Mercedes
“YOU LOOK UNREAL in this,” Rourke whispered for the third time during double period Biology on Thursday. He tugged on the hem of my skirt under the desk and leaned closer. “Fucking beautiful.”
“It’s the same thing every other girl at school is wearing, Rourke.” My voice was low and steady, but inside I was shaking. His fingers trailed over the bare skin of my thigh and I clamped my legs shut, keeping my eyes locked on the textbook in front of us, not daring to look sideways and see his face. Why was he doing this to me? And why the hell was my body enjoying it so much?
“Trust me, Six,” Rourke whispered in my ear, leaning entirely too close to me. “You look nothing like the other girls at this school.”
“I’m not sleeping with you,” I hissed, edging away from him. That’s what this was about. He wanted to get me into bed. It was as if screwing me had become his life’s mission. I hadn’t been one bit surprised when I walked into class this morning and saw Rourke sitting where Mason should be. All week I’d been avoiding Rourke, and all week, he’d been deliberately seeking me out. Stopping by my table during lunch, sitting next to me in any classes we shared, and brushing up against me when we were at our lockers were only some of the stunts Rourke had been pulling since putting his offer of being willing to fuck me on the table last Monday night.
At home, it was much worse. He sauntered into my bedroom on a regular basis and flirted heavily with me. It was as if the guy was purposefully trying to get a rise out of me, trying to make me blush and tremble.
Well, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. It was all about the chase for Rourke. I had turned him down. He wasn’t used to being told no. I was fully aware that once he had me, this… fascination with me would get old.
“But you want to,” Rourke chuckled, reclaiming the space I’d put between us. He reached up then and twisted my ponytail with his hand, tugging ever so slightly, making my eyelids flutter.
“I don’t think you’re funny,” I whispered when I felt his hand drop to the back of my stool. “In fact, I think you’re an annoying asshole.”
Rourke chuckled and his breath fanned my neck. “I love that dirty mouth of yours,” he whispered. “Such a fucking turn on.”
“Why are you even taking biology?” I snapped, feeling flustered and at a complete loss. “It’s not as if you need it.”
Rourke smirked at me in challenge. “What makes you think I don’t need it?”
“You want to be an architect,” I shot back, flushed that I was so deeply aware of this boy I knew his college preferences. “Why would you need biology to design buildings?”
His brows rose in surprise. “You think I want to be an architect?” His voice was deceptively soft, his blue eyes burning with something I didn’t recognize.
“Well yeah,” I mumbled, embarrassed. I had seen Rourke’s drawings and sketches. I knew all the classes he took at school. I knew a lot about him actually. Too much. “Like your mom, right?” I swallowed deeply. “She was an architect, right?” A really fricking awesome one from what I had learned. According to Amelia, Rourke’s mom had been a total badass in the design world. A young woman in her early twenties competing with men for contracts and winning every single time. Camille Owens had been a force to be reckoned with.
Rourke stared hard at me for the longest moment before saying, “Why are you taking this class? Last time I checked, you didn’t need biology for a business degree.”
I bristled. “It’s part of my backup plan.”
“Backup plan?”
“That’s right.”
“You coming to the game tonight?” he surprised me by asking. When I looked at him in confusion, he clarified, “It’s our first game of the season.”
I squeezed my thighs together and shook my head.
“Why not?”
“I don’t like football.” Why was I lying? I was going to the game. At least, Molly was expecting me to go with her.
“But I want you there,” Rourke probed, his minty breath fanning my face. “I want you watching me.”
I swallowed deeply and sagged forward. “I can’t.”
Rourke continued to stare at me with that heated expression and I felt myself cracking. I couldn’t handle this. Him. He was too much.
“I don’t know what you want from me,” I admitted hoarsely.
“It’s really fucking simple,” he shot back, leaning closer. “You.”
“You want my body.”
“I want all of you.”
My heart hammered against my ribcage. “Liar.”
