us.

  “What the fuck Evie?”

  I jerk away from Theo’s gentle touch on my cheek, attempting to inspect my injury. He better be careful, or I’ll puke on his shoes with the raging roller coaster looping in my guts from the pain. He gingerly scoops me up, and I catch his headshake with my good eye. Aggravated at me once again. Frustrated at me like always. Saving me yet another time.

  “Damn it. Your Dad’s going to lose his shit when he sees your face.”

  “I’m fine.” I lie even as another wave of nausea rolls through my quivering belly. I lay my head on his broad shoulder. Taking deep breaths trying to quell the tequila threatening to come back up. The jostle of the steps down to the driveway is too much, and I gag. Lurching upward in Theo’s grasp as burning liquid fills my throat.

  Fortunately, he understands my mangled words uttered through a mouthful of chunks and moves fast. Setting me on my feet with his arm wrapped around my waist to keep me upright as I barf into the intricate landscaping. Pink decorative rock now splotched with yellow from my earlier French fry dinner. The vicious odor makes him heave too. He sucks in air behind my head, trying to suppress his own vomit. Luckily he doesn’t lose it like me since I’m in no condition to take care of him this time.

  Lime green slides fill my peripheral vision and soft hands brush over my neck, gathering my hair and bundling the wild strands together on the top of my head. Lucy. Stuttered shaky breaths rattle in my ear.

  “Oh my god! I am so, so sorry. I never dreamed it would go that far. I can’t believe he hit you!”

  “Don’t cry. It’s okay.”

  Despite my assertion, the tears and pats on my back continue. With my stomach finally empty, I stand up only to have my knees buckle from my swimming head. Theo catches me, never letting me fall, and picks me up again. Curling me into his chest while my best friend grasps my hand. Awkward as hell for her to hang onto me while we traipse to his SUV, but I know she won’t let me go. Too much guilt for her to release me. Too much love for her to abandon me.

  Theo’s fingers dig into my thigh from his concern. “You’ve got to stop doing this shit. I don’t know why you—”

  “What are you even doing here?” I know I’m rude to cut him off after he’s being so good to me, but I don’t want to argue. Or admit I messed up. “I thought you were with Essex.”

  Yeah, she’s as pretentious as you would expect with a name like that, but I try to keep my insults about her to a minimum. He genuinely likes her for some reason I can’t fathom. She’s totally not his type, but I’m sure her blow jobs are really good with those obviously fake plumped up lips.

  “I was but my Dad called. We need to get home. Grandma Marta fell again, and it doesn’t look good.”

  Damn. Tears that I despise burn my eyes. I know her time is coming but I keep pretending she’s fine. Lying to myself that if I don’t think about her dying, she won’t die. As immature as always when I don’t want to face the truth.

  Once we reach his Expedition, he slides me into the backseat so Lucy can keep her unnecessary death grip on me. I’ll let her take care of me until we get back to our townhouse. Then I have to stand on my own two feet. Literally. If Theo has to carry me once we get back to my parents’ house, they’ll think the damage is worse than it is.

  “Where are your bodyguards?”

  Damn it again. Well aware he was going to ask me, but not smart enough to come up with a good answer before he did. Especially a response that’s not the truth because that will only make him more frustrated. Because as much as he says he understands, he has no idea what it’s like having them shadow me everywhere I go. How they ruin everything. How jealous I am that he’s been taught how to handle a weapon and fight to the death and protect the women of our family. While I’ve been treated like a fragile flower and expected to behave like the obedient princess my father insists I should be.

  My lack of a reason for ditching my guards tells him what he needs to know. That I snuck out without them since they would never have let me be alone long enough to complete my revenge scheme. Theo doesn’t push me for more since Lucy’s with us. Still entwining my hand with hers as her body trembles along with mine. No stranger to money, she doesn’t really question me having a security team. Almost every celebrity in So Cal who’s gotten work done on their body has been under her Dad’s knife, so she’s used to bodyguards lurking around. Although she has no idea the protection isn’t because my mom used to be a pop star.

  She doesn’t know Theo isn’t really my cousin and Marta isn’t really my grandmother. That nothing in my life is what it seems. No one at school does. Which is safer and better for her and everyone else. They just think I’m another spoiled rich kid, and she’s one of the few people who loves me despite my penchant for trouble.

