30. Monroe

THIRTY

monroe

I could think of a million better things to do on a Friday night than following Zepp through the crowded entrance of Dayton High's football stadium. Hendrix and Bellamy flanked Jade, Hendrix walking way closer than necessary. Half of the people in the stadium wore school colors. If there was one thing the people of this town had in common, it was their love of football. I was the odd one out, apparently.

"I swear," Zepp mumbled. "I'm gonna kill Wolf for making us come to this shit."

"You know, I would not have taken Wolf for a football player."

Zepp tossed his cigarette to the ground, maneuvering around a screaming child. "His dad played NFL."

"Huh." And now he lived in a trailer a couple down from my crack whore mom. That was what you called unjust.

"He got injured or some shit… Wolf only does it for his dad."

"That's actually kinda sweet."

We headed toward the stands, passing by the Barrington cheerleaders on the sidelines, all prettied up in their red-and-white uniforms. Several of them glared at me through the chain-link fence that separated the field from the track around the stadium. And, of course, smack dab in the middle stood Leah with her blond hair tied up in a bow.

"Hey, Zepp," she sang, giving a pageant queen wave.

Zepp didn't so much as glance in her direction.

But I smiled when I noticed the bump in her once-perfect nose. "You should probably get that broken nose fixed, Leah."

She glared at me with pure venom. Zepp snorted a laugh, and his arm came around me, squeezing me to his side as we continued through the cluster of people.

Hendrix and Bellamy stopped in front of one of the sections of bleachers. One glare from those two and the poor guys sitting on the stands grabbed their popcorn and shot up, hightailing it out of there.

The discordant rhythms from the marching band carried over the rumble of the crowd. Dayton's band sucked. God, how long was this shit going to last?

By the third quarter, Dayton was up by fifteen points, and I was bored shitless. Something must have happened because whistles blew, and Dayton's side of the stands went wild. The game paused, the refs were talking, and then Barrington's number twenty-seven sacked Wolf, laying him out on the ground. More whistles sounded and the refs moved across the field.

Hendrix jumped up, spilling popcorn all over the place. "That's bullshit! That's a penalty!" He grabbed his crotch. "Suck my dick, Barrington."

I breathed a small sigh of relief when Wolf climbed to his feet, grabbed the guy by his face mask, and threw him to the ground. Within seconds, most of the players had rushed the field, leading to an all-out brawl on the fifty-yard line. Hendrix let out something akin to a war cry, banging his chest before he leaped out of the bleachers, jumped the chain-link fence, and threw himself right in the middle of the fight.

"Shit," Zepp mumbled, swiping a hand over his face.

Shouting erupted a few rows back. A group of Dayton and Barrington guys started exchanging punches. Soon enough, little wildfires of fights between the two rival schools were popping up everywhere in the stands.

Zepp took my hand and pulled me to my feet, leading me down the steps, Jade and Bellamy right behind us. The farther away we got from the field, the quieter it was, the roar and rumble of the huge fight drifting away.

"What about Hendrix?" Jade asked.

"Why do you care?" I pointed at her. "You had better not even be considering his nasty dick, Jade."

She stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Uh, you're screwing Zepp."

"Hey!" Zepp swept a hand over his body. "I'm right here."

I glared at my friend again. "I'm not taking you to the clinic when you get crabs."

"Forget the crabs, man. Check this shit out!" Bellamy rounded the side of a gold ‘82 Challenger. The stadium lights reflected from the metallic paint. It was something a porn star would drive, but it was a nice car all the same. A classic. Bellamy caressed the lines of the hood with his palm "How much do you think we could get for this?"

Zepp went to the driver's side window and ducked his head to peer through the tinted glass. "The insides all ripped up." He circled the vehicle, dragging a finger along the side. "Got some dents. Scratches. But I bet we could get about eight grand." He glanced over the roof. "If we didn't get caught." The sarcasm in his last statement was thick enough to choke on.

I laughed when Jade shot a nervous glance at me. "Calm down. They aren't going to jack a car from a football game." I stroked a finger over the paint, before glancing back toward the stadium. "It is nice, though." The owner would probably be here any second, and a little chat couldn't do any harm. "Give me fifteen minutes."

Bellamy and Jade started toward his car, but Zepp stayed right there, glaring at me. "No," he said. "And don't roll your eyes at me. You're not taking that car."

"I'm not going to steal it right now. It's called groundwork, Zepp." I put my hand on my hip.

"Let's go." He started toward Bellamy's car, but I stayed back, my gaze darting between his retreating form and the Challenger. "Roe?" He stopped beside Bellamy's Civic, one hand on the open back door. I swore I could see his anger ticking up with each passing second.

My indignation bubbled to the surface. I flipped Zepp off and diverted my attention to the guy walking past Bellamy's car, heading straight for the Challenger.

"I swear to God, woman," Zepp practically growled.

Asshole.

The kid was only a few feet away. He had one of those preppy Barrington haircuts, but instead of the standard collared shirts, he had on a Yoda T-shirt. He definitely had to be one of Barrington's geeks.

