Nothing to Fear (Wicked Games, #1)

by Jenn Plummer

For all my Gothic beauties, there’s nothing to fear; we’re all a little fractured on the inside, and there’s beauty in the broken.

I refused to let anyone know of my costume plans, wanting just one night to be completely myself, not Silas Blackwood: college president’s son, captain of the rugby team, assumed-straight jock. All of those things were chosen for me, and for the first time in over three years of attending Corvus College, I’m going to live here out in the open. I want to experience college life as someone who is authentically themselves.

Sparks of electricity shoot through me, synapses firing off, an explosion of emotions and energy as I gasp for precious air. This isn’t just a taboo sexual experience—this is an awakening. A reckoning. Who the hell is this man? And why do I feel like he just changed my entire life?

Asher stands in front of me, pieces of his black hair falling back into his eye as he blinks away rain droplets beading on his equally dark eyelashes. No one looks good in the rain, except for Asher Ambrose. Because of course he does.

“The good news is that there’s beauty in the broken. Gothic is always about the broken.”

“I want you, Si, so bad. I can lead this, just give me the okay, tell me I can touch you. Really touch you.” “Fuck. Touch me. Please touch me. I feel like I’ll die if you don’t, Asher.”

This version of Silas? This is what dreams are made of.

“Fuck, slacker, you’re a temptation I didn’t need. Do you know how bad I want you? I knew you wanted me, Silas. You’ve ruined me. Look at how well we fit together. How can you fight this?”

“I want you to come for me, Silas,” he says as he combs his fingers through my hair, his eyes wild and consuming. “Come for me right now. There’s no turning back. Come for me and let me hear my name on your lips.”

“Delicious. We taste so good together. Are you going to run from this? I’ll happily chase you down.”

“You’re just gonna run, then?” “There’s nothing else to say.” “You’ve been hiding who you are. I see you, Silas, and I’m obsessed with what I see. Let me help you.”

The pieces I’ve seen glimpses of over the last few weeks have been little crumbs I’ve gobbled up like a starved man. Now that I’ve tasted him? I need the whole loaf. No more bits strewn about when his guard is down, I want all of him.

So here I am, standing in front of Harrow House again, hidden against the dark backdrop of the night, the quiet stillness surrounding me as I look up into the windows. When I imagined my senior year at Corvus, it never crossed my mind that stalking Silas Blackwood would be at the top of my list of hobbies, but here I am.

Being anyone else was never even an option. Everything is leading us to each other. If I had any doubts about fate, I don’t now. Silas and I are meant to be together. Fear be damned.

He tastes of spearmint as I delve in deeper, loving the way his lips mold to my own, the way his body melts against mine. The big, strong, athletic captain of the rugby team is melting for the bookworm. They should write books about this someday.

If they truly love you, they will want you to be happy, safe, and secure. I would rather live my life and be me and only be surrounded by people who love me wholeheartedly, than pretend to be someone else and be surrounded by people who will bail on me the moment they’re faced with my reality.”

“You look wicked good, Si. Like a fucking buffet laid out in front of me. And you know what?” “What?” “I’m starving.”

“I’m obsessed with you,” he whispers as he runs his hands sweetly through my hair. I’ve clearly never experienced any type of aftercare, and my heart loses it, butterflies taking flight deep in my stomach, emotion welling behind my eyes. “Welcome to the club. I’ve been obsessed with you for years.”

“I’m sorry for treating you like shit.” “It’s water under the bridge. Are you done running from me?” “Are you going to chase me down if I do?” “Yes.”

I’m the only one standing in my way, self-sabotaging time and time again. I can’t continue to live this way. Especially now that I have something that makes me want to come out of the darkness and feel the light on my skin.

“What’s that face for?” “I can’t believe Asher Ambrose is on his knees in front of me, looking up at me like I’m worthy of his affection.” “You’re worthy of everything, Silas.”

“Fuck, Silas. Need inside you. Need inside your tight ass so bad,” I say as I lap up his wet dick. “You want to fuck me?” he moans, his voice teetering on the edge of losing control. “Want to defile you.” “Fucking do it.”

“I know that I feel amazing when I’m wholly myself. When we’re together, I feel more me than I have in a very long time.” “I’m not rushing you, but I want that for you. I want you to spend the rest of your time at Corvus being yourself, out in the open, with no fucks to give.” “With you?” “Yes, with me, baby. Like I said, if you try to run again, I will chase you down.”

“Trick or treat, Crimson Keep! It’s Halloween! And what better way to celebrate than to use fear itself? We’re going to play a little game of hide and seek! Everyone from Crimson is a seeker, and everyone else . . . well, you had better be good at hiding. The entire campus is our playground tonight. The moon is high, the fog is low, get ready because here we go!”

“You did more than light the path; you pulled me from the darkness, you walked it with me.”

“Such a good boy, you feel so good wrapped around me, Si. I love being inside your body.” “Don’t stop, Asher. Never stop.” “Never, baby. This is it for me.”

He loved the beautifully broken boy I am and gave me the confidence to be who I am, fear be damned. The bookworm and the jock. “I love you.” “I love you too.”