  None of us says a word for the rest of the short trip. I only have to lean against Theo after I slide off the seat. Almost falling on my ass if not for him grabbing me. Lucy takes over when we get inside, while Theo heads back to the driveway. Probably to chew out Rob and Zach for letting me escape. The anger hardening their faces when we pulled up confirms they already know they fucked up and need to prep themselves for the impending explosion once my father finds out.

  Guilt flickers in my conscience. I shouldn’t make trouble for them since they really don’t deserve his wrath. But punishing Caleb for breaking my best friend’s heart outweighs my regret.

  Not much bigger than I am, Lucy almost wipes out with me when I clumsily climb out of the shower and again when I wobble trying to squeeze toothpaste from the tube and onto my brush. I don’t bother glancing at myself in the mirror. I look like death and I know it. At least I smell and feel a little better.

  She gives me one last long hug after she helps me get dressed and gives me a bag of frozen mojito mix to put on my swollen cheek. Both of us optimistic that I’ll look somewhat normal by the time I see my Dad. But Theo’s eye roll and dismissive headshake as we stumble together to his car pretty much confirms I won’t.

  Bile licks at the back of my throat every time I close my eyes, but it hurts to keep them open too. So I blink and swallow a lot during the entire forty-five-minute ride. Theo’s surprisingly silent for most of the trip. Well aware with my gagging and fidgeting my punishment is already being administered without his lecture. Although I do owe him another apology. Which seems to be a recurring theme of our relationship unfortunately. “I feel really bad for ruining your night. I mean I know we would’ve gone home for Marta, but I made it worse and I’m sorry.”

  “I know.” His hand squeezes mine for a second before returning to the steering wheel, and a tiny bit of relief fills my heart from his forgiveness. “It’s okay. Ess is cool. She understands family obligations. She’s used to being pushed to the side.”

  Anger tinges the last comment. Almost as if meant for himself rather than me with the words uttered under his breath. I’m curious and talking about her keeps my mind off the pain and the fear of what waits for me when we get home. “What does that mean? Why is she pushed to the side?”

  “Her family’s even more fucked up than ours.”

  “I didn’t think that was possible.”

  Genuine laughter fills the air. Bittersweet with accuracy but at least I made him laugh. I love Theo and anytime I can make him smile, then I smile too. We argue most of the time like brother and sister, but this is one aspect of our lives we both agree on.

  All of our amusement evaporates as soon as he turns into the driveway. Slow, insidious torture as we follow the winding path and terror returns like a tornado when we park in front of the house. My father stands on the porch alone. More terrifying than if he was surrounde
d by the guards. One on one is way more frightening and dangerous. I turn to tell Theo to just keep going. Continue on the circle back to the road and get the hell out of here. But it’s too late. He’s already climbing out. Brave and strong, ready to face the firing squad while I stall like the coward I really am despite all my aspirations to be fierce and fearless.

  Out of time when my father strides toward me and yanks the door open. He’d never hit me, but I flinch anyway preparing myself for the detonation. Cowering to protect myself from the blast. Instead with a calm and tender touch, he slowly turns my face to his.

  “Fucking shit, sweet baby. What have you done?”

  The endearment he’s used for me for as long as I can remember breaks the last bit of resolve I had, and I slump against him. Letting him hold me. Accepting his comfort even though I don’t deserve the consolation.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nod against his crisp white dress shirt. Not sure why he still has his suit on at three in the morning, and I probably don’t want to know.

  “Do you know how upset your mother is going to be?”

  I shudder from the hardness of his tone. He puts up with a lot of my bullshit, but the one thing he won’t tolerate is anyone fucking with her. Including me. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not good enough this time Evie.”

  It’s not good either when he calls me by my name. Proof I really am fucked despite how gentle he’s being with me. I have to fix this fast. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll make sure she knows I won’t ever do anything like this again. I’ll never—”

  He shuts me down by scooping me up. Unwilling to listen to my excuses and promises and apologies. Carrying me inside toward the same doctor who treated Theo’s road rash when he wrecked his Dad’s motorcycle while they practiced escape maneuvers. Our injuries are probably pretty minor compared to the other treatments he gives to my Dad’s men in the middle of the night that I’m not supposed to know about but do anyway.

  “It’s too late for all of that. Things are going to change, and I don’t give a damn if you like it or not.”