29. Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Eight

I n retrospect, this is the last place I should have run to. The police station would have been a better option, considering I've ended up in jail anyway. Despite his broken nose and general foul mood, Wyatt has finally taken my safety seriously - and I hate him even more for it. I'm certain the huge planner now situated on the kitchen wall, detailing every aspect of my life, is more to taunt me than aid me.

For the past week, seeing us through to fall break, Dax has escorted me between classes. Huxley drives me anywhere else, whilst rotating with Axel to watch me during ballet practice. Garrett is my lunch-time buddy. I've grown morbidly fascinated by the way he swallows without chewing. It's like watching a colorfully-tattooed pelican who's never tasted carbs before. Wyatt has been…around, unfortunately. We haven't had any real interactions, but I've been forced to watch every basketball practice and suffer his presence at meal times. I do have my own bedroom though, so that's eight hours a night without being loomed over.

And there's now. A Sunday study session for everyone ahead of assignments due next week, mine and Dax's included. Five additional chairs have been set up around Wyatt's large desk in the study, with him in the large leather chair in the center. I tap my purple highlighter aside my head, proofreading through Dax's half of our essay while he does mine. Then we'll swap back and amend where needed. I'm halfway through a yawn when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Sneaking it out of my sweatpants, I peer at the screen beneath the table.

Meg: ‘Got them to break their pact yet?'

I suppress a sigh and a smile, shooting back a message that says I'm working on it. Two damn weeks in this testosterone-filled house without my vibrator and some dumb pact they decided to make without consulting me. Sure, I could look elsewhere but I essentially have four cockblocks surrounding me at all times. And let's be honest, no one else in the vicinity can compare .

"No phones during study time," Wyatt remarks in a clipped voice. I roll my eyes and pocket my phone.

"I can't help it when some guy decides to slide into my DM's, and ignoring his dick pic would be plain rude." Shrugging, I put on my best puppy-dog eyes. Wyatt's nostrils flare. The other pens and fingers typing at laptop keys around the table have gone still. After a beat, Wyatt dismisses me.

"Sure," he returns to his MacBook screen. The light illuminates his annoyingly handsome face. "After you've left the study, message whatever simp you like. I just figured you had a little more tenacity than that." My blood starts to boil, the way it always does around Wyatt. Oh, I have tenacity alright - the bruising lingering on his jaw is a testament to that.

"You don't know anything about me," I huff with unspoken weight behind my words. Wyatt catches on though, his gaze spearing me in an instant.

"I know enough. Perhaps whoever is distracting you from your studies will entertain your fanciful ideas of candlelight and flower petals, but they won't get your ass to graduation. That'll take hard work. A lot of hard work," he drawls the last part. I don't let him rattle me in the way intended. Instead, I chuckle into my drink, tipping my head back to take a long, refreshing sip from the can. When my gaze returns to the table, five sets of eyes are glaring intently at me.

"What's so funny?" Wyatt says through clenched teeth. I raise a brow, feigning innocence and go back to my work. Usually, if you ignore idiots, they leave you alone. Not here, apparently.

"Speak your mind," Wyatt demands and slams his fist on the table. I blink up at him from beneath my lashes. "You don't think this imaginary guy will actually care about you, do you? He'll take your virginity and brag about it to the world. Then what? I'm left to face the cameras and press while you tuck your tail between your legs. I don't fucking think so."

My highlighter pauses mid-sentence, bleeding through the paper. Why would Wyatt choose now, of all times, to decide to be a brother? I look at the others, curious as to whether they all think the same. From the desperation and pity in the rest of their eyes, apparently they do.

"Now isn't the time to stay silent. Go ahead and tell me you're waiting for the one or something equally pathetic." Wyatt closes his MacBook and interlinks his fingers over it. He thinks he has been backed into a corner of his own creation. Ironically, this is the longest Wyatt has ever spoken to me, and he's never been more wrong.

"I don't…" I let my voice trail off. Everyone leans in, although I don't think the rest are hoping for the same answer as Wyatt. Either way, neither are getting it. I lean back in my chair, chilled as a freaking cucumber. "I don't know how I'm supposed to lose my virginity twice." Garrett whimpers. Full-on whimpers like a caged animal while Axel's eyes close briefly. Across the table, similar reactions on biting knuckles or rubbing napes are taking place. And then there's Wyatt. The only sign he gives that he actually heard me is the cracking of his knuckles.

"Who?" His voice is dangerously low, his head turning to assess his friends. I wrinkle my nose.

"Why the fuck do you care?"

"I care because, as I was led to believe on the weekly calls from my mom, you never left the manor. So that means you've been screwing around at my college. Potentially, my house." He picks up my purple highlighter and snaps it in half for dramatic effect. The others are now looking at each other accusingly. The air grows tense while all I can think is, this is quickly becoming ridiculous.

"Not that I need to explain myself to you, but I was often home alone and Meg would bring friends over sometimes," I purse my lips. My omission is for the rest seated at this table, blowing their bullshit pact to smithereens. The vein at Wyatt's temple looks like it's about to break free and punch me in the face, while his jaw ticks and I figure I've come this far. I might as well hammer the last nail into the coffin and finish this with the final say .

"Don't worry, Bro . I never fuck where I sleep. I used your room for my sexcapades. You always did have the best mattress. Did, being the operative word - it's rather dented now." Dax clears his throat, trying to catch my attention. His hand is slyly cutting a line over his neck in a ‘ Stop. Stop now, ' gesture. He clearly doesn't know me very well.

