Ruthless (An Enemies To Lovers Novel Book 4) Read online

  “You’re the best fucking person I know. You get that right?”

  “Yeah.” I smile and bump my shoulder into his as I walk by him. “Let’s get our asses downstairs. If anyone sees us like this, they’re going to start thinking we’re fucking gay.”

  Jaxson laughs as we leave my room. “I love you, bro, but there’s no way I’m giving up pussy for you.”

  When we walk into the kitchen, it’s already packed with students from college. Most of them are perfect strangers who heard about the party from some dick.

  I push people out of my way to get to the fridge and grab a six-pack of beers. There’s no way I’m drinking the cheap shit Rhett always gets for these parties.

  I slip out the back door and walk over to where the hammocks are. Placing the six-pack on the grass, I make myself comfortable on the hammock. I listen to the laughter and music filling the air as I drink one beer after the other.

  I just need to take the edge off before I go back inside. After all, I have an image to uphold. Not that it’s hard. Being labeled the son of a killer helps keep people at a safe distance. It’s fucked up how many chicks have slept with me because of that label. I’m their one chance of flirting with danger.

  As I finish off my third beer, nearby laughter catches my attention. I look in the direction of the house, and when I spot Evie, I start to sit up. There’s another girl with her, but she’s standing with her back to me. From what I can see she has a killer ass.

  I pick up another beer and open it. As I take a sip, I watch as a bunch of guys walk up to Evie and her friend.

  I glance in the direction of the pool and let my eyes sweep over the half-naked bodies on display. Bored out of my mind, I look back at Evie and her friend.

  One of the guys throws his arm around Evie’s friend, but she shrugs it off and takes a step away from him.

  “We’re not interested,” Evie says, and by the frown on her face, it’s clear she’s pissed off.

  Rhett really likes her, and we look out for her, so I get up and slowly make my way towards the group. The beer I’ve had is finally giving me a light buzz.

  I scan the group of guys and laugh silently. Maybe a fight is just the thing I need to get rid of the tension.

  “You didn’t have a problem stripping for me before you met that asshole.” The guy gets in Evie’s face which makes me walk faster.

  I’ve seen the fucker on campus. Jake is a big talker and so are his friends. They always target someone weaker than them. As soon as they meet their match or someone stronger they run away like the pussies they are. It’s always the same group of guys. They were big shots in high school, and they haven’t realized that college is a whole different ball game.

  “Evie,” I say as I come up behind her blonde friend.

  “Marcus,” she breathes relieved. “I wanted to introduce you to Willow.”

  As I walk into Willow’s line of sight, one of the guys wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her against his side.

  Fucking possessive dick.

  When Willow tries to move out of his hold, I frown and tilt my head to the side. I might be a total fucking bastard, but even I have my limits. This guy is either fucking stupid, or he has balls, trying to force a woman to do something she doesn’t want to do in our house of all places.

  I give the idiot holding Willow a look of warning before my eyes snap to the leader of the group.

  “You know who I am,” I growl at Jake.

  “Yeah. Marcus Reed,” he sneers. “Didn’t your daddy kill your family?”

  A ruthless smile curls around the corner of my mouth as I take a step forward. Those words lost their power a long time ago. They used to hurt like hell in the beginning, but now they merely serve as a reminder of who I have to be to keep people away from me.

  “Then you know what I’m capable of. Get the fuck out of my house before I end you.”

  The fucker has the balls to stare at me for a few seconds longer before he turns around and starts to walk away. I’m disappointed that he doesn’t put up a fight.

  “They’re not worth it,” he sneers as his friends join him.

  “The party sucks anyway,” another fucker mumbles.

  The one holding Willow tries to pull her along with him, but I reach out and grab hold of her arm, right under her elbow.

  “She’s not part of the deal. You get to leave in one piece, but that’s where my generosity ends.” I take a threatening step forward which places me right behind Willow while staring the fucker down. “This is the part where you let go of her and fuck the hell off.”

