I Despise You: A Dark High School Bully Romance Page 9
“Okay.” I put one of the cards down at the same time as he does, and a small laugh erupts from his throat.
“What?” I’m so clueless about this he can probably trick me.
“See this red symbol? It’s stronger than mine. You win this one.” He catches the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head.
I stare at him, my mouth falling open, my gaze trained on the strong muscles of his chest. Heat fills my body, and I force my eyes up.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Whoever is out of clothes first, loses.”
My eyes widen. “What? No! You didn’t say anything about that! And it doesn’t sound fair.”
“You’ve been naked with me before.” He flashes me a smile. “And it’s totally fair. You can’t get out of the game now. If you do, there’s a penalty. Those are the rules.”
“What’s the penalty?” I narrow my eyes at him.
So much about thinking he’s nice. He’s an ass who just wants to see me naked. He lulled me into a false sense of security, and now he’s showing his real face.
I should leave.
“You automatically lose the game, so you need to take your clothes off.” His gaze travels down my body, lingering on my breasts, as if he can already imagine it all.
I glance down at my cards. Running out of here and telling him I don’t care about his stupid game is a nice option, but what if I can beat him at it?
“Let’s keep playing,” I say.
His smile deepens, and I hope he’s not going to find a way to cheat.
I’m either very lucky or Chase is going easy on me, but soon, he’s only wearing a pair of black boxer briefs. I do my best to keep my eyes up, but I can’t help but admire how hot he is.
I pick another card. Chase chooses his.
I stare at the cards. “I win?” I say tentatively.
It looks like I won, but in my excitement to do it, the rules have blurred in my mind.
“Yeah, you do,” he says.
I clap my hands together, letting out a small squeal, and then I catch Chase’s gaze.
Oh shit! He thinks I’m celebrating so much because I want to see him naked, and not because I’m thrilled that I beat him at his own game.
“You don’t have to—” I start to say.
“Nonsense. You won.” He gets to his feet, and just like that, he yanks his briefs down.
I’m so shocked that my eyes land exactly where they’re not supposed to—on his thick length. Need fills my insides, even though I try to ignore it.
“There’s also another prize for you.” He climbs on the bed, stalking toward me.
I want to back away, but it’s hard because of the position I’m sitting in. All I manage is to get my legs out from under me, but that also means Chase can reach me easier.
His hands grab my legs and he pulls me to him. His fingers send a wave of heat through me as they glide up my thighs.
Instead of closing my legs, I instinctively part them. My skirt rides all the way up. He rubs me through my underwear, and my thoughts leave my mind in an instant.
He hooks his fingers into the waistband of my panties and yanks them down my legs so fast that I can only gasp as the air feels cold against my scorching flesh.
His finger traces my opening, slipping inside. I cry out, but it’s out of pleasure.
“Mmm. So wet for me,” he says.
I want to tell him that it’s not like that, but I’d be lying if I said it.
He grips my thighs again and brings his mouth to my core. His tongue glides over my slit, lighting me on fire. He kisses my pussy as if he’s kissing my mouth, and his tongue pushes inside me, twisting and turning.
I can’t fight the sensations coursing through my body, and I don’t want to fight them. Chase’s tongue presses against my clit, his fingers digging into my thighs. His tongue flicks over my sensitive flesh until my whole body is tingling.
The rush that goes through me is so incredible that I’m unable to stop a loud moan from tearing its way out of my throat. My release spreads all over me, leaving me breathless, as Chase keeps teasing me.
A phone rings somewhere.
Its sound is muffled, but still loud enough. Chase lifts his head and lets out an annoyed grunt, his lips glistening with my juices.
“Sorry,” he says, pushing himself up and letting go of me.
I catch myself staring at his ass.
Damn, he’s just a hundred percent hot, isn’t he?
His phone is in the drawer of his nightstand, and his face grows serious when he sees the screen. “I have to take this.”
“Yeah. Sure.” I quickly tug up my panties, lowering my skirt. I’m not sure if I can walk, but this is my only chance to get out of here before things progress any further.
“You don’t have to—” He frowns at the phone, as if he doesn’t want to answer but doesn’t have a choice.
“Actually, I do.” My legs feel weird, but I take a few steps just fine. “See you later,” I say, grabbing my bag and books.
And then I’m out of the room.
I press my back against the door for a few moments. Chase’s voice sounds like a growl when he answers, but whatever he says later is too quiet for me to hear.
Shit.
Who is calling him and why? I guess I’m not going to find out.
Chapter 15
CHASE AND I GO TOGETHER to lunch a few more times, and we study together often too. It’s nice not to be alone, and maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like studying in pairs is better for me. It’s just easier to focus on work, even if Chase distracts me sometimes.
“Okay, I’m tired.” I sprawl on Chase’s bed and let out a sigh.
We’ve been studying for four hours, and my eyelids are heavy, a light headache pressing on my forehead.
