Chapter 17

Reign

The student body is cowering every time they pass me in the halls of this fucking hellhole of a school. Word has spread that I have it out for whoever thinks they can mess with my girl. It hasn't taken long either. Within days of telling Leif to put the word out, I've met with several male students at the rink. Which is an abandoned outside rink just off the school grounds and surrounded by trees. A hidden trail is needed to get there. They know to keep their mouths shut about what happens out there, but it can only be hidden for so long. Beating the fuck out of other students is not something I should get caught doing, but I will destroy anyone who doesn't take my word seriously that Riley is off-limits to them. I'm surprised she hasn't caught on to the many students bruised, broken, and a few who have dropped out since my vendetta would include their whole families, just like Hunter Tomichos. She hasn't even noticed my scraped-up knuckles or the slight shiner I'm sporting under my right eye where some punk almost got the upper hand on me a week ago. The same night she was being tormented by one of the few people who stayed by her side before he moved schools at the beginning of high school.

I should have taken action against Blade Meyer a long time ago. For some reason I felt like she needed someone and I never bothered. Except now I know he kissed her back then. Before moving and cutting off contact with her, his lips touched hers. For that I want to end him alone. Then Carter told me more happened the other night at the diner, and I missed it because I had an appointment at the rink. With his warning, I've been trying to gauge Riley's mood ever since. Nothing has changed much. In public, she acts like we're friends, no matter how much I touch her or keep her pinned to my side with my hand wrapped possessively around her waist. In private, her defenses drop and she's all over me as much as I am her. In those times she can't get enough of my fingers, my tongue, my dick, bringing her pleasure over and over again. I'm fucking irritated that she wants to hide it, whatever this is between us. Once I've efficiently beat it into everyone that she's mine then I'll make her see she has nothing to fear.

My vendetta is working against all the assholes in this building, but I also have enemies outside of this town. And Blade just became enemy number one.

"How's the burrito?" I turn to my pretty little puck slut, who's shoveling another piece of school lunch in her mouth. With her mouth full, she glances at me and narrows her eyes. I'm sure it's supposed to look menacing, but I smile instead.

I wait for her to chew and swallow, taking a drink while I do, and catching her hand in mine to wipe it off. Flecks of sour cream are dotted all over her knuckles. "You're so endearing, covered in food, babe."

"I told you it was safer to let me eat in peace, Reign."

"Not going to happen," I respond, bringing her leg closer to mine, under the table, and brushing her hair behind her ear. "I like seeing you go caveman on your meals."

"You're so weird." She snorts a little, something else I shouldn't find attractive, but it's Riley. "Coach Silver has been upping our off-ice conditioning. I'm usually freaking starving by first period. Having to wait until lunch time should be a crime."

The smile falls from my lips. I do remember hearing her stomach growl in the last few classes. "I'll bring you a snack tomorrow."

Her large hazel eyes turn to mine and I read the appreciation in them before she drops my gaze, and her cheeks heat pink. "Thank you. How's your shake by the way?"

I tilt the strawberry concoction in my hand and swirl it in the glass. "Not the same as the diner. The lunch lady lied."

This earns me another laugh from Riley. "You'll have to get a real one, a good one this week. Maybe after your game?"

"Are you asking me out, Riles?" I lean into her and watch the flush on her cheeks deepen. Her eyes flick around to see who may be listening to us.

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"You can ask me out, babe." I slip my arm around the back of her chair. "I'd never say no to you. Plus, I owe you a date."

"You owe me a date?" Her brow rises while she takes another bite. She hasn't frozen up or tried to shrug my arm off, so I keep it there. Taking it as a sign, she's getting used to me.

I nod to her question. "Yeah. For helping me study the other night. I passed that test with a perfect score."

"Oh." Her shoulders hunch a little. "So all our scores we're based on yours as the highest?"

"And yours." I lean in until our faces are only inches apart. "I saw your score too. Your marks are just as good as mine."

Riley drops her eyes and turns her body away from me, trying to put distance between us. She opens her mouth to say something, but we're interrupted when Carter, Leif and a few others who drop down at our table. They keep talking, not paying us attention, but I'm already losing her. Riley is trying to pull away from me. My hand lands on her thigh and I yank her closer. Her eyes widen in surprise and her hand flies down to mine, stopping it at the edge of her skirt.

"Reign," she warns me, and I love the way she licks her bottom lip nervously.

"I almost forgot to tell you. I'm going to Michigan over winter break to check out the school and the off-campus apartment my parents are chipping in for."

"What does that have to do with me?" she asks, her focus back on me as it should be, ignoring everyone who doesn't matter at the table.

"I want you to come with," I explain, moving my arm to the back of her chair and stroke her shoulder where it meets her neck, before cupping the back of her neck with my whole palm.

Riley's lips part, but her body doesn't relax again until my fingers run over that beating pulse point. "You want me to come with you?"

"Mmhm," I agree, my lips pulling into a smile while watching her melt under my touch. "I figured we could do the holidays with your dad then you can come with my family and me to check out the school. Plus, I need your input on which furniture to put in the apartment. My mom wants to know what to buy us."