  I’m surprised as hell when Willow yanks herself free from his hold while he’s still trying to figure out whether she’s worth the fight.

  She gives him a hard shove before she turns her back on him, which puts the front of her body flush with mine.

  I keep looking at the fucker from over the top of her head until he finally grows a brain and runs to catch up with his friends.

  We seriously need to do something about the trash that always comes to our parties.

  “Thanks, Marcus,” Evie says as she lets out the breath of air she’s been holding. “Some assholes just don’t understand the word no.”

  I glance down at Willow and the second our eyes meet, her lips part and her breath hitches.

  We don’t even hear Evie leave.

  A soft smile starts to warm her face and when the corner of my mouth twitches, she hits me with a full-blown smile.

  Fuck. I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as Willow. It feels as if her smile is reaching into the coldest parts of me and warming me for the first time since Summer died.

  “Willow,” I say. It comes out harsher than I meant it to be. Fuck, I don’t like the effect she’s having on me.

  I’ve been lucky so far. I’ve never fallen for a girl before. I don’t even remember the faces of the ones I’ve fucked. Willow? She’s dangerous. She has a beauty you don’t forget.

  I’ve never had a type before. If the girl were willing, it worked for me. But Willow… she’s the kind of girl men will go to war for. She’s the kind you fall in love with. She’s the kind who deserves the best this life has to offer.

  “Marcus,” she whispers back, sounding like silky sheets and wild sex.

  Yeah, she’s definitely the kind of woman I avoid.

  ∞∞∞

  WILLOW

  Holy hell. I’m about to orgasm just from the way he’s looking at me.

  I should thank him for stepping in and saving me from a very awkward night of fighting off the octopus who couldn’t take no for an answer. Then I should leave, but instead, I stand frozen while staring shamelessly at him.

  I’ve seen some good-looking guys in my life, but Marcus is in a whole league of his own. His eyes are piercing dark blue. He’s taller than me by quite a few inches. Hell, I barely reach his shoulder. From the way his t-shirt clings to his frame, I’m pretty sure there’s a six pack hiding beneath the material.

  When his mouth twitches at the side, as if he wants to smile, I can’t help but smile back at him. For some reason I want him to like me.

  Usually, I’d be angry because a guy assumed I couldn’t fight my own battles, but there was no way in hell we could’ve taken on six guys by ourselves.

  I should be worried that Marcus was able to scare them off with only a few words. Evie mentioned earlier that no one fucks with her group of friends. I’ve met Carter and Rhett already, and now that I’ve met Marcus, I’m starting to understand why.

  They’re all intimidating, but weirdly I didn’t feel scared meeting them. I have no doubt that whoever goes up against any of the Screw Crew will wish they hadn’t. Yet, I get a feeling that once you’re included in their circle, you’re safe.

  The moment between Marcus and me starts to fizzle away, and his expression becomes hard and guarded. He takes a step away from me, letting go of my arm at the same time, and I hate that I miss the feel of his strong fingers on my arm. I’ve
never reacted so strongly to a stranger before. Every ounce of me is curious about the man in front of me.

  He takes a sip of his beer and starts to turn away from me.

  “Wait.” The word bursts from me and when he actually stops, I have no idea what I’m going to say. I’ve never been one to suffer from a loss of words, but for some reason, Marcus makes it hard to think clearly.

  His body is turned towards the house, and as he glances at me from over his shoulder, I feel the intensity of his eyes again.

  “Uhm… I just wanted to thank you.”

  He raises an eyebrow at me as if he’s tolerating my presence. He most probably only helped us because he knows Evie.

  “Thank you for helping out,” I say lamely.

  It looks like he’s going to say something and my heartbeat increases just at the thought that he might want to talk to me.

  Then he shakes his head and walks away, leaving me to stare at him in confusion. So much for hoping.

  “He did you a favor,” Evie says behind me.

  I tear my eyes away from where Marcus walked into the house and turn to face Evie.

  “Remember what I told you. None of these guys do relationships. They just screw around, and you don’t want to be on their screw list.”

