CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

COLE

“This is bullshit!” Kellan barks, standing to his feet.

I slowly remove my hand from between her legs and stand, facing him. “You don’t like it, you can pull out.”

His eyes widen for a brief second before they land on Austin where she still sits on the couch. I don’t agree with her dare, but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna back her. She doesn’t know what we’re doing. I’ve kept the rules as simple as possible for her. Not wanting her to know more than she needs to. She’s a fucking chick. What did he think she was gonna have us do?

“Pull out?” Kellan growls at my words. “Want me to leave, Cole?”

Anyone can withdraw at any time. But to be thrown out, we all have to agree. I wish the fucker would just walk away. Kellan and I have always butted heads even though we’ve all been friends since we were little. I didn’t hate him at first, but after Maddox, Landen, and Eli died, things changed between us. And the fact that he took my car to Bruce’s house to fuck his wife isn’t settling well with me. Why would he do it? Did he want me to get caught? If that’s the case, why? And if so, would Celeste have said I was the one she fucked? Does he want me to rat him out? Me take the fall? I’m not sure, but I’m keeping my mouth shut until I find out.

“Cole—” Shane starts.

“No, let him make his decision,” Deke interrupts him. He comes over to us and crosses his arms over his chest, ready to fight Kellan. But I don’t need his help, and he knows it. “I’m tired of you two fighting over fucking pussy.”

“Hey,” Austin says defensively.

“What is it, Kellan? You wanna fuck her too?” he asks, and she gasps. “You mad Cole found her first? Fuck, man, go stick your dick somewhere else. She’s not worth it.”

Austin shoots to her feet, eyes narrowed on Deke, but I shove her shoulder, making her sit back down. “Cole—”

“Is that the problem, Kellan?” I ask, interrupting her and taking a step toward him. His brown eyes meet mine. “You want her? Want me to share her with you? All you gotta do is ask. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve passed a girl around.”

I know Celeste isn’t the only bitch he’s fucking at the moment. Just last week, he hooked up with Melanie, a girl on the volleyball team. Not like he has a reason to be faithful to Celeste. The bitch is married, after all.

His eyes go to Austin, and I hate how he looks over her like she is a piece of meat for him to eat. That would be the icing on the cake for him. To fuck Bruce’s wife and daughter. And if he did sleep with her, that would piss off Celeste, and she would send her back without a second thought. I saw her eyes when she spoke of Kellan. She loves him. His eyes meet mine again.

I turn to Austin and grab her hand. I yank her up from the couch and slide my arm around her waist, pinning her back to my front. She tries to fight me, but I hold her in place. Her breath picks up in fear. “Cole, what are you …?”

“Did you listen the video?” I ask him, cutting her off.

“What video?” she asks, and her voice shakes.

I bring my free hand up and wrap it around her throat and tilt her head back. It makes her arch her back, pushing her chest out. She whimpers, and her hands come up and grip my arm as if that’s gonna stop me. Her pulse races, and she swallows nervously. His eyes go to her tits.

“Did you hear her scream my name inside that bathroom? Did you listen to her beg me for more?”

Her body trembles against mine.

“Everyone has heard that video,” he snaps.

“I haven’t,” Deke chimes in.

Kellan looks at him and snorts. “You were fucking there. You were the one who recorded it.”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t mean I listened.”

Kellan takes a step back, running a hand through his hair. “This is ridiculous,” he says frustrated. Then his eyes meet mine. “I don’t want your whore, Cole. I don’t want her anywhere around me, let alone inside her pants. And I’m sure as hell not gonna let you push me out of the group because I don’t like your little fuck-toy of the month.” He grabs his jacket off the couch, turns around, and storms out the door.

I let go of Austin, and she takes three steps away from me, sucking in a deep breath. I turn to the guys, putting my back to her. “We need to vote his ass out.”

Shane sighs heavily. “He’s just going through a hard time.”

“Bullshit!” Deke snaps. “He’s always caused problems for us.”

“Cole?” I hear Austin’s voice behind me, but I ignore her. I’m busy at the moment.

Shane looks at Deke. “I can see where he’s coming from. I’m still skeptical if she should even be here.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” I growl.

“Cole?” she snaps. I still ignore her.

Bennett raises his hands. “This will blow over. Just let Kellan cool off.”

“He’s been this way for months now. He was like this before Austin ever came into the picture. He didn’t even want to be involved with Jeff, and that makes me question his loyalty to the group,” Deke growls.

“COLE!” she yells.

“He was just worried that we would get caught,” Shane tells Deke.

I snort. “He just didn’t wanna get his hands dirty.” I hear the faint sound of a door opening and closing behind us.

“Cole?” Deke says.

“What?” I bark.

He looks over my shoulder. “Austin just left.”

