“I don’t believe you.” The guy who I recognized as Jerald motioned to his team, and they moved to surround Keiran. My anxiety kicked into high gear as I held my weapon that seemed meager now and wondered if I could get across the table in time.
Keiran didn’t move or speak as he was surrounded.
One of the biggest players in the circle stepped forward. I started to warn Keiran because I didn’t think he would see him. Keiran jerked Sean’s arm back infinitesimally. His cry was loud, causing Jerald to unload a string of threats to Keiran. Judging by the angle of Sean’s arm, it wouldn’t be long before his arm broke. I wasn’t entirely sure his arm would even be useful tomorrow as it was.
This was not going to end well.
Even if Keiran managed to get out of this unscathed, I would officially be the school pariah and target.
Again.
“His arm isn’t going to last much longer,” Keiran taunted, voicing my thoughts.
“Fuck!” Jerald’s face was red with rage while Keiran stood calm and cool as if he weren’t threatening to break someone’s bones in a room full of witnesses.
“Please,” Sean yelped.
“You know what to do,” Keiran stated.
“Stand down! Stand down!”
Everyone moved at the same time. I watched them back away and only then began to breathe easier. We weren’t out of the woods yet.
Keiran had let him go, so what would stop them from pouncing now? Sean stumbled into the safety of his team
“Lake.” I forced my gaze back to Keiran. “Head for the door, baby.”
“No.”
“Lake.” His tone was no longer soft.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“This will end much worse if you get hurt. Now go.”
I let the distress I felt rip from me as a whimper.
What do I do? What do I do?
“What the hell is going on here?” The team’s coach thundered by me leaving behind a gust of wind. Along with him were two members of the campus police. Everyone scattered, leaving us alone with a different kind of trouble.
Keiran’s arrest was imminent, and suddenly, I was no longer afraid for him. I was crazy mad and wanted nothing more than to drive the fork into his brain and dig out his common sense.
I knew for sure someone would snitch—and wouldn’t he deserve it? He did almost break a guy’s arm… for groping me. The reminder of that sleaze ball’s hands on me made my skin crawl.
“Nothing, coach. Just goofing around,” Jerald spoke up though his glare never left Keiran.
“Why is my quarterback clutching his arm, and who the fuck are you?” the coach bellowed between Jerald and Keiran.
“Misunderstanding,” Sean whimpered.
Keiran smirked, and I knew if he could reach him, he would offer a pat on his head.
“Boy, your arm better not be broken! Security! Get this piece of shit out of my cafeteria.”
Security moved forward to grab Keiran, but with one look, they backed away and reached for their sides. I prayed campus security didn’t carry guns.
Keiran ignored them and reached for my hand, leading me out of the cafeteria. I was still in shock by the time the building was out of sight.
“I have no idea where I’m going, baby. I need you to snap out of it.”
His casual tone broke me out of my trance, and I quickly snatched my hand away from his. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“Are you defending him?”
“I’m defending me! I won’t be able to show my face anymore. He’s the star quarterback.”
“So I’m supposed to let him put his hands on you because he can throw a ball? That will never fucking happen, Lake.”
“You can be such an overbearing dick! Sean is harmless. You couldn’t just walk away?”
“I’d never walk away from protecting you.” His voice softened, and I willed myself not to break. Today could have ended badly. Keiran wouldn’t have been able to win against an entire team, and if they had decided to rat him out, he’d be in jail right now.
“You sure it wasn’t just your jealous ego?”
“That, too.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. He was so adorably cute and proud about the wrong things. “What am I going do now, Keiran? I’ll be a pariah.”
Rather than answer, he pulled me close. I didn’t want to, but I wrapped my arms around his neck and inhaled his scent. “Run away with me.”
“This is not the time to try to get into my pants. You lost that privilege when you were almost jumped and arrested.”
“I’m serious.”
“Why would we run away? Where are we going?”
“I want you to come to Arizona with me. I can’t do this anymore, Lake. I tried. Fuck me, I tried.”
“I can’t just leave. What about school?”
“I want you with me. I want you in my bed. I want to see you and touch you every day.
“What about school,” I repeated.
“Arizona has an outstanding education program.”
Chapter One
LAKE
FIVE YEARS LATER
I fucked up. For the last seven months, I felt as if I were living on borrowed time as a free woman. I was responsible for the death of Mitch Masters. The father of my former tormentor turned boyfriend. He was evil, and every second he lived, he was a danger to Keiran.
I had a love to protect and a point to prove.
Keiran wouldn’t destroy me, but I might have destroyed him.
“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.” The officer who had cuffed me continued to read me my rights, but my focus and worry wasn’t for me. It was for what I knew would happen in five… four… three… two…
“Get your fucking hands off her!”
I clenched my eyes shut and willed him away. For once, the law wasn’t after him. I was the one in deep shit, but if he came after the officers who were only doing their job, he would be in worse trouble than I was in.
“Son of a bitch!”
“Grab him!”