I’ve been telling myself that I’m doing all this with Chase so he’d open up to me and tell me about the pills or maybe even about Kayla, but I think I’m fooling myself so I wouldn’t feel bad about having fun while I’m with him.
I should never forget that he may be playing me and acting nice just so he can get what he wants and break my heart, but some naive, dumb part of me refuses to believe it.
“Shit,” he says after glancing at the clock on his nightstand. “Time flies when you’re here.”
He catches my foot, his fingers rubbing gently, and it feels so good that I regret taking off my shoes because when he does things like this, I keep forgetting why I’m really doing all this.
His phone vibrates on the bed, and I catch the name that flashes on the screen.
Father.
Chase’s shoulder tense, but he snatches the phone, letting go of me.
“Father,” he says, his tone icy cold.
I can’t hear anything from the other end of the line, but Chase is silent for a while.
“Yes, I understand,” he says, and lowers his phone.
Now that was a short conversation. Very one-sided, too.
But maybe Chase didn’t want to say too much in front of me.
“Do you have an elegant dress or do I need to buy you one?” He turns to me, and my eyebrows shoot up.
“Um, I don’t. Why?” Elegant dresses tend to be way out of my budget, and it’s not like I have any special events to attend.
“My father just invited us to a family dinner. More of a party, actually.” His face is serious, and I don’t think he’s too happy about it. “He already called the school so that I and the girl I want to take with me have permission to leave the campus.”
“And you want to take me?” I don’t know why, but I’m glad his father doesn’t really know about me but has just assumed his son has a girlfriend.
It would be weird if Chase’s been talking about me with his family, especially when I haven’t told mine anything about him.
“Yeah. I want you with me.” He taps the screen of his phone a few times. “I’ll buy you a dress.”
“No, I don’t think I can accept—”
He turns the phone screen to me. A long, pale green gown looks amazing, but the price tag next to it makes my head spin.
“It’s too much. Maybe something more—” If he asks me to pay him back, I’m screwed.
I can’t afford it, and I have no clue if Chase knows that. Maybe he expects I’m rich, or maybe he knows everything and wants to humiliate me.
“It’s not.” He taps his finger over the buy button. “Done. It will be delivered to your room tomorrow.”
Shit. Maybe I can keep the tag and return it. I’ll just have to be careful not to stain or rip it.
“Okay, thanks,” I say.
But even though Chase is smiling, his eyes tell a different story. He’s upset about something, but I don’t know what it is.
“What kind of dinner is it?” I ask, unsure if I should even be at such an event, since I’m not exactly Chase’s girlfriend.
“Business stuff. But you won’t be bored. I promise.” He grins. “We can always sneak away too.”
“Will my mom be notified by the school about it?” I’d rather not tell her because she’d have too many questions that I can’t answer.
“Nah. Unless you want to tell her.” He shrugs.
Okay, one problem less.
I hate having to hide stuff from my mom, but if she knew the truth, she’d freak out.
And I still need to talk to her about what Brittany said, which I’ve been avoiding because my sisters are always around.
Meeting Chase’s family sounds fun. Maybe I can find out more about him that way.
THE DRESS COMES WITH matching high heels, and I’m shocked by the softness of the silky material. The high heels look uncomfortable, but they’re not.
A knock sounds on the door, and I open it. Chase opens his mouth, but he doesn’t say anything as he stares at me as if he’s seeing me for the first time.
His eyes take me in, and his silence makes me nervous.
“Breathtaking,” he says. “You’re going to be the most beautiful woman at the party.”
“Thanks.” I give him a small smile.
Somehow, in his black suit, he’s even more handsome than ever, his hair carefully combed but still messy.
He offers me his arm and I take it. We go to his car, and I’m not afraid at all. Even the school administration knows where we’re going. I’m not going to be in any danger.
Our ride takes about two hours, and when Chase pulls over in front of a five-star hotel, my stomach fills with uneasiness that screams I shouldn’t be here because I don’t belong.
I ignore it as the valet opens the door for me. Chase is quickly by my side, and I loop my arm through his once again as we make our way to the entrance.
I squint because the lights are so incredibly bright, and there’s too much gold color that shines even more. We go through the lobby and enter a spacious room with tables and a dance floor.
I feel Chase’s body go stiff, and I follow his gaze. He’s looking at a man with dark hair who is standing in the middle of a group of people and smiling while everyone’s attention is on him.
When the man’s eyes lift to us, he waves.
Chase audibly inhales before leading me toward the man.
“My son’s here,” the man says, opening his arms.
Chase steps away from me and lets his father embrace him.
Everyone’s looking at me, as if they’re trying to figure out who I am. It’s like they’re judging every breath that I take.
“This is Liliana,” Chase says.
“Nice to meet you.” His father offers his hand to me, his gaze scanning me up and down.
His face stays cordial and smiling, and I have no clue what he thinks about me. But it doesn’t really matter.
As someone asks his father something, Chase catches my hand and pulls me a little away from the group, and I’m grateful about it.
I don’t think I’d be able to keep up a conversation with rich businesspeople, unless they only ask me about school.
