Chapter 20

Delaney

I feel like a bit of a coward. I’m glad my mom is on her honeymoon and isn’t here to talk me out of this.

I’ve managed to get one of the last dorms available. I was up most of the night and early this morning packing my things and bringing them down to my car, in hopes of being gone before any of the guys woke up.

Yet another cowardly thing on my part.

But if they see me, they’ll ask questions, and I don’t think I’d be able to lie to their faces.

Of course, luck isn’t on my side because it hasn’t been since I’ve arrived in this cursed fucking town.

Just as I’m closing my bedroom door, the last little box tucked in between my body and my arm, Logan walks out of his room, making me freeze.

“Laney?” he asks, brows furrowed. A rock sinks in my belly as a panicked sweat takes over. “What are you doing?”

“Heading to school.” I avert my gaze, keeping my eyes on the ground as I walk forward. It’s not a lie. I have an early class. After I’m done with that, I plan on heading over to student housing and getting everything settled.

“Hey.” He grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. “Are you mad at me?” I hate the vulnerability in his question.

Looking up, I do my damn best to give him a real smile. “No, Logan. I’m not mad at you. I wanted everything that happened.”

“Are you sure?” He looks down at the box in my arms and frowns. “What’s with the box?”

“It’s nothing. Just a few things I’m getting rid of.” Also true, because these are things I’ve decided to donate after I went through my stuff when I was packing.

“Laney, I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward situation. I’d like to blame what I said on being drunk, but it was all true.”

My damn heart feels like a tower made of foam bricks. Falling apart, being put back together, just to break all over again. Damn it!

“Anyway, we should talk about it. But not now.” He chuckles. “After school.”

I smile and nod. “See you later, Logan,” I whisper as I start to walk again.

“Laney.” I pause just as I’m about to turn the corner, tears welling in my eyes.

“Yeah?” I look back at him.

He leans against the door frame of his bedroom door, giving me a shy look. “Thanks for everything this weekend. For watching Benny and for...” He sighs, looking away for a moment, then back to me. “For everything after. If you weren’t there with me, I know I’d have done something stupid.”

“You’re welcome.” I hold his gaze for as long as I can before I’m forced to rip it away. I’m running again, trying to avoid my feelings and all this fucked up shit as I race down the stairs and through the house to the garage.

I wipe at my eyes as I open the back door of my car, shoving the box in before slamming it shut.

“You're running, aren't you?” Owen’s voice has me jumping back just as my hand landed on the driver's side door handle.

My head snaps over to see him sitting on the hood of one of the many cars in this place. He has a cigarette between his fingers. Taking a long drag, he flicks it to the ground and hops off, stomping it out before looking up at me.

He stalks towards me, tilting his head up as he blows the smoke out. He doesn’t stop until he has me pinned against the car.

“I’m not running,” I lie. He cocks a brow before peaking over to look into the back seat window.

“Yeah? Then why’s your car packed up full of your shit? And don’t lie to me, Laney. I know what happened between you and Logan.”

“You do?” My eyes widen.

“Logan told me everything. He was fucked up about what happened with Stacy and Benny. Then he’s confessing that he messed up suggesting the friend’s only thing because he’s head over fucking heels for you and doesn’t want to stay away anymore.”

I swallow hard, gaze lowering. But he doesn’t let me, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at him. “What do you want me to say?” I ask in a whisper.

His eyes search mine, nausea swirling around in my belly. I might not be able to tell Logan the truth, but would Owen understand that I’m doing what needs to be done?

“Why are you running?” he finally asks.

“Because.” I deflate. “It’s what’s best for everyone.”

“Is this your way of letting my brother down? Running away instead of telling us you're no longer interested in us? Because we damn well know the stepbrother bullshit isn’t a good enough reason at this point.”

“No.” I shake my head. “The last thing I want to do is hurt Logan, to reject him. It’s just...” I close my eyes. “Fuck.” I open them again. “I have to do this.”

He narrows his eyes and curses. “She’s behind this, isn’t she?”

I lick my lips, looking away.

“I fucking hate that crazy bitch!” He pounds his fist against the car. “What did she do? What did she say?”