He froze when he noticed me in the shadows, then slowly put his key into the door.

"Nice car," I said. When I stepped into the light from the streetlamp overhead, he dropped his keys.

"Uh." He cleared his throat, fumbling to pick them up and adjusting his glasses when he straightened. "Thanks."

"Maybe we could hang out sometime." I placed my back against the car parked beside his, keeping an eye on Zepp.

Psycho Sally stood halfway between Bellamy's car and me, a glare fixed on his face that might have worried me at one time.

"You could take me for a ride?" I said, flicking my attention back to Yoda.

His eyes went wide, mouth gaping. "S-sure."

"Great. I'll give you my number."

He fumbled with the phone before I typed in a name and number, then walked off with a little wave.

Straight toward Zepp, his arms crossed, jaw tense.

"You are stubborn as fuck," he said, falling in step beside me as we approached the Civic.

"Don't act like you don't like it."

We hadn't made it to Bellamy's car before my phone beeped.

Unknown: Hey. This is my number. I'd really like to hang out with you.

Zepp stopped and snatched my phone from my hands. The jealousy rippled across his face like a rogue wave. "You did not give him your phone number."

I snatched it back. "Not like I'm gonna fuck him, Zepp."

"I don't give a shit." He pointed an angry finger behind us. "He thinks you're going to."

"But, I'm not." I slid my hand over his chest, brushing my lips over his jaw. "Haven't we been over this? I'm never going to fuck anyone but you."

That seemed to appease the beast. The tension on his face softened—enough, and we climbed into the back seat of the car. "Never, huh?"

I stumbled for a second. I'd said that. Never. "As long as you behave," I said, skirting around the subject.

His gaze drifted to my lips before his mouth met mine. "I can sure as shit try." Zepp deepened the kiss, then suddenly pulled away. "What the hell, Bell? Don't throw shit at me!"

"Don't be trying to fuck in my backseat then! It took a steamer to get that jizz stain out your dumbass brother left in here."

I eyed the front seat. "Eww! Now I feel like I might get pregnant from the upholstery."

Jade looked over at me. "Really? This is going on"—she placed a palm up and circled it at us—"and you think the seat is gonna get you knocked up."

Bellamy cranked the engine and shifted into drive, pointing through the windshield. "Where the hell is he coming from?"

Hendrix sprinted across the parking lot. And not from the direction of the football field but from the woods at the back of the stadiums—wearing Barrington's number twenty-seven jersey. He yanked open the front door and threw himself in, just as the red and blue flash of police sirens appeared at the end of the road. They whizzed past us before taking a screeching turn into the school parking lot.

"Drive, dipshit!" Hendrix yelled, banging his fist over the back of the seat in front of him. "Drive."

"Jesus," Bellamy said, pulling away

Hendrix tugged at the jersey. "This smells like shit. You'd think with all that money they could buy better cologne."

"I'm curious," I said. "Did you just knock him out and start stripping him in the middle of the field?" The imagery was entertaining.

"I got so excited," he panted. "I think I blacked out." Hendrix was possibly a little insane.

By the time we pulled into Zepp's drive, the entire car reeked of body odor and feet from that damn jersey, which Hendrix refused to toss out the window. He claimed it was a trophy. How he managed to get into a fight full of football players and come out without a scratch, I'd never know.

Jade glanced over at me for a second before looking at Zepp. "Is Wolf coming back here?"

Hendrix spun around in the front seat. "Why do you give a shit about that dumpy fuck?" He snaked a hand down his body, rubbing over his crotch. "I got what you need right here, baby." He tossed his head back on a cackle before opening the car door.

I looked at Jade. "Just so you know, I approve of neither. They probably have enough STDs to stock a lab…"

She frowned at me. "Again. You're screwing Zepp."

Zepp climbed out, ducking his head to glare at Jade. "I'm clean as a fucking whistle. I get tested on the regular."

I groaned on my way out of the car. "Reassuring, babe."

"I mean. Not now… Just, you know." He shrugged a shoulder. "Before."

"Not the point," I said, waving at Jade as Bellamy backed over the overgrown lawn and pulled out of the drive.

Zepp's hand landed on my ass. "Never, right?

"You're hung up on that, huh?"

"Hell, yes, I am." His grip tightened. "Let's go fuck."

And just like that, my whole body lit up like Santa's grotto. We went straight through the front door and up the stairs. Zepp's shirt was off before we reached his room. The sight of all that tattooed muscle never failed to garner my absolute attention.

The bedroom door slammed shut, and within seconds, my shirt was on the floor and my back was against his mattress. Every touch of his hands sent heat tearing over my skin. I could never get enough of him, and it always felt like a dangerous rush. Like no one should want something this badly.

My phone beeped. Then beeped again and again. And again. I reached inside my bra for my phone, and Zepp groaned, adjusting his dick.

"Who the hell is texting you?"

I skim read the series of texts from the unknown number and couldn't help but smile. This would get a rise out of Zepp. "My new boyfriend."

