Where there was no history.

  No past.

  No demons on my back.

  Where all that was left was us and our future.

  “You’re making it easy to fall back in love with you.”

  It was all I needed to hear. I thrust in and out a few more times, and it felt so fucking good. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I came deep inside of her, aware I couldn’t get any deeper if I tried.

  Knowing all along…

  I loved her too.

  “You feel so fucking good. Take it all. Don’t waste a single drop of my come inside of you.”

  I stayed there for a minute, and as I slowly pulled myself out of her, I looked down and saw our come mixed together. Some leaked out onto the lounger, and I didn’t think twice about it as I slid my fingers into her pussy, putting my come back inside of her.

  Where it belonged all along.

  Chapter 20

  —Belle—

  Then: One month later

  After a month of Chase ghosting me, he finally logged in to our chat. As soon as I saw his name appear on my screen, I messaged him.

  Rebel Rider: Why did you stand me up?

  The message bubble instantly popped up on the screen. At least he was replying, but I never expected him to call me out.

  Full Throttle: I saw the way you were looking at Tristian and the cheerleader. There’s more going on between the two of you than you’re willing to admit.

  Rebel Rider: I told you I was confused about him.

  Full Throttle: And now?

  Before I could talk myself out of it, I confessed.

  Rebel Rider: I think I’m falling for him.

  Full Throttle: You think?

  Rebel Rider: I know.

  Full Throttle: And where does that leave us?

  Rebel Rider: I’m not sure.

  Full Throttle: Sounds like you are to me.

  Rebel Rider: What do you want me to say? Things have changed with him. At first, I thought he was an asshole. I mean, he still is one, but there’s so much more to him than that. He hides his true personality from everyone, though. He’s confided in me, and I can’t turn my back on him. It’s like we’re connected in this crazy way, and it happened so fast. I wasn’t expecting it, but now, I don’t know how to live without it. Without him.

  Full Throttle: It doesn’t sound like you’re falling for him, Belle. You’ve already fallen. Are you in love with him?

  I bit my lower lip, answering.

  Rebel Rider: He makes it hard not to be.

  The next thing I knew, he logged off, and my heart sank to the floor. I didn’t want to lie or hurt him. I couldn’t believe this was happening when I never expected any of it to begin with. If I hadn’t logged on while I waited for Erica to pick me up for a party, who knew when I’d speak to him again.

  I shook my head, disappointed in myself. I wasn’t a mean girl. I didn’t hurt people or lead them on. I hated that this was happening, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Tristian and I were spending more time together. He’d sneak into my bedroom almost every night. Sometimes he’d wake me up with his cold hands wrapping around my stomach. Other times, I stayed awake and waiting for him, and we’d spend the whole night talking.

  There was so much more to Tristian than met the eye. He was sweet, funny, and caring. Always eager to know every last thing about me, and the feeling was very much mutual. This was the first time in my life I felt as if I had a best friend. I didn’t want to let that go.

  I didn’t want to let him go.

  The less I spoke to Chase, the easier it was to allow myself to truly fall for Tristian Hawkins.

  My bully had become my everything, and it surpassed our family rivalry.

  The sound of Erica’s horn honking brought my attention back to the present. I grabbed my purse before making my way down the stairs.

  “Belle,” Grandfather announced at the bottom of the steps, catching me off guard. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  I smiled, kissing his cheek. “Erica and I are going to dinner and a movie,” I lied, feeling bad that I was.

  “Erica Peters?”

  “Yes. How do you—”

  “I do business with her father. They’re a well-respected family in our community, Belle. It pleases me you’ve made friends with her. As I always say, you are who you hang out with.”

  “Right…”

  “And Tristian?”

  I resisted the urge to react. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve managed to stay away from him?”

  I nodded. “Of course, Grandfather.”

  He swept my hair behind my ear. “Keep it that way. That boy is nothing but trouble. Rumor has it, his grandfather is having a hard time with him.”

  “He is? Why?”

  “The less you know, the better.” He kissed my forehead. “Have fun with Erica.”

  I couldn’t stop thinking about what Grandfather had unknowingly disclosed the entire drive to the party.

  What did he mean by that? What was Tristian doing? Had his grandfather found out about us?

  Question after question assaulted my mind. It seemed like time simply flew by. One minute, I was sitting in Erica’s car, and the next, I was at the party talking to Travis about the latest slasher flick.

  “Let’s play spin the bottle!” Kristi shouted, bringing our attention over to her. She was the one throwing the party. Her parents were out of town.

  “Aren’t we a little old to be playing this game?” Travis asked as we walked over to her.

  “Who cares! I’ll go first!” She spun it, landing right on Travis.

  “Get your ass over here.” He smiled.

  She smirked, sashaying over to him. She threw her arms around his neck and remarked, “And you said we were too old for this game,” before she laid one on him.

  I was about to step back and go to the bathroom, but Erica chimed in, “You’re next, Belle.”