“She was going to take Benny away from Logan. I did what I had to do to keep that from happening. That’s all I’m going to tell you.”

“I want to say there’s another way, I really do. But I know her, I know her family, and she is so damn spiteful she would do anything just to get her own way.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter.

Owen sighs heavily. “We don’t deserve you, Laney. You don’t owe Logan anything, but here you are willing to give things up so it lessens the bullshit with his baby mama.”

“I’d do anything for Benny. And I’d do anything to keep him with Logan.”

It scares me how true that is because that means not only do I care so deeply about this little boy, but I feel for his daddy, too.

“Whatever she asked you, please at least tell me you’re safe?”

“I am.” I nod.

“I’m going to find a way to bring that bitch down, mark my fucking words,” he snarls.

“I’d love to believe you, Owen.” I give him a sad smile. “But something tells me the only way to be rid of her is if she dies.” I let out a humorless laugh. “And she would fight tooth and nail to make sure she doesn’t. The way she makes it seem, it’s like her dad is just as unstoppable. Tell me otherwise?”

His jaw ticks as he takes a step away.

“Thought so.” I sigh. “I’ll see you around, Owen.” I go to open the car door, but he grabs my chin and holds me still. He kisses me deeply until my knees go weak and my head spins.

“Everything will be okay,” he whispers against my lips. “I won’t let her hurt you.”

Little does he know I’m already hurting.

***

It’s been a few days since I moved into the dorms, and I’ve managed to avoid all three guys. Not Winter, though. She refused to let me stay away.

After inviting her over to my dorm, I ended up spilling the entire story to her. The secrets are like acid in my soul, and I needed to vent before I exploded.

She went into a rage, rampaging in my honor. I was glad to see she wasn’t mad at me or trying to talk me out of it.

I feel guilty, though, because she said she wouldn’t tell Elijah anything if he asked. I don’t want to cause any issues between the two of them, but right now, I need this distance to give myself time to think.

I’ve begun upholding my end of the deal, moving out and staying away from the guys. Now there's the little fact that she wants me to get a damn boyfriend. The idea makes me sick.

One thing at a damn time because right now, I need to go into my World History class and tell my professor that I’m dropping his class.

Class isn’t for another twenty minutes, but I came early in hopes of settling this with enough notice before heading down to see what course I can pick up instead.

With all the stuff going on with Logan, I’ve hardly had the chance to think about Kai. Now, as I stand outside his classroom door, I feel nothing but shame and guilt.

Taking a deep breath, I open the door and step inside. He’s sitting at his desk down on the stage, head rising when the door clicks shut behind me.

He says nothing as I make my way down the steps, each one making me sweat like crazy and twisting my belly in more knots.

Sitting back in his chair, he crosses his arms, and I can’t help but feel like he’s a predator in the wild, stalking his prey.

Swallowing hard, I lick my lips as I stop before his desk. “First, I want to say how so very sorry I am for lying to you about not only my name but my age. I never meant any harm by it, but I had no right to keep that kind of information, knowing the age gap between us. I would understand if you wanted to kick me out or report me to the dean. I won’t fight you on it. That's why I’m here to let you know I’ve come to drop out of your class. I will no longer be an issue for you. I’ll stay out of your way, and it will be like we never met. You won’t have to see me again.”

The words rush out of me before I can chicken out and run away. Because running seems to be what I do best these days.

My heart pounds in my chest as I watch him, waiting for his reply. Is he going to laugh at me, get mad, be happy?

Time feels like it’s going by slowly as each second ticks by. I wait... and wait. Nothing.

That is until he leans forward, placing his forearms on the desk. He narrows his eyes at me and finally speaks. “No.”

My lips part, and I blink at him in confusion.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I said no, ” he repeats, moving to stand as he pushes his chair back.

“I don’t know what you mean by no...” I say slowly as he makes his way around the desk.

“You're not quitting my class.” As he steps forward, I step back.

“I know it looks bad only going to one class, but really, it’s fine. I want to do whatever is easy for us both. I am the one who lied and put us in this situation. I promise you won’t ever have to worry about me again.”

He takes another step forward, forcing me back until I’m practically sitting on his desk, trapped much like I was earlier this week with Owen.

