Striker: A Dark Bully Romance (Redwood Rebels Book 1) by Rachel Leigh (ebook reader for comics TXT) 📕

“Like I’d ever tell anyone about this. I’m not exactly proud of what just happened.”

Good.” He gives my cheek a pat like I’m a fucking child. Grabbing some sort of fabric off the floor, he tosses it at me. “Clean up with this.”

I step back quickly, not allowing the rag to touch me. “Gross. I’m not touching that thing.” There is no saying what that rag was used for.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugs a shoulder. “Suit yourself.”

“Let’s go, we’ve got things to do.”

“You have fun with that.” I push past him. “I’m going home.”

Before I can even make it to the steps, he’s on my tail. Once again, grabbing me by the wrist—his signature possessive, asshole move. “You need to quit telling me what you are going to do and just do what I fucking say.”

“Tell me why,” I demand. Taking a step closer to him.

“You mean why do you need to listen to me? Because I can make your life hell.”

“That’s not what I meant. Besides, I told you, I’m not scared of you. Don’t mistake me for a weak girl. I can get the upper hand in this if I really wanted to.”

“What makes you so sure that I won’t hurt you?”

Jerking away, I stretch my hand down between us, getting a firm grip on his balls beneath his now soft cock. “Because you might have had me against this wall, but I’ve got your balls in my hand. Keep that in mind.” I squeeze tighter, making his body jerk up.

Squeezing even harder, he begins to laugh. “You like pain, don’t you? Reminds you that you’re alive. Shines light on your darkness.” Turning my nails inward, I dig into him through the fabric of his jeans.

“Nothing you do will ever hurt me, baby. I’ve seen it all and felt it all.”

I’ve heard the rumors. I know what he’s talking about. The entire town knows that Talon’s dad used to beat him like he was a piece of meat on a cutting board. He’s never had it easy, and all the money in the world can’t cover up his internal scars.

“I don’t wanna do this, Talon. I just want to finish out my senior year of high school. Move away and pretend none of this ever happened. So, just tell me that it ends tonight.”

In a swift motion, he spins me around and grips both arms over my chest. With my back pressed against him, I can feel his heartbeat mimicking mine.

He can act all calm and collected, but his pulse rate and the fact that he was just humping my leg five minutes ago proves that his body reacts to me.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, because tonight—tonight is just the beginning of the fun we are going to have together.” His chin rests on my shoulder. His jaw pressing into my shoulder blade with each word. “You really want to know what comes next?”

I nod.

“There are about five dozen people having the most epic Halloween party at my house right now. We are going to walk upstairs, get in my car and go have ourselves a little fun. Tomorrow, I’m taking you to your house, you’re packing all your shit and settling in at your new house.”

My eyes pop wide open. “New house? What the hell are you talking about?”

Straightening up behind me, he lets my hands fall free, then begins combing his fingers through my long black hair. “You’re moving in with me.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I exhale with laughter. “You’re out of your damn mind.”

“Party is waiting, let’s go.” He grabs a hold of my hand and begins forcing my steps behind his.

Catching him off guard, I jerk away abruptly. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” I can’t even see where I’m going, but I manage to find the steps and walk up them briskly. “You really are out of your mind,” I mutter under my breath. I can feel his body directly behind me, but I keep on my way. Walking as fast as I can in the direction we came, hoping to find the front door.

I need to get the hell out of this place.

4

I could walk the maze of this house with a blindfold on and know exactly where I am. Marni, on the other hand, doesn’t know the front door from the back.

Picking up my pace, I catch her by the waist, right before she’s about to walk into a wall. “You can try and be all independent here, but the truth of the matter is, you need me right now.”

“You would think so,” she titters, “all you guys think that every woman needs you. Well, newsflash, you are all nothing but scum. The others just don’t know it—yet.”

Spinning her around abruptly, I pull her close. “Listen closely, you’re wasting your breath with these nonchalant threats, and If you think that any of this will work in your favor, you are wrong—dead.fucking.wrong.” Our faces are so close that I can smell the fear on her warm breath. Her heart thrashing against the walls of her chest. The sound and her scent turning me on. There is something about making a girl shake with wonder of the unknown—feeling her cling to you out of fear. Even if you are the one she fears the most.

“I’m leaving. You can try to stop me, but one way or another, I’m getting the hell out of here.”

Giving her a gentle nudge, I let her think she’s going to walk out that front door and leave. I’ll let her hold onto that hope for now.

Pulling out the pack of smokes from my back pocket and my Zippo from the front, I stick a cigarette in my mouth and give the lighter a flick. She glances back for a moment, and I watch her eyes through the flames as I take in a drag.

“You’re not stopping me?” she asks, surprised.

Keeping the flame alive, I hold it out in front of me