"Us?" She squeaks and the look on her face would almost be comical if her resistance to what I was telling her wasn't so near the surface.

I should have waited to have this conversation in the privacy of my apartment or her dorm room, but I'm tired of hiding. Everyone knows she means something to me. They don't need to know the depth of my obsession but it's pretty obvious. To everyone except the girl of my affection apparently. "Us, babe. Bigger picture remember. You need to set your goals higher."

Her eyes stay connected with mine and a myriad of emotions from fear to hope pass through our connection before Riley shakes her head, breaking the spell I'm weaving for her of our future. "Maybe, Reign. I haven't talked to my dad yet. I'm not sure what our plans for the holidays are."

Not wanting to press my luck too much, I let go of her leg, but I keep my grip firmly around the back of her neck. "Okay, babe. Ask him and let me know what he says."

Seemingly satisfied, she takes another bite of her lunch and I take a drink of the imposter shake. I really need to rectify this and get one that matches my craving. I catch Carter's questioning look and decide it's time to let Riley face the music. I need to know what that asshole Blade said to her. We play their team coming up soon and I'm itching for his blood.

"Are you going to tell me what Meyer said to you or keep protecting him?"

Riley rolls her eyes and I see her shoot a look at Carter for betraying her. He only winks in response. "It's not a big deal."

"It is, Riley. Carter said when he interrupted that you looked upset."

"I was handling it," she grits out, turning her full attention back to me. I see the flash of defiance in her eyes. "I can stick up for myself. I'm a big girl, Thorn."

My jaw clenches. Even though I'm insanely turned on with her taking charge and not being scared of everyone who gives her a hard time, she shouldn't have to. Blade never should have intercepted her in the first place and I can only guess what type of shit he was spewing to her.

"I know you can protect yourself but you shouldn't have to. What did he say?"

Her eyes narrow. "You really want to know?"

I nod. Carter and Leif's conversations drop off slightly and I know they're paying attention too and trying not to make it obvious. Judging by the way she pushes back her tray and sits back in her chair, crossing her legs and folding her arms over her chest like she's going to a formal meeting, she has something important to say.

"He apologized for not reaching out when he moved and leaving me at you and your minions' mercy. He said he was sorry."

"Bullshit," I respond, feeling the anger rise up in my chest. Forget beating his ass on the ice at our home game, I might just kill him instead.

"Why? Because he apologized? It's more than you've ever done." Riley pushes back from the table and grabs her tray. I watch her as she walks to the garbage and dumps her things. I'm ready to grab our bags and join her when her phone vibrates on the table. I glance down. Guess Meyer's ears must be ringing. I can't believe Riley left her phone off private for anyone to read her texts.

BLADE: I'm serious, Ri. I do want to talk more. There's a party after the game this week. You should go with me.

Over my dead body.

I watch her walk back over and grab her bag and phone while ignoring me. It's cute that she thinks I'll leave her alone. As if her words hurt me enough to make me give up the obsession I have with her. I watch her walk away and out of the cafeteria before getting up myself and grabbing my own tray. My eyes never leave her, the primal instinct to chase her down is tugging at me. After dumping my garbage, I trail her down the hall. Only when she glances back at me, and realizes she's in danger, does she speed up. I jog to catch her, grabbing her elbow and pulling her with me into the nearest abandoned classroom.

"Reign—"

"Oh no, babe. You don't get to get away from me."

"You can't be upset that I told you how it is," she responds, arms firmly at her side even as I back her into the wall.

"I apologized too. I already told you I would fix everything else. You're also here with me now," I remind her while grabbing her hips in my hands. Fuck I love the feel of her in my grasp.

"For sex," she claps back and I feel those two words hollow out my chest.

It's fine if that's what she has to tell herself; we both know it's not true. Maybe at camp things were on the rocks, but since then, it's become more about sex between us. I'm also not a gentleman who's going to back off and abstain from being inside her because she said it. Smirking down at her, my hands move under her skirt and slide along the silky skin of her thighs, my fingertips brushing against the edge of her lacy underwear. Riley's hands grip mine, over her skirt, her eyes meeting mine. I revel in the way her chest rises and falls, the blush on her cheeks and the way she's biting her lip nervously. She can't make up her mind if she wants to let me continue or stick to her previous statement.

I decide not to give her the option. My lips crash down on hers, making the decision for her. I claim her, possessively and demanding, feasting on her and breathing her in like she's the last breath I'll ever take. I push her into the wall and her body springs back into mine. My hand slides under her underwear and against her pussy, cupping it until she cries out into my mouth. Only then do I pull back slightly, both of us breathing hard.

"This is more than just sex, Riles. You know it and I know it. Maybe it started that way at camp or even when we first got back, but ever since that night I made you mine, all bets were off."

I watch her blink away the tears from her eyes, see the way she thinks hard about us and everything that's happened.

