A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime(24)

CREW





I chase after her, Malcolm and Ezra right behind me, both of them shouting, “Get her!”

Fuck, could they be any more obvious? We don’t need to call attention to ourselves. Don’t need to startle her either.

Too late for that. She’s broken out into a full-on run, her dark hair streaming behind her, that annoyingly childish yet sexy white ribbon at the back of her head bouncing with her every step. Her skirt flares, offering us a glimpse of slender bare thighs and I pick up speed.

I’m going to catch her first. Fuck these guys.

Ezra gives me a run for my money, keeping the same pace as me while Malcolm gives up, falling into a spasm of constant coughing. Too much weed does that to a person.

And Malcolm really loves his weed.

Determination filling me, I pump my arms and legs, pulling past Ezra, ignoring his “hey!” as I take the lead over him once again. I’m drawing closer to Wren, her steps slowing as her head turns left, then right.

Trying to figure out where to go next.

Don’t worry, little bird, I’ve almost got you figured out.

I’m within reaching distance when she darts to her left, dodging me at the last second.

“Birdy!” I yell her hated nickname at her, and she glances over her shoulder, her frightened gaze meeting mine.

It’s wrong that I feel joy at seeing the fear in her eyes, isn’t it? Yet a small part of me does. Knowing she’s scared gives me a sense of power, a heady rush straight to my head.

And my groin.

Looking back at me is where she made her mistake. It slows her step, throws her off when she realizes just how close I am. Her hesitation gives me the advantage, and I grab hold of her, sliding my arms around her waist from behind and yanking her off her feet.

She howls, her curled fists coming back and nearly connecting with my balls, smacking me in the thigh instead. “Put me down!”

“Sshh,” I whisper near her ear, tightening my hold on her as she thrashes about. She’s so damn angry, I can feel the vibration just beneath her skin. “Calm the fuck down.”

“Let me go!” She pushes against my hold and I shift my right arm upwards, readjusting my grip. Her tits press against my forearm, lush and full, and I wonder what she looks like naked.

She stomps her foot on top of mine, making me curse. Of course she chooses today to wear the damn Doc Martens.

Those things should be labeled as weapons.

I loosen my grip and she makes her move, trying to lunge out of my arms. I slip my hand beneath her uniform jacket, cupping her right tit.

Wren goes completely still, her breathing ragged, her chest rising and falling. I don’t let go of her.

It’s like I can’t.

“Wh-what do you want from me?” Her voice trembles. Her entire body is shaking.

And it’s all my fault.

“What do you think?” My tone is dark. Suggestive. From the way I’m touching her, she can figure it out.

Though that’s not what I want.

Not right now.

“Crew!”

I glance over my shoulder to find Ezra approaching, his brows lowered in question. I shake my head once, glaring at him, and he takes the hint, turning on his heel and heading back toward where Malcolm stands. Far enough away from us that they can’t hear.

But they can watch.

“Let me go, Crew. Please,” Wren pleads, her voice full of agony. I see it written all over her pretty face as it nearly crumples with pain.

Fear.

“Afraid I’m gonna have to keep tabs on you, Birdy, after what you just saw.”

“I won’t say anything,” is her immediate response.

“Better not. We can’t afford to get in trouble this late in the game. It’s zero tolerance here, baby.” I give her breast a gentle squeeze and a whimper escapes her. “Even with Lancasters. They find out I’m smoking a blunt on campus, I’m out.”

Wren remains quiet, her body convulsing with shivers.

“There’s a lot of power in your hands right now.” I dip my head closer to her ear, my lips practically brushing her flesh. “You could ruin me.”

She shakes her head, her silky hair brushing my face. “I-I won’t ruin you. Or your friends. I didn’t even really see what you were doing.”

“Liar.” I drop my other arm so it bands across her hips, directly across the front of her skirt. It would take nothing for me to slip my fingers beneath it and touch her. “You saw us.”

“You were smoking—something.”

Come the fuck on. She had to know exactly what we were smoking. “You’re going to have to forget what you saw.”

“O-okay.”

“You have to promise, Birdy.” My hand slides down, toying with the hem of her skirt.

Wren whimpers. “Please don’t hurt me.”

Oh Jesus. She thinks I want to hurt her? In the middle of campus at lunch? “I’m not going to do anything to you that you don’t want.” I let my lips tickle her earlobe, making her shiver. “I’m pretty persuasive when I want to be.”

“You’re disgusting,” she spits out.

“You’re telling me if I reach beneath your panties right now, you won’t be wet for me?” I don’t believe it. She might be scared of me, but she’s also aroused. I swear I can smell it on her. Sharp and fragrant.