  “He doesn’t seem like the bad boy type.”

  Evie lets out a burst of laughter. “Trust me. He is. Marcus and Rhett are the worst of the group. Come on, let’s go dance.”

  As I follow Evie to the dance floor, I glance over my shoulder, and I’m surprised when I see Marcus watching us from the open door.

  I didn’t get the womanizer vibe from him. I actually felt safe with him. My play-boy-radar has never been wrong before.

  Evie did mention that she was only close friends with Rhett. Maybe she’s wrong about Marcus, and she doesn’t know him as well as she thinks?

  Chapter 2

  MARCUS

  “Move,” I growl at the couple sitting on the couch busy eating each other’s faces. These parties are turning out to be nothing more than a fuck-fest.

  They get up and rush off. I sit down on the couch and search through the crowd in front of me until I find her.

  Willow.

  I watch her hips sway to the rhythm. Fuck, now this is what I call a show. Her blonde hair falls halfway down her back in loose curls. I wonder what it would feel like to run my hands through those silky strands.

  She’s wearing a white shirt which fits her like a second skin, giving me an eyeful of her perky breasts.

  The pair of faded jeans she’s wearing, once again, draw my eyes to her fuckable ass. I have a semi from just watching her, which is a clear sign that I should stay away from her.

  I’ve never felt this attracted to anyone before. It took a lot of effort to walk away from her earlier, but staying away seems to be impossible.

  The urge to take Willow upstairs and ride her hard all night long is so fucking overwhelming that I down my bottle of beer.

  Jaxson falls down next to me and shoves another beer my way.

  “Who’s the lucky girl tonight?” he asks before he tips his head back and downs half of the beer.

  My eyes never leave Willow as I say, “I’m still looking.”

  Jaxson leans closer to me and follows my line of vision.

  “That’s a hot ass. I’d tap that.”

  I frown at him, and it doesn’t escape either of our attention that I don’t like him talking about Willow like that.

  Raising an eyebrow at me, he says, “Don’t tell me you actually like her.”

  “She’s Evie’s friend which means she’s off limits,” I growl before I down some beer. Fuck, this is crazy. She’s just another piece of ass. I’ve barely spoken to her once, and it was enough for her to get under my skin.

  Rhett sits down on the arm of the couch and follows our line of sight.

  “Why are you looking at Evie?” He sounds pissed-off, which makes me tear my eyes away from Willow.

  “We’re not. I’m looking at Willow and Jaxson is…” I glance at Jaxson. “Fuck if I know who he’s looking at.”

  “I’m watching Marcus drool over Willow. It’s fun. His facial expressions go from annoyed to lovesick in a matter of seconds.”

  “Oh yeah?” Rhett grins as he looks from me to Willow and back to me again.

  “Fuck off,” I growl. Just as I find Willow again, Evie grabs her hand and walks in our direction.

  “When are you going to admit that you like Evie?” I ask so I can divert the attention away from me before the girls reach us.

  “Never.” The word sounds more like a growl as if he’s trying to convince himself that Evie is off limits.

  “Why?” Jaxson asks the question we’ve all been dying to have answered.

  “We don’t fuck our friends.” Rhett stands just as the girls reach us. He leans into Evie and kisses her cheek as if she’s his fucking sister. “Hey, Babe. Are you having a good time?”

  “Yeah.” She smiles up at Rhett as she takes his drink from his hand. I watch as Rhett’s eyes zero in on Evie’s mouth while she takes a sip.

  Fuck, I hope I don’t look that pussy whipped when I look at Willow.

  Jaxson gets up. “Have a seat,” he says to Willow, and I shoot him a fuck you glare as she sits down next to me. She presses herself against the arm of the chair, leaving enough space between us for Jaxson to sit down again. She doesn’t even look at me.

  “I’m Jaxson,” he introduces himself to Willow.

  “I’m Willow. It’s nice to meet you,” she has to lean forward so Jaxson can hear her.

  “Willow is one of the girls who moved in with me,” Evie explains.

