“I won’t say anything!” she practically wails. “What would I gain by doing something like that?”
“Getting rid of me and my friends from school so you don’t have to deal with us ever again. Sounds perfect, right? Don’t bother denying it. I can feel your hatred for me emanating from your body.”
The bill rings, the sound faint since we’re so far from the building, and she jerks against my hold. “Let me go. We have class.”
“We can be late.”
“No.” She shakes her head, her soft hair brushing against my chin. “I’m never late. I don’t even skip.”
“Yes, actually, you do. We all witnessed you leaving Skov’s class early yesterday,” I remind her.
An irritated sound leaves her. “That was different. And all your fault, I might add.”
“I’m not responsible for your actions.” I caress her tit, my touch extra gentle, noting how she slowly melts against me. “Like I said, we need to strike a deal, little birdy.”
“I’m not striking anything with you. Let me go.” She stomps on my foot again, surprising me. A yelp escapes and she breaks free, running away from me, never once looking back.
I watch her go, ignoring the pain throbbing in my toes, focusing on the erection I’m sporting thanks to having Wren’s sexy little body rubbing against mine for the last five minutes.
Hearing her confess that she both hated and liked what I said shocked me.
That’s something I’m definitely going to explore further.
ELEVEN
CREW
By the time I’m walking into seventh period, I spot Wren sitting in her usual spot, front and center, her head bent, her long hair covering most of her face. I pause in the open doorway, studying her. Everyone is talking. Laughing. Except Wren. She just looks…sad.
Defeated.
Alone.
Her obvious pain is a heavy weight on my shoulders and it annoys the shit out of me. I’m responsible for it, and normally that sort of thing wouldn’t bother me, but come on. What the hell did Wren Beaumont ever do to me?
Not a damn thing. Her mere existence annoys me, but that’s not reason enough to torture her.
Or is it?
Jesus. I am seriously fucked up.
I walk past her, not saying a word, making my way to the back of the classroom and plopping my ass in my usual seat. Ezra is already at his desk, Natalie perched on his knee, eating him up with her sultry gaze while he sits there like a dumbass and basks in it.
Knowing how Natalie operates, I don’t trust her motives. She wants something from Ez. That’s the only reason she’s paying attention to him.
“Crew, oh my God,” she says when she spots me, rolling her eyes as she turns on Ezra’s knee to face me more fully. “Are you bored yet?”
With this conversation? Hell yes. “What exactly are you referring to?”
“Working with the virgin. I’m sure you’re hating every second.” She points at Wren’s back. “I cannot stand having Sam as my partner. He’s so boring. He drones on and on. Talks about stuff I don’t even understand.”
That’s because Sam is brilliant and Natalie is an idiot. Not that I can actually say that to her. “Sam is a smart guy. He’ll ensure your grade is an A for the project.”
“Ugh.” Natalie leans her head back, her gaze meeting Ezra’s, the two of them smiling. “I’d much rather work with you, Crew.”
“What about me?” Ezra wraps his arm around her, resting his hand on her stomach, the bold motherfucker. “Wouldn’t you rather be my partner, Nat?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Not even.” She shoves his hand away from her and rises to her feet, coming to stand in front of me.
This is what I don’t like about Natalie. She’s a tease. When I wasn’t around, she’s perching her ass on Ezra’s knee and probably giving the poor fucker a boner. The moment he tries to be a little forward with her—and she was giving him all the signs that he had permission—she acts like he’s a disgusting perv and pushes him away.
I believe every woman has the right to say no—even Wren. I was just fucking with her at lunch, not that she’d even know the difference.
Natalie is constantly testing that line, trying to cross it and then running back on the other side when shit doesn’t go her way. It’s exhausting. And dangerous.
A weary sigh leaves me when I realize she’s not done with the conversation, and I tilt my head back, meeting her gaze. “What do you want, Nat?”
“Come with me and talk to Skov. I know you’re miserable with her as your partner.” She tips her head in Wren’s direction. “I bet if the both of us went up there and pled our case, Skov would listen.”
Probably not, but it could be worth a try. I know Wren would breathe a sigh of relief, not having to deal with me anymore. Getting away from her would also probably ease my frustration level.
And my new urgent need to jerk off every night in the shower to thoughts of Wren on her knees with those pink lips of hers wrapped around the head of my cock.
Fuck, I could give myself a semi just thinking about it right now.
“I’m not switching partners.” My voice is firm.
Natalie’s mouth hangs open. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you enjoy working with the virgin.”
“Quit calling her that,” I say irritably.
“What? It’s the truth! Isn’t she a virgin?”
“Yes. I am.”
Oh shit. Looks like Wren came over to join the conversation.
Natalie just stares at her, a faint sneer curling her upper lip. “What are you doing here?”
“If you’re going to talk about me, then maybe I should be in on the conversation.” Wren crosses her arms in front of her chest, plumping up her tits and giving me plenty to stare at.
“You weren’t included in this conversation in the first place,” Natalie mutters.
Wren stands up taller. “Then I’d suggest you stop constantly putting my name in your mouth.”
“Whoaaaa.” Ezra draws out the word, practically bouncing in his seat with excitement over the potential girl fight.
Natalie’s gaze flicks to mine. “Aren’t you going to tell her to go sit back down or whatever?”
“No.” I barely look at Wren as I lean back in my seat, my arms up, hands behind my head, clutching the back of my neck, as if I have all the time in the world. “I think she’s got a handle on this.”
Natalie shoots me a dirty look before returning her attention to Wren. “Are you telling me that Virgin is your name? Because that’s all I ever said.”
Wren’s expression turns dark. She’s mad. And I don’t blame her. Natalie is being a total cunt. “Quit talking about me, Natalie.”
“Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it if I don’t stop?” Natalie taunts.
“I wouldn’t go there if I were you,” I murmur. Both girls glance over at me, Natalie’s eyes flashing with annoyance. “I have a few—things on you, Nat.”
Naked photos she sent to me in the past—that she’s practically sent to every guy on campus. A video of her puffing away on a vape at a party last year. Another one of her getting thoroughly fucked by Malcolm, though I never watched it.
Malcolm made sure we all got a copy, of course—though I’m not too sure if she knows he made it. He got the idea from another guy in our class who does the same thing. So fucking sleazy.
“Are you serious right now? You’re actually taking her side?” She waves a hand in Wren’s direction.
“You put her on blast, I’ll help her do the same thing to you.” I shrug. “It’s as easy as that.”
Natalie doesn’t say anything, but she’s visibly trembling. With fear. With anger. Maybe a combination of both. “You’re an asshole.”
“That’s old news, babe. Tell me something I don’t know.”
With a huff, she turns and walks away, plopping into her chair a couple of rows over with an extra loud, “Humph.”
Malcolm chooses that moment to enter the classroom, his gaze zeroing in on Wren standing by my desk, his eyes narrowing.