Amorevolous: (Savage Princess book 2) Read online

  He helps me back into my dress, but my underwear is too wet and sticky to deal with. I ball them up with my hands, and Nick spares me the task of finding a place to stash them by grabbing the black lace and shoving it into his pocket after he slips his pants on.

  “If we’re going to keep this up, I should probably get on birth control, and we need to use condoms until then.”

  “We’re definitely gonna keep this up.” Nick takes my hand and sucks my finger into his mouth, the one I used to touch myself with. “Once I had a taste, I was hooked. That’s my pussy.”

  I laugh lightly. “Your pussy? I’m only yours for tonight. Tomorrow the game is up.”

  Nick drops my hand. “Not if we don’t want it to be.”

  Starting something other than casual sex wouldn’t be smart. He and I might both have demons that draw our dark sides together, but we are worlds apart in every other way.

  My phone chimes with a text from Aiden, and I groan. “Aiden says Nora wants us up early to pack.”

  “Better hit up a drugstore now.” He wags his brows. “It’s going to be you and me Monday through Friday in California.”

  I laugh as he steps out the back door and moves to the driver’s seat. I maneuver between the seats to drop onto the passenger side. “I plan on getting a job,” I say, and Nick gives me a look that says otherwise, and he might be right. As soon as Nora publicly announces my homecoming, I won’t be a random teenager. I’ll be Princess Anna… “What’s my middle name?”

  He starts the engine and turns the air on to defog the windows. “Sigfrid.”

  I scoff and roll my eyes, but seeing he isn’t joking, I say, “Sigfrid? Really?”

  He chuckles. “Yeah. Aiden’s is Lennart, so not much better.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “Those are both really bad. What’s yours?”

  He touches the gas pedal and slowly drives through the parking lot. “I don’t have one.”

  “Lucky,” I mumble, snapping my seat belt into place as we pull into traffic.

  The drugstore is around the corner. Nick runs in and is back out a few minutes later carrying two plastic bags. He climbs in and tosses the bags onto my lap. I laugh because they’re both overflowing with condom boxes.

  He winks. “California, here we come.”

  Chapter 5

  I swipe across the screen to accept a call from my sister as we’re pulling back into a parking spot at the club. “Hey.”

  “Where are you guys? Casey just showed up.”

  “We stepped outside a minute. Coming in now.” I hang up. “Casey’s here,” I tell Nick and then open the door. The night air brushes against my bare pussy as I scoot out of the passenger seat. I clamp my legs together. I’m not good in dresses. Someone’s going to see skin tonight.

  Bypassing the line, we move right into the club, the bouncer dipping his chin to Nick. Weaving through the crowd, I frown when we get to our spot in VIP. It’s packed. I spot some newcomers talking to Rocco, Tilly, Aiden, and Rose. Casey’s animatedly talking to a small group of people who seem to be entranced by his outgoing personality. Funny how he, Nick, and Aiden can be best friends when they’re all so different.

  “The peaceful bubble never lasts long,” Nick says, watching me eye the scene with annoyance.

  “Dominick Cabot! Where the fuck have you been?” A guy with a black cap on backward says. He pulls his hat off, brushes back a mass of blond hair, and then places it back on his head. “I didn’t know you were here this summer.” Laughing lightly, he leans to the side to nudge Casey. “Nick’s here.”

  Grinning like a damn fool, Casey spins around. The lights above making his green eyes sparkle and auburn hair shine. “About damn time!” His playful gaze slides to me. “Hayley!” Casey pulls me away from Nick’s side and kisses the top of my head. He smells like sweat and rum. “Come dance with me.”

  Nick’s hand darts out to pull me back. “She’s all mine tonight.”

  Casey shakes his head and laughs. “I don’t think so. I thought you were better at sharing.”

  Most of the people in our little area are still talking, but a few have stopped to stare. “Maybe you guys can dance together. I have to go to the bathroom.” I slip away from the guys and move through the crowd. I saw a bathroom sign by the bar, so I move in that direction.