  I lean back into the couch, not liking that at all. It means we’ll be seeing a lot of Willow. So much for avoiding her.

  “Can I get you ladies anything to drink?” Jaxson asks.

  “I’ll have whatever Rhett’s having,” Evie says.

  “Nothing for me. Thanks,” Willow murmurs, making it hard to hear her over all the noise in the room.

  She glances up at Jaxson and offers him a smile which makes me frown again. I don’t want her smiling at my best friend. As she looks down, she catches me staring at her. Fuck, she has gorgeous brown eyes. She’s the whole package – sinful body, breathtaking face – but those eyes? It feels as if they can see right into my soul. They’re very expressive, and right now they’re sizing me up as if she’s trying to figure out if I’m a nice guy or bad news.

  I lean over to her, and when her body stiffens, I smirk. “There’s nothing nice about me, babe. Unless you’re ready to head up to my room, so you can impress me with your mouth on my cock, stop eye-fucking me.”

  I glance away, staring blankly at the dancing bodies in front of us. I can feel her eyes burning on me for a moment longer.

  “I’m going to go dance some more,” Willow says as she stands abruptly. “You coming, Evie?”

  “Yeah, definitely,” Evie says, taking one last sip of Rhett’s drink.

  I watch as Willow and Evie walk back to the middle of the dance floor, thinking I better find someone else to take up to my room and fuck before I do something stupid.

  ∞∞∞

  WILLOW

  Sitting next to Marcus was very unnerving. It felt like I was repeatedly being zapped with an electric bolt.

  When I dared to glance at him, and our eyes met, I felt the tingles zap from my stomach, all the way between my legs. The look in his eyes was heated and pretty intense. It felt like he was ready to rip my clothes off right there on the couch, but then he had to be an asshole.

  Well, that blows my theory that Marcus isn’t a womanizer.

  When I got up, Marcus didn’t bother looking at me again. Although I can almost swear, I felt his eyes on me as we walked back to the spot we were dancing in earlier.

  Forget about him.

  I force myself to focus on Evie. The night can still be fun.

  I’m not much of a dancer, but right now i
t feels good just to sway in a sea of strangers. Evie is a natural. She looks like she’s one with the music, her body moving in ways I can only dream of.

  A few songs later I manage to lose myself in the beat. I close my eyes and let my body move freely. When I feel someone behind me, my eyes snap open with surprise. As I turn my face to see who it is, I only get a glimpse of dark hair before I feel lips grazing my ear.

  “You’re a fucking tease,” the guy growls as he forcefully grabs my hips to keep me in place. He starts to grind against my ass. I feel uncomfortable and try to step forward, but that makes him tug me back against him until I feel his erection rubbing against me.

  “Let go!” I grind the words out, but it’s quickly lost in the loud music beating around us. I grab hold of his hands and try my best to pry his fingers loose.

  Panic slithers down my spine when my attempts at freeing myself from him only seem to make him harder.

  As a wave of disgust washes over me, strong fingers wrap around my bicep, and I’m yanked forward.

  Just from the touch alone, I know it’s Marcus. He pulls me into his body, and a burst of electricity shoots through me, washing away the disgust I felt just a moment ago.

  I keep my eyes locked on his chest as both relief and embarrassment fill me.

  Ugh… why did this have to happen? Now he’s going to think I can’t stand up for myself. After he was so rude, I certainly don’t want his help. With my luck, he’ll think I owe him a blowjob for saving my butt.

  “Fuck off,” the other guy growls while not letting go of my hips. He tries to yank me back with a painful grip. “I’m dancing with her.”

  Marcus lets go of my arm and wraps a strong arm around my waist, pinning me to his chest. His body shoots forward, and I have to grab hold of his sides, so I don’t fall over backward. With one forceful shove, he sends the other guy stumbling away from me.

  “She’s off limits,” he growls, and the sound vibrates through every inch of me.

  He sounds so angry; I have no doubt that he’s about to beat the living shit out of the other guy.

  Luckily the other guy only spits out a string of curses before he storms away from us.