I twisted just enough to see Keenan and Dash leap over the porch railing and run after Keiran, who came after me with unsuppressed rage. The other officers had already drawn their guns on him and shouted a warning. I knew he wouldn’t have heeded if it weren’t for his brother and best friend. It took them both to bring him down, and they all hit the ground hard once they did. I winced at the impact, but Keiran didn’t seem to notice. His gaze was fixated on me, and within its depths, I witnessed the anger and disbelief.
“Uncle Keke.” Kennedy’s broken cry ripped through the night air. The sounds of distress and what seemed like the entire police department’s invasion had disturbed her slumber. Sheldon held her back, and I could see tears in both her and Willow’s eyes. Willow held her very pregnant belly, and I silently prayed nothing would happen to the baby because of me. I’d never be able to survive the added guilt.
“You better get him under control if you don’t want him going downtown, too. We’ve got plenty of room.”
“We got this, officer,” Keenan spat. I knew he had another word in mind to call the man but knew better with his fiancée and child standing a few feet behind. At least one of them was thinking clearly.
As I was loaded into the back of the cruiser, I glanced one last time at Keiran. I had no idea what would happen next, but I didn’t regret what I had done. I just hoped he would forgive me.
* * *
EARLIER THAT DAY
“So, Will.” Keenan cleared his throat and grinned, and I knew—I just fucking knew—he was about to say something stupid. We’d all kind of gravitated here for the day and were now sitting around Keenan and Sheldon’s living room. “How does it feel to be pregnant?”
I groaned remembering how sensitive Sheldon was at this stage of her pregnancy. Keenan had no clue what he was walking into. Keiran and I shared a look, but it was too late.
“Like there’s an alie
n invasion happening in my uterus.”
“Really? I always thought it would feel more like butterfly flutters in your belly.”
Keiran groaned.
“You would because you don’t have a uterus.”
“True, but—”
“Nope,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You guys just poke your penis where it doesn’t belong and your job is done for the next nine months.”
“Babe—” Dash began but was cut off by a vicious glare from Willow.
“Don’t ‘babe’ me. It’s hot, and I feel like a whale swimming in a desert.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Can it, Chambers. You’re getting laid tonight. You don’t need to kiss my ass.”
She’d gone too far that time—pregnant or not. Dash’s nostrils flared as he leaned toward her to whisper in her ear. Unfortunately, I was close enough to hear. “If you don’t watch your attitude, I’ll be spanking that ass later instead of kissing it.”
Willow blushed and ducked her head while Dash sat back with a smug look. It was incredible how rightfully wrong two people could be for each other. It was evident Dash liked taking control, and Willow enjoyed pushing him to do it.
“So, I was thinking we could start teaching Ken to play basketball.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little early? She still needs two hands to hold the ball,” Sheldon argued.
“But she only needs one to dribble. We got to start somewhere, and if she’s going to play power forward for Lynx, she’d need all the practice she can get.”
“Whoa. What makes you think she’s playing forward? She’s playing guard.”
“Oh, and which guard might that be?” Keiran asked with narrowed eyes.
“She’s a shooter, of course.” He shrugged as if it were a done deal.
“Funny. I think she’s better on point. She’s a leader.”
“My kid. My say,” Keenan answered smugly.
“Oh?” Sheldon snapped. The guys ignored her and continued to argue.
“Dude she’s playing for Liberty,” Dash growled, bringing the conversation full circle.
“I don’t know, man. Lynx usually gets first pick over Liberty. She’d have a better team behind her.”
“I agree, except she’s playing forward not guard.”
“I know how we settle this.” Dash grinned.
“How?”
“Suit up.”
They took off at once. Keenan ran upstairs while Keiran and Dash shoved each other to get to the back door first. Sheldon blew out a breath and pointed a thumb over her shoulder. “Can you believe them?”
“I hope Dash doesn’t think he’ll decide our son’s life.”
“Of course, he has. Whether he likes it or not, he takes after our father. It’s just that his methods don’t require him to be as huge of an asshole.”
“Have your parents brought up that custody issue again?”
She snorted, cast a nervous glance toward the stairs, and shook her head, apparently reluctant to discuss it with Keenan in hearing distance. I still couldn’t believe her parents had demanded custody be given to them in the event of her death. When Sheldon refused, they threatened to remove her from the will until she conceded.
“Have you still not told him?”
“And give him more ammunition to make things worse when he sees them again? He’s a hot head.”
“Good point, but he may find out somehow.”
“Keenan is a great father to Kennedy. What is your parent’s issue?”
“They believe he’s a flight risk, as my mother put it.”
“So,” Willow began, her eyebrows pinched sharply with confusion, “what’s the deal? Did Keenan run when he found out you were pregnant?”
Sheldon shook her head with her eyes cast downward. “He left the night Kennedy was conceived.”
“Do you think he would have stayed away if he knew about her?”
“I have no doubt nothing would have kept him away.”
“Hey, Shelly!” Keenan came running down the stairs holding a sleepy Ken as if she were a bomb about to detonate. “Your daughter pissed all over her sheets again. Handle this, will you?” He passed her to her mother and jetted out the door before Sheldon could respond.
