Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

At the mention of his name, I can’t help but look back at him to find his glare hardening on his friend. He didn’t appreciate that comment but I sure as hell did. “You better not be trying to sweet-talk me back into bed, Charlie Bryant.”

A cheeky as fuck grin stretches wide over his face as his eyes sparkle with mischief. He sucks in a shocked gasp, feigning outrage. “I would never.”

“You’re an asshole, Charlie,” I tell him. “And just know that your chances of getting back between my legs are practically non-existent, but you’re charming as hell and because of that, I might just forgive you.”

His eyes narrow and he appears deep in thought. “Practically non-existent or non-existent? Because practically non-existent means that there’s maybe a sliver of hope for me.”

I roll my eyes and can’t help but smile. “Non-existent, Charlie,” I lie, knowing damn well that if he was to come at me again with that goofy as hell, charming smile that I’d be a goner. After all, I’m only human and have absolutely zero self-control. Except when it comes to Colton of course, with him, I’m all over the place. Sometimes I have the self-control of a saint and other times … well, other times, I grind my naked body all over him, silently begging him to make the move we both know we want to make.

Charlie steps into me. “Okay, I get it but just tell me that you don’t hate me. I fucked up, I shouldn’t have said anything to the boys but you were so damn good. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how damn addictive it felt sliding in between those sweet legs, but I swear, I’ll respect your privacy and keep my mouth shut from now on. Just tell me you’re not going to hold it against me for long because baby, not being able to do that again is a fucking tragedy.”

“I can’t make any promises,” I tell him, feeling as though what he did wasn’t really that bad considering I did the same thing with Milo. It’s not his fault that his so-called friend decided to take what he said and use it as a tool to try and destroy me. “I’ll think about it.”

His arm curls around my back and he pulls me in before pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry, Ocean. You deserved better than that. What happened at school should never have happened. We’re going to make it right even if it means beating an apology out of every last fucker who put their hands on you.”

“You really have this whole knight in shining armor mentality about yourself, don’t you?”

He grins wide and releases my waist before walking backward toward Colton. “Can’t help it. When I see a pretty girl, I’m putty in her hands.”

I roll my eyes and turn back to the pool house. “Get lost, Charlie,” I call over my shoulder, feeling his flirty gaze on my ass. “Go be putty in someone else’s hands.”

His laughter flows through the yard and just as I push open the door of the pool house, I hear his voice murmur to Colton. “Dude, how the fuck have you resisted that? You see that ass, right? Fucking perfect.”

Colton’s muttered reply comes low and tortured and if I wasn’t listening so hard, I probably would have missed it. “Resisting Oceania Munroe is the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done.”

Chapter 26

The week goes by way too fast and by Friday night as I stand on the familiar doorstep, I can’t help the wide grin that stretches across my face. I grab the door handle and give it a twist before shoving my hip into the wood, knowing how the door sticks.

With a hard shove, the door swings open and I find my boys lounged around Nic’s small apartment as though they’re part of the furniture. The suddenness of my arrival has each of them flying to their feet with their hands flinching for their guns, that is until they get a good look at who stands before them.

“Pretty girl,” Kairo cheers, racing forward with Sebastian by his side. Nic hovers in his kitchen, leaning back against the sink with a grin on his face as Eli awkwardly drops back down on the couch.

“What are you doing here?” Sebastian demands, scooping me into his arms just a split moment before Kai can. “Is something wrong? Did something happen?”

I laugh as I hold onto the turd with both hands, squeezing him tight. “What hasn’t happened?” I say with a low groan. “But no, I’m perfectly fine. I just wanted to visit my boys.”

“That’s more than alright with me,” he says, squeezing until I can’t breathe and lifting me off my feet.

“Put me down, moron,” I say, whacking his back. “You’re going to make me pass out if you squeeze any harder.”