BAD WICKED TWISTED: A Briarcrest Academy Box Set (103 page)

She grinned. “You’re really going to go on my run with me?”

I flexed a bicep. “Sweetheart, I’m one lean, mean, running machine. I can outrun a gazelle. I can outrun a Bengal tiger. I can run circles around—hey where are you going?”

She tossed a sassy look back at me as she trotted off down the drive. “I’m doing eight miles today. Try not to poke—or puke.”

Eight?
“You training for a marathon?”

“Just keeping the cheese puffs and tequila at bay. You scared?”

I puffed up and ran with exaggerated motions, high-stepping by bringing my knees up to my elbows. Just to make her smile.

She gasped out a laugh. “Alright, stop before you hurt yourself—or someone sees you.”

We ran together that morning, side-by-side, neither of us speaking—just together.

Were we friends? Were we more?

In the end, I decided it was just running.

“Loving means losing.”

—from the journal of Violet St. Lyons

A WEEK AFTER Sebastian and I made up, I got excited when Mila suggested we get out of town on an overnight camping and horseback riding trip with the boys. Sebastian and I had spent almost every day together since our run, but it was either at his house or mine. Reporters were constantly driving by now—wanting to catch a glimpse of Blair or the Mystery Girl. So far no one knew it was me, and I wanted to stay under the radar.

We all piled in the Hummer and drove up to the canyon and rented horses. Ten minutes into the ride, Mila and Spider, who seemed to have a knack for disappearing together, took off ahead of us on their horses.

Sebastian pulled up next to the slow mare I’d ended up with. “Living on the edge there, V. You better slow your roll or you’ll break that pretty neck.” He tugged on my ponytail.

I sent an envious look at his stallion. “Coming from the guy who’s riding Black Beauty. Why did you have to pick out the pokey one for me? Turtle here is ready for the glue factory.”

“Just want you to be safe,” he said, and sent me a lingering look, his eyes pausing longer than necessary on the neck of my blouse. Slightly sheer and low-cut, I’d pulled it out of my closet this morning and shouted with glee. Behold, I did have some sexy clothes. True, it wasn’t practical for a camping trip, but I didn’t seem to care.

He adjusted himself in his saddle and I let my own eyes linger. With his low-slung designer jeans and form-fitting shirt that showed off his toned muscles and tan, he epitomized virility. And sex. My mouth actually watered. We’d been keeping each other at arm’s length and so far it was working. Although last night when we’d snuggled on the couch and watched TV, he’d been especially tense. I wasn’t stupid. He wanted me, but he didn’t want to hurt me either.

He cleared his throat. “If your horse is that slow, you’re welcome to ride with me. You can sit up front, and we’ll go as fast as you can handle it.”

Perfectly innocent words, but my mind went fuzzy with heat.

“Sit in front of you on a horse? In a rocking motion?” I shook my head. “Like that’s a good idea.”

“You’d like it,” he said huskily. “I promise to keep my hands to myself unless you want me to hold you—so you don’t slide off.”

And so. I pictured me riding in the same saddle with him. Heat pooled in my core and my body twitched. To fight it off, I pulled out a handful of Oreos from my jacket pocket and crammed one in my mouth.

Stress eating? Sexual frustration? Yes. I dreamed about him constantly. I wanted him so badly my lady parts were crying. Yet it wasn’t always just about sex. Most times, it was just an image of us together. Holding each other face-to-face.

“What’s making your face so red, V?”

An Oreo piece got stuck, and I coughed.

“You okay?” he said with concern and pulled on my reins, making my horse stop.

I swallowed down the piece and rasped out, “Yeah.”

He immediately handed me over some water and I chugged it down, but then I realized how manly he smelled with his natural scent and sweat mixed together. A knot formed in my belly. Maybe this trip had been too soon. He was entirely too beautiful.

“What are you thinking?” he said softly.

“The scenery? Uh, it’s quite pretty here.” I stared into his eyes.

“You’re not even looking at the scenery.”

I came to and glanced around at the trees and rocks and stuff. “Better?”

He laughed and wiped a crumb off my lip, and when his breath quickened, I realized he was just as gone as I was.

I shivered and stared at his lips. God, they were luscious. I wanted to bite them. I wanted him to bite me back. Maybe get on that horse with him and let him tear my shirt off with his teeth. I imagined me sitting in front of him while his fingers skimmed my body. My clit. I bit back a moan.

“V? You with me?”

I jerked. “You really want to know what I’m thinking?”

He nodded.

“I’m trying to figure out in my head if it’s possible to have sex on a horse.”

He went utterly still. “And what did you decide?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “That—that we’d better talk about something else.”

He nodded.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you,” he said a few minutes later.

I smirked good-naturedly. “Is this about watching that
Star Wars
marathon with you? Because I’m not a sci-fi fan. Although if you give me a neck rub like last night, I might give in.”

“No, this is serious.”

My body pinged with awareness. “Oh?”

He stared straight ahead, curiously not meeting my gaze. “Briarcrest Academy—my high school—is having a reunion, and I want you to go with me.”

“Like a date?” My voice was breathless.

He rubbed his jaw and thought about it. “Do you want it to be a date?”

My heart banged in my chest. It felt like high school all over again, which was terribly ironic. “Do you?”

“Do dates kiss each other?”

I nodded. And more.

“Alright, I’d kiss you,” he murmured.

