Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,116

to Deke. “Where is Cole?” I ask.

He just stares at me. I stayed the night with Cole at the clubhouse two nights ago, but last night, I stayed at Becky’s. As far as we know, my father is still in town, and Jerrold could pop over at any time. Last night after practice, Cole had sent me a text saying he was spending his evening with the guys going through the emails. Today, he didn’t show up. And that’s not like him to miss class.

“Deke …” Becky growls in warning.

His jaw tightens. “At the clubhouse.”

I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm, stopping me. “Don’t go.”

I jerk my hand free and storm out of the exit. I squint, the sun actually out today, and run to my car.

I’ve been calling him since last night, and although he doesn’t rush to call me back, he usually at least reads my messages. I’ve sent him ten. Not one has been read. Something is wrong. And Deke not wanting me to go confirms that.

I walk into the clubhouse and come to a stop. The punching bag that hangs from the rafter is on the ground, ripped open. The table knocked over. Papers scatter the floor. The couch up against the far wall. A couple of the chairs are knocked over onto their sides.

I take the stairs two at a time, and stop at the top. Liquor bottles and beer cans litter the floor and bed. He’s lying on it, dressed in the same clothes from yesterday. Passed out on his stomach, he has his hands above his head. The pillows cover the floor along with the sheet and comforter.

“Cole?” I ask, placing my hand on his arm.

He doesn’t budge.

“Cole?” I say a little louder.

He growls.

“Cole!” I snap, shoving his arm.

He rolls over onto his back and opens his eyes. They’re bloodshot and land on mine. I tense. I’ve never seen them look so cold. So void. “Are you okay?” I ask softly.

He blinks a couple of times as if he’s seeing two of me. Then he slowly sits up.

“Leave,” he orders roughly.

“Cole, what’s going on?”

“Leave, Austin,” he snaps.

“No, Cole! What the fuck are you doing here? Drunk of all things?”

He grabs my arm and yanks me down onto the bed. He buries his head into my neck. “Cole …”

I try to shove him off, but his hands grip my wrists and he pins them down effortlessly. I start panting.

“Fuck, sweetheart.” He straddles my hips. “You smell so Goddamn good. Did you come to cheer me up?” he whispers.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, ignoring him.

“Did you come for me to break you?” His nose traces my jawline. “Because that’s what I need, Austin. I need to break. Destroy. God, I want to wrap my hand around your delicate throat and squeeze while I fuck you.” His body pins me to the bed, and I feel how hard he is.

I take a calming breath, trying to slow my racing heart.

He kisses up my neck gently to my ear, and my skin breaks out in goosebumps. “I wanna see tears run down your gorgeous face with your mouth open in a silent scream. Begging me to stop. Begging me for air. So I’m gonna ask you again. Did you come to cheer me up?”

He pulls back and looks down at me, and I swallow at the look of nothingness in his eyes. I have no clue what happened or why he needs to break me once again, but I want to give it to him. I hate how much I want to give him what he wants. But I can’t deny that it sounds like exactly what I need too. “Yeah, Cole,” I say softly. “I came to cheer you up. Now, I dare you to do your worst.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

COLE

I SIT UP in bed while Austin lies passed out next to me. It’s a little after eight at night, and she fell asleep hours ago. I used her. I fucking took and took from her like she was a lifeline.

I had reverted to my old self. How I was before I ran into her in that cemetery. Deke was right—she had changed me—but I found my way back to the real Cole.

The heartless bastard who feeds off violence. I choked her. I ripped hair out. I fucking marked her with my hands and my mouth. She cried big, beautiful tears as she stared up at me while my hand was wrapped around her throat. And her