His lips tipped up. “I’m not a liar.”
No, he wasn’t a liar. “Why?” Why now? He’s hated me for weeks. Why the sudden change of heart?
“Fuck if I know,” Rourke admitted gruffly. “But I do. I can’t get enough of you, Six. I’m driven fucking crazy with the urge to get to you.” He leaned closer and pressed a hot kiss to my neck. “It’s probably toxic as hell and bad for the both of us, but I can’t change it.”
“Miss Black is right over there.” I cast a nervous glance to the other side of the classroom to where our Biology teacher was animatedly explaining something about the reproductive system to an amused looking Daryl and almost hysterical looking Mason. “She’ll throw you out of class if she sees you touching me like this…” my words trailed off when Rourke hooked his fingers into the waistband of my skirt, and I had to bite down hard on my lip to stop myself from moaning out loud.
“Hmm,” Rourke mused before dropping his arm from my chair. My heart sank for a moment before skyrocketing in my chest when he caught a hold of the edge of my stool and dragged it towards him, my body settling flush against his.
I turned to look at Rourke and immediately realised it was a dangerous mistake. The moment his blue eyes settled on mine, a burning sensation scorched through me, settling deep in my pelvis.
“I’m never going to give in,” I managed to squeeze out, cheeks flushed, breathing strained. I was afraid of what would happen to me if I did. “Give up now, Rourke. You’re fighting a losing battle trying to get into my panties.”
“Christ,” he groaned. “Even hearing you talk about me getting into your panties make me hard as a rock.” He clamped his hand on my hip and squeezed. “Damn, Six.”
“I do want you, Rourke,” I admitted in a breathy tone of voice.
His eyes lit up. “Yeah?” His voice was deeper now. His face edged closer to mine.
“Uh-huh.” I nodded, leaning closer to him, forcing myself not to get distracted by the mouth-watering smell of his cologne. “I want to you to shut the fuck up.”
“Tease,” he chuckled, his face so close to me our noses were almost touching.
“I know why you’re doing this,” I whispered, making a point to keep my features impassive. “You only want me because I told you no.”
“Wrong.” Smiling, Rourke moved closer, so close that if I tipped my chin our lips would touch. “I want you because you’re sexy as fuck.”
“You only want my body, Rourke.” Not the rest of me. “Forget it.”
“You’re wrong,” he told me in a seductive voice. “I already told you, I want all of you.”
It wasn’t true.
I couldn’t allow myself to believe it.
Angry and embarrassingly aroused, I looked up at Miss Black and devoted my attention to her, forcing myself to ignore the god sitting next to me.
A low chuckle came from beside me and I blushed a deep shade of red.
Rourke was enjoying this twisted banter, but if he actually realised how much it affected me, I doubted he’d be smirking.
Sometimes I thought he was serious – sometimes I got the distinct feeling that he wasn’t messing around. But it was hard to tell with Rourke. Sure, I got it loud and clear that he thought me and him sleeping together was a fantastic idea, but I couldn’t go there with him.
I couldn’t risk it.
Not now that my heart was on the line.
Daring to peek out the corner of my eye at him, I studied the way he looked so fucking amazing in our school uniform.
It wasn’t fair.
The way the grey V-neck sweater looked on him only emphasised what I already knew was underneath.
A rock-hard body.
Like for real, the guy was ripped…
With his arm on the back of my chair once again, Rourke leaned into my ear and whispered, “I can’t wait until you give in and I can taste you again.”
Startled by his remark, I began to cough and splutter and basically choke on my own spit.
Every head in the classroom turned towards us then and I was pretty sure I turned purple as I struggled to catch my breath.
“It’s okay,” Rourke announced in an animated tone. Shoving back his stool, he stood quickly and pulled me out of my seat. “I know the Heimlich maneuver,” he called out as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against his chest. “And CPR,” he added under his breath.
