Page 25 of Their Cruel Play
“Want to talk about it?” His green eyes are kind and caring.
This isn’t something I can hold back. It won’t protect either of us. I slide off his lap to sit on the bench beside him. He squeezes my hand and stands to take off his football gear.
“Sidney spilled perfume on Luke’s jersey, and it kept making me sneeze, so I went to the bathroom to try to wash it a little. Kenz and the others were so excited to watch the game, and I wasn’t going anywhere people weren’t, so I went alone.”
Honestly, I felt safe. The stadium is overflowing with people, so how could something possibly happen? All the other times I was alone. Alone at my house. Alone after school. Again at my house but with Kenz.
Caden takes his shoulder pads off, putting his chest on display. His eyes settle on me when I stop talking. I swallow and continue.
“A JV cheerleader and her friend told me I should use the girls’ locker room because there’s a washer and dryer there.”
My words trail away as Caden takes his pants off. Every inch of him is hard muscle. The safety I feel in his presence makes me want things that aren’t logical right now. I want that connection, but at the same time, I just want him to hold me again.
“I need to take a shower.” His words are gruff.
I follow him to the shower, staying outside of it, but needing to see him. To know he’s right here. I wrap my arms around myself.
“Keep going, little nympho.” He scrubs his body. It’s normal for me to watch him shower now. It’s relaxing and a little arousing, but I’m not focusing on that. I lean my head against the wall.
“The color guard girls were in the locker room, including Rachel Hayes. She told me where the laundry room was. I washed his jersey on quick wash and figured it was good enough, but when I went to the door, it was locked or stuck or something.”
The water rinses away the soap on Caden’s body. It’s hard not to get distracted, but I’m trying.
“I figured someone would eventually let me out, so I stuck his jersey in the dryer and waited. When I put on the jersey, the door opened and a guy in black came in and shut it behind him.”
“What?” Caden stops drying himself and comes over to where I stand.
He seems unconcerned about how naked he is. The smell of soap and Caden fills my senses. His heat draws me in, and I want to touch him to feel how real he is. To make sure this isn’t a fevered dream and I’m still trapped.
“Just like last night. A guy dressed in all black. I raced into the linen closet and held it closed.”
Caden tips up my chin and searches my eyes. “For how long, little nympho?”
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “Long enough for you to come save me.”
He curses under his breath and pulls me into his arms. My face rests against his chest. He just holds me. My arms wrap around him, needing the closeness. Needing him.
Kissing the top of my head, he draws away and takes my hand, leading me back to his locker. I sit on the bench, put my feet up, and wrap my arms around my knees while he pulls out his clothes and gets dressed.
I try to remember everything.
“He talked to me. Called me darling. He wanted to help me get rid of my virginity. Steal what you guys want from me.” I laugh. “Apparently I still seem innocent. I didn’t tell him I wasn’t a virgin anymore.”
Caden’s green eyes capture mine. Anger burns in there but also concern and something softer that has always drawn me to him. I need to get the rest out though.
“He wanted revenge on you guys. Told me he’d take me out some time to make me feel better about giving it up to him. He did offer to make it good for me, but when I told him no thank you. He was going to— He wanted to?—”
Caden picks me up. His arms wrap around me, and I bury my face in his t-shirt. He curls around me like he can protect me from the world. Right now, I believe he can.
I’m not sure how long we stand there, but eventually he puts his shoes on, and we head out to his car. Oh, shit, Kenz.
I pull out my phone and text her I’m leaving with Caden.
“Are we going to the party tonight?” I ask him once he’s in the driver’s seat.
He grunts. “The party is coming to us, little nympho.”
Kenz:
