CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
When I woke later, I rolled over and looked down. Two more condoms had joined the first one on the floor and then I heard his chuckle behind me. His hand rubbed at the bottom of my back and massaged its way up to my shoulders. He sat forward, landed a kiss on my shoulder bone and scooted to the backboard. "You think I'd forget those puppies?"
I glanced back. "I did."
He grinned and stretched with a big yawn. "Those things are like putting on pants. I'd have to be drugged to forget 'em."
My shoulders sagged forward when I heard his sentiment. Some guys wouldn't agree, but I was relieved to hear his viewpoint. Then I yawned as well. "What time is it?"
He shrugged. "I could sleep the rest of the day. Good sex does that for me."
A different tingle shot through me at his words, but I frowned. I didn't want to dissect any of it and then I glanced at the clock. My eyebrows shot up. "It's six o'clock. Oh my god. I have to get out of here." I started to throw back the covers to scramble out.
"Why?" His hand caught me around the waist and pulled me backwards. His body curled behind me and he wrapped both arms around me.
Warmth and a frenzy of desire were starting to build again, but I clamped my legs shut and turned over. When he gave me a lazy grin, I smoothed a thumb over his forehead. Then I leaned close and kissed both of his closed eyelids before I whispered, "We have to get up or everyone's going to know."
He chuckled. The sound of it teased against my collarbone. "Everyone probably does."
I groaned and pushed him away. Then I did scramble out of his bed. "I hope not."
"What are you doing?" He patted the empty spot next to him. "Come back to bed."
I grimaced, though I wanted. I wanted badly, but I shook my head and threw my top over my head. "For my sake, I can't."
"Your sake?" He sat up again and frowned as he ran a hand through his hair.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm your stepsister. I'm sleeping with you. Do you realize what kind of a reputation I'm going to get?"
He crossed his arms over his chest and I averted my eyes when his chest muscles protruded out. Heavens, that boy…
"I didn't even think about that."
"Yeah, well, think about it." I gave him a short wave. "I have to go."
When I shut the door, his laughter followed behind and as I soon realized I had no idea where I was, he had reason to laugh at me. Three doors later, four hallways, and another two sets of stairs I pushed my way through a last door to find myself beside an indoor pool. Who had an indoor pool? My goodness.
And then I looked up and the incredulity of the situation died down.
Logan sat on the other side with some of his friends and Mark Decraw.
My inner claws came out.
"Hey! How did you get there?" Logan waved me over.
Everyone else looked up. Most of the guys were friendly. Most of the girls'
weren't, but it didn't matter. As I drew closer, I ignored the knowing smirk on Logan's face and studied Mark's reserved one instead.
"Where have you been all day?"
"Huh?" I looked down.
Logan rolled his eyes. "You've been missing in action since this morning. Most people took naps, but they didn't sleep the whole day away."
I shrugged. I couldn't peel my eyes off of Mark, whose eyes were directed anywhere but at me. "I don't even know where I slept. I never found my room."
He whistled. "Are you serious? I was sure I saw Mason showing you."
My hand clamped down on his shoulder and he winced, howling under his breath. "Remove the claws, Sam. Seriously."
I forced a laugh from me. "Ha ha…ha, Logan."
He rolled his eyes again. "Your friends are on the bottom patio outside. I know that's where you'll be the rest of the night."
I gave him a thankful grin and started forward, only to stop and look back.
"How do I get there?"
Mark stood and pointed through a doorway. "You go through there, up the left stairs and the door will take you to the kitchen. The patios are out from there."
I narrowed my eyes at him. Why was he being helpful? Did he not know of his mother's intentions? I knew I should've thanked him, but I clipped out, "How's your mom?"
He frowned. "She's fine…Why?" His eyes seemed wary.
I shrugged. "No reason."
Logan's gaze had been skirting between us with a frown on his face. A look of frustration passed over him. "Where's Mason, Sam?"
I jumped. "Why would I know?"
"You saw him last?"
I looked away and cursed when my face went in flames. "I have no idea. I've been asleep the whole afternoon."
"Uh huh. Right."
When I glanced back, I was grateful to see that only Logan studied me. He gave me a tight smile and I knew that he knew. Guilt and anger coursed through me, but I frowned back at him. Then I stuck my tongue out at him before I pushed through a set of doors that led where Mark had told me to go.
When I pushed into the kitchen, so many people poured everywhere. No one looked at me and I got an extra bounce in my step from that. No one cared.
That was good, very good. And I meandered through to the patios. From the top, I looked down and my eyes went wide again. When Logan said my friends were on the bottom patio, he'd declined to tell me there were six different patios. There were walkways that connected them and each patio was set beneath the other one.
When I got to the bottom, that patio was settled between a tennis court and a sand volleyball court.
Who were Nate's parents and what did they do for a living?
"Sam!" Becky saw me first and pumped her hand in the air. The fierceness of her movements sent most of her drink over the glass' edge that she held in her other hand. Amelia White scrambled up next to her and brushed frantically at her lap.
As I approached, she had snapped something at Becky, who didn't seem to care as her grin was etched from ear to ear. She pulled over an empty seat next to her and shoved it out to me. "Here. Sit here."
I sat.
Amelia scoffed and rolled her eyes as she moved a seat away on the other side of Becky. Her two other friends, Miranda and Cassandra both gave me polite smiles before they sipped their drinks. Adam was surrounded by Peter and a second guy that I didn't know. He looked like the Academy Elite, preppy and stuck-up.