“Mercedes,” Miss Black said in concern as she took in my ruffled appearance. “Are you okay, dear?”
“I’m…good,” I wheezed, fighting my way out of Rourke’s hold. “I just need…”
“Some fresh air,” Rourke filled in for me. “I’ll take her.”
He didn’t even wait for the teacher to excuse us. He just sauntered out of the classroom with me in tow.
The minute the door closed behind us, Rourke was dragging me down the corridor towards the steps of the lower level.
“What about our bags?”
“Don’t worry about them,” he shot back nonchalantly. “Daryl or Mase will grab ‘em.”
“Where are we going?”
“There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he replied. “In private.”
“If it involves you taking me down to the lower level then I really don’t think I want to hear it,” I shot back dryly, knowing from Molly that the only thing of interest at the bottom of that particular set of stairs was the janitor’s room – or the sex room, as she referred to it.
If I went into that room with Rourke, the only thing of interest would be what hung between his legs.
“Shut up,” Rourke chuckled, reading my thoughts. “I’m classier than that.”
I cocked a brow. “Are you?”
Rourke opened his mouth to respond and then quickly shut it before winking and grinning. “Okay,” he placated. “Let me correct that statement to you’re too classy for that.”
That sweet declaration made me feel all warm and fuzzy for about two seconds before realization slapped me in the face like a bucket of iced water.
“So you have?” I croaked out, stopping at the bottom of the staircase with my eyes on the Janitor’s door. “You’ve had sex at school?” I swallowed deeply. “In there?” I inclined my head towards the door, before daring to look at Rourke. When he didn’t deny it, I shook my head in disgust. “You’re a pig.” And then another thought entered my mind. An unwelcome one. “With Britt, right?” I asked, unable to disguise my absolute disgust. “You’ve had sex with Britt down here, haven’t you?”
“Do you want me to lie, Six?” Rourke demanded, running a hand through his hair. His tone had turned angry and exasperated. “Because I’ve already told you, I’m not doing that. And besides, this has nothing to do with sex or Britt. I brought you down here because I wanted to talk to you.” Shrugging, he added, “Somewhere the entire school won’t be listening.”
I wasn’t sure what I wanted Rourke to do, but the truth sucked ass. I didn’t want to think of him down here with Britt. I didn’t want to think of him with anyone other than me, which was crazy stupid. Lord, I needed a divine intervention.
“What did you want to talk about?” I changed the subject by asking. Folding my arms across my chest defensively, I cocked a brow. “I’m listening.”
The frown on Rourke’s face quickly transformed into a carnal looking smirk. “Not here.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door of the Janitor’s closet. “In there.”
Knowing what was just beyond the closed door caused my heart to hammer in my chest. I was teetering on the verge of unchartered territory.
I knew I needed to go back to class, but nothing inside of my traitorous body agreed. My brain was the only part of me making sense right now – every other part was screaming get in there with him!
“Are you coming, Six?” Rourke wrapped his hand around the handle and pushed inwards. “I promise I only want to talk.”
With a huge amount of doubt, I followed Rourke into the dark room, bracing myself for the unknown, all the while praying my poker face would protect me.
I was overstepping all boundaries and lines with him, and still, I followed. He knew me and it provoked emotions inside of my body I wasn’t entirely sure how to handle. I couldn’t deal with Rourke. He was a force to be reckoned with and I was terrified of losing myself in all that he was.
Rourke
I WASN’T GOING TO try and bag Six in the janitor’s office.
As much as she didn’t believe my intentions, I actually did bring her down her to talk. All week, I’d been trying and failing to catch her attention. Six had done a one-eighty when it came to me and it was driving me fucking crazy.
I was trying and failing to get her to come around to my way of thinking and it was driving me bat shit crazy.
Having to see her at home and watch her at school?
Fuck, it was too much for me.
She fascinated me.
I was reluctant to admit that, even to myself, but there it was.
