The Wicked Trilogy: Caleb & Margo (Fallen Royals #1-3), page 20
I shake my head and sit.
Caleb reappears twenty minutes later. He comes over to me and offers his arm.
“That took longer than expected,” he says.
I slip my arm through his and shrug. “It’s okay.”
“Do you want to do anything else? Or should we call it a day?”
We’d already walked around Times Square, took a selfie together under the glowing screens, and found masks. The day catches up to me, and I yawn. “Food, then home?”
He nods. We round the corner, almost smashing into a man walking toward us. He freezes, staring at Caleb. His face goes pale.
“Mr. A-Asher,” the man says.
“Tobias.” Caleb inclines his chin, staring at the man with cold eyes.
“I wasn’t aware you were in the city.”
“I wasn’t aware I had to notify you when I wanted to get away from Rose Hill for an afternoon.”
Tobias shakes his head. Once he’s started, he doesn’t stop. His whole body trembles, like a strong wind is rushing through him.
My curiosity is officially piqued.
Caleb glances down at me, and Tobias follows his eyes. He flinches when he registers me.
I tilt my head. “Do I—”
“Don’t,” Caleb snaps. He puts his hand on the small of my back, propelling me around the frozen man.
“I’ll call you later,” Tobias says to our backs.
Once we’re half a block away, I force us to slow down. “Who was that?”
Caleb shakes his head. “I thought we were still not asking questions.”
“You can’t just—”
His eyes flash. His hand slides around my neck, threading through my hair. He yanks my head back, exposing my throat.
“I can,” he murmurs.
There are still bite marks under my scarf and two layers of concealer.
He tugs the fabric away from my neck, eyes heating. “You covered them up.”
Slowly, he puts his thumb in his mouth and then rubs at my skin.
“There.” He releases me, grinning. “Now the world will know you’re mine. Don’t fucking hide it next time.”
We’d managed the day without him going all dark on me. And here we are…
I press my thighs together, ignoring the impact of his words on my body. Especially because we’re in the middle of the freaking sidewalk in Times Square.
People move past us like we’re rocks in the middle of a river.
He’s hungry, and I can’t help but feel the same. Like we’ve unwittingly been starving ourselves.
He touches my neck again, and then he straightens. He smirks at me.
He knows what he does to me.
My phone buzzes.
Unknown: How’s it feel to be so small in such a large city?
I choke on my gasp, shoving my phone back in my pocket.
Caleb raises an eyebrow. “What was that?”
“Riley trying to be funny.” I clear my throat. Please don’t call me out on that lie.
He narrows his eyes but doesn’t question it.
We eat pizza at a diner on the second floor of a building. It overlooks the street. The people below, on the sidewalk. They’re a sea of grays and blacks. When the sky opens up, suddenly every single person seems to have a black umbrella.
Caleb frowns. “I’ll call the car.”
We had left his at the edge of the city, then took a black car into Manhattan. The driver didn’t say a word to either of us, although I caught Caleb slipping him folded bills.
We sit in silence at our table, ignoring the looks from the waitstaff, until a car pulls up to the curb and Caleb’s phone chirps.
“Ready?”
The pizza was delicious. The diner was cute. The city is impossibly big and daunting and everything I could’ve imagined.
I can see how people would come here to chase their dreams. And I can see how the city would chew up anyone not a hundred percent committed.
“Yes.” I take his offered hand. “Let’s go home.”
Caleb opens the car door for me, letting me slide into the backseat first. He follows, closing us in, and scoots close to me. God, he’s a giant in this small space. I didn’t realize it before—no, I was ignoring it before—but his presence sucks up all the air in the car.
The driver glances back at us in the rearview mirror. “Have fun?”
Caleb smiles. “It was refreshing.”
The driver navigates back toward the outskirts of the city, and Caleb traces patterns on my leg. I try not to look at him, but soon, my body aches. One touch has me burning up.
We park next to Caleb’s Audi, and the driver climbs out, opening my door for me. He even offers his hand. I take it, letting him help me to my feet. Caleb scowls at him over the top of the car, and the driver releases me.
“Mr. Asher,” the driver says, inclining his head.
“I’ll call you,” Caleb answers. “Can you do that errand we discussed?”
The driver smiles. “Of course, sir.”
I look back and forth between them, but Caleb turns away before I can dissect the conversation further.
We get into Caleb’s car. Without warning, he reaches over and grabs the back of my neck, yanking me toward him. We slam together, lips parting. His tongue slides into my mouth, invading my senses. I groan and press against him, forcing his tongue out of my mouth and into his. We’ve spontaneously combusted, igniting more heat than I could’ve imagined.
He tugs me over the center console and onto his lap.
I run my hands up and down his chest, then venture lower. I palm his dick through his pants, and he growls.
He’s hard.
I unzip his fly and reach in, fully grabbing him and pulling it out. It jerks in my hand.
I lean back a fraction. Our mouths are a hairsbreadth apart when I whisper, “Who’s Tobias?”
He glares at me. “You want to do this now?”
I stroke him, meeting his glare.
“You’re not going to like the answer,” he warns, exhaling sharply. “Fuck, Margo.”
