After what feels like a lifetime, she pushes the door open and a pair of legs emerge before she stands.
Her head barely appears above the door. She’s so small, so breakable. I rub my hands together as my plan for my time here floats around in my head.
You ruined my life, I’m about to turn yours upside down, you motherfucker.
The second she slams the door, a smile twitches at the corners of my mouth.
She’s wearing the smallest pair of shorts, that I can only imagine are cut high across her ass, and a crop top that shows off her tiny waist and more than ample tits.
Oh yeah, she’s definitely rocking something I can work with.
Walking to the other side of the room, I wait out of sight for her to let herself in.
She does so quickly, but it’s not until I hear her purse hit the table that I step from my hiding space.
2
Ruby
I stare up at the house and blow out a long breath, hoping that the nerves that are fluttering in my belly will subside.
Ashton is inside.
I had no idea he was coming, although I don’t think anyone was aware until a few hours ago.
Mom and Stephen might have been together for years now, married even, yet I’ve never met my elusive stepbrother.
The strained relationship between him and Stephen isn’t a secret, his refusal to attend the wedding was just the tip of the iceberg.
The thing I don’t know is why. Why he hates his father so much. Stephen is a good man. I mean, he’s not my dad, no one could ever replace him, but as far as stepdads go, I consider myself pretty lucky.
That could all be about to change though.
Sucking in a breath and hopefully a shit load of confidence with it, I push open the door and head for the house.
My muscles ache from the hard practice Chelsea just put us through. But I loved it. I love the pain, the knowledge that I pushed myself.
I’ve wanted to be on the squad for as long as I can remember. The day it was announced I was in was one of the best of my life. I’m determined to prove myself over the coming months, I want to show the seniors that I’m as good as them, that they were right to choose me, that I won’t let them down.
Throwing my purse over my shoulder and clutching a couple of books to my chest, I make my way to the house.
It’s silent as I step inside, making me wonder if he’s here.
Needing to get something to eat before I start on my homework, I drop my purse to the table in the hallway and take a step to the kitchen only when I do, a dark figure emerges from the living room.
My heart plummets and a blood-curdling scream rips from my throat.
I should run, I should leave the house as fast as I entered, but my body doesn’t respond to instruction. It freezes as my limbs tremble with fear and my vision blurs.
All I see is the figure before me, head to toe in black with his hood casting his face in darkness.
As my blood rushes past my ears and my heart pounds like a fucking drum, he lifts his head.
The first thing I see are his lips curled into an accomplished smirk, but that’s enough to know who it is.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I bark, my voice betraying me and trembling slightly with every word.
He takes a step toward me and lowers his hood.
His dark, almost inky black eyes lock on mine and a shudder runs down my spine. His scent hits my nose and fuck if the smell doesn’t have my mouth watering.
Damn him.
Ripping my eyes from his, I take in the rest of his face, a face I’ve only seen on the odd photo.
His nose is slightly crooked, he’s got a scar on his cheek and his jawline is sharp, sharper than should be allowed on someone who is clearly this much of an asshole, but none of those really capture my attention, it’s his lips that mesmerize me. They’re full, almost too full for a dude. I bet he’s a really good kisser.
It’s not until he sinks his teeth into the bottom one that I manage to shake the crazy thoughts from my head and look back up to his eyes.
He closes even more space between us.
My head is a mess after almost having a freaking heart attack but no matter how distracting his lips are, my sensible side speaks up and I take a huge step back, only when I do, my back hits the wall, stopping any further retreat.
His lips twitch into a smile, knowing that he’s got me.
“What do you want, Ashton?”
I try again, getting quickly fed up with his scary, broody, silent treatment.
His eyes scan over my face once more.
“I need your car keys.”
“Go to hell.”
His eyes widen at my refusal. Was he really expecting me to bend to his demand and hand them right over?
A laugh falls from his lips, it’s low, unamused, evil even, and it makes something in my stomach clench in fear.
Is this how murderers act right before putting you out of your misery?
“Keys, little girl.” He holds his hand out, but my only reaction is to raise a brow and to tilt my chin in defiance.
“Little girl? Fuck you, Ashton.”
I push to move around him, but he’s not having any of it. His large hand lands on my shoulder and pushes me back where I was.
“Ow,” I complain when my shoulder blade connects with the wall.
His eyes prowl down the length of my body and I suddenly wish I’d changed after cheer practice. I feel naked under his stare in my tiny workout clothes.
“You really want to play this game, little girl?”
“I’m not a little girl, Ashton. I’m a few months younger than you, get over yourself.”
“So
