Bexley Danforth is gorgeous, and he’s staring at me with hunger in his eyes.
“What?” I croak, a little light-headed. Only, I don’t know if it’s from all the vodka or how his intense gaze pierces me.
“I’m still trying to figure out what a girl like you is doing out here all alone.”
“I… I like my own company.”
“Yeah, I know that feeling,” he mutters, running a hand down his face. “But we’re freshmen now. Gotta make the most of college, right?”
“I guess. Where’s home?” I ask.
“I hail from a place called Sterling Bay, but it hasn’t been home in a while.”
“Sterling Bay? I think I’ve heard my father talk about it. Is it nice?”
“It’s not like Gravestone, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah, nowhere is.”
Silence settles over us. Bexley seems lost to his own thoughts as he stares out at the lake. The party rages on behind us, but I have no desire to go back there. Brook will be all over Cade, begging him to fix things. Knowing him, he’ll probably take her to his room and fuck her, just because he can.
God, I have so many regrets. Regrets about high school, about always being the wallflower. I’m pretty, sure, but I’m not one of those girls who turns heads wherever she goes. I didn’t spend senior year embracing life and chasing after what I wanted.
And now look at me.
I’m Cade’s Kingsley’s virginal wife-to-be. And I can’t tell a soul the truth.
Not that I have anyone to tell.
There’s Annabel, but she isn’t exactly a locked box. She enjoys gossip too much, so I’ve learned to keep my secrets from her, which kind of sucks considering she’s my best friend.
“Sometimes I wish I could just leave this place,” I blurt out.
“Where would you go?”
“Anywhere far, far away from here.” Somewhere where I could meet a guy and fall in love. He’d treat me right and buy me flowers and chocolate and make love to me under the stars.
God, I hate this.
Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I swallow them down. I never asked for this. I never asked to be a prosapia in that stupid ceremony.
“Hey, you okay?” Bexley touches my arms again and I feel it, I feel the connection flowing between us.
He’s nice.
Warm.
He won’t hurt me.
My eyes lift to his and he smiles. God, he’s beautiful, and the way he looks at me with such concern, such softness, it’s as if I’m the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.
It ignites a fire in my belly.
This… this is what it’s supposed to feel like. Desire pulses through me as I get lost in his blue eyes.
“Make it all go away,” I whisper as I lean in, erasing the distance between us.
One of his hands goes to my cheek, guiding my face to his until our lips are touching.
Heat explodes inside me as he kisses me, tentative at first but then harder, slipping his tongue past my lips and curling it around my own.
It feels amazing, like any first kiss should.
“Fuck, you taste good,” he rasps against my lips before diving back in. Bexley lowers me to the ground and hovers over me, stroking his thumb along my jaw.
“Is this okay?” he asks, and I nod.
I want this.
I want to give him this so Cade can never take it from me.
Silent tears trickle down my cheeks, but I don’t stop kissing him, instead pulling him closer. My body is a tight ball of nerves as I consider what this means.
Cade will expect me to be a virgin.
Fuck him.
Fuck Quinctus.
Fuck them all.
I refuse to just bow to their stupid, stupid rules and traditions.
“I want you,” I whisper against Bexley’s mouth, rubbing my body against his, desperate to feel him.
He eases back to stare at me. “We should slow down. You’ve been drinking, and I don’t want to take advantage.”
“You’re not,” I almost cry. “I want this, Bexley. Please, I want you.”
3
Bexley
Mia’s words are exactly what I need to hear, and I claim her mouth once again as she claws at me through my shirt.
Her addictive taste fills my mouth as I kiss her with everything I have. I haven’t been with anyone since moving here. I didn't realize quite how desperate I was until she leaned toward me with her lids lowered, her eyes locked on my lips.
The length of her body presses tightly up against mine, and there's no mistaking what she does to me. My cock is trying to fight its way out of my pants to get to her.
"Fuck, Mia," I groan into her mouth as her hand slips under the hem of my shirt, her delicate touch making my abs contract.
It's been so long.
Too fucking long.
Ripping my lips from hers, I kiss down her neck, nibbling at her soft, warm skin. She damn near purrs beneath me, giving me all the encouragement I need.
"Bexley."
My name falling from her lips as nothing more than a whimper makes my cock weep for her, for the escape she can provide me with.
Climbing over her, I part Mia’s knees and settle between her legs. My hands land on her soft skin and I skim my palms up her thighs, taking her skirt with me.
Dragging my lips from her skin, I sit up and take her in. "You're so beautiful," I breathe, and even in the darkness, I see her cheeks flush.
Her lips part to argue, I can see it in her eyes, but I press my finger to her lips. "That wasn't a line, Mia. It was the truth."
"But I—"
Dropping over her, I take her lips once again in a bruising kiss as I wrap her bare legs around my waist, ensuring my solid length rubs against her lace-covered pussy.
Her hands disappear under
