Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

“The hell I am,” I demand, recalling what I did with Nic last night. I mean, if they’re about to kick me out of here then I’m at least going to go out in style. I’ll get up when I’m good and ready. Besides, I’ll do anything to avoid facing my mother this morning. After all the bullshit of last night, I’m sure she’s about to disown me and throw me out for the Black Widows to keep.

“Three fucking seconds or we leave without you.”

“Leave?” I grunt, pushing up onto my elbows to see him better.

“Do I have to repeat everything I say when it comes to you? Are you fucking deaf? Get your bitch ass out of bed, grab your shit, and meet me out by the Veneno.”

I narrow my eyes. It seems someone is still a little pissed about last night’s shenanigans, but considering he hasn’t mentioned the shenanigan with Nic, maybe he doesn’t know. I’m not going to lie, my interest has been piqued and I’m desperate to know where the fuck he thinks he’s about to take me, but then, my attitude shines brighter than any interest I might have. “And I thought I told you to fuck off. Hmm, funny. Maybe you’re deaf too.”

“Laying on the sarcasm a little thick, don’t you think?”

I glare at the shithead. “But your personality gives me so much to work with. It’d be a shame to be wasteful.”

He grabs my blanket and tears it off my bed, letting the cool morning air brush against my skin. I let out a shriek and my body instinctively curls in on itself. “What the fuck is your problem?” I demand, throwing myself to my feet and storming up to him, glaring into his damn gorgeous hazel eyes.

Colton’s jaw clenches and it takes me a moment to realize that after too long refusing to get out of the gown last night, I fell asleep in a thin tank and panties. “I asked you nicely. We’re going on a trip. You’re either coming or you’re not. I couldn’t fucking give a shit.”

“Trip?” I grunt. “What fucking trip?”

He turns and heads for the door. “You’re down to two seconds, Jade.”

I hate him. I hate him, I hate him.

Rage burns through me and I ball my hands into fists. He’s so damn infuriating. “I was always taught to think before I act,” I yell after him. “So, rest assured that when I beat the living shit out of you, I’ve thought about it and am confident with my decision.”

I hear an irritated scoff before the sound of the pool house door slams closed.

Fuck. I really do hate him. I get it, I’m not for everybody. It takes a specific breed of man to be able to put up with my flavor of bullshit but there’s a common decency us humans are expected to have around one another and he simply doesn’t have it.

I go to reach for my blanket and as I turn to walk back to my bed, I find myself stopping.

A trip.

What kind of trip and why the hell does he want me to come along? This doesn’t make sense. I cast my gaze out the window of the pool house to find the morning sun glistening off the pool, sparkling like New Year’s Eve. It’s a beautiful day. On days like this, people usually go to the beach, but rich people, they always step it up and it has my curiosity bursting at the seams.

Fuck, why am I so intrigued by this?

Before I even know what’s happening, my bag is packed with my bikini and my high waisted shorts are firmly pulled into place. I stand in the bathroom mirror, run my fingers through my tangled hair, and brush my teeth.

What am I doing? I feel like I’m about to set myself up for torture yet I can’t find the strength to stop. This is either going to be some ridiculous attempt at an apology and he’s taking pity on me after my outburst last night or I’m walking into a trap, and where Colton is concerned, I’m going to go ahead and assume this is a trap.

I don’t know, maybe I’m a glutton for punishment but one minute I’m contemplating what a bad idea this is going to be and the next thing I know, I’m dropping down into the sleek Veneno and watching out the window as Colton peels out of the driveway.

He drives for roughly half an hour and despite the music playing throughout the car, I’ve never heard silence so loud. The whole way to wherever we’re going, I struggle with the need to either sucker punch him or climb on top of him and ride him like a cowgirl. There’s something about the way a man drives a car, but the way Colton drives his Veneno … fuck. I’m screwed. It’s the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen and it has my thighs clenching like a needy whore.