Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals, #1)(46)

“I have a backbone,” I scoff. “You don’t go through the system without developing one.”

“You break too easily.” He reaches out and grabs my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “You cave. You lose.”

I jerk away from him. “Then why chase me, if I’m so boring?”

He laughs. “Even if you’re fragile, you’re far from boring.” He watches me for a second, then exhales. “Okay. Let’s go to the party.”

I beam, and an unexpected weight comes off my shoulders. I open my mouth, but he cuts me off with a hand on my thigh, squeezing.

“Don’t thank me.”

“Okay,” I whisper. It only means that something worse than his house is coming my way.

I look down at my phone, unsurprised to see a few missed calls and texts. But one stands out.

Unknown: You’re in for a treat.





Somehow, I don’t think they mean ice cream.

I click over to my conversation with Riley.

Riley: Where are you? Amelie is storming around here like an angry bull.





Me: We’re on our way.





Riley: That was fast. wink emoji





Me: Nothing happened. We just talked.





Riley: Pro tip: less talking, more kissing. Makes you forget about their bullying.





I frown.

Me: No chance of that.





I put my hand over Caleb’s, which has been slowly creeping higher up my thigh.

He grins. “You like it when I touch you. And you like it when I’m rough. So why stop a good thing?”

“Because we’re about to go to a party.”

“And those parties have dark rooms,” he says. “In fact, the last party we went to, I found you alone with Liam. That won’t happen again.”

“I’ve had enough of your overprotective streak,” I say.

He shrugs. “Easily avoided, love. Just don’t talk to anyone.”

“In a house full of people.”

He smirks as he parks. “Is that too hard for you?”

I release his hand as he turns off the engine. To my surprise, he leans into my space. His lips touch mine, the briefest kiss before he sits back.

More.

A smile appears on his face. Maybe I said it out loud, because he ducks back in and steals another one. His tongue swipes along the seam of my lips. I push into him, grabbing the back of his head.

Kisses like these make me feel electric.

Like I could be lost in a snow squall but Caleb’s lips would guide me back.

Once I’m properly breathless, he leans back. His smirk gets bigger. “I like you like this.”

A confession for my ears only.

“Tussled. Horny. Did my kiss make you wet, love?”

I blush.

“That might be a yes.” His eyes darken. “That’s a mystery I look forward to solving.” He gets out and circles around, opening my door for me.

I take the arm he offers, and we walk up toward Ian Fletcher’s house.

Never mind that Ian and Amelie have been sleeping together, and that Ian is a dirty bag bully, his house is giant.

“I thought you were rich,” I mumble.

Caleb laughs. “Yeah, but our wealth isn’t in the house. You know it’s been in the family since my grandparents bought it. Fletcher’s house is purely new money.” He scowls. “I’d rather just take you home and sneak into your room, but…”

Some football players rush past us, calling Caleb’s name.

“That,” I answer, “is why we have to make an appearance?”

He shrugs. “It’s more for Theo and Liam. This is just football, love. Wait until the spring.”

I shiver in my jacket. “It gets… bigger?”

Half the school must be here. Music and lights pour out of the house, and our classmates are everywhere. On the front lawn, around back, in the house. Through the window, couples are dancing in Ian’s front room.

“Bigger?” Caleb snorts. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

I swallow. And then we’re inside the house, his fingers lacing through mine. We weave through the crowds, finding Eli and Ian talking in the kitchen. Riley is nowhere to be found.

“Sup, man,” Ian says, slurring slightly. “Epic game, right? Listen, I’m sorry about fucking around with Amelie. She’s a real hot—”

“Better shut up, Ian,” Eli warns.

Caleb watches Ian with a blank face.

“Oh shit,” Ian laughs. He backs away, pointing at me. “You fucking downgraded, you know? To a coke-whore’s—”

Caleb lunges forward, his fist snapping out faster than I can follow. Ian’s head whips backward, and blood pours down his face.

“What the fuck?” Ian yells. He swipes his hand under his nose, then dives toward Caleb, swinging wildly.

Caleb uses one hand to push me up against the wall, and he ducks Ian’s attempt to hit him. He rolls his shoulders back. “Come on, Fletcher,” he growls. “I’ve been wanting to hit someone all fucking semester.”

He’s all amped up energy and muscle.