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SIXTEEN
Tuesday, Cassius leaned over during a long, tedious economics lecture and asked if I could bring the file with me to their party and stay over so we could go through it at the weekend.
Wednesday, I skipped my afternoon classes and drove to the locker I rented at an out-of-town storage unit around ninety minutes’ drive away from Alstone and retrieved the file.
Thursday, I was feeling overwhelmed with everything, and I rode my borrowed bike to the castle ruins, where I spent a couple of hours trying to untangle my thoughts. Something about the fact the ruins had been standing there for hundreds of years, plus the sound of the sea against the cliffs, soothed me like nothing else.
Friday was the party…
Strolling up the pathway, arm in arm with Kinslee, my overnight bag slung across my shoulder, I had a strong sense of déjà vu. We’d turned up slightly early so I could get settled in and talk to the boys without the others being there.
So, here we were. I’d parked my car next to Caiden’s, the contrast between the two ridiculous: my tiny car with the word “whore” in huge letters, next to his perfectly buffed and polished R8. I wondered if he’d notice if I swapped our car keys…I laughed to myself, thinking about him squashed into the driver’s seat of my car. “Compact” was a generous description.
Kinslee lifted her hand to the huge metal door knocker, painted matte black and shaped like a skull, and rapped it against the door. The door swung open, and we entered the house, and I noted the security camera facing us. Knowing what I knew now, it was laughable that I’d even attempted to graffiti Caiden’s car when it was parked right outside, but at the time I couldn’t have imagined the surveillance they had going on. It wasn’t like I had any experience in that—my old university apartment block had an intercom buzzer, and that was the height of technology.
“Where’s…” Kinslee’s words trailed off on a breathy sigh as we entered the foyer and looked up the curving staircase to the landing.
The Four stood, staring down at us. They hadn’t bothered dressing up—not yet, anyway. All I saw as my eyes greedily licked over them were bare torsos, muscles, and tattoos. I wondered, not for the first time, how exactly I’d ended up involved with them.
“Come on up,” Weston called, and that shook me out of my trance. I smiled up at him and led the way up the stairs, Kinslee following behind me. As I reached the landing, my entire focus turned to Caiden, helplessly.
Shorts. A sheen of sweat on his golden, tattooed skin, muscles rippling as he stretched his arms above his head. His raven hair was all tousled like he’d been ru
Fuck. Me.
He stared at me blankly, then turned away. “Shower,” he grunted, striding into his room and closing the door firmly behind him.
“You want a bucket of ice to cool off?” Weston smirked at me.
“What?”
“I think we all noticed the way you were looking at my brother like he was your last meal.”
“No, I wasn’t,” I said weakly. Just because the asshole was the hottest man I’d ever seen, didn’t change the fact I disliked him intensely. Then, because I had no pride: “Why was he all like that?”
“If by ‘that’ you mean a sweaty mess that badly needed a shower, he’s been in the basement. In our gym.” Cassius stepped forwards, swinging me up into a hug and planting a huge kiss on my cheek. He released me and did the same with Kinslee, gri
“Have I mentioned how much I love being your friend?” Kinslee smiled and winked at me as Cassius put her down.
“Ha ha. You’re welcome.” I headed towards the guest room, assuming that was where I would be sleeping. No one stopped me or mentioned otherwise, so I opened the door and threw my bag onto the bed. The file was safely tucked away amongst my clothes, and I knew it would be safe here. I closed the door behind me and followed everyone down the stairs, into the kitchen.
“So, how many are you expecting tonight?” I directed my question to Weston, as Cassius and Zayde got beers out of the fridge and, after popping the tops, slid two across the large island towards me and Kinslee.
“Not many. We’re keeping this one small. Intimate.”
“Intimate, hmmm?” Kinslee purred, raking her eyes over him and licking her lips.
“Did you bring a bikini, Kins?” His voice dropped an octave.
“Maybe. Why?”
“Wa
“Mmm, yes. I’ll be right back.” She slipped off her stool, beer in hand, and headed off towards the stairs.
“West, don’t go fucking with her,” I warned.
“I’m not going to be fucking with her, I’m going to be fucking her.” He smirked at me.
“Right. I gathered that.”
“Don’t worry, sis. We both know it’s just a bit of fun.”
“Okay. Just making sure.”
He walked around the island to me and pulled me into his arms, dropping a kiss on my head, and I hugged him back. “I wish Cade was more like you,” I mumbled into his bare chest.
“No, you don’t. You and me—we’re brother and sister. You and Cade—you’re…fire. A blazing inferno, burning everything in your path.”
I drew back to look at him, raising a brow. “Uh. I’m not really sure what to say to that. It was quite poetic, actually, especially coming from you. And not true.”
“Isn’t it?” He held my gaze.
I had to look away. Grabbing my bottle, I took a large swig. The doorbell rang, saving me from any more awkward conversation, and Zayde disappeared, presumably to let whoever it was into the house. Kinslee returned to the kitchen, and both Cassius and Weston drooled at her tiny blue bikini that showcased her curves perfectly.
“Kinslee, babe. You look good enough to eat. You want me to join you in the tub?” Cassius trailed a hand down her arm, and she shivered, looking torn, her eyes flicking between him and Weston.
“Cass. Come with me?” I questioned to save her the decision, and she gave me a quick smile, slipping her arm into Weston’s and heading out of the sliding doors to the hot tub that was on the back deck.
Cassius followed me into the lounge area with the huge TV screen, where Zayde had made himself comfortable in his reclining chair, a T-shirt now covering his torso, blunt in hand, and a girl perched on him, kissing his neck while he glanced over at us, expressionless.
There were another three girls standing around in front of the fireplace, chatting and giggling, flicking their hair and stealing glances at Cassius and the other guys in the room, who I vaguely recognised from seeing them around campus but not spoken to.
As Cassius led me to the sofa and pulled me down next to him, I saw Caiden enter the room. He glanced at me and immediately dismissed me as if I wasn’t worthy of his attention and moved to the fireplace where the three girls stood. One of them, an absolutely gorgeous brunette with poker-straight hair down to her waist, huge pouty lips, and a tiny dress, threw her arms around him. She ran her hands up and down the bare skin of his back, because of course he hadn’t bothered to put a shirt on, and he hugged her back, glaring at me over her shoulder.
“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” Cass leaned closer and murmured in my ear, his gaze following mine. “Watch what he does, and be ready to act.” He lit a blunt and passed it to me, keeping his eyes on Caiden and the girl.