“Oh.” What did that mean?

He flashed me a grin. “It’s still a few months away, but I’ve cleared my schedule so we can drive cross-country to Dallas. I’d like to spend some time with Leo and Nora when we’re there. We can stay with them—or not. It’s up to you. I can’t wait for you to meet my niece, Gabby.”

“Wait, you planned a driving trip because of my fear of flying? You want me to meet your family?”

He sent me a cocked eyebrow. “Duh.”

Sweetness swept over me. “Thank you,” I said simply. “Date or not, I’d love to go.”

He shrugged, but it felt like something big had just happened.

We arrived at the cabin a bit later. Situated on a small hill, the rugged structure was secluded and quaint with a fire pit and even a big wooden swing mounted between two sturdy oak trees.

When we walked inside, however, we discovered a small problem.

Mila pursed her lips. “This is all wrong. The picture on the brochure showed four beds, not two.”

I peeked my head in the first bedroom. Yep. One smallish bed. It was the same in the second bedroom.

Spider, who didn’t seem concerned—who in fact looked pleased—spoke up. “I’m not cuddling with Sebastian on that tiny bed.” He grinned at us broadly. “So which one of you birds is gonna keep me warm?”

Mila poked him in the arm. “Watch yourself, Clarence.”

He blanched, his eyes on me and then back to her. “Mila, fuck, no one, and I mean no one knows my real name. Easy there, my love.”

I chuckled. “Clarence? No wonder you kept that under wraps.”

He strutted around the small den. “Spider suits me better. That’s all. But you are now sworn to secrecy. You can’t tell anyone, V.”

“You called her
my love
,” I felt compelled to add since no one else seemed to notice.

“I did?” Spider asked, a quizzical look on his face.

“Yes,” we all said. Mila blushed.

“So.” He took out a cig and lit it up. His hand trembled.

“Ugh, take your smart mouth and that cancer stick outside.” Mila pushed at him until they were out the door.

Sebastian groaned as they left. “How much longer can I let them go on like this without saying anything?”

I sighed. It was obvious to everyone that they were into each other.

“Spider does seem calmer when she’s around.”

I tugged on his hand. “You can’t control people or emotions.”

He swept his tongue over his bottom lip as he gazed at me. “Tell me about it.”

An hour later, no one mentioned the sleeping arrangements again as we pulled out the grill and built a bonfire. Spider and Sebastian cooked the burgers and Mila and I made a salad. We drank cold beer with stars above us as brilliant as diamonds.

“This is the best thing I’ve done in a long time,” I told them softly, looking at each of them as I sat on our blanket and roasted a marshmallow in the diminishing fire.

Mila smiled as she snuggled with Spider. “I agree.”

I took a big breath. “Guys, there’s something I’d like to ask you tonight. All of you.”

“What?” Sebastian said, easing over to sit next to me on the blanket.

I clasped my hands together. “One of the reasons I moved here was an orphanage my parents had been interested in sponsoring. I grew up helping them, and I don’t want to stop just because they’re gone.”

“What a great way to honor your parents,” Mila said.

I nodded. “So, the orphanage is gearing up for a big benefit gala, and I’m helping with the planning. I—I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to come and support me and be the entertainment? Just play a couple of songs? I know your other band guys are in Dallas on hiatus—”

Sebastian had a funny expression on his face as he looked at me. “Wait a minute—what’s the name of this orphanage?”

“Lyons Place.”

Silence fell as Spider and Sebastian looked at each other and then back at me.

Mila straightened up at the guys’ odd expressions. “What’s going on? You guys look weird.”

“Spider and I volunteer there.”

I shook my head in bewilderment. “How is that even possible? That’s crazy. It’s one of several homes in LA. Did you know it was mine?”

Sebastian shook his head. “No. Just something about the place called to me. I saw the sign one day, and wanted to go in. We’ve been teaching guitar lessons there.”

I licked my lips. “What a weird coincidence.”

“It’s the universe trying to get you two pussies together,” Spider muttered.

Oh.

“I can help with the planning,” Mila offered, as we all ignored Spider’s remark. “I have a list of celebrities we can invite. Big spenders.”

I grinned. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”

“We’d love to help you with the gala, but there’s one condition,” Sebastian said.

“What?” I asked. My heart thudded and I don’t even know why, except that I was reeling from knowing that he was already part of something that was important to me.

“I said I’d find you a gig, and I have. You play with us at the gala.”

“But why would you want me to?”

“Because it’s
you
, V, and I want you to be happy. I’d do anything for you. Don’t you see that?” His voice was heavy with emotion.

Mila and Spider got up and murmured excuses about getting more marshmallows, and headed back to the cabin. I didn’t think they’d be back.

I stared at Sebastian as he sat next to me. “Why am I so special to you?”

His finger started at my head and traced a line down between my eyes, over the slope of my nose, past my lips, my neck, and down to my pounding heart. “You’ve two sides to you, V. One wants to be the way you used to be, but the other side of you has found a new home. You’re starting to shine—hell, sparkle.
I see it
. I want to see you shine on stage in front of an audience too.”

How was it that he knew exactly what I needed to hear?

I leaned into him, and he leaned into me, both of us breathing in the other.

We sat like that, his fingers tracing little designs on my arm, his lips a hair’s breadth from mine. My fingers itched to trace his lips, to pull him down to me, but it was a line I couldn’t cross. Not if we were just friends.