Six fucking fascinated me. I was drawn to her in ways I didn’t understand and it scared the hell out of me.
Bringing up Amelia was my way of trying to open up to Six. I fucked it up, like I always did, but dammit, I was trying.
I wanted her to know me.
I also knew that I didn’t have a hope of concentrating on the game tonight if I didn’t straighten things out with her.
“Whoa,” Six exclaimed when I switched on the lights. White painted walls and cold marble floors greeted us.
The school janitor’s supply room was wastefully large. One small corner of the room was taken up with cleaning supplies, the following corner pitched a couch and a small stand with a portable television on top. Everywhere else was empty.
The smell of sex and nicotine was strong; revealing what the students of Ocean Bay Academy actually used this room for.
“This doesn’t look like any janitor’s closet I’ve ever seen,” Six gushed with wide eyes.
I raised a brow and fought back the urge to laugh. “Been in many?”
Her face turned bright pink. “Shut up. You know what I meant.”
Turning the lock in the door, I walked over to where Six was standing and fought back the urge to grab her sexy little body and shove her against the wall. Instead, I settled on tucking a strand of her long, dark hair behind her ear.
“What did you want to talk about?” she asked, voice small and breathy, eyes locked on mine. Yeah, she could say it until the cows came home, but we both knew what she wanted.
Six wanted me almost as much as I wanted her.
“Us,” I replied, closing the space between us.
“As in you and me?”
“Exactly.”
“No.” Shaking her head, Six took a step back from me. “I’m not talking about this again, Rourke. I can’t.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “It’s not a good idea.”
“For who?”
“For me!” she strangled out. “I’m leaving in a few months. Once I graduate from school and get my diploma, I won’t be coming back here.”
“So?” I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. “You think I’m sticking around here?” I shook my head. “No fucking way. I’m getting the hell out of here, too, Six.”
“Exactly. We’re on different paths.” Clasping her hands in front of her, she added, “Which is why I think it’s better for both of us if we stop this before it gets messy.”
“You really want that?” I demanded, eyes locked on hers. No fucking way was I quitting her.
Six didn’t reply and it pissed me the hell off. I knew she was nervous, her body language told me that, but dammit, I needed her to be straight with me.
“Because I don’t,” I offered without an ounce of hesitation, hoping my honesty would loosen her up. “I really fucking like you, Six, and I think you like me back.” Running a hand through my hair, I inhaled a calming breath before adding, “And I honestly can’t think of another girl I’d rather get messy with.” Sounded screwed up, but it was the truth. This girl pulled invisible strings inside of me. I was willing to take a major fucking gamble just to have her. “But I’m not going to beg. If you honest to god don’t want me, I’ll accept it. I’ll leave you alone.” Taking a safe step back from her, I said, “It’s your choice.”
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t say a word. Disappointment churned in my gut, but I masked it with a smile. “Come on,” I said. “We better get back to class.”
“Be my friend!”
My brows rose in surprise. “Your friend?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah. Be my friend, Rourke.”
“Friend with…benefits?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?” Blowing out a breath, she took a step towards me. “I need more than sex,” she admitted, blushing a little. “I’m not some girl who drops her panties to random guys. I’m not…like that.”
“I know.”
“Our parents are married,” she quickly rambled. “Even thinking about doing anything with you should be inconceivable to me. Us hooking up would be too complicated…”
“But?”
“But I can’t deny that I like you.” She blushed bright red. “I shouldn’t, Jesus, I know I shouldn’t, but I do. But I need more than sex from you. I need…”
“Friendship?”
Six nodded, eyes wide and full of uncertainty. “Yeah. I think I do.”
“Then you have it,” I replied gruffly. “Friend.”
“I’m serious,” she shot back. “You and I would need to be friends before I could even contemplate going further with you.”
“So am I.” And I truly was. “I can be your friend, Six,” I told her. “I can do that.”
She looked up at me almost hopefully. “Yeah?”
Fuck yeah.