Kings of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #1) - Caroline Peckham ,Susanne Valenti Page 0,97

my blood. I nodded firmly, promising it to him, myself. “Come with us,” I urged, but he shook his head.

“I’ve got nowhere to go,” he said, tugging at his collar as if he was too hot. “My dad’s in Cabo for the rest of the year. Besides, I’m not exactly built for stealth.”

I snorted a laugh and he cracked an actual grin.

“Plague! Get your fine ass out here in the next ten seconds!” Kyan’s voice sounded from the front of the building, sending a bolt of adrenaline into my veins. Holy fucking shit!

“Go that way.” I shoved Punch toward the trees and he lumbered off into them at the quickest pace I’d ever seen him move.

“Ten - nine - eight!” I heard all three of them start counting and cursed my damn luck.

I dropped down to the ground in a panic, digging a hole and shoving the firecrackers and lighter into it before pushing some leaves over it and poking a stick into the ground beside it. It was inconspicuous at a glance and it would have to fucking do.

I wiped my hands on the inside of my blazer as their counting filled my ears and made my lungs labour.

I had no excuse. Nothing which could cover me being back here. My brain worked to come up with something, anything to explain my whereabouts.

“Three – two-”

I ran around the edge of the building, stumbling to a halt in front of them and they took me in with dark frowns.

“Why the fuck were you back there?” Blake demanded, folding his muscular arms across his chest. I had a momentary flashback of being crushed in those arms while his mouth chased mine for kisses and my body reacted before I could help it. His usually clean look had been replaced by a line of stubble and a darkness in his eyes which just made me…gah.

Stop eye-fucking the asshole, Tatum.

I cleared my throat, twisting a lock of hair between my fingers as I shrugged innocently. “I went for a walk, is that a crime?”

Saint’s eyes narrowed like he didn’t buy it and he strode forward, snatching hold of my hands and turning them over. I’d gotten most of the mud off of them, but not enough for the Lord of Cleanliness not to notice.

“Been playing in the dirt, have we Barbie?” he asked, ice dripping through his voice.

“I fell,” I said, forcing a blush and I damn well managed it too. Kyan’s eyes dropped to my knees and I glanced down, finding them muddy as hell and seriously helping out my case.

Thank you universe!

Kyan snarled, stepping forward. “Either that or you’ve been on all fours for someone in the woods.”

My lips parted and a dark laugh fell from my lips. “Careful Kyan, for a minute there you almost sounded jealous.”

“He has a right to be,” Saint hissed, swerving his head into my line of sight to make me look at him. “You’re ours. You’re not allowed to touch anyone else and no one is allowed to touch you. So if you’ve broken the rules I’ll-”

“I fell,” I snapped, unblinking. “Everyone in this school has been ignoring me on your orders, who do you think would risk taking me out into the woods to fuck me, huh?”

A beat of silence passed as they all gazed at me, a hungry look in their eyes telling me they’d all be more than happy to volunteer for that position.

“Apart from all of you, apparently,” I taunted, unable to help myself.

“Shut your mouth,” Saint hissed. “If I find out you’ve been so much as dry humping a tree, I’ll make you regret it.”

“Wow, you really know how to sap the fun out of life, don’t you devil boy? Tree humping is my favourite activity,” I deadpanned and Kyan snorted a laugh, earning him sharp glares from Saint and Blake.

“What? That shit’s funny.” He shrugged, a smirk dancing around his mouth and I couldn’t help but return it.

Saint caught my chin, forcing me to look at him again and his frozen touch cut a path through my flesh. “You’ve got work to do, Barbie doll. Move.”

He caught my hand, turning and tugging me along behind him. His fingers locked around mine like a vice and I wondered if he’d ever held hands with someone before – discounting any dead bodies he’d dragged along to their graves.

I didn’t argue. I needed to keep up the obedience act for the rest of the day. Hope burned in my heart like a