  “Oh.” I shook my head. “I’m not playing.”

  “You have to!” she added. “Live a little, and spin the bottle.”

  “I’m not really a spin-the-bottle kind of girl.”

  “More reason for you to play!” She spun it. “Here, I’ll do it for you.”

  “Eric—”

  My eyes shot to where the bottle landed. My wide eyes locked stares with the guy I least expected.

  Tristian.

  I hadn’t seen him until now. He was sitting on the kitchen counter with a beer in his hand, his harem of cheerleaders circling him and doting on his every word. Jealously instantly coursed through my veins. His inquisitive gaze didn’t leave my face as he started walking toward me from across the room.

  He wouldn’t… Not in front of all these people.

  With each step that brought him closer to my mouth, the more I felt my grandfather’s words tearing through my mind: “Stay away from him.”

  Why did I feel like I was suddenly committing a crime?

  I blinked, and it was three, two, one…

  Tristian hovered above my body.

  I licked my lips.

  He grinned. “Getting them ready for me, kitten?”

  I nervously chuckled.

  In one slow movement, he gripped the back of my neck and tugged me toward him.

  I closed my eyes. I had to.

  The scent of him governed my senses as his breath blew against my lips. The second I felt his mouth on mine, my grandfather’s voice vanished like it was never there to begin with.

  Ever so lightly, he pecked my lips, and I followed his lead. Never had we kissed quite like this. Our tongues weren’t touching, but it still felt like the most intimate kiss. He teased me with the tip of his tongue, gliding it all along the outline of my pouty mouth. Our movements were in sync with one another.

  It was easy.

  Natural.

  In front of all these people from our school.

  He pecked me one last time, and then he rested his forehead against mine. My pulse quickened, anxious for what was to come.

  “And they’re supposed to hate each other!” Kristi yelled, breaking my trancelike state.

  Immediately, I stepped away from him, and my hand flew to my mouth.

  “Don’t you fucking dare,” Tristian warned in a dominant tone, knowing I was about to run.

  I did.

  I ran out of that party, scared of the consequences of his rash decision.

  I barely made it out the door before he gripped my wrist, yanking me against his hard chest.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  I lost it.

  Suddenly pissed.

  Pushing him, I roared, “Isn’t it obvious? Away from you!”

  He jerked back as his face blanched with a hurtful expression.

  “How could you do that? How could you kiss me in front of everyone?”

  “What’s the big deal? It’s just a game.”

  “It’s not just a game, Tristian! None of this is a game to me! If my family finds out you kissed me, I’ll be lucky if they ever let me leave the house again.”

  The realization hit him, and he reached for me. “Fuck, kitten, I wasn’t thinking. Or maybe I was, and I just don’t care what they want anymore.”

  “You don’t care that they’ll pull me right out of school?”

  “Of course, I do, but I’m over hiding. What’s the worst that could happen if they find out about us?”

  “Tristian, you don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “Actually, I do.”

  “Is it worth risking me not being in your life? Maybe nothing will happen to you. You’ll get a slap on the hand, and that’ll be the end of it. However, for me… I know that they’ll do whatever they can in their power to keep me away from you.”

  “Why am I so bad?”

  “You’re a Hawkins. That’s all that matters to them.”

  “So what, Belle? What’s your solution? Continue pretending that I’m not sleeping in your bed almost every night?”

  “I don’t know what the right or wrong answer is, but what I do know is I don’t want to lose you to them. And what you just did in there jeopardized everything between us, Tristian.”

  “You know what I want.”

  “Tristi—”

  “You, kitten. I want you! In public. In private.” He gripped the sides of my face, staring deep into my eyes. “Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. That’s what I want.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know if we can ever have that.”

  “The fuck we can’t! How do we know if we don’t try?”

  “What if we come clean and that’s the end of it? That’s the end of us?”

  “I don’t give a shit anymore. I’ll claim you in front of our school, in front of this whole damn town if I have to! You’re mine! Our families are just going to have to accept that. I don’t give a flying fuck about their bullshit rivalry that has nothing to do with us.”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying. What about your grandfather? Rumor has it you’re already on thin ice with him.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Who told you that?”

  “My grandfather. After he told me to stay away from you because you’re nothing but trouble. What did you do? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t concern you.”

  “Why does everyone keep treating me like a little girl?”

  His determination held me captive.

  He was holding me captive.

  “Are you in trouble? Does he know you’re riding your dad’s bikes?”

  He didn’t say a word, but his silence was deafening, to say the least. I so desperately wanted to give in to him. I craved all the things he craved. I’d love nothing more than to hold his hand and kiss him whenever I felt like it. Though, that future might not be in the cards for us, and it was the hardest pill to swallow.

  From day one, I was told to stay away from him. They should have known better. When you ordered someone not to do something, odds were, they were going to do it anyway, no matter the outcome. I was constantly on pins and needles, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  Now, there we were…

  Lost.