"Where did you go?" Becky gushed. "I didn't know you ran. Adam said you went running. How far did you?"
I shrugged. "Far enough."
"That's so cool. You should go out for cross country. I bet you'd be awesome at it."
Adam gave me a biting smile. "Did you rest up this afternoon?"
I wanted to glare at him, but I held back and took a breath instead. "I did.
You?"
Cassandra laughed shrilly and placed a hand over his. She gave me a forced smile. "Oh, you wouldn't believe how long he napped."
I frowned. "I wouldn't?"
"No." She heartedly shook her head. "Not at all, not one bit." Then she wiggled two fingers at me. "You're so secretive, Samantha. We had no idea you liked to run."
My eyebrow shot up. "Well, how could you? We've been such great friends since…" I waited a beat and gave my own forced laugh. "Oh, that's right. We're not friends."
Her smile clamped up and she glared instead. "You don't have to be mean."
I smiled back. "Why not? It's so much fun."
Becky gasped and patted her chest in an exaggerated fashion. "Could this be?
Has Cassandra Uppity met her match?"
She turned her glare on her and an added coldness sparked in her depths.
"Watch it, Sallaway. You're two steps from being ousted at school."
Becky seemed to purr in her smile. "Adam's been my neighbor all my life.
We're good friends too."
Cassandra's eyes were sharp. "I don't see him defending you right now. Two steps, outcast, two steps and your humiliation is all mine. I like to serve my dishes best cold."
Becky lifted her hand and pretended to claw her. "Retract 'em, beeotch. We all know what they say about felines."
"What?"
She seemed to search for words. "That…they're the female version of the human species: catty, moody, and sneaky."
"You're a girl."
Becky shrugged. "I'm more a dog."
The smile on Cassandra's face was the crème of the crème and she leaned back. "You're right. You like to bound around looking like a fool most of the time when everyone knows you're just panting for any scraps from your master. You're low class, Rebecca. You used to accept it."
Becky turned green and looked away. I leaned forward, not sure what to do, but Adam remarked as he continued to lounge back in his chair, "Sullivan, chill."
She glared at him. "Why?"
He stared her down. "She's my friend."
She rolled her eyes and harrumphed before she shot from the table and stormed away.
Becky looked back up from her lap. A small smile started on her face. "Did she just leave?"
The other two Academy Elite females didn't say a word, but shared a look.
I frowned at that. What did that mean? And then we were all distracted when two new arrivals showed up. They were by the beach and paused in clear view from the mansion's top decks.
I sighed.
Tate and Tanya had arrived.
Both looked stylish, dressed in tight khakis and tank tops. Tanya's blonde hair was in curls as it lay past her shoulders and Tate's hair was swept up in some French-twist thing. I didn't know what it was, but it looked sophisticated.
Adam shot forward, but he didn't stand from the table. He raised his hand.
Tanya spotted him and gave him a bright smile and a wave in return. She started for him until Logan stepped in the middle and swept a hand around her waist. He pulled her close and seemed to whisper something in her ear. Tanya laid a hand on his shoulder and frowned, torn at some decision. When he continued to whisper and his hand started to massage her waist, she melted into him. Her head rested on his shoulder and Logan met my gaze with a brief flash of triumph before he took her hand.
Tate stood behind them with her mouth on the floor. One hand was poised on her hip.
As Logan whisked her away, no one said a word until Cassandra choked on a laugh. "Did that just happen?"
I did a double take. When had she come back?
Becky was quiet as she cast nervous glances at Adam. Her hands were in her lap and I watched as she kept twisting them together. When I laid a hand over them to calm her, she gave me a nervous look but pulled free. Her eyes never left Adam.
I sat back with a frown on my face.
Adam shrugged and looked away. His jaw clenched. "It doesn't matter. She was his before anyway."
"Yeah, but…" Cassandra bit out another laugh. She wiped at her mouth. "I can't believe I saw that. I love the Kade brothers. Man!"
Adam frowned at her.
She raised her hands in the air. "Did you not see that?"
"Thanks for your support." Adam shoved from the table and stalked away.
Becky went with and Cassandra snorted in disgust as she folded her arms over her chest. She stuck her chin out to glower. "Whatever. It's not my fault he's stupid enough to go after some tramp the Kades had first. You'd think he'd learn, wouldn't you? I mean, first Ashley and now Tanya…who else?"
My chest was tight. My hands were in fists, pressed on my lap. I didn't know what I was going to do, but I knew I was angry about it.
Miranda said in a soft voice, "Shut it, Cass. You're not helping."
Cass lifted a rebellious chin. "Not helping who? Or what?"
"Anyone." Her leader gave her a pointed look before she seemed to melt back in her chair.
"Look." Amelia pointed and we all turned.
Tate stood in the middle with her arms crossed over her chest. Her two bags were beside her. She stood alone, but she raised her chin and looked around.
When her gaze met mine, I felt seared by it. Her eyes narrowed and I felt that she wanted to come over and say something. And then Mason stepped out from some corner.
All eyes went to him.
Tate turned towards him.
She seemed to be waiting, but he didn't do anything. He looked at her, then looked at me, and left.
His gaze scorched me as well, but Tate turned towards back to me. There was a question in her depths and I gulped. I knew I wouldn't be able to hide from her for long.