If it’s because she genuinely doesn’t care about our rift, then maybe our friendship wasn’t as lasting as I thought it was. Maybe it has run its course. Hell, maybe I was only her best friend because I was the only option. What else could I deduce from the fact that as soon as Valerie lifted the ban, Sara flocked to them and didn’t really look back?
I can’t deny that she’s not being the greatest friend right now, but I still think it’s because of Wally. I don’t believe he’s good for her. If he doesn’t really like her and she’s trying to believe he does, she’s going to get hurt.
I don’t know Wally’s deal. I consider asking Hunter to talk to him and find out where he stands—they are friends, after all—but it actually doesn’t seem like Wally and Hunter are as tight since homecoming. It’s nothing Wally has specifically done and nothing Hunter even seems to have noticed, but when he invited me to sit at their table during lunch, I noticed.
On Thursday, I’m the last person to leave the newspaper meeting. Only Mr. Lohman is left when I leave, so the hallway is nice and empty as I make my way out of the school.
When I pass the library, the doors are closed. But there’s a distinct clicking noise, almost like it opened just after I passed.
Since the school is supposed to be empty, my heart jumps. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. I pick up the pace, in a foot race with a strong sense of foreboding that just popped up out of nowhere.
It’s out of the blue, that’s what I tell myself.
I’m at school. Nothing bad is going to happen to me at school.
An arm suddenly locks around my waist from behind. A hand is clamped over my mouth so I can’t scream. I try anyway, dropping my books and crying out for help.
The books hit the floor, managing to make more noise than I do with that strong hand covering my mouth.
I try to look back as the man accosting me drags me toward the library entrance.
The worst part is, Sherlock is the only one who crosses my mind. Who else could it be?
If he’s really accosting me after I did the groundwork to repair his friendship with Hunter, I’m going to kill him.
I struggle, trying to grab onto the door frame as we pass through it. He repositions, restrains my arms, and drags me inside.
The library door clicks shut.
The library is darker than most classrooms with so many bookshelves blocking windows, but it’s still early in the day, so even with the lights off, there’s still plenty of light.
I breathe heavily, my heart racing as I’m pushed back against the wall.
I glare as he steps into view, ready to hand his ass to him as soon as he moves his hand off my mouth, but I’m dumbstruck when I see it’s not Sherlock at all.
It’s Hunter.
I try to ask, “What the hell are you doing?” but he hasn’t moved his hand from my mouth yet.
All the fear and anger melts out of me, though. I’m not worried, just confused.
There’s still leftover adrenaline in my blood, but I don’t know what to do with it if there’s no real threat.
Hunter didn’t need to drag me into a room with him. I would have gone willingly.
He smirks, closing in on me, keeping his hand over my mouth. “Effective, isn’t it?”
What is he talking about?
I scowl at him and try to say, “Move your hand,” but it comes out as incomprehensible noise.
He must be able to guess what I’m trying to say. “I’m not going to move my hand.”
I frown at him, my confusion deepening. “Why?” I attempt.
Holding my gaze, he slides the hand that’s not covering my mouth down my body.
Confusion ebbs, interest sparking as he nimbly unbuttons my jeans.
As he drags down the zipper, he says, “I know my weekend pass hasn’t officially begun yet, but…” He pushes his hand down inside my pants, holding my gaze, a challenge glinting in his. “You can’t say no if you can’t speak.”
I don’t know if it’s the spike of adrenaline I felt when I thought I was being accosted by an actual threat, or the way he has pinned me here with my mouth covered. Whatever the prompt, I feel more powerless than I really am, and my body likes it.
My heart sinks slowly, like it’s moving through molasses. A languidness seeps through my entire body.
My eyes drift closed as his fingertips lightly graze me through my panties and send a shiver all the way through me.
Hunter leans in, tilting his head so he can kiss my neck as he teases me.
God, that feels good.
This isn’t good, though.
This is fucked up.
I open my eyes and steal a peek at the closed library door. There’s only a small rectangular window so it’s unlikely anyone walking down the hall would see in here… but he did make me drop my books, and if someone sees the books abandoned in the hall like that…