He likes my hand on him. We’ve had sex, he’s gone down on me, but I’ve never… touched him like this. How selfish am I?
Selfish enough to resort to this to get answers.
“Tell me.” I lick my lips. We’re still close enough that my tongue touches his lips, too.
He tries to scowl, but shudders at my nails raking up and down him.
“Tobias was…” He shakes his head. “I can’t believe I’m fucking telling you this. Tobias was your father’s attorney.”
I freeze.
“What?”
He grabs my face, holding me in place. If he didn’t, I probably would’ve bolted. Away from him, out of the car.
I’ve been filled with ice.
I pull my hand away from his erection, but he just watches me.
Tobias was my dad’s attorney.
The one who couldn’t stop him from going to jail.
The one who is on a first-name basis with Caleb Asher.
My dad’s attorney, who is going to call Caleb Asher later.
Why?
This is what self-destruction looks like. I fell for a monster.
I try to retreat, but his fingers just dig into my skin. He has me trapped against his body and the steering wheel, his hands on my face. His thumb caresses my cheek, just below my eye. Once, then twice.
He’s blurry.
Am I crying?
“Why?” I manage. “Caleb—”
“Do not ask me,” he warns. He leans forward and steals a kiss.
Steals my breath.
I can’t breathe.
“I need to know why—”
“You don’t.” His voice is deadly. He’s deadly. He kisses me again, biting my lip.
I hate that he’s using this to distract me. To revive me.
I’m so fucking cold.
“Come back, Margo,” he says against my lips. He presses kisses along the edge of my mouth, my jaw, my throat.
“Did you put my father in jail?”
I close my eyes, letting my head fall back.
His teeth nip my throat. His lips chase away the pain, back up, up, up. My jaw. The spot just below my ear. My earlobe. My temple.
How can he destroy me and make me feel better at the same time?
We’re fucked up.
I’m fucked up for enjoying this. For letting him melt me down to liquid again and again.
His lips touch my eyelid. His tongue flicks out and tastes my tears.
This is more than just… him trying to ease the pain. Him trying to erase what happened in our past.
My heart is splintering.
His lips find mine again, but everything is soft. His touch. His tongue, sweeping along the seam of my lips.
I exhale a long, shuddering breath.
When I open my eyes, he’s watching me. Maybe he’s trying to figure me out. If I’m stable, or if, once he releases me, I’ll run.
I would if my legs didn’t feel like jelly.
“How could you?” I whisper. “Was it your idea?”
He shakes his head. “We’re not doing this right now.”
I move back into my own seat, clicking my seat belt into place. My desire for answers chews at me, but he’s right. We can’t do this now. Not after that.
He starts the car. I close my eyes. Whether I actually fall asleep or just doze, I couldn’t say. But what feels like minutes later, he’s lifting me out of the car.
I keep my head tucked under his chin. Everything hurts.
“Is she okay?” Robert asks.
“She just fell asleep in the car,” Caleb answers. His voice is soft. “I didn’t want to wake her. I’ll just put her in bed…”
I snake my arms around his neck as he’s laying me down. He chuckles in my ear, his hands sliding along my forearms.
“I hate you,” I mumble, “but I still want you to stay.”
He exhales. “Your foster parents wouldn’t be happy with me.”
I adjust my grip, plastering him to me. It isn’t really fair for him—I have the leverage.
He lies next to me, petting my hair. “Okay, Margo.”
I sigh and inch closer. I still feel broken.
It’s unexpected. It’s sharp. If I move the wrong way, my heart may start bleeding. Best to stay completely still and hope that I heal overnight. That I can wish away all the bad pieces of Caleb—and me.
I fall asleep with his hand in my hair and my nose against his throat.
28
Margo
Amelie and Savannah have pulled a disappearing act.
It’s not surprising, Riley informs me. They like to take trips, and the school is resigned to accepting their halfhearted attendance. After all, their parents make considerable donations each year.
It’s because of the masquerade ball, they went to Paris to find dresses and masks.
Always a step above us little people, I suppose.
“Who are they going with?” I ask Riley.
She shrugs. “Last I heard, Amelie and Ian were going together. Not sure about Savannah.”
Ian Fletcher. He’s been keeping his distance, but I feel his stare like a hot coal against my skin. Why he’s taken such an interest is anyone’s guess.
“We need to pick out dresses,” she says.
We walk into the library. It’s remained our safe haven. So far, Caleb and Eli haven’t come searching for us. A few times Caleb has shot me questioning glances as I slipped into the class right after lunch. But he never asked, and I never mentioned it.
It’s been three days since Caleb and I went to New York City. He kept his distance on Sunday—letting me sort my emotions, I guess—and on Monday we were back to normal. As normal as we can be, anyway. And unsurprisingly, people have stopped making so many remarks. The picture drew attention at first, but they’ve all but forgotten it now.
“Lenora wants to go shopping this weekend,” I tell her. “Want to come?”
Riley grins at me. “Absolutely.”
The door to the library creaks open. We can’t see it from where we sit in the back, so both of us automatically slink down. Students aren’t supposed to be in here—let alone with food. It’s only because of Riley’s familial relationship with Amy that this is even possible.