“Keenan, you jerk!”
“Oh yeah.” Willow deadpanned. “Dad of the year award is definitely his.”
Sheldon shook her head and took Kennedy back upstairs to clean her up, so I decided to head out back where I could already hear shouting and swearing and the rhythmic sound of a basketball dribble.
“Oh, my.” I heard Willow gasp lustfully beside me. I was temporarily blinded by the sight of three impressive bare chests glistening with sweat as they savagely fought for the ball. I wasn’t sure how well basketball could be played with only three players, but it was apparent the game was no longer the objective.
Keenan managed to steal the ball from Keiran and knock him down in the process. I winced at how hard he hit the ground. Just as quickly, he bounced up and stole the ball mid shot. Keenan cursed and took the offensive along with Dash.
I grew nervous watching. Sweat pooled between my breasts and my breathing escalated. Watching Keiran move and play—specifically without a shirt—was overwhelmingly stimulating.
Dash and Keenan closed in on him. His eyes shifted between the two, looking for weakness. It didn’t seem likely. I thought he was done for, but then his eyes found mine. He smiled, winked, and made his move.
The ball was thrown high in the air. He threw a fist into Dash’s finely cut abs and an elbow into Keenan’s regal nose and shoved past them as they groaned in pain in time to catch the ball.
“Hey!” Willow yelled. “He can’t do that.” She turned to me with eyes ablaze and as wild as her hair. “Can he do that?” I shook my head, feigning concern, and tried to hide my smile when he made the basket and turned with a cocky grin.
“Come on, pussies. We playing ball or having tea?”
Dash moved first and took Keiran to the ground. He managed to slam a fist across his jaw before Keenan surged forward, knocking Dash out of the way, and taking his shot at his face. I cringed at the sight and sound of Keiran getting pummeled. They began to exchange blows uninhibited.
“What’s going on?” Sheldon asked as she entered the backyard.
“Keiran scored and they started beating the crap out of each other.”
Sheldon’s eyebrow lifted, and her eyes flashed with aggravation. “They do realize they’re grown men and not teenagers anymore, right?”
I nodded toward the rumbling mass of hard male flesh. Keenan dick-punched Keiran and Dash tripped Keenan. “Good luck explaining it to them.”
I then watched as Sheldon and Willow manipulated their men shamelessly.
Sheldon huffed and charged forward until she was close enough for them to hear. “Keenan, I want to fuck.”
Her tone couldn’t have been less sexual, but still, his head popped up from biting Dash, and just like that, his attention was redirected.
“I’m out,” he said and untangled himself.
So much for his daughter’s future.
When he wrapped his arm around Sheldon and began nibbling on her neck, it was her turn to smile. “Good luck with your men.”
“Dash, my feet hurt and I’m hungry,” Willow whined purposely.
“My lady says I can’t play anymore.” He hit Keiran one last time, causing his head to snap to the side, and then Dash jumped to his feet. I watched them leave and then turned back to see Keiran watching me. He had a light in his eyes that I recognized all too well. I could feel my temperature rise even now.
“I saw the way you were looking at me.”
“How? Dash kept trying to give you a black eye.”
“I saw you,” he insisted, his tone husky. He closed the gap between us and pushed until my back was against the pole.
“You’re sweating.”
“You like it.”
“Your sm
elly sweat all over me? Why would I like that?”
“Because it reminds you of when I fuck you so hard you can barely breathe or move when I’m done.”
“Tease.” I wanted to be disgusted by it. I really did, but he was so damn sexy when he was sweaty.
His smile came slow as he pushed his body against mine. The pole was now digging into my spine, but I didn’t feel it. My entire body was distracted by the feel of his much more appealing hardness. He nibbled on my chin and whispered, “I could fuck you now.”
“But you’re all bruised,” I flirted. “I could break you.” I batted my lashes and peeked up at him. Despite the many leafs we’d turned, I knew he still craved the chase. Even more, I wanted to be his prey.
“Lift your arms and grip the pole.”
My arms trembled as I obeyed. His eyes never left mine even when he reached for the button of my shorts. I gasped and gripped the pole tighter when I felt his finger caress the sensitive skin of my waist. With my arms stretched over my head, my thin t-shirt rose, exposing me for his torment.
“You have the softest skin.”
God, his voice was like velvet. So deep and smooth. He slid his hand inside my shorts, along my hips, and pushed my shorts and panties down until I was completely bare from the waist down.
“Someone could see.”
“Let them.” He slid down to his knees and lifted my leg over his shoulder. I was already threading my fingers through his hair. I wanted to close my eyes and let go but couldn’t resist the urge to watch him.
“Kennedy could see.” Shut up! Shut up!
He returned my hand to the pole with a stern look. “They won’t let her back here.”
“How do you know?”
“Because we didn’t follow them in. They’ll know.”
“And does that turn you on?” I was joking, of course, but anything to get a rise out of him.
“You turn me on. Now shut up.”
No, I wanted to keep him talking. The feel of his breath blowing across my skin was almost as good as the promise of his tongue. I needed him to devour me.