Devious Little Liars: A High School Bully Romance (Saint View High Book 1)

“Fuck you,” I screamed in his face. “Hel—”

I only got half the word out when his fist slammed into my stomach. My whole body locked up. I’d never felt pain like that before. It spread out like a wildfire from my midsection, stealing my breath. Another blow across the face had me curling into a ball, instinctively trying to protect my head. I squeezed my eyes closed. There was no fighting him off. He was too big. Too strong. His fists rained pain all over my body, while he swore at me, called me a slut and a whore.

“Come on, baby,” he murmured. “I know how to make you feel better.”

His voice snapped me out of my trance. I shoved him. “Owen, stop.”

It was as if I hadn’t spoken. He came right back in, harder this time, taking what he wanted. There was nothing gentle about this kiss. It was demanding. Hard. Unfeeling

Blackness dodged the edges of my vision, and yet I couldn’t look away.

“Turn that off!” someone yelled, but it faded into the laughter and the catcalls from the rest of the room.

“Lacey!” someone shouted, but I’d gone numb all over as shock rolled through my system.

Banjo shook me. “Lacey!”

That woke me up. My gaze focused in on his face. His beautiful green eyes that I loved. And then I drew back my arm and slapped him hard across the face.

My palm stung. Banjo’s expression morphed into shock.

“Lacey…” he said quietly. He didn’t even lift a hand to his cheek, though the outline of my fingers appeared almost instantly.

I felt little satisfaction in it, though.

“You taped us?” I hissed. “How could you!”

“Lacey, I—”

I held up a hand. “Shut up. Don’t even bother.”

Banjo backed off a step, only for Rafe to take his place.

I shot him down with a single look. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know what he was doing. You’re an asshole.”

Then, across the room, Colt caught my eye. He reclined against a pillar, casual, and with a smirk aimed my way. Him the cocky prince, me the haughty princess. Our outfits a pair in a way we’d never be. Like before, our gazes collided and held, fierce electricity slamming between us.

A loud moan ripped through the sound system.

The crowd gasped, and a familiar voice said, “Fuck, Lacey. You’re so gorgeous. I love bare pussy.”

Hoots and hollers erupted. I spun around.

I stared up into his green eyes and whispered words I hadn’t planned to say. “I love you, Banjo.”

For the longest moment, he didn’t say anything. Then his mouth crashed down on mine, stealing my breath. Our tongues danced, while our fingers grabbed at each other, pulling closer, needing, wanting.

It would be hours later before I realized Banjo had never said I love you back

“Every word on those photos is true, princess. Every. Single. One.”

My eyes flew open, and my palm connected with his cheek in a stinging slap. “You’re a liar.” I seethed.

“You really don’t remember, do you?” He cocked his head to one side.

I threw my hands up in frustration. “Remember what? The way you painted murderer across my locker? The way you wrote cheat, liar, and…” I couldn’t say the other thing he’d written on my uncle’s photos. “I remember all those things.” My throat grew tight. “Why? Did you and Gillian sit around one night, thinking up the cruelest possible way to hurt me? Because if so, you win. You fucking win, Colt. Happy?”

Colt’s black gaze pinned me to the spot. Ever so slowly, he raised one hand, running it down the side of my face. “No, princess. I’m not happy. Not happy at all.”

“Sit back on the edge,” he encouraged.

I did, and then with a wicked grin, he said, “Now open your legs.”

A moan escaped me.

He moved through the water, fitting himself between my thighs that had no problem obeying his commands. They’d fallen right apart, as if this was an everyday occurrence.

A thrill raced through me. If I made this thing with Banjo official, this could happen every day. All our nights could be like this. Filled with his hands on my body, mine on his.

His tongue found my center, and it only took him moments to work me into a frenzy. I leaned back on the wall, my legs trembling with the power of an orgasm barreling down on me.

“Banjo,” I panted.

He suddenly stood, water pouring down his long, lean, tight body in tiny rivers.

I whimpered in need, needing him to get over the edge.

“Not yet,” he said, stepping from the bath.

“Bye, Lacey,” a deep voice said in my ear.

Rafe. He was freshly showered, his hair still wet and slicked back. Banjo stood just behind him. There was a promise and anticipation in his eyes, a raw hunger that curled my toes.

I dragged my gaze back to Rafe’s. A tiny bit of me was disappointed he wasn’t coming back to the hotel with us. But like he’d said earlier, our time would come. And I couldn’t wait.

“Bye,” I said. I stepped in and wrapped my arms around him in what was supposed to be a goodbye hug. But somehow it went on for an indecently long time and ended with him groaning as he pulled away.

He tossed a look back over his shoulder at Banjo. “Be good to our girl.”

My heart thumped. Our girl. Was that what I was? Warmth kindled inside me when Banjo nodded.