Chase grabs two glasses of champagne from the tray that a waiter is carrying, and he hands one to me.
I raise an eyebrow at him. We’re too young to be drinking, and we’re surrounded by adults, including Chase’s father.
But no one even blinks when Chase downs the contents of his glass.
“I didn’t know you had a son,” someone says.
Chase presses his lips into a tight line.
“Oh, yes,” his father says. “He lived with his mother. I wanted to keep his existence a secret until he’s a bit older. You know how paparazzi and the media can get. I didn’t want my boy to suffer because of my work. He deserved a happy, worry-free childhood. But now he’s almost an adult, so I think he’s ready to be introduced to the world.”
Chase pulls away from me, dumps his empty glass on a nearby table with so much force it’s a surprise it doesn’t break, and storms off.
I put down my glass too and go after him. I have no idea where he’s going, but I don’t want to be all alone and surrounded by strangers. It’s funny that I feel safer with Chase, but it is what it is.
I follow Chase all the way to a terrace. He leans on the railing, his shoulders tense, his head bowed.
“Hey,” I say softly. “Are you okay?”
He turns around. “No, I’m not.”
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s lying,” Chase says. “He’s a fucking liar.”
“Your father?”
He nods.
I place my hand on his arm, rubbing gently.
“He would’ve never taken me in if he’d had a choice,” Chase says. “But my mom killed herself just as I was supposed to start high school, and I had no other family except for him. First he sent me off to school so he wouldn’t have to deal with me, and he forgot all about me. Until I became the best student and he realized he could use that to his advantage. Now he’s pretending he’s doing everything for me, like some super dad or something.”
“I’m sorry.” I have a feeling the woman in the photo I found in his drawer is his mother.
“Don’t be,” he says. “I just miss my mom so much.”
“I know the feeling. My dad died when I was young. I still miss him every day.” The corners of my eyes get teary a little.
“At least you still have your mom who actually cares about you.”
“I do.” I lean closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I can’t wait to finish school. I want to go to college and leave all this mess behind. I don’t care if my father has other plans for me. His image is the only thing that matters to him anyway.”
We just stand there like that for a while.
“Chase!” His father’s voice cuts through the silence a moment before he appears in the doorway. “Come inside. I’m sure your beautiful friend would like to dance.”
I want to say that’s not how I feel, but Chase’s father leaves before I can do it.
“I’d like to dance with you.” Chase smiles as he takes my hand.
Dancing it is, then.
We go back inside. The dance floor is already filled with couples, and Chase and I find some space for ourselves.
My lips part as Chase snakes his arms around me, and I stare into his eyes as I wrap my arms around his neck.
Being in his arms feels nice and warm, and safe.
I know it shouldn’t.
But I can’t change how I feel.
I’m beyond messed up, I guess.
Now more than ever, I hope that Chase didn’t kill Kayla, and that what’s going on between us isn’t fake.
I don’t know why I even want any of that. It’s not like there can be anything between Chase and me.
Why not?
It looks like we’re not from two completely different worlds, if Chase used to live with his mom. Maybe he wasn’t always rich. Maybe it’s all new to him too.
Or he hates it.
But I can’t forget what he did to me. Any of it.
I can’t lower my guard around him so much, even if I want to.
Chase’s lips shift closer to mine as he tilts his head, and I don’t turn my head away when he presses his mouth against mine. His kiss becomes hungrier, deeper, and I forget we’re not alone in the room.
Someone clears their throat, but Chase keeps kissing me, and when we finally break apart, his lips are red from my lipstick, and he’s smiling.
It’s such a beautiful smile that it makes him even hotter, and it feels so real.
I press myself close to him again, wondering if maybe I should just talk to him and clear my doubts.
Chapter 16
VANESSA POKES HER HEAD through the door of her room the moment I walk out of mine.
“Hey, Lil,” she says. “Got a sec?”
“Yeah. What’s up?”
“Is it true you’re dating Chase?” Her brow is creased, her gaze hard.
“I... I don’t know.” I could tell her the truth about what I’m doing with Chase, but what if it turns out to actually be a lie?
Even though I hate to admit it, I’m starting to like Chase, and if I find confirmation that he’s innocent, then maybe he and I can work through all the other issues.
I don’t know how Vanessa will feel about that, and I don’t want to get her excited about my plan and then disappoint her if I decide to trust Chase.
“I know he’s hot and charming, but he’s always like that when he wants something. You should be careful. He’s never really dated anyone for real, but he still enjoys breaking naive girls’ hearts. He’ll make you think you’re special, but you’re not. You’re just like all the other girls to him. Once he uses you, he’ll leave. Or worse, he’ll kill you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” Most of the time, anyway.
“I hope you do.” She sighs. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know.” I smile, because I don’t know what else to do.
“Okay. See you in class.” She goes back to her room and closes the door.
I’m on my way to the classroom when I spot Brittany and Chase. She’s talking to him with a sly smile on her face, and my insides clench.