Dynasty (Boys of Winter 1)

I watch, completely mesmerized as his tongue slowly rolls over his lips, and then without warning, the side of his lip pulls up into a lopsided grin that has everything inside of me clenching. A scoff comes shooting from deep within him, and just like that, he’s gone.

I stare after them as they walk out of the classroom, the teacher not saying a damn word about it.

It takes me a moment to catch my breath, and I’m left wondering what the fuck just happened. How do these guys already have this effect over me? It’s insane. They draw me in like no one has ever done before, and while bullshit like this would usually terrify me and have my hands curling into fists just to feel my brass knuckles tightening around my fingers, I find it exciting. I find Cruz exciting, while Grayson screams of a dark mystery that I want nothing more than to uncover. I should be taking Knox and Ember’s warnings and running for the hills.

The door slams behind them and as my gaze slices back down to my work, the bell sounds through the school, putting an end to the day. My things are packed up within seconds and I’m out the door in a flash while Knox’s voice rings out behind me. “Babe, where are you going? Wait up. I thought we could chill.”

I don’t stop. I can chill with him tomorrow, right now, I’m far too interested in these guys. I need to know more.

I hurry out to my locker and watch in amazement as the school empties around me. No one stands around to talk shit. They all throw their things into their lockers, get what they need, and get the fuck out of here.

I grin to myself. Now, that’s the kind of shit I can get down with.

I grab my helmet and my backpack out of my locker before slamming the door and making my way out of the school. The bodies quickly fade to nothing, and before I know it, I’m the only person left in the halls.

I break through the doors to find cars spilling out of the student parking lot, but what I don’t expect is to find four delicious men hovering around my bike. The sight brings me to a standstill, and for just a moment, all I can do is stare because it’s not my bike they’re looking at—it’s me.

I let out a shaky breath before pulling on my award-winning bitch face. I’ve got this. I can handle a bunch of dickheads intent on intimidating me. This is the kind of shit I live for.

Tucking my helmet under my arm, I start making my way toward the student parking lot, and with every step I take, their eyes narrow further.

Excitement bubbles within me until I can hardly control myself. Why does the idea of getting under their skin thrill me so much?

The lingering students stop to stare, and the more audience I seem to have, the braver I begin to feel. Whatever they want to throw down, I’m ready to pick right up and destroy.

I reach the parking lot and walk straight up to them, my bike still blocked in by Carver’s Escalade. All four of them continue to stare, and as I scan my gaze over them, I realize just how much fun this is going to be.

King watches me as though he’s trying to work out just how sweet I’ll taste, while Cruz looks as though he’s trying to figure out just how many different positions he could bend my body into. Carver and Grayson—they’re different. They look at me as though just my existence is offensive to them, and that very thought is what drives me forward.

I step into the ridiculous little circle they’ve formed around my bike and drop my backpack onto the seat. “Hey boys,” I say, glancing around at them as I hang my helmet over the handlebar of my Ducati. “Are you lost? I might be new here, but I’m pretty sure I can handle giving directions to the Escalade right behind you.”

A smirk cuts across Cruz’s lips as his gaze drops over my body. “I could be wrong boys, but I think this pretty little thing was just telling us to fuck off.”

“No, no,” I say, studying his body in the same way that he’s doing mine. “When I tell you to fuck off, you’ll know it.”

King scoffs, and I don’t bother looking his way as I dive through my backpack and pull out my pack of cigarettes and lighter that I’d bought at the store this morning. “You’ve got balls.”

At that, a laugh bubbles out of me and I can’t help but look up into his blue, tortured eyes. I pull out a cigarette and step around my bike, putting me directly in front of King as I size him up. “Well,” I murmur, my voice a low, seductive whisper. “Someone has to.”