A few times, we’ve had to hide in the stacks because the principal came in to speak with Amy. But those are rare days.
Caleb appears with Eli right behind him.
I groan. “There goes our safe haven,” I mumble to Riley.
Caleb looks down at me. “Are you hiding?”
“No.”
“We just like the quiet,” Riley says.
Eli grunts. “You’re another matter entirely.”
Yikes.
“Let’s go,” Caleb says.
I shake my head. “The last time we went with you, bad things happened.”
He raises his eyebrow. “And if you don’t come with me now, worse things will happen.”
I lean back and cross my arms. “No.”
He sighs, but I can tell he’s enjoying this. My stomach flips.
Caleb exchanges a glance with Eli, and then he’s leaning down, hauling me over his shoulder. I squeal as he rises. I’m upside down, my ass in the air.
“Oh my god.” Riley laughs.
“Are you going to come quietly?” Eli asks her.
“Yep,” she mutters, rising. She touches my arm. “Sorry!”
Caleb moves. I grunt, holding on to his shirt. His arms are banded around my thighs, keeping me in place. The four of us pass Amy’s office. She glances up, but quickly buries her head back in her book.
Traitor.
Caleb walks right into the cafeteria with me over his shoulder. My face gets hot, but I know begging won’t stop him. Things have to be done his way. Always.
Without Amelie and Savannah here, the cheerleader table is quiet. No one wants to step up and own the bullying or their hatred of me. Still, they all whisper when Caleb and I pass. Eli and Riley follow us, and the whispers double.
Caleb pats my ass, then lowers me back to my feet.
I glare up at his grinning face. “Not cool,” I mutter.
He shrugs. “I gave you a choice.”
“Not really.” I shake my head. “It’s not a choice if the end result is the same.”
His grin turns sly. “You could’ve walked here on your own two feet. Instead… I enjoyed the view.”
Theo and Liam are already at the table. Eli and Riley sit next to Liam, and I slide onto the bench next to Theo. Caleb comes over with two trays of food, setting one next to me. He shoots a glare at Theo, then sits on my other side.
Theo grins at me. “Thanks for bringing my girlfriend out of hiding, Asher.”
I snort and grab Caleb’s arm before he can do anything crazy—like punch his best friend. Again.
“Watch it, Alistair,” Caleb growls.
“Calm down,” I snap. “He was joking. Right, Theo?”
Theo appraises me with dark eyes. “Right.”
“See?” I turn to Caleb, triumphant.
Caleb’s face is still shuttered. He puts his hand on the back of my neck and leaves it there for the rest of lunch. The others joke around. Eli and Riley share a few looks and smiles. It’s weird being part of their table—at the center of it, really—but so separate. Is it Caleb’s doing or mine? I’ve never fit in. And I suspect, even though Caleb could charm a snake, he doesn’t try it on his friends.
They accept him as the monster he is. And me, I guess I’m just the possession he’s been trying to acquire. They ignore it, or they’re comfortable in it. Comfortable with their own demons, with the thrones they sit on. The golden boys of Emery-Rose Elite are cherished from afar… because no one wants to get close to them.
The bell rings, and Caleb takes his time getting up. His hand is still on my neck, holding me to him. I like the feel of his fingers on my skin. The way his short nails bite.
My heart beats faster.
I have to skip going to my locker to make it to class on time—not that he cares. He leaves me with a smirk and a brush of his lips on my temple.
The afternoon is quiet. I stop at my locker before Robert’s art class, which is on the opposite side of the school. I’m halfway there when the hallway empties out and the bell rings.
It’s silent for a beat. Two.
My heart pounds, and I quicken my steps. I wonder if Robert will give me detention for being late, or if he’ll let it slide this time.
I just got ungrounded, after all. Who knows how far he can be pushed? His patience. His kindness.
Someone slams into me from behind.
I go flying forward, falling to my hands and knees. My backpack slides away from me.
Hands yank me up, pushing me face-first into the lockers. The cold metal kisses my cheek.
“Wrong place, wrong time, Sheep.”
The hands turn me around, keeping me pinned.
Ian Fletcher’s face is wild with excitement. He’s been waiting for this moment—I can tell. A moment where I’m alone, unguarded.
Caleb would be in Robert’s class by now. How long would he wait before coming to find me?
“What do you—”
My words are cut off when he pulls me forward and shoves me back again. My head cracks against the locker. I must’ve bit my tongue, because blood fills my mouth.
“No talking,” he whispers. “You and me are going for a little walk.”
His fingers dig into my arm. He drags me down the hall, through a side door that leads out toward the soccer fields.
I don’t make a sound. Fear stirs in my chest as we skirt the field, headed toward the woods. The path that the cross-country runners use. I ran into Theo out here once, but I doubt I’ll be that lucky a second time.
It’s darker in the forest. We’re ten steps in, and suddenly the world is a whole lot more sinister. Muted sunlight flickers through the trees. It’s cloudy today, so even the golden leaves of autumn don’t make it a happier—or warmer—place. We could be standing in a graveyard.
