In Ruins: A Dark High School Bully Romance (A Black Falls High Novel Book 1)

“Stick close to me tonight,” Cole instructed from the front seat of his sports car.

“I thought you said everything would be OK?” Panic rose in my chest. The video of Jason being shoved into the pool lit up my mind.

“Everything will be OK. But in case it isn’t and all that.”

I stared at him wide-eyed. “This is your house. Your party, right?”

“It is my house, but the party is everyone’s.”

Sighing, I folded my arms over the black tank top he’d picked out for me. When I’d walked out of my bathroom wearing the outfit, my hair pulled into a high ponytail that cascaded down my back, Cole had gotten to his feet, stuffing his phone away, his eyes sweeping over me. A hunger burned in his gaze that made me ache in so many confusing ways.

We fell silent, my mind going back to Fox standing in the window. He’d looked impassive, his eyes darting from me to Cole before he’d turned his back and left the room. Something told me Cole finishing what he’d started wouldn’t happen until Fox gave the OK. Knowing I’d never be one of the cool kids, I’d have to make do with the hot memory.

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“What?” He glanced over at me.

“What’s really going on?”

“We’re going to my place—”

“You know what I mean. Why are you interested in me?”

The laugh that erupted from Cole had me frowning. That hadn’t been the response I thought he’d have.

“What makes you think I’m interested in you?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” I demanded angrily. “You just made that speech in my bedroom about me enjoying being yours and how no one else’s feelings matter but yours. Y-You kissed me.”

Cole narrowed his eyes at me as he pulled the car into his driveway and put it in park. My heart banged painfully against my chest as he undid his seatbelt and leaned over to me, un-latching mine in the process. His eyes locked on mine with his slow, deliberate movements.

The shock rattled around inside me as his warm lips met mine in a deep kiss, his tongue dipping into my mouth, tasting me. I let go for a moment, relishing in how normal, how good, it felt to let go and experience him, despite the smarter part of my brain screaming for me to abort mission and run and hide from him and his friends.

Our tongues danced against one another’s, my breathing coming in sharp, small gasps as his hand cupped my breast before moving south. Nerves made my eyes flutter open. I let out a soft whimper at his touch, my inner voice screaming at me to tell him to stop. The proverbial devil on my shoulder was yelling at me to just let it happen. In that moment, I wanted whatever he’d give me. His fingers trailed along the edge of my skirt before finding their way beneath.

I’d never been touched like that and never anywhere close to there. Having only ever kissed Fox when we were kids, I was running on zero experience. I was just doing what felt good and hoping he liked it because the alternative was soul-crushing. Cole could ruin anything he wanted with a single word. That’s the pull he and the guys had.

The groan of approval from him had me wanting him to ruin all the parts of me just so I could feel what it was like to be with someone like him.

My breath caught as his fingers skimmed my center against my panties, anticipation threading through me. I never let anyone touch me like that. Everything was screaming internally again to push his hand away, but that one tiny voice in the background whispering, pleading, with me to let it happen, won out.

“Just because I want this doesn’t mean I want you.” His breath tickled my ear as he whispered in it.

I jerked away from him. The ecstasy fizzled before being snuffed out like a candle with his words.

“You’re an asshole.” I shoved his hands away from me, feeling humiliated and angry at myself for letting go, thinking this could be different. Or better. Or anything.

“Rosebud, wait—”

I opened the door and got out, slamming it behind me before he could finish his sentence. When I turned, I was face to face with Ethan.

“Going somewhere?” He raised a brow at me.

“Yeah. Home.” I stormed past him down the driveway, not giving a damn if anyone saw me and my attempt at freedom. Ethan’s firm grip on my elbow had me stopping in my tracks though.

“Calm down. Come on. Don’t let Cole ruin your night. He ruins everyone’s nights. Come back and have fun.”

I looked up at Ethan, frowning. It was a bit of a walk back to my place from Cole’s. He lived in the rich section of town. His mom was a surgeon. His dad was some big shot attorney. His house alone could probably fit both mine and Fox’s houses inside it.

“I want to go home.”

“Well, that won’t happen, so best make do with a shitty situation.” Ethan surveyed me with a no-nonsense look. “We’ll make sure you get home later. For now, you’re coming inside, and we’ll have some fun with you.”

The way he said that made me scowl even as a tiny smattering of curiosity twisted in my guts.

“Like pushing me into the pool and getting me wet so you can record it and make fun of me?” I challenged.

Ethan chuckled softly. “Oh, you’ll be getting wet, but it won’t be from the pool.”

I shook my head at him, the heat from his words creeping up my body to my face.

Deciding maybe there was at least one decent human at the party who’d give me a ride home, I marched past Ethan to the house, a new resolve settling in.

“You need to loosen up.”

“Walk a day in my shoes, pal.” I reached for the door, but he stopped me.

“Rosalie, you may never get another chance like this. Consider this a tryout tonight. If you want to live free of bullshit, let go. Whatever happens tonight, let it. I promise it’ll be worth it. We’re making memories.”

I snorted at him. “What are you? A motivational speaker?”

“Maybe.” He cast me a quick smile that made me relax. “Did it work?”

I shrugged. “You don’t know me, Ethan, but my life sucks—”

“Only because you focus on that. Let it go. One night. Kiss. Touch. Drink. Tonight, you aren’t Rosalie, the girl who gets picked on. Tonight, be Rosalie, the girl who gets picked up.”

“Are you talking about…”

He smiled and cast me a wink before pushing open the front door.

“Your call.”

I swallowed, breathing out. Could this be the answer to my torment? A night of fun and letting go? I bit my bottom lip.

It was worth a shot.