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She gives me a sharp look, one that’s ten times harder than her grip. My whole body reacts to her gaze, thrumming in pure fucking want. I enjoy how difficult she is.
Her gaze is all fire, all tumultuous and hot. But it’s not a look that says stop. It’s one full of passionate, ugly, beautiful words and curses. Fuck mes mixed with assholes and cocksuckers and hell fucking yeses. She’s complicated. Just the way I like.
know. I attended her graduation. I saw her walk across the stage and accept her diploma. I was able to witness the look of accomplishment and freedom from four years of hard work and educational slavery. Those memories I hold close.
AW
She’s drowning in her beautiful fucking mind. I don’t want her to think about whether she’s doing something wrong or right. I just want her to feel.
“That’s it, darling,” I say with a tight breath. “You’re safe with me.”
As she rests on my lap, something strong grips my heart. I’ve never been so possessed by another person before. She consumes my body and mind in ways that I can’t articulate.
AW
I could shove her against the wall, watch the breath leave her lips, watch her body respond in vicious hunger. She’d let me please her. But I don’t want to push her to that place without understanding her sudden reservations.
And it clicks. Just like that. I see the ocean beneath her words, the deeper meaning to everything. I bring her into my arms. I don’t care that her limbs are stiff. She tries to push me away, and I hold her to my chest in a tight hug.
“You think your virginity is a prize that I want to win and run away with. Am I right?” “Don’t manipulate me.” She shakes her head. “I don’t need you to tell me what I want to hear just so you can win that much easier.” She’s crazy to believe such a horrible fucking thing. I want to hold her longer, tighter, to calm her with my words. “I’m not manipulating you, Rose. You’re smart enough to understand me. And if you truly believe I’d manipulate a woman just to fuck her, then you don’t know me very well.” “Don’t lie to me.” She points to her chest, her eyes wild. “I’m a pit stop to you. I’m the
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they're actually perfect for each other
“You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you.” I kiss her powerfully, my tongue parting her lips, and she responds. But not as much as I hoped. So I break apart and add, “I want you for eternity, not for a brief moment in time.” I don’t understand why every time I speak it sounds like an empty pickup line. I can’t lose her. Not because of this. I try to imagine a life without Rose and I see something gray, something motionless—a world without time and a place without color. I see mundane and dreary and lackluster. I can’t lose her. Not for anything.
OMGG
But I’d be with her without all the tests—all the hoops she makes me jump. I do enjoy them. But I enjoy her more.
AW
Time is obstinate, constant, and undeniably aggravating. No matter how hard I try, time will not bend to my will.
For most, being late for some stupid thirty-second television promo spot wouldn’t be a big deal. They’d shrug it off. But it’s not okay. All it takes is one time. One single moment where I walk through the door ten minutes late and everything could change. The what ifs in life aren’t impossibilities. What ifs are parallel paths that could happen—that could be. In one moment, a what if can be fact.
Scott forcing himself on Rose is an image that cripples all the others in my head—it’s what makes my spot in this car and not with her so painful.
This isn’t the first time he’s told me that I’m taking on too much, but I don’t have a choice. I want everything. And if I work hard enough, I can have it all. That’s always been how my life runs; I refuse to believe this is any different.
Rose’s necessity may be called into question. One doesn’t need a partner to live. To succeed. But Rose is not something I’m ever willing to let go. Necessary or not. She’s mine. “My life is filled with essentials,” I tell Frederick.
AW
Around Ryke who clenches and unclenches his fist, one hand protectively on his brother’s shoulder. Then around my girlfriend who has completely lost her shit.
i need to see more about ryke and rose's friendship
She places her hands on her hips, fuming. I rub her arm, and she begins to calm. But hate is still present in her eyes. My gaze flits between each of my friends. Their bodies begin to relax when I look at them individually, the tension in their muscles slowly loosening. Lo actually shuts his mouth, and Ryke unknowingly releases his fist. People believe I have some sort of magic hold over others. That I can cause crowds to part without asking. All I have to do is stand at the edge of a mass and they’ll slowly, effortlessly make a path for me. I can calm the most restless soul if I choose to,
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he's so powerful
She doesn’t want to walk barefoot around the townhouse. Fine. I lift her easily in my arms, cradling her body, and she inhales sharply. But instead of arguing with me, she holds onto my bicep. My eyes fall to her breasts that rise with her heavy breath, and I internally smile. I have the girl. In my arms. Dizzy at my touch. I could have walked into something so much worse.