On a smirk, Zepp placed his hands beside my head, caging me in. "That so?"

"Yep. Rich boy. Nice car. Bit geeky." My fingers trailed over each hard bump of his stomach. "Between you and me, I'm going to rob him blind."

His mouth worked over my throat to my collar bone. He yanked down my bra and traced a path over my skin with his tongue. "Too bad for him, huh?" He bit down on my nipple, the sudden sensation sending my back bowing away from the bed. "Maybe you should send him pictures of what I'm about to do to you."

"Poor kid would come in his batman boxers."

Zepp chuckled, his hands roaming over my body while my mind raced with thoughts about that car. About what stealing it could do for me. I'd never actually taken anything for myself, and I knew the money from cars could give me enough to leave The White Rabbit.

Zepp's fingers went inside my panties.

"I have a proposition for you," I said.

His thumb circled me in just the right spot, and I struggled to think clearly. "I bet you do."

"I'll get that car. You sell it. We split the money." The words were a rush.

He groaned when his fingers crooked inside me. "Didn't learn your lesson the last time you made a deal with me, Roe?"

"Didn't end so badly," I gasped, sinking my nails into his arms.

His movements grew more deliberate and determined until he pushed me to a point where words were no longer an option because my lungs were straining for air. I broke apart for him, the same way I always did, almost shamefully fast.

I waited until I could catch a breath. "So?"

"So what?" His hungry gaze locked with mine.

"Do we have a deal? Again."

"What?" He shoved his boxers down. "I'm not trying to talk about that shit right now; I'm trying to get my dick wet." He moved on top of me, and I placed my palms on his chest to keep some distance. I needed an out. From The White Rabbit. From Jerry...

"Yeah, well, I'm trying not to strip for rich guys who think twenty bucks is worth a grope."

His chin dropped on a hard breath. Then he moved off of me, flipping onto his back and staring at the ceiling. "Way to kill the mood."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes. "You don't want in? I'll take it and sell it myself."

"I want my dick sucked is what I want…"

"Well, you might have got it if you had just said yes."

He turned on the pillow to face me, one brow twitching. "I might would have said yes had you not brought up shoving your tits in guys' faces."

"Oh my God, Zepp." Sitting up, I glared at him. "I brought up getting out of it, you prick."

He moved, bringing his face inches from mine. "When I had my fingers inside you."

"You were done by then."

He pointed at his crotch. "Does that look done to you? Fuck my life."

"I'm sorry my problems are getting in the way of you blowing your load."

A look of disbelief crossed his face before his eyes narrowed on a groan. "You are fucking impossible sometimes, you know it!" He flopped back onto the bed, then fisted his dick. "Go ahead." He gave himself a few pumps. "Tell me about your problems, Roe."

"Fuck you, Zepp." I wanted to flick him in the dick. "Go spank one out like a twelve-year-old."

"This bother you?" He glanced down at his crotch, pumping harder.

"No." Truthfully, even though I was mad at him, there was something ridiculously hot about watching him stroke himself. Tattooed fingers wrapped around his dick, that little piercing making an appearance. Screw him for being so... him .

"Good." He closed his eyes, biting at his lip while he worked over himself, like he couldn't care less that I was right there. God, he was an asshole. I pitched up, tore off my bra, and straddled him.

"You about to dry hump my pillow like a twelve-year-old or what?" His brow lifted, his lips twitching like he was fighting a smirk.

"Fuck you." I grabbed a condom and slapped his hand away, rolling it over him a little harder than necessary.

A guttural grunt bubbled from his throat when I slammed down on him. "So angry," he said.

"I'm selling that car."

"Yeah." His fingers gripped my hips, guiding me over him. "I bet you are."

I raked my nails over his chest, leaving behind angry red lines while he thrust up against me. "You don't think I can?"

"Don't know. After all, you are just a girl, Roe."

My blood pressure spiked, and I wrapped my fingers around his throat. "I can do all kinds of things for a set of keys, baby."

Too far. His jaw set, and in one swift move, he had me underneath him, pinned to the bed while he drove into me like an animal. "You're not doing a damn thing for those keys."

I should have stopped, but I liked it—craved it even. "You think?" The two words fell from my tongue like a match to a pool of gasoline.

He shoved my knees back by my head until my muscles burned. "It would be stupid of you to." The headboard banged against the wall. It was raw and angry like he was halfway between wanting to kill me and fuck me. "You close?" he asked.

"God, yes."

"You wanna come, Roe?"

I grabbed at his ass, attempting to hold him in place. "Don't you dare."

He flipped onto his back, then placed both hands behind his head. "Work for it," he said.

I rolled over him, working him deeper. I could see the tight lines of restraint, the need to grab me and fuck me written all over his face.

Within seconds, warm heat flooded my skin. The rush of endorphins made my head light. I hadn't even started to come down before Zepp's hands clutched at my thighs, and he pushed up against me, a deep groan tearing from his throat.

We looked at each other for a moment before I climbed off him.

I was taking that damn car.