I listen as the cheery Christmas music blasts throughout the house then groan as I text Jackson that I’ll be down in a minute. I showed up at this party for the sole purpose of making a few hundred in a race. Jackson and I are not friends, but we met through a mutual acquaintance. I’m supposed to race none other than Ryker McMills. My victory will be that much sweeter now. What sweet and naïve Shawna didn’t see was that Ryker knew she was standing over by the mistletoe and he made sure that his ex, Allison, was watching. She never stood a chance. What Shawna has yet to grasp is these people are never going to welcome her. This is my fifth school, and let me tell you, they’reall the same. Doesn’t matter the size of the school or the location. There’s theitcrowd and then there’s their subjects, their victims.
I’ve bounced back and forth between my parents and my grandparents. Nobody can handle me, or rather, no one wants to put in any effort to try. I’m back with my mom, but we’ll see how long it lasts. Between knowing I’ll be leaving soon and how ridiculous these little school cliques are, I prefer to keep to myself. I reach out only when I see an advantage forme.Like this race providing me with cash. Now why I’m sitting in this frilly bedroom while a quirky girl washes the spiked fruit punch off herself, I’m not sure. There’s nothing for me to gain here.
I’ve been watching Shawna Dukes, since last year when we had English together. Despite my best efforts to ignore everyone, the one girl everyone else seems capable of ignoring, I can’t take my eyes off of. There’s a sweetness to her. A light that shines brightly and her eyes are always filled with hope and wonder. She’s like the essence of Christmas year-round. Always merry, always bright.
To see someone so pure and sweet being used as a joke infuriated me. If I’d been downstairs, there’s no doubt I would’ve knocked Ryker’s teeth out, and then those two that dumped the spiked punch on top of her while she was already down… They would’ve paid dearly. They still might. I haven’t made up my mind how involved in this I want to get.
The bathroom door opens. Shawna pokes her head out, her hair wrapped in a fluffy white towel. “Um, Zane?”
I can only see her slender, bare shoulders and by the blush creeping up her tiny neck, she’s nude. My dick stirs. Shawna isn’t my type. She deserves flowers, chocolates, and a halfway decent guy. If Ryker didn’t deserve the sweetness from her lips, then I sure as hell don’t. I’m not sure if I’m worse than him since I wouldn’t have pulled half the shit he’s done, but I’m far from adecent guy. I guess it all depends on your moral compass which one of us is the bigger asshole.
“Is there a problem?”
“Kind of. I forgot to grab any clothes…” She looks on the verge of tears, so I hurry off the bed. “It’s just, you walked in, and it freaked me out. Then I just wanted to get clean and wash off the humiliation. Now…I can either come out in just a towel…it’s just – just- ugh – why can’t I stop sayingjust.”
She’s so fucking adorable that I can’t hold back a chuckle. Her big doe eyes shoot to mine. “It’s just too much, huh?”
Her lips quirk in a smile. “I like your laugh.” She bites her bottom lip. I don’t think she meant to say that out loud, but I’m glad she did. It’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.
I clear my throat and look around the room. “I can either turn around and promise not to peek while you look for something…or a horrible decision would be for me to try to find you something…”
“No, I’ll come out. It might not be appropriate for you to look through Cam’s intimates.”
Intimates?“My eyes are closed.”
“Put your face in the pillow.”
“What?”
“Your face. Put it in the pillow. I’d feel better.”
Groaning, I turn around. Since there’s nowhere else to go, I sit on the edge of the bed and shove my face in one of the throw pillows. The door creaks and then I sense her tip-toeing across the room. A few drawers open and then the screech of hangers sliding on the rod. I sense her movement again, but then hear her gasp. There’s a tumble, and before I can think better of it, I raise my head.
“Are you okay?”
My eyes take in her bare legs and travel up to a pair of lace panties only on one leg. The towel barely covers her most private area. I struggle to control my breathing and focus on the fact she’s on the ground. I stand up and the sight of her, lying below me and looking up at me with those gorgeous, big brown eyes almost brings me to my knees. A towel barely covering her and panties halfway down her leg, it’s like a wet dream come to life.
“I fell.”
“I see that.” I force the words out, because I’m trying desperatelynotto be hard in front of her.
“I was trying to put on…” she swallows, “I was trying to get dressed while walking. It didn’t work out. I fell.” Her eyes squeeze shut and her lips thin at her stating the obvious, again.
“Do you want me to help you?” Her eyes shoot open wide and her entire body begins turning pink. “Get up, I mean. Help you stand up.”
She releases a laugh. “Of course. I knew what you meant. Actually, if you could just turn around and allow me to pick up whatever dignity I have left, that would be great.”
I nod, and do as she asks. The sound of Shawna’s little feet scurrying to the bathroom makes me chuckle again. When she walks out, I’m floored by how incredible she looks. The clothes she’d been wearing earlier hid her curves. This outfit hugs her in all the right places. She’d washed her face, and I assume she had to use Cameron’s makeup. It suits her better. Her eyes are smoky like Cameron’s, but Shawna doesn’t wear the colors as heavy. The burgundy lipstick accents the delicate curves of her lips. Son of a bitch. I’d come in here to protect her from those dogs outside. But who is going to protect her from the wolf that’s now locked inside with her…?
Chapter 3
Shawna
I feel silly wearing Cameron’s clothes and makeup. However, the thought leaves my mind when I see Zane. He’s looking at me like I’m his present, and he’s ready to unwrap me. The room suddenly feels smaller, or maybe he feels larger.
“Let’s go.” He clips. His mood has taken a very dark turn. Zane’s long legs charge toward the bedroom door. The poor door hadn’t done a thing to him, but he throws it open with such force I jump. I’m surprised it didn’t come off the hinges. I quickly catch up to him and place a hand on his arm. The muscles tighten beneath my touch and I look into his thunderous eyes.Why is he so angry?
“Hey, I wanted to say thank you.”