When I should be focused on the television, I ache to see all of her again. The curve of her waist, her erect pink nipples, her bare ass and her mouth wide and full of my cock. She meets my gaze for a second, and we don’t have to say a single word. She knows what’s on my mind. She can see the longing in my eyes, even if everyone else can’t. She glances at my belt, and my lips rise as I take a seat next to her. I sit so close that I can practically hear her heart pounding out of her chest. I lean over to grab the remote from Lily, and as I do so, my mouth nears Rose’s ear. And I whisper, “I’m
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OMG
As I switch on the television, she scoots closer and leans her head on my shoulder, trying to relax, but I know she’s imagining my belt, her wrists, our bed. I want to make her so wet that she begs for me—that my name is the only one on her mind, the only thing she can possibly utter. I want to hear her scream in wild, crazed ecstasy. I want her to see how perfect we are for each other—mind, body, soul. No words this time. Just actions.
OMG
And then Ryke pushes her legs from behind, and she falls over with a laugh.
LMAO
Rose looks mildly pissed off, her eyes ablaze—which is normal. But she’s turned towards me, our bodies pulled together by something magnetically strong, and as I lean in to whisper in her ear, her face ignites. I can’t even remember what I said. I could have easily disagreed with one of her favorite feminists or I could have told her that her hair was pretty. In the video, she shoves my arm. Twice. Waiting for me to get angry like her. Wanting to provoke me. I just grin.
And I’m what the one who locked her there. It’s wrong. But it’s not necessarily backwards—I’m not the hero. I’m the king to Rose’s queen.
me. Unless she’s more pissed by being labeled something at all. That seems right.
shits about being a twenty-three-year-old virgin.” “That’s not the problem,” she says. I know her well. She meets my gaze while I stand in front of the television that’s mounted above the fireplace. “He stereotyped all of us with one word, as though we’re caricatures.” She’s afraid of being made to look like a fool.
he knows her so well
Rose’s lips tighten at the “man-hating” line. That one did sting her. I almost regret adding it in my explanation. “You’re a conceited asshole,” she tells me. “You love me.” She shakes her head but her lips lift. “Stop.” “Stop what?” “Being right.” She groans and leans back against the couch in a huff. “I hate that we’re all so worked up over it and you say a few words, and now everything makes sense again.”
I calmed every single fucking person. I flicked over his rook, his bishop, and protected my queen.
HIS QUEEN OMG
These five people mean more to me than words can express. I’ve never once felt like I had a real family. But with them—I know I do.
AW
Lo has his arm around Lily’s shoulder, touching her in comfort and rotating her body every time a camera edges too close.
I’m about to walk over to Lily for moral support, but I barely take a step before Ryke approaches the couple. He hands Loren a can of Fizz Life and Lily his plate of Swedish meatballs. Whatever Ryke says, it has Lo smiling for the first time all night. Two years ago, Lo and Lily would be standing miserable in a corner. Addicted and enabling. A few months ago, no one could persuade my sister to leave the house because of the gossip and ridicule. Now they’re here. Smiling. I’m usually not so sentimental. But watching my sister go from lying to broken to halfway-okay has moved me in immeasurable
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While Loren steals one of Lily’s meatballs off her plate, Ryke watches Daisy from across the room, his smile fading and his features hardening in concern.
omg
When I finally spot Connor, all the built-up fuzzy, warm (generally foreign) feelings I had are replaced by annoyance. I watch as my boyfriend greets a younger guy by hugging him and slapping him on the back in a typical bro-hug. It is so out of Connor Cobalt’s nature—his true self that I know and love.
aw
I don’t care if I look like a bitch. That’s the point. I am who I am. Why can’t he just let people see the real him? Who cares if people don’t like him?
I have—I check my watch—four minutes until the show airs. And I need a pep talk. Preferably from Connor Cobalt and not the twat he has impersonated.
i love that he's such a support system for her
“That hurt me just as much as you,” he says immediately. “Trust me, I had to use the word killer and dude in the same fucking sentence.” “You didn’t have to do anything,” I retort. “And babe, really?” I smack his arm. “And you gave him a bro-hug, Connor. Who are you?” I don’t give him time to answer because I know it will be something profoundly aggravating. “And what were you doing with Nubell Cookies? Are you trying to partner with them? That sounds like a fantastic idea. Put magnets in the tins and make everyone sick.” I finish my rant and he full-on grins. But it’s different this time. He
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THEY BOTH KNOW EACH OTHER SO WELL
My emotions have suddenly calmed, and as Connor squeezes my hand, I realize why. Lo is right. He has a gift.