A shiver runs down my spine as he towers over me, my heart beating like a drum, breaths coming in quick pants. Part fear and part arousal rush through me as his masculine, spicy scent hits me.

His large hand cups my chin, thumb brushing against my jawline tenderly. “You see, Sweetheart, that just won’t work for me.”

“What won't?” The question comes out as a whisper while I blink up at him in a daze, his proximity doing things to my body.

“Me never seeing you again.” He leans forward, his lips coming so close to mine I stop breathing in anticipation and confusion. “I don’t like that idea. Frankly, I despise it. You, Delaney, are becoming this fixation in my mind, a new permanent being. When I close my eyes, it’s your face I see. When I’m alone, and the room is quiet, I hear your sweet moans from the time when your cunt choked my cock as you came apart. Do I like that you lied? No. But that doesn’t matter now, does it? The damage is done, and I don’t think I seem to mind.”

“W-what?” I question, staring up at him in shock. “What are you talking about?”

“You will not be leaving my class. You will not be avoiding me. I am not done with you, Delaney. I am far from it. So, you're going to be a good girl and do as I say, do you understand me?”

“What is going on right now?” I whisper more to myself.

“What's going on is, you're mine. It’s okay, you can take some time to process this new change, but don’t take too long, Sweetheart. I’m not a patient man. And when it comes to you and my need to touch you...” He brushes his lips against mine, and I force myself to suppress a whimper. “To kiss you...” He sucks my lower lip into his mouth and bites down just hard enough to send a shock of pain right down to my clit. He steps forward again, bringing his hard length to my belly. “To fuck you.”

My brain goes blank, unable to think as my core heats. I’m so turned on right now I’m starting to question myself and my sanity. Do I even have morals anymore? Because I seem to be just tossing logic and the-right-thing-to-do out the fucking window at every turn.

“But I’m your student,” I whisper.

“Don’t care,” he murmurs, tilting my chin up so he can brush his lips up my throat.

My eyes flutter close, thighs clenching together. “I’m sixteen years younger than you.”

“Does being with an older man bother you, Sweetheart? Because you knew how old I was when you got on your knees for me like a good fucking girl.” He chuckles before biting down on my neck.

I’m unable to hold back the moan that slips free. “No.” I find myself whimpering.

“Doesn’t bother me. Not when it’s you.”

“It’s wrong,” my protest is weak.

“Not to me.”

“We could get caught.” My breathing picks up as he continues to suck and kiss my neck, making a mess of my panties.

“This isn’t my dream job, Delaney,” he murmurs in between kisses. “If I have to choose between the two, it will be you without a second thought.”

“We don’t even know each other. I have a lot going on in my life.”

“Then we change that. Whatever is troubling you, deal with it. I said I’ll wait until you're ready.”

“Kai,” I moan as he sucks my earlobe into his mouth.

“I fucking love my name on your tempting lips, Delaney,” he growls in my ear. “Now, be a good fucking girl and go sit down. Class is about to start, and I’ll be teaching a class with this.”

He grabs my hand and brings it down to the massive bulge in his pants.

“Fuck,” I whimper, the need to have his cock inside me again clouding my judgment.

“Later, but only if you're a very good girl.” He chuckles, stepping back. I didn’t realize I’d turned into a panting mess until I’m blinking the haziness from my mind. He yanks me into his arms before turning me around and pushing me forward. “Be a good girl.” He slaps my ass. “Go on.”

I almost stumble off the stage and over to a chair. What the hell just happened?

That sure as hell wasn’t how I expected this to go.

I came in here to drop his class, to apologize for causing him trouble, and he's... putting his claim on me?

What the fuck?

I don’t even know what to think or how to feel about this, especially since people start to make their way into the classroom.

Sitting there stunned, I just stare at him the whole class, unable to stop his words from repeating in my mind.

Do I even want him?

I almost laugh at the thought, because, of course, I do. He’s been consuming my thoughts and feelings just as much as Logan, Elijah, and Owen.

Kai’s words, his confession, have me filled with giddy pride the more I replay them in my mind. I shouldn’t, but I like the idea of this sexy, older man wanting me. His thoughts being consumed by me.

This is the last thing I need right now, but it doesn’t seem like I have any control over my life at the moment.