The Touch of a Villain: An Enemies to Lovers High School Romance (The Boys of Clermont Bay Book 1) by Holly Renee (best book recommendations TXT) 📕

“Who should I be into then, Beck?” I looked around the party. “Would Carson be better? Or maybe Olly?”

His dark eyes stared me down as I said his friends’ names, but I wasn’t scared of him. He didn’t just get to be an ass simply because he wanted to.

I turned my attention away from him and looked at his friend. “Carson?”

“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

My gaze snapped back to him. “Wouldn’t I?” I pointed to my chest. “I’m single, and as far as I know, so is he.”

“Josie,” Allie whispered my name in warning, but I didn’t heed it. I just kept pushing and pushing until he did something other than sit there and act like he was some sort of fucking saint. Like he hadn’t used me to get exactly what he wanted.

“That’s the difference here, Clermont. I can figure out if I’m single or not. Can you?”

“You didn’t seem to care how single I was when you were riding my fingers.”

There were shocked inhales, a ring of chuckles, and a whispered ‘Oh, fuck.’

I wasn’t sticking around to listen though. I pushed away from Allie and headed toward the door. I couldn’t believe he would fucking say that.

In front of all these people.

I couldn’t believe he would fucking dare.

I was so angry, I could feel tears burning the back of my eyes, but I refused to cry.

There was noise behind me, what sounded like people moving, but I didn’t look back. I pushed through the crowd and headed back into Cami’s house. I found her room as quickly as I could and grabbed my bag. She had asked me to stay the night here, but there was no way in hell.

I needed to leave, and I needed to leave now. I text Allie and let her know I was leaving, and she said she was right behind me.

I hated leaving her, but I couldn’t stay here a moment longer.

I couldn’t be here with him.

I caught Lucas’s eyes as I made my way back down the stairs, and he moved over to me quickly. I didn’t have the energy to deal with him tonight either.

“You okay?” He was following me as I walked outside the door.

“I’m fine.” I shoved my key into the keyhole on my door and ripped the driver’s side door open. “I’m heading back to the house.”

“Have you been drinking?” Lucas actually seemed concerned, and I hesitated at the door. I had been drinking but I hadn’t had any in a while. I felt completely sober after talking to Beck.

“I’m good to drive. I promise.”

“Of course, you’re out here.” Beck’s laughter was slurred and shadowed by Carson’s cursing. “It’s my favorite Vos and my least favorite Vos.”

“Come on, man.” Olly tugged on Beck’s arm, but neither one of them could control him. He was heading straight for my car on unsteady legs.

He pushed his hands on the hood of the car, directly across from where I stood next to Lucas. “I’m sorry for saying that.”

“What did he say?” Lucas puffed his chest, and he stared at Beck like he wanted to kill him.

I pushed him back and stared at Beck. “You’re not sorry.”

“I am.” He looked at me. He looked like he was sincere, but I wasn’t going to believe him.

“Who’s taking him home?” I looked at Carson and Olly.

“Frankie’s coming to pick him up soon.”

I nodded and turned back to Lucas, but he was still staring at Beck. “Stay the fuck away from her.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Beck was far too intoxicated to deal with his anger toward Lucas.

“Her?” Beck nodded his head toward me. “Fucking make me.”

Lucas moved like he was going to confront him, but I stepped in his way. There was no way I was going to let him put his hands on Beck, or Beck put his hands on him.

This was going too far, and I wouldn’t stand here and watch them fight.

Beck moved around the hood of my car, and I knew that if he got his hands on Lucas, none of us would be able to stop him.

Olly and Carson grabbed his shoulders, but they wouldn’t have stood a chance.

“Put him in my car.” I pointed at Olly as I dared Lucas to say a word.

Olly and Carson jerked Beck backward and pushed him toward my passenger side.

“I’m not a fucking child.” Beck was pushing against Olly before he slammed my passenger side door.

“I’ll see you at the house.” I pointed at a still fuming Lucas.

I was so damn angry by the time I got my own door closed that I couldn’t talk. Beck Clermont was sitting there riding in the car I had borrowed from my dad with his perfect face and perfect life. If he wasn’t so drunk, I would yell at him. I would demand that he tell me what the hell his problem was and demand that he leave me the hell alone.

But he was angry too.

I could feel his rage still radiating off his body. He wanted to say something. He wanted to scream and shout and fight, and for whatever reason, he didn’t.

“Did you and Lucas have a fight over a girl?”

He laughed, but there wasn’t a single ounce of humor in it.

“Cami?” I asked. I didn’t know why but the thought of him being so worked up over Cami pissed me off.

“No.” He shook his head, and I wanted to ask him more about her. Why was he with me right now, when he could have been there with her? “It wasn’t Cami. Turn here.”

He pointed to the right, and I quickly made the turn. We were going in the opposite direction of our houses.

“I’m taking you home, Beck.”

“I just need to make a quick stop.”

I huffed but I had already made the turn. I was anxious as it was, considering I had been drinking earlier in the night, and I tightened my hands on the steering wheel as I drove down the