Hell House: A Kildale Academy Novel, page 18
I could correct him. Hell, I could defend myself, but this arrogant mother fucker thinks he has some claim on me, just because we kissed a few times? I am not in the mood for alpha male bullshit. I decide to grab a water out of the fridge just when I see the man I met in the library a while back emerge from the living room, looking freshly put together and extra delicious.
“Emmet?” I squeak out as he peruses my bare legs. I feel my face flame with embarrassment as he stalks closer.
“Salem, Salem, Salem. What happened to the rest of your clothes?” His buttery southern voice growls out and it takes everything in me to remain cool and collected like I didn’t just have a mini orgasm from the way he said my name.
“I had a rough night.”
Pierce scoffs audibly to which I roll my eyes at him.
“I was wondering if you’d like to take a hike with me today? Maybe down to the beach? They have kayaks available to rent.” Emmet asks.
“Oh dude, that sounds like an awesome time.” The elusive Sloan says as he wanders into the quickly overcrowded kitchen. “We should definitely go before the weather turns.” He yawns out.
Pierces’s eyes bore into me, waiting for my answer.
“Hey, wildcat.” Walker says, wrapping his arms around me from the back and giving me a hug. Kill me now. Emmet tracks the familiarity of Walker’s movements with a frown puckering his beautiful face.
“We’re going kayaking?” Graham says maneuvering his way to the stove. “Why so many people in my kitchen, huh?”
“Hey, Graham, do you need any help with that? Oh, hey Salem!” Skye says walking up to me. “Where are your pants?”
“I had a nightmare last night and slept walked into the basement. I was just heading up to get some pants on when all this chaos decided to stop me.” I say. Pierce overhears me and flashes me a look of surprise before he excuses himself from the room.
“Well, run upstairs. I’ll save you some eggs and then we can talk about last night.”
“So… kayaking?” Emmet asks, looking like he’s lost his footing.
“Sounds great!”
“Kayaking!” The guys around us cheer. I look to Skye, and we share a laugh. I hightail it up to my room and change.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Skye
On all my adventures with my dad, we never once tried kayaking. Salem is just as lost as I am, while several of the guys grab all the gear. I’d helped Graham pack snacks into something the guys were calling a ‘snacklebox’ which looked suspiciously a lot like a fishing tackle box stuffed with charcuterie like snacks.
Sloan drops his gear and begins stretching out in several yoga poses.
“What are you doing?” Emmet asks, clearly agitated that his idea to go kayaking was hijacked. He fits himself with a lifejacket, accentuating the broadness of his shoulders.
“You ready for this?” Salem asks holding onto her paddle that ends above her head. She’s wearing some borrowed sweats and her hair is tied up in a high pony.
“Not in the least.” I tug at my lifejacket that wraps around me like a corset, pushing my boobs up uncomfortably.
Walker comes around putting his arm around Salem’s shoulders. “Do you want to ride with me?”
“Oh! Um.”
“Actually, I invited her out and was hoping she’d accompany me.” Salem looks between the two devilishly handsome males who are vying for her attention.
“You riding with me, blue eyes?” Graham asks, juggling his backpack full of food.
I give him a smile, “Sure.”
I was surprised when he’d shown up last night at the Battle of the Bands, asking to dance with me instead of being at the frat party. We’d had so much fun, laughing and dancing together until my legs could no longer handle even one more song. He’d graciously walked me back to the house, making sure I had a piece of cake before I went up to bed. Lukas was fast asleep in his bed by the time I crept in.
Things with Graham were fun and easy as opposed to how crazy Lukas drove me sometimes. I mean he had my panties in his hands! I feel my face warm as I think about how he felt with his hands on me, teasing me, violating my personal space. I didn’t exactly hate it. Gah. I shut down my thoughts about Lukas and focused on the man in front of me.
We carry our two-person kayak down to the water meeting up with the group. Salem chose to go in a single instead of choosing between Emmet and Walker. That girl had so many eggplants pointed in her direction it was unreal.