AUSTIN

As I come up to his car, I hear someone exiting the barn behind me. I know it’s him. “Take me home!” I order, not even bothering to turn around and face him before I fall into the passenger seat and slam the door shut.

My body physically shakes with rage for what Cole just did.

He gets in and looks over at me, but I keep my eyes straight ahead. My hands ball into fists in my lap, and my heart pounds in my chest.

He offered me up to Kellan. To fucking Kellan of all people! I thought he had been protecting me from him these past two weeks, but I was so wrong.

And my mind can’t seem to process that. I know Cole is a fucking savage. I have seen firsthand what he will do to get what he wants. But to just offer me up to any of them? Like I’m some toy they can just pass around? Is that why they wanted me to join so badly?

“Austin!” he growls my name, his irritation showing.

I turn and glare at him with hatred. I’m fucking panting; I’m breathing so heavily.

His narrowed blue eyes are on me like it’s my fault. As if I should have said yes, Kellan, if you want me, then go ahead and take me.

“Austin …”

I do what he once did to me, reach over and turn up the volume, blaring “Bitter End” by The Veer Union. Then I sit back in my seat, dismissing whatever the fuck he planned to say.

He allows it, putting the car into gear and throwing gravel as he takes off.

When he pulls up to my house, I’m out of the car before he can even bring it to a stop. I walk in, slam the front door, and run up to my room. The moment I shut it, it opens. I turn around to see him entering just as fast as I did. “Get the hell out, Cole,” I say, pointing at the now closed door.

“No,” he says simply.

“Get the fuck out!” I shout.

He takes a step toward me, and I throw up my hands, taking a step back. “Don’t you dare come near me.”

“Austin—”

“No, Cole!” I interrupt him. “What you did back there was completely unacceptable!”

“I—”

“You were out of line!” I shout, fisting my hands down by my sides. “You don’t own me. And you can’t just decide to offer me up to one of your buddies.” I give him my back, planning on locking myself in my bathroom to get away from him.

He grabs my shoulder and yanks me back to face him. “I can do whatever I want.”

My skin is boiling; I’m so mad. “No! You can’t. This is my life!” I scream.

“Need a reminder?”

“No!” I jerk away from him. I wasn’t expecting him to let me go, and I stumble backwards but manage not to fall. He smirks. “I don’t need you to remind me that you are a man who doesn’t care if he hurts a woman,” I snap.

His eyes narrow on me. “Don’t push me, Austin.”

“Push you?” I ask and snort. Spreading my arms out wide, I say, “Do your worst, Cole.” What else could this bastard do to me that he hasn’t already?

“You don’t mean that, sweetheart.” He takes a step toward me; his eyes look me up and down, and he licks his lips.

“Not only did you offer me up to Kellan, but you have also humiliated me at school,” I growl. “You recorded us …”

“You begged me for it. The video proved it.”

My mouth falls open at his words. He knew he was coming to the party, and we were going to have sex. And he knew he was gonna have Deke record it.

I stand there speechless as he closes the small space between us. His right hand comes up, and he slides his fingers into my hair. I stare up at him at a complete loss while his eyes roam my face.

“You knew what you were doing, Austin. And I told you, you were going to hate me in the morning, but you didn’t seem to care one bit.”

“I didn’t know you were going to record it,” I say as angry tears start to sting my eyes. My body shakes, and my throat begins to close up.

He lowers his mouth to my ear. “It’s not my fault you spread your legs for the devil, sweetheart. That’s all on you.”

“You set me up.” I choke on the words.

He chuckles. “I did no such thing. You went to a party. You got drunk, and then you dared me.” He pulls back, and his eyes stare into mine. I refuse to blink, to let the tears fall. I’m stronger than this. “You dared me to hurt you.” He runs his busted knuckles over my cheek. He lowers his face where his lips almost touch mine. “And I did.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, trying not to show him just how much. “You had no right …”

“Even if I hadn’t had Deke record it, everyone there still heard you, sweetheart.”

I swallow the knot in my throat and look away. I hate that he’s right. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have dared him. I shouldn’t have played into his little fucking game. I’ve been pushing back just as much as he has, but I’m the one who seems to lose every time. He has help. He’s got a team on his side. I have no one.

“And it’s not like you didn’t enjoy it.”

I whimper at his words and whisper, “Go to hell, Cole.”

His hand grips my hair, and he moves my head, forcing me to look up at him. His blue eyes search mine. They shine. He lowers his lips and smiles against mine. I don’t dare move. “Sweetheart, I am hell.”

I hate how right he is. “Please go.” I swallow what pride I have left and beg him to leave.

He releases my hair, and his hand moves to cup my face. I try to swallow the knot in my throat. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He leans down, kisses my forehead, and then walks out. I throw myself onto my bed and scream into my pillow.