Striker: A Dark Bully Romance (Redwood Rebels Book 1) Rachel Leigh (the reading list book .TXT) 📖

some ways, I trusted him. Obviously, I gave in to his wishes that night. But I never imagined he’d betray me to this extent. Recording me. Recording us and then sharing it with the guys. I’m still not sure that I believe anything Zed is saying to me. But the reality is, someone did record me and even if it wasn’t Talon, I’m starting to realize I can’t let my guard down.

“How did you get that?” My body begins itching as red waves of anger ripple over my skin.

“Surprised?” I can feel his body next to mine. “You shouldn’t be. Talon’s using you.” He chuckles. “I mean, come on. He forced you to finger fuck yourself with a camera hidden in here. He’s always watching you. Well,” he pauses, “he was always watching. Until you stole his phone.”

“But, why? What could I possibly have that he wants?” Why am I even asking Zed? He’ll probably only feed me lies. He could be lying right now for all I know. He could have planted the camera. Attempting to lift my head, however far it will go, I look around the room for any sign of light from a camera.

Watching my every move through the light of the phone, it’s like he reads my mind. “It’s not on. I shut the cameras off.” He grabs the phone from my hand.

“How did you shut it off? I thought Talon said he changed the password.”

Flipping me over onto my back, Zed flicks on his phone’s flashlight and holds it up to his face as he talks. “I’ve got my ways.” The light reflects off of his shark-like eyes that are as black as coal, even with a beam of light hitting them. His legs cinch around my waist as he imprisons both of my arms at my side.

He must have watched me slip Talon the sleeping pills. All this time we thought he went rogue, and he’s been lurking around watching us—watching me.

“Whatever you think is going on with you and Talon is all a facade. A dream preparing to take a twisted turn into a nightmare.”

“Newsflash, Zed,” I emphasize his name, “There is absolutely nothing going on between Talon and me. In fact, I hate him just as much as I hate you.” My body reacts by shoving his body up and trying to squirm out from beneath him, but, as per usual, I’m too fucking slow.

“Lies. Lies. Lies. You think that I haven’t been watching every single move you make.” His legs swaddle me in, and his words suck all the air out of my lungs. “I know you, Marni. I know that you leave these curtains open when you sleep. I know that you sleep on your stomach and prefer to wear socks to bed with the blanket tucked all around you. Does Talon know these things about you? Does he even fucking care?” His voice raises with each word, and I lie there completely motionless. “No!” he shouts. “He doesn’t know these things and he doesn’t fucking care.”

“How long have you been watching me?” I manage to ask, though my words are jutted and cracked.

“Ever since you got here. Every single day. Every single night.”

I don’t respond. I can’t. My mind tells me to scream or to fight him off, but something holds me in place and my tongue fails me when I go to speak. When his fingers trail up my shirt, my heart stills. I hold my breath and close my eyes. Taking every sweep of his thumb as it grazes the flesh of my cleavage. Something comes over me and it sure as hell isn't a desire for him. It’s pure unadulterated hate.

His mouth crashes into mine, and I press my lips together firmly, while biting down on my teeth with immense pressure. But that doesn’t stop him, he pushes so hard that I can feel his teeth through the skin of our lips. Tears well in the corner of my eyes and my body fails to even try and fight him off when he pulls my pants down. It could be fear, or it could be the fact that all of my life I have fought to feel wanted. I’ve struggled to feel comfortable in my skin. To accept the reality that I have no one. Mom is gone and she’s not coming back. Dad loves his job more than his family. Axel is happy and in LA. Who do I have? Where do I belong?

Zed leans back and I lick my lips; the metallic taste of blood present. Strong hands clutch at my sides as I lie there without a voice. Just like when I was thirteen and that old security guard used to visit me in the playhouse. I swore that if any man ever touched me again without permission, I’d be the one to kill him. A couple weeks later, I told Axel about it and the next day the sorry bastard went missing. I’m still not sure if Dad did the job or if Axel took matters into his own hands. Either way, here I am. Getting the attention I’ve always craved. I have no one to blame but myself. I put my body on display and reeled in these fucked-up men.

Wispy strands of hair tickle the insides of my thighs as Zed presses his lips to them, sucking the skin into his mouth so hard that I can already feel the bruise come to the surface. Again. And again. And again.

“No one was supposed to touch you outside of that one video. But Talon did, didn’t he?” He growls as his teeth clamp down on the flesh of my side. I go to sit up, but he pushes me right back down.

I gasp when his fingers slide inside me. Twisting and turning, poking and prodding. Rough and unwanted, but here I lie. Quiet as a mouse.

Sliding up my body, his fingers remain in me and his thumb rubs aggressively over my clit.