  The bathrooms are down a dark and narrow hallway. I push open the women’s door and see the roomy bathroom is busy with girls gossiping and touching up their makeup. I slip into the only empty stall and handle my business. After washing my hands, I turn my back to the mirror and stand on the tips of my toes to see if my ass is showing.

  “No worries, girl. Your ass looks great,” a brunette says as she applies dark red lipstick to her plump lips.

  “Uh, thanks,” I mumble, tugging down the thin fabric and then slipping back into the chaos of the club.

  More people have flocked to our once little private area. The table is covered with glasses—most of which are empty. Casey notices I’m back and rushes over to scoop me up and spin me around one-handed. Of course my fucking dress rides up, and I feel a cool gust of air against my bare ass. My first instinct is to squirm down, but that’ll make my problem worse, so I go with it until Nick barks Casey’s name and I’m set on my feet.

  “Dance with me,” Casey says, completely unaware that my ass was on display.

  I tug on my dress, trying to stretch the material down. “Yeah, I’m gonna need a drink first.” He hands me his, and I throw it back, the whiskey burning my throat and then my belly. “Aiden!” I shout over the noise. He looks up from the spot he and Rose haven’t moved from. “You and Rose wanna join us?”

  He shakes his head. “Have fun!” He turns back to the guy talking to him and laughs.

  “He can’t,” Casey says, taking the empty glass from me and setting it on the table. “Someone spotted him earlier and announced it. If he goes out there, people will swarm him.”

  I frown. “Should we leave?”

  Casey snorts. “No, he’s used to it. He’s fine chilling in VIP with free drinks.” He grabs my hand. “Let’s have fun.”

  I give Aiden a last glance, knowing that’s my future soon.

  I need another drink.

  “One song!” Nick hollers to our retreating backs.

  “As many songs as we want, or however long it takes Nick to find us,” Casey says, pulling me along until we’re a good way onto the congested dance floor.

  Casey spins me so we are face to face, and then he pulls me in and rolls his hips against mine.

  I move with him, rolling and shaking my body. “Damn, Casey, you’ve got moves.”

  “Hell ya, princess.” He winks, the lights making his green eyes sparkle and his auburn hair shine.

  We move together much like Nick and I did, but with a playful spin here and there. Casey is the carefree, if not a little reckless at times, socialite of the group. But I know from what I’ve seen online that he can be hard too.

  “Damn, I have to take a piss,” he says, his eyes on our joined hips. “I don’t want to stop dancing with you, though.”

  I glance down to make sure he can’t see my vagina.

  He can’t.

  I lean in close and then tap him on the nose with my finger. “We have plenty of time to dance.” I grab his hand and pull. “Come on. I know where the bathrooms are.”

  I drag Casey through the crowd as several people try to get his attention.

  “I’m about to piss my pants, but it might be worth doing ‘cause Mary Constantine just smiled at me. I need to go back. She’s a fucking swimsuit model.”

  I clutch him tighter. “Take a piss, then talk to the model. She won’t go home with you if you piss your pants.”

  I’m glad I went earlier because now there’s a small line to the women’s restroom. I push Casey toward the men’s room and then hang back, leaning against the wall where it’s less crowded in the narrow hall.

  Nothing to distract me, I can’t help but eav
esdrop on the conversations of the girls in line. One girl, with baggy black pants and a white crop top, is complaining about how her bladder’s about to burst and the club should have more bathrooms. There are only two people ahead of her but she doesn’t look like she’ll make it in time.

  I’m about to tell her to use the men’s bathroom when someone rounds the corner and collides into me. I’m knocked to the side, only staying upright because of the wall and a heavy hand that latches on to my arm.

  “Wait up, Rich,” a girl squawks as she rounds the corner. Her gaze lands on her boyfriend, who still has his hand around my arm. “What the fuck?”

  I shake him off and step back, but he steps with me. My head hits the wall when I jerk back, not expecting him to crowd me the way he does. His body’s inches from mine, and he smells like straight vodka.

  “Hey, pretty girl,” he slurs and then chuckles over his shoulder. “Why can’t you do your makeup like this, Lana?” Focusing back on me, he tilts his head to the side and studies my face. His finger glides down my cheek.