"Our history isn't pretty, babe. It can never be changed. I know that and I'm sorry. It is going to get better though. I want so much more from you than just this." My heart thunders in my chest as I slowly slide a finger inside her wet heat. She gasps and her gaze shoots to mine. Her eyes are dazed and shining. "I want all of you, Riley Conrad. So here's what's going to happen. I'm going to make you come, so you can feel how serious I am about you, then I'm going to fuck you like I own you and you'll understand that there is no stopping you and me. And afterwards, you're going to pull out your phone and text Blade back that you're with me and he needs to fuck off. He doesn't stand a chance. I will destroy him if he keeps messaging my girl, trying to get with her."

"Reign." She calls my name softly, her breathing picking up while I'm driving her closer and closer to her peak. My palm grazes her clit as I pump fingers into her over and over, curling them to hit that spot I know will set her off.

"Yes, Riles?"

"You have to stop, what if we get caught?"

I laugh, before bringing my lips back down to hers, kissing her thoroughly. "If you want to stop me, you're going to have to scream. We both know you don't want me to stop, babe. I can feel the way your pussy squeezes my fingers, sucking them in deeper. You're going to come all over them. I want your juices running down my hand." I shove my fingers deeper one final time and she does come, biting her lip even while her moans leak out. One of her hands tangles in my hair, sending shivers down my spine, and the other grips my suit jacket in a death grip. Her eyes are hooded, but I don't let her break eye contact with me. I love watching her face when she comes, love knowing I made her feel that good.

Before Riley can come back to herself or try to stop me for real, I withdraw my fingers and spin her around, bending her over the nearest desk. I waste no time kicking her legs apart, moving behind her, and working her underwear farther down her legs.

"Reign, you have to hurry or we could get caught." She twists in my grip, her head turning to the side as much as she can with my hand on her back, holding her down. My lips tip up, hearing the needy, desperate note in her voice now.

"Mm, making you come first always turns you into such a good girl." I rub my hand over her back and see goosebumps break out over her skin.

"Reign, please." She moans, her back arching slightly. Her voice edges on being panicked but also filled with lust.

I guide my cock between her legs before shoving inside her, filling her up in one brutal plunge. "Fuck. You're fucking perfect, you know that?"

She whimpers, her fingers curling over the edge of the desk while I rock into her steadily, bracing one hand on her hip and moving the other to grab a fistful of her hair with the other.

"Oh god, Reign."

I groan out loud, thrusting into her harder, feeling her pussy pulse and squeeze my cock. "I need you to come again, babe."

Her hips tilt up, allowing my hand that was on her hip to slide under her skirt and rub her clit, eliciting another moan from her lips. I should probably cover her mouth. We're in an abandoned classroom, but it's still during the school day hours. Being caught wouldn't bother me, but I know it would hurt Riley. The last thing I want is for her to think I would do that to her or allow her to be in a position for it to happen. "You feel amazing, Riles. Come again for me, soak my cock for me, babe. Own me like I own you."

Riley shatters beneath me, her hips grinding, while breathy little cries for more pour from her lips. I slam into her over and over, prolonging her release while chasing my own. I let myself push as deep as I can get, before coming hard inside her.

We're both breathless and panting hard and as much as I want to collapse on top of her, we have more pressing issues. "As much as I wish I could stay inside your sweet pussy all day, we need to get you cleaned up before the lunch bell is over and the classrooms start to fill up."

"Oh my god." She pushes at me, and I slide out of her, immediately hating the space between us. I grab some Kleenex off the teacher's desk and help clean her up, bringing her underwear back up her knees and covering what's mine.

Riley runs her fingers through her hair before pulling out her ponytail and re-tying it up in a top-knot. I run my own hands through my locks before straightening my tie again. "We look like we fucked. This is hopeless."

I laugh at the look of despair on her face. "It's not terrible. You look like I made out with you for sure, but half the students coming back from lunch look like that. Let's get out of here though."

I usher her out of the room, taking her hand with mine and relaxing once she tightens her hold. We manage to make it to our lockers and get what we need for our next class. No one says anything or stops us and slowly Riley comes back to herself. I let an easy smile play on my lips. At the door of her class room, I stop her and pull her phone from her blazer jacket.

"Text him."

Her eyes widen and she takes the phone from me. "You're serious."

"It's more dangerous for him to keep contacting you, babe," I deadpan. Her eyes narrow.

"I already told him I wasn't interested and that the past is the past. He's doing this to get a rise out of you."

I shrug. "And I'll show him just how wrong he was when we meet on the ice later this week. In the meantime, I want him to know that he failed to lure you in. You won't be by his side when I knock his ass out at the game."

Riley's eyes drop to her phone and she types out a response, lets me read it, then hits send. Smirking, I pull her in and drop a kiss on her lips. She's too stunned to move when I take her phone and effectively block his number before deleting the message chain.

"Thorn."

"Bye, babe. I'll see you after class." I wink at her while she huffs and crosses her arms. My feet take me down the hall, and it isn't until I'm halfway to the next class do I realize I'm still smiling.

Riley: There is nothing to say. Don't contact me again.

She was cold and straight to the point in her message to him. I couldn't be prouder. And the stirring in my heart is making me realize I am falling in love with Riley Conrad.