We get into the kayaks and follow the guide who sets an easy pace for beginners like Salem and I. She takes to it easily, whereas I send Graham and I into a circle before finally finding a good rhythm. The sky is thankfully clear today, devoid of it’s usual doom and gloom I was slowly becoming accustomed to. The wind was absent, making for an easier time on the water. My shoulders and arms start to burn the longer we paddle along the coast. Since the day is clear, I’m granted a gorgeous view of the high cliffs dotted with foliage. There are several twisted trees with bright orange bark that a younger version of myself would have loved to climb. The group is quiet considering how boisterous they tended to be. They each seem lost in their own thoughts the closer we get to the first stop. Possession hosts tons of caves and inlets that are hidden from plain sight. Rumor has it that pirates used them to their advantage as hideouts and a place to burry their treasure. The guide fills us in on local lore while pointing out several groups of wildlife. An eagle dips into the ocean ahead of us, snatching a large fish that fights with all of its strength to be dropped. But the talons are in too deep and the fish stops flailing as the eagle flies off into the trees with it’s prize. The sight fills me with sadness, even though I know it’s the way of the world. As we paddle closer to one of the caves the guide begins to tell us of a local legend, similar to the one Salem told me about a few weeks ago.
The guys seem to shift uncomfortably as he talks.
“We could skip this stop, don’t you think?” Sloan pipes up.
“Yeah, I second that. I’m not tired, we can keep going.” Graham agrees from behind me.
The guys all nod in agreement, but the guide isn’t budging. “Sorry guys, you might not need a break, but we have two first timers here and I’m not as young as I used to be.”
They seem to silently communicate to each other across the water, I catch Salem’s annoyed expression.
“Well, I’m down for a break. My arms are shaking.”
That seems to settle it, all of us working to push our kayaks up to a flat part of the beach that sits right outside of a massive cave. I pull out my phone from my waterproof pocket and snap a picture. I’m already picturing how I could recreate this on canvas. The deep gray spikes hang precariously from the mouth of the cave almost resembling a large monster’s teeth. I can see why a place like this would garner a host of myths around it. It looks perfectly ominous.
We pull our boats out, setting our oars down out of the way of the incoming tide. I join Sloan in his stretches no longer finding them so crazy now that my back and arms burn. This place had a habit of pointing out all the ways I wasn’t as fit as I thought I was.
“The trick is to use your breaths.” Sloan says, coming over to adjust my poor attempt in copying his yoga stance. “Now really sink into it here. Tighten your core. Yes. Now breathe in. See the difference?” His hands linger on my hips as I stretch. I catch Graham’s eyes on me, taking in Sloan’s hands on me. I stand up and thank him for his help, smiling at him. He’s cute in a hipster woodsman kind of way. It was absolutely working for him. He goes to lay down next to a patch of sandy grass, putting his hat over his face like an old man. I join Salem on a picnic blanket, Graham lays out the box of snacks he packed having the other guys hovering close by. They seem deep in conversation, Emmet and Walker giving several glances at the mouth of the cave.
Salem too, seems unsettled. Giving the same area a look of concern. I feel like I’m missing something. I pop a salty olive in my mouth with a frown. This outing is far more subdued than I thought it would be. Maybe they’re all just tired from the past couple of days. I know I’m still a little sluggish from last night’s excursion.
“What’s up with you, Salem?” I ask taking a piece of cheese spread and placing it on a cracker.
“This place. I don’t know. It feels weird.”
“How so?” Emmet says taking a spot next to Salem on the blanket and snatching a small sandwich.
She shifts, biting her lip. “I don’t know, it just… It feels like I’ve been here before.”
I don’t miss the way Graham, Walker and Emmet all seem to zone in on her. I look at the guys wondering what’s up with them and why they wanted to avoid this place so much. Almost like… this place meant something to them. And maybe not in a good way.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Salem
I’m lightly sunburned and completely wiped out by the time we make it back to the house. The guys perked up after that weird stop at the cave. That place made my skin crawl, but also it almost called to me, like I needed to walk straight into the darkness and see what was waiting for me. I couldn’t shake the sense that I ‘d been there before, as crazy as that sounds.
