Page 31 of Untamed
“Ever since yesterday you’ve been actin’ crazy.”I guess there’s some truth there. This hasn’t seemed to bother me as much as it does now, until last night, until Grayer Easton sparked something more inside me. I can’t. Or I won’t be that girl anymore. I look over my shoulder to see ifhe’sstill here. Eight Seconds gives me hope in those diamond eyes burning so bright.
“Leave me alone, Joel.” Standing, I move away from him. I refuse to let guys like Joel destroy me anymore.
Pouring clear liquid into mason jars, I kick back near the fire again with Clint Black blaring through the outdoor speakers. Despite my refusal, Joel comes to sit next to me. “Jesus Christ.” I throw my arms up in the air. “How do you not fucking get it? You’re like a goddamn dog. I told you no,” I remind him. “Go away.”
Joel is cocky sometimes and it’s more of the high school football jock attitude than him being confident. He’s hot, and he knows it. With him being Jamie’s twin brother, I’ll admit that I’d had a thing for Joel, wanted more, until I saw who he was on the inside. He was the evil twin for sure. And for that, he doesn’t even compare to someone like Grayer Easton.
Joel knows this and reacts accordingly when I tell him no and my eyes drift to Grayer.
He knows this because while he’s begging me to go to his room, my eyes are watching Grayer.
Knocking his hand to my knee, he gives a disgusted nod to Grayer. “You fuckin’ that guy now? Is thatwhy?”
I close my eyes and breathe slowly. I look at him, glowering. “You didn’t listen to anything I said, did you?”
He’s not done playing with me yet. “You think he cares? He’ll be onto the next buckle bunny before you even swallow.”
I want to drive my fist through his head, but I’ve punched a guy before. Third grade. Broke my damn hand. So I don’t and look to the one across the fire. Grayer’s glare shifts to Joel, the chaos in his head so very clear with his jaw set in anger. It’s easy to see Grayer’s pissed by his tensed body and the tightening of his jaw. There’s a condescending smirk on Grayer’s face, as threatening as it is promising. He looks at me, as if he wants to say something. He doesn’t. I chew on my lip as worry settles in my gut.
I’m not looking for revenge with Joel. I’m looking formeand I’m never going to find that with Joel. I may not with Grayer either. But there’s something rooted deep inside me when I look at Grayer. It’s like a reawakening of something that’s been long gone, and I don’t know, it’s almost invigorating to be near him.
My brain and heart are playing tug-of-war with my emotions. At one end of the rope is Joel, and the life I thought I was destined for. On the other end, Grayer, and the life I could have. One where anything is possible. And I’m getting yanked and pulled around at their reactions to each other.
Leaning forward, Joel taps my leg, his arrogant glower shifting to Grayer because he knows it’ll conjure a reaction from one of us. “Should I fuck you against the truck? Let everyone around here see who you really belong to.”
I’ll never belong to you.
Squinting, my eyes drift across the fire to Grayer, only to whisper to Joel, “Idon’tbelong to you, Joel. You’re with Violet. She belongs to you. I have nevereverbelonged to you.”
Words, my rebuttal, they mean absolutely nothing to him. Deep down I knew it all along, but every part of me wanted to believe he was like Jamie, because that’s who I was holding onto. Joel snorts, noticing my stare is inadvertently drawn to only one man. He notices the way Grayer’s looking at me, too.
Grayer’s relaxed. At least it appears that way, but if you look closer, dig deeper, he’s not. He’s tense, uptight, looking for a fight. I know his kind pretty well by now. Lifting his cup to his lips, just about to take a drink of his beer, Grayer’s eyes land on Joel’s grip.
Something changes in both their demeanors, like the shifting of the wind sparked a fire in both of them. I can see it, the flexing of their muscles, the change in their breathing, the crazy look in their eyes, it’s rage fueling tempers.
Oh, shit.My eyes snap to the distance, where Haylee’s talking to some chick, but her attention’s on me and what’s about to happen. Everyone around us senses the tension rising.
Joel, he loves to taunt people. It’s something he did with Jamie when they were little. Their mom always teased that Jamie cut off the circulation to Joel and made him mean. And it’s true. There’s so much anger inside him—he’s always ready to start a fight. Always looking to prove something. It’s like he has to prove himself when challenged.
Joel’s hand goes higher, between my legs and cups my crotch over my jean shorts. “Come on, you know you want to. That’s why you showed up here tonight. Why else would you come here?”
Standing, I dump my drink on him. “You touch me again and I’ll rip your fucking dick off.” I nod to Haylee, my eyes wide, ready to tell her we’re leaving. I take a step toward the house and Joel grabs my hand, glaring at the wetness covering his shirt. “I didn’t say you could leave.”
I rip my arm away. “The fuck I can’t. You don’t own me.”
Grayer tosses his cup into the fire and walks toward Joel and me, his eyes low and on the ground until he’s in front of me, and then they’re on mine and he lines up beside me. His eyes rake over me. I feel naked. My spine tingles when I hear his voice.
“Let’s go, Maesyn,” Grayer demands, reaching for my hand, bloodshot eyes returning. He looks tired, sure, but it’s the pure vulnerability and anguish plastered across his face that has me taking his hand. It’s as if he wants to rescue me from myself. I want to take his hand and beg him to run away with me. I want to whisper,Save me from this life I can’t seem to escape. Take me far away from Ellensburg.
Something breaks inside me. I want to curl against him and lose myself in his strong arms. Our eyes lock and with one look at him I want to ask a million questions I don’t want the answers to.
“She’sbusy,” Joel says, ignoring him. His hand moves and reaches for my other hand, tugging me toward him. “Get lost, stud.”
Stud? What a brat.
I don’t let go of Grayer’s hand. I can’t. I won’t. It’s too warm. I want to hold it forever. My lashes flutter and I can’t bring myself to look at him. I’m embarrassed.
“What’s the matter there, Easton . . . couldn’t stay on for more than eight seconds?” Joel asks, his body stiffening, but he finally lets go of my hand. Tipping his head toward Grayer in a cocky manner, he stands. “Must be why you came lookin’ for her again.” His dark eyes move over me, lingering between my legs. “It’s why I keep coming back for more. It’s pretty fucking good.”