"So," Wyatt rolls his neck as if trying to choose the right words. He fails. "You're not the frigid little introvert I was led to believe." Perhaps that was supposed to hurt me. I raise one shoulder, putting my notepad into my backpack. Zipping it loudly, I grab the strap and stand.

"At least I'm not living up to my cliché. You, however," I smile across the table. "You are exactly the spoiled-"

"Do. Not. Finish that sentence," Wyatt growls. I lean forward on the desk.

"Selfish-"

"I'm warning you, Avery," he pushes to his full height. The shiver I get at the way he growls my name is too good to deny.

"Arrogant," I over pronounce every syllable. Wyatt's hands are fisted on the mahogany wood. I lick my lips, allowing him to break eye contact and track the movement. Parting my lips for an entire breath, the room falls still.

"Brat."

Wyatt moves before I can track him, vaulting himself onto the desk. I squeal, dashing for the door. A body beats me to it and I freeze in shock, blinking up at Dax. Pale blue eyes hold a hint of frustration. His hand closes around the handle, twisting and throwing it open. Grabbing my nape, he all but shoves me into the corridor and slams the door just as Wyatt collides with him. I stall, stunned by the commotion taking place inside the study before I remember I need to move.

My socks slide on the marble flooring, causing me to crash into a wall. Footsteps thunder behind me. I use the banister to slide down to the lower level, making it all the way to the front door. Throwing it wide, I'm two steps out on the porch when hands simultaneously clamp over my mouth and around my throat. I'm dragged inside kicking and struggling, then turned sharply towards the coat closet. The firm body behind me is forceful in shoving me inside.

"I've got you. Trust me." The deep rasp of Garrett's voice mutters in my ear. I stop struggling, knowing he should be the last person I trust - but he isn't. Garrett may be reckless, but he's never given me a reason to be wary of him. Yet. Pulling the door mostly closed, a strip of light streams inside. I fall still as figures rush through the lobby, temporarily stealing the light. They race outside, Wyatt's commands fueling the stampede .

"They can't be far. Find them!"

Garrett chuckles at my back, slowly releasing my mouth. "I love it when he uses his angry voice. Don't you, Peach?" To prove his point, he pushes his hardening cock against my ass. "Be a good girl for me and cum before we're discovered." I don't get any other warning.

Garrett strips my sweatpants and panties down to my ankles and his tongue dives into my pussy from behind. My hands fly out to grip the door frame, a silent gasp on my lips. Garrett's large hands cover my ass, my ankles locked in place by my pants. I arch, eagerly trying to guide his tongue to the bundle of nerves fluttering for attention at the front. The more I tilt and direct, the more Garrett pulls back.

"You're infuriating," I mutter.

"He really is," a reply comes, but not from inside the closet. I realize the light streaming in has been blocked permanently, the outline of Axel's shaved head standing beyond the door and facing the lobby. He's guarding us. Listening to us. The thought makes me wetter as Garrett's fingers toy with my ass, his tongue running a smooth path to and fro. He strokes me languidly, teases incredulously, but never enters. I groan and he laughs.

"Don't you like my punishment of choice?" he murmurs against my inner thigh.

"No," I huff and he suddenly bites down. I jerk, the pain shooting directly to my g-spot. Kissing the same spot, Garrett moves towards the other side .

"You have no idea how hard your attitude makes me." This time, I'm ready for his bite. He's marking me. Staking a claim. Returning to my wetness, Garrett doesn't hold back anymore.

His arm winds around my hip, fingers seeking out my clit. I part my legs as much as I'm able, allowing his tongue to spear me. I lose all sense of gravity, my entire existence based on the tongue thrusting in and out of my cunt, the fingers vibrating over my clit and the man beyond the door intently listening in. There's no being quiet now, the moans flood from me as I grip the door frame like a lifeline. I break apart, arching my back in an attempt to suffocate him. Something tells me this is Garrett's ideal way to go, consuming my cum as I shatter into a million pieces. I grow limp from the force of it, my forehead pressing against the wood. Vaguely, the fabric of my panties are eased up my legs and pulled high over my hips. I gasp at the tightness against my throbbing pussy, Garrett's clenched hands holding the straps in place.

"Wait, I thought…" I gasp, my mind catching up with me. They know I'm not a virgin. Surely these games no longer need to be played. Garrett chuckles, his jaw leaning on my head as he apparently reads my mind.

"Not yet, Peach. Not like this. I may not be bound by Dax's stupid pact anymore, but I've waited this long. When the time comes for me and Axel to fucking destroy you for any other man, it'll be strung out over an entire day and night with intermittent naps. You'll wake to a cock sliding between these pretty lips and fall asleep with one buried deep inside of you." I shudder as Garrett's index finger brushes over my mouth and briefly dips inside. "When you go to bed tonight, I want you to touch yourself thinking about us."

"Okay," I breathe, my voice husky and eyes unfocused as I lean against him. "But I've taken to crawling into Huxley's bed when I'm lonely, so he might get the wrong idea." I'm spun so fast, if he wasn't holding me, I'd have toppled over. Axel moves for the crack of light to reappear over Garrett's face. His smile is so wide, so predatorial, I feel the physical burn within. I'm playing with fire. But then he kisses my neck and moves his mouth towards my ear.

"Let him."