I climb up the steps to my room, feeling dead on my feet. I wish this place had a bathtub that I could sit and soak in and forget about the craziness of the last few weeks. But no. All that awaits me in the bathroom is a sausage fest that I’d learned how to avoid seeing surprise penises. It was worse than the DM section of my Instagram in there. If I woke up early enough, I could sneak in a shower before it became eggplant city. But now? I need a shower desperately after kayaking around the island. My arms and back feel like they’ve been put through a meat shredder, then sewn back onto my body. I want nothing more than to pelt my skin with hot water until it’s an angry pink and my fingers are pruned.
I peel off my sweaty clothes and pile them into the small laundry basket I have stacked next to my bed. I wrap myself in a white fluffy towel and head down to the bathroom. I listen at the door, thankful that it seems empty. Most everyone else is still downstairs talking about the pod of whales that popped up next to our boats. I was slightly worried we would have a Moby Dick moment, but they passed us without taking us down. The wake they left though had managed to flip the guide’s kayak. Thankfully Walker and Emmet were able to turn him right side up. And fine, yes, I absolutely ogled their muscles as they worked him right side up. It was hot. But I was starting to feel like a shiny new toy amongst some of the guys. All testosterone and seconds away from peeing on me to mark their territory. No thank you. I made my own rules. I wasn’t one to be tied down to one guy.
I start the shower up letting the water fall over me, my towel hung up on the hook outside the stall. The soft consistent pelting of warm water over my skin is just what I need. I let myself drift, not paying attention to how long I’ve been here, just the sensation of water running over me.
“Salem.” My eyes fly open at the sound of Pierce’s voice on the other side of the curtain. I can see his outline as he drags a finger along the seam of the plastic. I’m certain the opaque covering isn’t hiding much of my naked outline.
“What are you doing here, Pierce?” I ask, far breathier than I intend. He grips the edge of the curtain with his fingers. My heart races wondering if he’s going to yank it open.
“I want to see you.” His voice sounds tortured, and shit does it affect me. He’s waiting, I notice, for my response.
I wait a beat before I croak out, “Okay.” I’m not sure he heard me, when he rips open the curtain, eyes roaming over my wet naked body. He steps in, closing the curtain behind him, crowding me against the wall of water cascading over me.
“You’re beautiful.” He exhales.
“And you’re fully clothed.” His socks are soaked through. I spot a large bulge straining against his gray sweatpants, obviously happy by what he sees.
“Can I touch you, Salem? I feel like if I don’t, I’m going to die.”
“That would be a tragedy.” I say working my fingers over my body, spending time to circle my pert nipples. He follows the movement.
“Please.” He growls, his green eyes almost eaten up entirely by his blown-out pupils.
“I’m not your girlfriend.” I say, waiting for his agreement.
“What would you rather be?”
“Not sure. What can you offer me?”
He palms his cock, pulling it out for me to see it’s length in its entirety. The sight of it makes me salivate, but I don’t dare admit that I’ve thought about what it would be like to have that in my mouth. In my body.
He’s bigger than I’ve ever seen, and I don’t know if I could handle how girthy and long he is. I wasn’t just appeasing him by telling him he had a monster cock. It was an accurate assessment that has me missing my vibrator.
“I’ll let you touch me, on one condition…”
His eyes flare, “Anything.”
“You can only use your mouth and hands.”
He scowls at me, but yanks his clothes off, tossing them over the top. His socks land with a wet thwap onto the tile. He moves towards me like a predator, joining me under the shower head, making his dark blonde hair look almost brunette.
“This doesn’t make me yours.” He growls at my declaration before slamming his lips on mine. I feel the length of him bobbing against my stomach as he tilts my head back, deepening our kiss. God, he drives me fucking crazy. I already feel myself getting wet and not from the shower. He cups my breasts leaving nibbling kisses down my neck until he sucks in one of my pink nipples.