  “You need to step back,” I say, my tone firm, and my body tensing for a fight.

  “What the hell, Rich?” The girl tugs his shoulder, but he stands steady. “Sorry, he’s way drunk.”

  “Not drunk enough to see you flirt with that motherfucker at the bar,” Rich growls, temporarily taking his eyes off me. “An eye for an eye, Lana.”

  He grips my chin roughly, and I can tell he’s going to kiss me, so I turn my head and push against his chest. His sloppy wet mouth comes down on my cheek. “Dude, back the fuck up. Get your guy off me before I break his nose!” I struggle under the weight of his body.

  Lana screams obscenities at him and then she must do something to hurt or piss him off because he spins around and grabs her by the throat. Her blue eyes widen with fear as he slams her against the wall on the other side of the hall.

  My first instinct is to run, but the noise she makes while she struggles to breathe has me gritting my teeth. I glance toward the bathroom, but the line is gone and there’s nobody in sight. I give it a few more seconds.

  He’ll let her go.

  This isn’t my problem.

  Her face changes colors and her eyes roll back.

  Fuck.

  Knowing I’ll regret it, I dart forward and smash my fist into the side of his face as hard as I can. His head snaps to the side, and his hands fall away from his girl. She drops to her knees, gasping for breath.

  Rich spins on me, and I have to think fast because I know I can’t take him. He’s pushing thirty and three times my size. We move at the same time, him forward and me to the side. My fingers touch cool metal, and it’s a blur of chaos after that.

  Girls rush from the bathroom toward the club, the shrill alarm warning them of danger. I’m knocked around trying to go the opposite way to where Casey should be coming out any fucking second.

  I scream in pain as someone grabs a chunk of my hair and yanks me back. Both of my hands fly to the back of my head where a large hand is gripping tightly. My face flames with heat and tears instantly spring to my eyes. I try to spin around, but I’m shoved into the wall with a crack. The impact causes a burst of white light to flash in my eyes and pain to explode across the upper right side of my face.

  My adrenaline kicks off, anger flooding through me. This motherfucker.

  “Get off her, Rich!” his girlfriend shrieks. “Oh my god!”

  “Hands in the air!” a deep baritone booms, but it’s too far away to come from the guy pressing me against the wall.

  Rich’s body jerks back, pulling me with him because he’s still got a fist full of my hair. A woman screams and then there’s a loud thump. He twists to the side, flinging me around with him. Out of my periphery, I see Lana unmoving on the floor.

  “Now, motherfucker!” the voice booms again. “Let her go!”

  I’m shoved back against the wall, but this time I’m ready and catch myself with my hands. Rich presses his body against my back, and his large hands wrap around my neck. I suck in a breath, fully prepared to lose the ability to breathe, but his hands and body are ripped away with a grunt.

  Breathing heavy, I spin around and see a man in all black pinning Rich to the floor and yanking his arms behind his back. Several more men in black move into the narrow hall and my heart kicks off hammering against my chest.

  “She’s bleeding!”

  I jerk my head to the source of the booming voice and see one of the suits heading my way.

  “You okay?” he asks with a thick New York accent. “We need to get you to the car.” He reaches his hand out toward me, and I back up. His eyes narrow.

  I look over my shoulder, but still no Casey. I don’t like this. There are too many men in the cramped hall, and they are all blocking my way to the club. I back up another step, glancing over my shoulder at the door with the glowing exit sign.

  “We’ve got her,” the guy behind the guy in front of me mumbles into his shirt, eyes trained on me.

  They don’t have shit. I spin around and take the five steps to the door. I push it open and rush out into the night and make a right. I’m at the side of the building but the front isn’t far. I see people gathered there, some standing around and some weaving through the cars in the parking lot. Soon, the whole building will be empty. I can hear sirens in the distance, no doubt fire trucks.

  I’m a step away from rounding the corner of the building when arms wrap around me and lift me off my feet, arms pinned to my side. I thrash, throwing my weight around. “Get the fuck off me!” Bile burns my throat when the arms tighten around my stomach, pushing up the drinks I’ve had tonight.

  “Get off her! What the fuck, Perry?”