  Shaking away the emotions, I removed his hands from my face. “I should go.” He stepped toward me, but I placed my hand up in the air to stop him. “And you need to let me.”

  I was unable to control my feelings as they laid at his feet. Mine moved on their own accord as I called a cab that arrived three minutes later. It was past nine when I arrived home. My parents were at some charity event downtown for the weekend. My dad was always working, and my mom had gone with him. Especially now that I was older and could fend for myself.

  I loved that about them.

  Always together.

  Never apart.

  The older I became, the more I hoped I’d have what they did one day.

  I took off my dress, hanging it on the hanger before letting down my hair. I changed into a tank and panties and jumped into bed, just wanting to forget the whole night all together.

  I don’t know how long I was asleep when I felt my bed dip. Thinking I was dreaming about Tristian like I usually did, I allowed my thoughts to take over. At least in my dreams, I didn’t have to worry about our families.

  What felt like seconds later, my panties slid to the side. This wasn’t the first time I was having an intimate dream about him. They were becoming almost a nightly thing.

  I sucked in a breath when I felt his tongue on my core, moaning out his name, “Tristian…”

  “I’m sorry, kitten,” he rasped. “I’m going to make it up to you.”

  The moment I felt him suck, my eyes popped open. Coming face to face with the guy I least expected…

  For the second time that night.

  Chapter 21

  —Belle—

  “What are you doing?”

  “Exactly what it looks like. Let me make you feel good, kitten.”

  “I’ve never—”

  “I know.”

  “I’m sorry about earlier. You’re right. I wasn’t thinking. It won’t happen again.”

  My chest rose and fell with each rapid intake of breath. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have turned on you. We’re in this together until the end.”

  “I don’t want us to end, and I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep you in my life. If we have to keep this a secret until graduation, then so be it. I won’t lose you too. I can’t.”

  I grimaced. He’d already lost so much in his short life. Hearing him express that to me was like a knife to my heart.

  “Do you forgive me?”

  I nodded, trying to find the courage to tell him to keep going.

  “You’re beautiful, Belle. So fucking beautiful.”

  “You are too.”

  “Can I make you feel good, kitten?”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat, coaxing, “Please do.”

  —Tristian—

  Her eyes widened, beckoning me to continue down this uncharted territory between us. With my stare focused solely on her pretty face, I sucked her nub into my mouth while my hand caressed her breast, leaving her quivering beneath me. Chills ran up and down my spine as I groaned in satisfaction of having her this way for the first time.

  I didn’t know what else I could do to make it right. Other than to soothe the ache I created all the time. Her back arched off the bed, wanting more, and I happily obliged. She sucked in her bottom lip, concealing the moan that was about to escape.

  It was a memory I’d take to the grave.

  Devouring her this way.

  I stayed there with my face in between her legs until she was coming down my throat.

  “Holy shit…” she breathed out, riding the high I built. “Where did you learn how to do that?”

  I chuckled, crawling my way up to her face. “Belle Montgomery, you have no idea what I can do to you.”

  She whispered, “Show me.”

  “Show you, huh? What does my girl want that only I can give her?”

  “You. I want all of you.”

  Rubbing my lips over hers, I murmured, “I didn’t come here for that.”

  “I know.”

  “I mean it. I know what people say about me at school, but I need you to know, I haven’t been with anyone since we met.” I could read her curious expression. “Ask.”

  She hesitated for a second. “How many girls have you been with?”

  “Not as many as you think.”

  “Which is?”

  “Nobody mattered until you, kitten. Everyone before you aren’t even a memory for me. They’re meaningless.”

  “And me?”

  “You’re everything.”

  “Prove it.”

  “Kitten…” I softly kissed her lips.

  “No more talking, just be with me. Just you and me. Nothing else matters right now.”

  “So no bedtime? No tucking you in?”

  “Sleep isn’t exactly what I had in mind.” She shyly smiled. “Touch me, please.”

  I growled into her mouth, slipping my tongue past her parting lips. She wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms quickly followed, doing the same around my neck. I gripped the back of hers, bringing us closer but still not nearly close enough.

  Gently, I kissed her, loving the feel of her tongue in my mouth. Pulling back a little, I rested my forehead on hers to look into her eyes. It crippled me in ways I never thought possible. There was a hunger in her glare I couldn’t place. I was barely touching her, and yet she still felt me all over.

  Both of us were panting.

  Our breathing mirroring one another’s.

  Our heart rates escalating higher and higher, beating beside each other.

  So intense.

  So consuming.

  So mind-blowing.

  In that second, in that minute, in that hour…

  She. Loved. Me.

  And I loved her too.

  She touched the pulse on my neck, trailed down to my heart, and past my taut abs as she reached for my belt. The warmth and velvetiness of her skin made my cock twitch, a feeling only she ignited within me.