“You’re fucking driving me insane.” He says as he drops my breasts, cupping my ass with one hand and spreading my slit with his other hand. “Is this all wet for me, baby?”
I nod, aching for him to touch me. He drops to his knees.
“I don’t kneel for anyone, Salem.” He licks my clit with a rough sweep of his tongue.
“Then what are you doing down there for me?”
“Fucking worshipping your pretty cunt.” He sticks a finger into my sex as he lays a sloppy kiss over my sensitive clit, pulling it into his mouth by his teeth.
“Oh fuck.” I hitch one of my legs over his shoulder, letting him have better access which he makes perfect use of by slipping in two more fingers and assaulting my clit with his talented tongue.
“Come for me, Salem. Come on my face.” He says slapping my ass as he buries his face right between my legs. I work my fingers through his wet hair, as my orgasm builds. I squeeze my legs around his head as he sucks my clit right as I’m about to explode, he slips in a fourth finger and has my entire body shaking with release. I scream out, lights flickering above us as I come hard all over his tongue. He lets go, and I’m a puddle of sensations. Barely able to stand up. He grips my hips as he stands up, kissing my stomach on his way.
“Baby.” He says leaning over me. His mussed hair dripping small water droplets down. He takes my mouth, coating the taste of me over my tongue. It’s tastes sweet and I’m suddenly wishing I hadn’t drawn the line at just his mouth and fingers. He pecks my lips one more time, before stepping back, taking his rock-hard cock away with him. I watch as he lifts my towel off the hanger and wraps it around his bottom half. He’s scooped up his clothes and is out the door before I have a chance to run after him.
“Fuck you, Pierce!” I yell after him, standing there completely wet and naked and confused. Shit.
I look around the bathroom, and thankfully there’s a few towels inside one of the cabinets. I wrap myself in it’s freshly laundered comfort and stalk off up the stairs. Goddamn fucking Pierce Ledger and his mind-blowing orgasms and the way he can kiss me stupid. Well fuck him, two could play that game.
I fling my towel into the laundry basket and find my leggings and oversized t-shirt that I’d stolen. I go over to my phone and see a few missed notifications. Skye sent me a bunch of pictures from our outing. I make a note to save these, noting the way that Graham stares at Skye in some of these. I’d need to feel her out later to see what she thought about that. I was all for a man who could cook, and those dimples? Please.
I see another notification from my Grams, alerting me that my card was paid, and she even upped the limit. Thank God. I decide to do some online shopping, first stop underwear.
I’m several carts into my online shopping spree, when I get another notification from Headmaster Hayden. My stomach sours. Something was off about that man, I could feel it.
I press open, scanning the email requesting a meeting with me tomorrow morning. Ugh. I hit reply wishing I could come up with some sassy remark, but I’m too tired to care. Fuck it. I hit accept to the meeting and put the time into my planner, wondering what the hell he could possibly want to see me for. I wonder if I can take a pillow with me to sit on, instead of having to wait in that god-awful torture chair.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Lukas
I’d slept in to find most of the house empty, including my roommate. Did she even come home last night?
The thought makes my stomach drop. Who would she have been out with? I decide a little light internet stalking was in order. She kept her Instagram as public, so it wasn’t really stalking, was it?
I pull up her handle and flip down to her stories. I had an anonymous username, and never posted anything. Enjoying my outsider perspective to the social media site, it allowed for me to interact without giving away any personal details. As a Ledger, I was expected to keep a certain public standard which included not sharing any personal details. As much as I might not share though, plenty of others did. Tagging the famous heir Lukas Ledger in a lust filled haze.
Her stories load with pictures of her out at Diablos last night. She’s swaying to the music, having the time of her life with Graham behind her. Graham? My chest constricts. I put down the phone, not wanting to see any more even though there’s several more posted.
