“How do you know?”
“So you’re admitting it?”
“I’m admitting nothing. Who told you?”
Her fist clenched at her sides.
“You really want to know?”
She nodded, biting down on her lip as if wanting to stop herself from flying off the handle at me.
“Girls like to gossip. When you make enemies of the people you thought were your friends they might have an axe to grind.”
Her eyes widened and her entire body went still.
“Celia?”
Celia Tompkins and Meredith had been best friends right up until the summer. Then everything fell apart. The girl wouldn’t reveal what happened between them but she was perfectly happy to spill the beans on Meredith’s biggest secret.
You’ve never even been kissed, my little queen.
Extracting that had been easy. All it took was a promise to secure her a date with Duke who she’d had a crush on for years. That part was simple. Duke had taken her out, fucked her and chucked her as he often did. I hadn’t told her about his reputation. And I’d made sure I got what I wanted before upholding my end of the bargain. When she’d had a go at me for Duke’s behaviour, I merely shrugged and told her if she spread around any rumours about Meredith, I would come after her. I could be a scary motherfucker when I wanted to be. Celia would learn the hard way if she stepped out of line.
“That fucking bitch,” she muttered when she saw the truth of it in my eyes.
“If you’re worried about her telling anyone else, don’t. I took care of it.”
Meredith searched my face for a long moment.
“Why would you do that?”
“I already told you. I want you.”
“That’s not a fucking explanation, Cole.”
The way she said my name breathed life into my dick. The mixture of disgust and agitation did something to me.
You really have a fucked up, twisted attraction to this girl.
“It is when it’s the truth.”
“You are impossible.”
“I’ve been told.”
By my mother, repeatedly, whenever I got into trouble. I might be her baby but she wasn’t blind to my behaviour. Perhaps she should’ve expected it. Aurora and Duke had constantly accused her of spoiling me when we were younger. She let me get away with everything. Whilst Quinn instilled discipline, Mum always undermined him in small ways. Like giving me treats when I wasn’t meant to have them or taking me out when I was grounded. And my dad did nothing to stop her. If you saw the way he doted on her, you’d understand. Rory Carter would do anything for Ash Bykov, including allowing her indulgence of their son. I was her baby and that hadn’t changed because I’d grown up.
“There are several things wrong with you wanting me.”
I raised an eyebrow as I reached out and ran a finger along her collarbone. Meredith’s eyes tracked my movement.
“Care to elaborate on what those things are?”
“Well, for starters you’re Raphi’s younger brother.”
“And?”
She raised her eyes to me, glaring. It was all for show considering she’d not stopped me from touching her.
“He’s my friend.”
“And?”
“You’re two years younger than me. What the fuck do you think people would say about that? I’m not a cradle robber, thank you very much.”
I grinned.
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks. And I’m perfectly legal so it’s not like you’d be doing anything wrong.”
She let out a huff of air and stepped closer to me. Her head craned up to stare into my eyes. Being six-foot-one, I towered over Meredith’s frame. My finger was still on her chest. Daring to test her limits, I flattened my palm against her, watching as her breath caught in her throat. She swallowed before opening her mouth.
“That’s the difference between us. I care. And besides, I don’t want you.”
I leant closer. Yet again, Meredith didn’t back down, standing her ground in front of me.
“Such pretty little lies falling out of your mouth. It’s obvious you do or you wouldn’t let me near you. I don’t see you allowing anyone else to take such liberties.”
Her eyes fell on my palm resting on her chest right above her breast. If I dragged my pinkie finger lower, I could brush it across her nipple.
“I don’t want you to touch me.”
“Tell me to take my hand off you then.”
She hadn’t told me to stop touching her in the games room on Friday and I knew she wouldn’t now.
“I don’t want you.”
“Yes, you do… you just don’t want to admit it.”
“Do you not understand the word no, Cole?”
“You haven’t told me no… yet.”
Her chest rose and fell. I could feel her heart hammering erratically in her chest against my skin.
“Is this some kind of game to you? I’m not a toy, nor will I let you treat me like one.”
“I’m not playing a game, Meredith. I. Want. You.”
“Why?”
I leant even closer until I could see the varying shades of green in her wide eyes.
“Aside from the obvious fact, you’re beautiful?”
Her cheeks flushed.
“No one thinks that about me.”
“Then they’re fucking stupid.” I moved my hand from her chest upwards to cup the back of her neck. “You are beautiful.”
My other hand curled around her back, drawing her closer to me. Fuck did I want to kiss those parted lips and devour her whole.
“As flattering as that is, you’re missing the point. You are too young for me.”
Her words didn’t match her body’s actions. Those dainty little hands of hers had curled themselves around my waist.
“Perhaps I was three weeks ago, but not now.”
“You still haven’t answered my question. Why do you want me?” Her eyes darkened as she stared up at me. “Is this some kind of trophy for you? Get Meredith into bed and take her v-plates? Has one of your friends put you up to this? Because it’s not fucking funny either way.”
I raised an eyebrow. She’d not realised what she’d finally admitted. And I wasn’t that much of a cunt. As if I’d spread it around the school or tell my friends. I’d gone out of my way to make sure rumours about her didn’t surface.
I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t accept my assertion at face value. Was she so jaded about boys she thought no one could like her for her? I guess she’d spent years keeping them all at arm’s length. The fact she let me get close to her spoke volumes.
You like me, Meredith, you just think you’re not allowed to because I’m younger than you. It’s okay. I’ll prove you wrong. I’ll show you I can give you what you need.
“No, you’re not a trophy and no one put me up to it.”