Connor’s eyes flicker from the television screens to Scott and my parents every so often. I can tell he’d like to go interject and break up Scott’s ploy to make nice with my mother and father, but he stays here. With me. And I appreciate that more than he knows.
“I need you out front for a second,” she says. “What was the last question? If it’s important, I can come back later.” Ryke stands. “No it’s fine.” I don’t like where this is headed. Why would this be shown? We hear Savannah’s voice but can’t see her. “He was ranking who has the most sex in the house. How would you rank everyone?” Savannah asks. Daisy’s face lights up with a smile. “Don’t answer her,” Ryke says. “Lily and Lo,” Daisy ignores him with a playful grin. She bounces on her feet like she drank way too much caffeine. “They f**k a lot.” Ryke rolls his eyes.
Daisy tries to wrestle with him again, and her shirt rises on her waist, revealing a purplish bruise on her hip. Ryke goes incredibly still, and Daisy stops moving as her face falls. “It’s nothing,” she says quickly. “Come on, I need you out front.”
OH? are we going to get a "who did this to you?" trope??
“It doesn’t matter now. They’re airing it.” Connor sips his wine. “Clearly you hoped they wouldn’t.” “A part of me did, actually. But I was protecting that one…” He leans behind his brother and points to Lily who has her head on Lo’s shoulder. “So give me a fucking break.” “What? Me?” Lily points to her chest sheepishly. “I’m okay.” But her voice is small.
ryke defo cares more than he shows
“It wasn’t that bad,” Daisy tells both of us. But Ryke’s hardened jaw says differently. On screen and off. Ryke inspects the damage on her bike, shaking his head more and more. “We need to press charges.” “I didn’t get his name.” “But you can describe him to the police.” She stays quiet. “He f**king assaulted you, Daisy. He’s not getting away with this sh*t.” “I don’t want to cause more trouble, really. Let’s just forget about it.” “You want me to f**king forget about it?” His eyes fall to her waist where he saw the bruise. And then he stands and tries to pull her shirt up.
“Were you alone at the doctor’s?” I ask Daisy. “Ryke went with me.” At least she wasn’t alone. But Lo glares at him, hardly thinking he’s a good replacement. He’s better than no one.
She grins. “It’s funny.” “You being hurt is the least funny thing in the entire f**king world.” “And that’s the biggest exaggeration I’ve heard all day.” They just stare at each other for three long seconds. Ryke tries to cut the tension by looking away first.
OMG
Lily covers her eyes with her hands, and Lo has his lips to her ear, whispering to her rapidly while silent tears start to fall.
Lily turns into Lo’s chest and she grabs at his black crew-neck. She stuffs her head underneath, literally hiding inside his shirt while he’s still wearing it. “I’m not coming out,” she says. “Don’t make me come out, Lo.” Loren touches her head. “Stay there as long as you want, love.” When he looks up, he sends shriveling glares to anyone who so much as glances at him. His glares aren’t necessarily like mine or like Ryke’s. They’re the kind that make you feel like he’s about to go get a chainsaw and murder your whole fucking family. It’s a sadistic, I have nothing to lose, type of look that
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OMG
“Who’s your celebrity crush?” Savannah asks. Daisy smiles wide. “James Dean.” My eyes pierce the camera. “Audrey Hepburn.” Lily stares off in thought. “Uhhh…” She flushes. “Loren Hale.” Lo laughs and stares down at Lily who’s still hidden in his shirt. “Right answer, love.”
“No c*cks have been near my a**h*le, sorry.” Daisy shrugs after answering crudely. Lo gives her a look. “You’re spending too much time with my brother.” She just laughs.
He flashes another smile. “Handsome.” My eyes flit from his white button-down that fits him perfectly to his deep blue eyes. “Maybe.” He takes a sip of his wine and waves me to keep going. “I have you almost giving me a compliment, why stop now?” Our banter sets a fire underneath my heart. I could kiss him. But I regretfully turn towards the big screen.
“Wow,” Lo says, his hand on Lily’s head, still concealed in his shirt. “They cut off your little rant, Connor. How’d that feel?” “Chapped,” Connor says easily. “Come here, I’ll rub your ass for you.” Connor smiles into his sip of wine. But it must be annoying that Scott has the power to shut him up with a simple edit. I can see his irritation in the tight muscles of his jaw.
i love their bromance