  Was that Nick’s voice? I’m facing the side parking, but when I’m dropped to my feet, I skirt to the side, my eyes moving to the right and my shoulders relax when I see Nick.

  “What? I had no choice. She was runnin’,” the guy with the New York accent says.

  I brush my hair from my face so I can better see what’s going on. Men in black are scattered around us, and Nick looks furious as he takes in my appearance and marches toward me.

  He pulls me against his chest. “She’s fucking shaking.” Nick rubs his hands up and down my back like he’s trying to warm me up. “What happened? Someone talk right fucking now.” His tone is rough and clipped.

  “She was attacked by the bathroom. I think she pulled the fire alarm,” the guy Nick called Perry, says.

  Nick’s hands freeze on my back. “Attacked?” Nick turns, keeping me pinned against him. “Where the fuck were you, Perry? You were hired to protect her. Where was Sean?”

  “Her and Casey went to the bathroom. We were waiting outside the hall.”

  “Hayley!”

  I hear my sister shout my name, Aiden’s voice following, but I don’t want to see anyone. I bury farther into Nick’s chest. I am shaking, and I feel queasy, probably from when Perry’s arms were squeezing my stomach or maybe it’s from hitting my head.

  “You okay?” Aiden asks, laying his hand on my shoulder.

  I take a deep breath before turning to face everyone. Rocco, Tilly, and Rose are a few steps behind Aiden, and they all look worried. I hate it. “I’m fine. Just some asshole fighting with his girlfriend back there.” I glance at Perry and the three suits behind him. “I didn’t know they were security.”

  “Hayley! Fuck. Hayley!”

  Casey shoots out the door at the side of the club, and Nick leaves my side before he can rush forward. “Where the fuck were you!” He shoves at Casey’s chest, making him stumble back.

  “What’s going on?” Casey asks, looking past Nick to me and then Aiden. “What happened? Was there a fire? I thought they were testing the alarms or some shit.”

  “We need to get to the cars,” James says, coming around the corner and stopping next to Aiden. “The guy has been taken care of, but—”

  “No, yeah. I understand,” Aiden says. “Come on,” he
tells the others while steering me forward to where three sleek black cars are pulling up along the curb. “Nick!” Aiden hollers.

  “He left her alone!” Nick yells, shoving Casey back again, harder this time. “How long were you in the bathroom? You were fucking some bitch, weren’t you?” Nick shakes his head and turns away, jogging back over to me.

  “Hayley?” Tilly says from my left. “Oh my god!” She grabs my arm and pulls me to a stop. “You’re bleeding.”

  I move my fingers to the most painful part of my face. There’s a small cut right below my eyebrow. I rub my fingers together, watching the red disappear. “Only a little.”

  “Shit,” Aiden hisses. “Let me see.”

  Nick and Aiden both crowd me, trying to see my face in the dim lighting that’s offered by a few lamps in the parking lot and small shell-shaped lights on the side of the building. Casey tries to get close, but Nick shoves him back.

  I swat their hands away. “It’s nothing.” I cross my arms, ready to go and hating how this night turned out.

  “We need to go,” James says, sounding impatient, but everyone is focused on me, still hovering.

  I push past and move to the curb. “Does it matter which car?” I ask, looking over my shoulder.

  Nick moves forward, but Aiden stops him. “I got her, man. She’s my sister.”

  Nick motions to the left where Rose is standing with her arms around her middle. “Rose, Aiden. She looks scared.”

  “Shit,” Aiden says, glancing over at her quickly.

  “I’m fine,” I say, trying to sound sincere. “It was nothing. I got banged up when everyone was running.”

  Aiden sighs. “Get in the car with Nick. I’ll see you guys back at the house.”

  “You good, Tilly?” She looks freaked out, and I know I should offer to ride with her, but I’d rather ride with Nick, and I know she’ll be okay with Rocco.

  “As long as you are?” I nod and she leans into Rocco. “We’ll see you at the house then.”

  I drop into the back seat and scoot all the way over. The door closes and Nick reaches over and pulls me to the middle, tucking me against his side. The driver shifts the car into gear once a suit takes the passenger seat.