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

full mouth. Our eyes are both wide open, burning into one another. While this kiss is turning me on to the fullest extent, she’s getting off on the pain she’s causing me with her nails beneath my flesh. She stops digging them into me, pulls back and looks down at her bloodied nails. “Now look what you’ve done.”

Taking her hand in mine, I examine her red-tinged fingers. She probably hoped I would shriek and beg her to stop. To wince due to the sting of pain. She doesn’t know me, and nothing she does can hurt me.

With my free hand, I clench her cheeks between my thumb and forefinger and force her mouth open. “Not so funny now, is it?” I tsk. “I’ll play your game, but you’ll play mine.” I take her hand and shove three fingers inside of her mouth while still holding it open. “Does it taste as good as it felt?”

Her eyes widen, and when she tries to fight back, I squeeze her cheeks hard. Gags, gurgles, and whimpers sound in my ears, but all I hear is triumph.

When I think she’s had just about enough, I release my hold on her. Spit flies in my face, and I take it. “You are deranged.” She coughs and chokes while spitting repeatedly on the floor.

That I am. My fingers graze over the raised ridges of the scratches on my neck. I might have finally met my match.

I’ve been driving Marni to school, and every morning, her face is stuck to the passenger window, just so she can avoid looking at me. Today is no different in that aspect, but I’m certainly about to throw a wrench in her plans.

Her head perks up. “What are you doing?” she asks when I drive straight past the drop-off line and pull into the student parking lot.

“Oh shit, I forgot to tell you. I’m going to class with you today.” I shift into park and turn the ignition off.

I didn’t really forget to tell her. It was just determined this morning while she was taking her time coming down stairs. After talking with the guys, we figured it would be a good idea to keep her at arm’s length, considering there’s been a break in the case and Josh’s car was found by divers last night.

“No, you’re not,” she spits. “You’re not a student here.”

“Just because I choose not to attend classes in person doesn’t mean I don’t go to this school.”

Technically, I’m not supposed to be here, but I called Principal Burton and told her that I needed some detailed instruction for a few assignments and requested to sit in on some classes—all Marni’s classes. With a little persuasion, she made it happen.

With a long drawn out huff, Marni grabs the handle and gets out so quick that she drops her opened backpack and the contents spill out on the pavement. Of course, I laugh.

“I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” She repeats over and over as I try to help her pick up the dozen pens and pencils. Slapping my hand away, she stuffs everything inside the bag, but I reach in and snag one of the pencils.

“Thanks. I’m gonna need that.” I stick the pencil behind my ear. “Probably some paper, too.”

Swinging the bag over her shoulder she stomps off. “Like you plan on doing any work, loser,” she shouts with a flip of her middle finger over her shoulder.

Cupping my hands around my mouth, I shout louder, “Maybe I wanted to write you a love note…honey.”  I laugh, but she just picks up her pace.

This is fixing to be a hell of a good time. I’m not sure why I ever stopped coming here. The place is swarming with babes. They’ve really filled out since I left. Tits and ass everywhere.

Marni’s walking about six feet ahead of me when I jog up to her side and throw an arm over her shoulder. “What’s the matter? Embarrassed to be seen with me?”

Pulling my arm off of her, she makes an abrupt turn straight over to the lawn where her friend, Shay, is talking amongst a group of guys from the varsity football team. I stop walking, watch for a minute, and contemplate whether or not I’ll allow her this space. But when Jordan Wells, the varsity quarterback, winks at her and flips the front of her hair with lust-filled eyes, I eat up that distance.

“Yo, Wells,” I shout, “Touch her again and I’ll shove my foot up your ass.”

A few eyes watch as I walk over. Confusion written all over their faces. “Miss me, fuckers?” I say to the guys. A couple of them are at my house practically every weekend, just for a free space to party, but none of these assholes are friends of mine. Not anymore. When I fell down the drain of addiction and left sophomore year, they found humor in my downfall.

I wrap my arms around Marni from behind and rest my chin on her head. “Carry on. Didn’t mean to interrupt.” I smirk.

Marni doesn’t make a move, but Jordan is looking at her with puzzlement. “Are you two—?”

“No!” she blurts out, “we are not.”

Tipping my head back, I mouth, “We are,” but only he catches it. It’s complete bullshit, but everyone may as well assume she’s off-limits, because she is.

“We were just inviting the girls to a bonfire this weekend. You’re welcome to come, too.” Keegan, the nicer of the guys, says.

“He’s busy.” Marni turns around and grabs me by the arm, pulling me away before I can respond.

“Hey, I was just about to make friendly conversation with your friends. What’s with the dramatic exit?”

“Nothing you say is friendly,” she mutters, while continuing to pull me toward the steps of the school.

The crowd out front begins to thin out when the warning bell rings, but Marni stands there with her arms crossed over her chest. “You can leave now. I have class.”

“Oh,” I laugh, “you thought I was