Bound Together (Torn and Bound Duet 2)

Me: It’s hot. Hey, beautiful.

Ashton: Hey yourself.

Me: That was for Mia.

Ashton: Sorry, she’s too busy kissing Drew now. I guess it’ll have to be for me instead.

Me: Fine, it’s for you too. See you in a few.

I shove the phone into my pocket, grinning. The thought of Ashton blowing me while Drew and Mia watch is almost too much to take. I’m looking forward to a blowjob competition. I’ll be the true winner in the end.

“Brayden!” a high-pitched voice calls out.

Groaning, I turn to face the person. Sasha. Lovely. “Oh, hey.”

“How’ve you been?” Sasha asks, touching my forearm. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you since the auction, but the sorority keeps me so busy.”

“I’m good. Just headed home.” Well, not mine…

“I could walk you,” she offers.

“It’s fine. What’s up?”

Her pink lips purse, clearly annoyed at being turned down. “I just wanted to apologize.”

“For?”

“For what happened at the auction.” Her brows knit together. “I’m sure that was embarrassing in front of everyone. Your team. Coach. The dean. I know how private you are about certain aspects of your dating life.”

“What was embarrassing?” Jesus. Did someone see Drew and me holding hands at the auction under the table? “And what aspects are you talking about?”

Her nose scrunches up. “Ashton bidding on you, silly. Everyone knows he’s gay.” She studies me for a moment. “People might wonder about you too.”

I open my mouth to speak, but she continues.

“No one is going to hold it against you if you don’t go on the date. He probably just wanted to humiliate me and his father. Ashton’s like that. I’ve known him since I was a teenager. He’s just rotten.”

“Sasha,” I growl, my voice laced with warning. “You can stop worrying because it was fine. Ashton and I had a great date.”

Her eyes widen comically. “Ew, you poor thing. He actually made you go through with it? If he put his hands on you, we can report this—”

“Stop,” I snap. “Leave him alone.”

My harsh words have her recoiling. “Brayden…”

I’m about to bail, annoyed with the way she talks about Ashton, when I see him.

Not Ashton.

Travis.

Rage builds up inside me hot and quick. I take off running in his direction, dumb Sasha long forgotten. Travis sees me coming and sprints down the corridor. He skids to a halt and darts down a hall. I run after him, turning the corner just in time to see him slip into the restroom. I rush toward it and fling open the door. My chest heaves from exertion as I seek him out. A stall door starts to close, but I stop it with my arm.

“What the fuck, man?” he snarls.

I shove my way into the stall, crowding him against the partition wall. He groans when I press my forearm against his windpipe, leaning in to glower at him.

“You think it’s okay to fucking slash Ashton’s tires? To frame him for drugs? To threaten and try to poison him?” I press harder, making him wheeze. “I should beat your fucking ass for that shit!”

“For Ashton? He doesn’t deserve your loyalty,” he hisses.

“Fuck you. You don’t get to say what Ashton deserves.”

“If you’re going to beat me up, defending your boy’s honor, then do it.” He laughs cruelly. “That’s right. You can’t. That would get you kicked off the hockey team and probably out of this school.”

This little bitch.

“Don’t text Ashton. Don’t look at Ashton. Don’t fucking touch Ashton.” I snarl at him. “I’d give that shit up just to watch you piss your pants as I kicked your goddamn teeth in.” I release him and smack his cheek. “I’m not fucking playing with you. Fuck with Ashton and it’s guaranteed, I will fuck with you.”

I push out of the bathroom stall, eager to get the hell away from that snake before I lose control. As much as I want to kill him, I can’t. I’ll get in trouble. He doesn’t need to know that, though. I want him to have felt my wrath and the seriousness of my words. As soon as I exit the bathroom, I nearly knock Sasha over.

“Brayden, we’re not through discussing this,” she whines.

“Later,” I grind out.

I’m pissed the entire way home. Practically fuming by the time I reach Ashton and Drew’s. When the key Drew gave me doesn’t fit in the lock, I have a moment of panic.

What’s happening?

For a brief moment, my insecurities swell up inside me. They don’t want me anymore. Then, as fast as those thoughts appear, they vanish.

Ashton promised a blowjob.

And if there’s anything I know about Ashton, it’s he never jokes about a sexual promise.

I bang on the door. Mia answers with a smile. Pulling her to me, I kiss her supple lips, needing to feel like I matter and belong here. She returns the kiss with urgency, calming the storm that was brewing inside of me.