In Ruins: A Dark High School Bully Romance (A Black Falls High Novel Book 1)

Fox worked on the gutters and did yard work all day. I watched him from my bedroom window, in awe of how beautiful he was, even when he frowned, which seemed to be far too often.

When night fell, I waited until Fox’s dad pulled out of the yard. I quickly fluffed my loosely hanging hair and dabbed lip gloss on my lips. Opening my closet, I pulled on a blue sundress. I raced downstairs, torn between being nervous and excited.

I hadn’t even knocked when Fox pulled the door open, a massive grin on his face, and tugged me inside. His lips locked on mine, making me giggle.

‘Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?’ he growled, moving his mouth to kiss across my jawline.

‘Mm, no, but if it’s along the same lines as what you’re doing to me, then I think I may have a good idea.’Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

He laughed and pulled away from me, taking my hand in his. We went into his kitchen where he offered me a seat at the island. I took it and watched as he spooned out a runny mixture of cheese and macaroni into a bowl for me.

‘It’s more like mac and cheese soup,’ he laughed sheepishly. ‘Cooking isn’t really my thing.’

I grinned and dug my fork into my cheesy noodle soup and took a bite.

‘This isn’t bad,’ I offered through a mouthful. Fox grinned at me and dug into his own bowl.

We finished in a playful silence with him reaching out to squeeze my hand or to play footsie with me. When I’d swallowed my last forkful, he grabbed my bowl and rose from his seat. Something I’d been pushing out of my head since last night finally came tumbling out of my mouth.

‘Fox? What about Juliet?’

Fox stilled at the sink for a moment before placing the bowls in it and turning back to me. His eyes locked on mine.

‘I broke up with her last week. She’s been bitter. Angry. I’m sorry, Rosie.’

He moved back to me and took my hand in his and pulled me to my feet. Wordlessly, he led me to the living room where he tugged me down onto his lap on the couch.

‘She hurt you,’ he murmured, squeezing me to him.

‘She’s always done that. You’ve always been OK with it–‘

‘I was never OK with it,‘ he ground out. ‘I hated it, but I hated my feelings more, so I didn’t do anything about it.’

‘What changed?’ I whispered.

‘Everything, Rosie. There’s so much I have to tell you. Things I’m afraid to tell you because of what they could mean.’

‘Just tell me, Fox. I want to know.’

He grew quiet as I studied him.

‘I’m sorry for all the things I’ve said or done to you.’ His eyes locked on mine. ‘It’s hard for me to admit everything. I’m trying, Rosie. I am.’

I studied him for a moment longer before speaking. ‘We haven’t spoken in years, Fox. Why?’

He gave my thigh a squeeze, a faraway look in his eyes.

‘My mom loved you like a daughter. She’d have done anything for you.’

I nodded, swallowing hard. I knew that about her. She’d been a wonderful person.

‘I loved her too,’ I whispered.

He let out a soft laugh. ‘I know you did. She always wanted a daughter. She and dad tried for years to have another baby after me. I guess it wasn’t in the stars for them. A lot of things weren’t.’

My heart clenched. He’d grown quiet and sullen. I was losing him to his sadness and grief.

I reached out and tilted his chin up and bravely placed a soft kiss on his lips. He kissed me back, everything about his touch and kiss gentle and caring.

‘Do you remember when you first kissed me?’ I whispered against his lips.

‘Yes.’

‘You were my first kiss.’

‘I know,’ he murmured. ‘You were mine. I intend on being your first everything.’

I blushed at his words. He was doing a great job so far.

‘You giving yourself to me last night was amazing,’ he continued softly. ‘I’ve wanted you for so long.’ He kissed the corner of my lips sweetly.

‘Really?’

‘Mhmm.’ He nuzzled into my neck, hauling in a deep breath and giving me a gentle squeeze. ‘God, you’re amazing. I’m such a fuckup, Rosie.’

He stilled against me.

‘You’re not, Fox. We all do things we regret.’ I ran my fingers through his messy hair.

‘I have so many regrets. I won’t ever be able to make them right.’

‘Then learn from them,’ I offered gently. ‘Be a better person.’

‘Rosie, I’m really trying.’ He pressed another kiss to my lips. ‘It starts with you.’

In a flash, he had me on my back, looming over me, his hands delving beneath my skirt.

‘Fox,’ I choked out. ‘What about your dad?’

‘Not here,’ was his muffled reply as he kissed between my breasts.

‘He could come home though.’ I angled my neck for him so he could kiss me more.

‘Then he’s going to see me buried inside you.’

I slapped at him amid his soft laughter. ‘We’re supposed to go to Cole’s house.’

He stilled against me before getting to his feet, hauling me with him.

‘You’re right. We’re making this official.’

He led me out the front door and had me seatbelted in his Jeep in moments.

‘You seem so eager,’ I teased. He leaned over and kissed me.

‘Baby, you have no idea.’

I let out a laugh as he put the Jeep into reverse and pulled out of his driveway, his hand in mine.

‘I HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED,’ Ethan said, the moment we stepped into Cole’s living room. He pulled me into a tight embrace. ‘You know we’d never do that to you. Neither would Fox.’

‘I’m glad Fox got it off your forehead,’ Cole said, eyeing me. ‘I was ready to pay Juliet a visit and show her how it feels.’

‘I’m still ready to,’ Enzo scoffed, giving me a hug next.

‘I’ll take care of it,’ Fox said.

‘You better or I’ll do it. Trust me, I won’t be gentle.’ Cole’s face had grown dark, sending a shiver through me. If anyone would do something bad, it would be Cole. Fox and him would be a force to be reckoned with if they were pissed and teamed up. Ian was a great example of that, and I was certain that was only a taste of their darkness.

‘I ordered pizza,’ Enzo broke in, glancing at Cole. Sometimes he needed to be brought back to our world from wherever his dark thoughts led him.

‘I could go for some pizza,’ I said, reaching out for Cole. The tension melted away as I touched him. I went to him and kissed him lightly.

‘Relax,’ I murmured. He responded by hugging me tightly and blowing out a deep breath.

‘I’m sorry,’ he apologized so low only I could hear him. ‘But when it comes to you, I lose my fucking mind, Rosebud.’

I kissed him again, making sure he knew exactly what his words meant. He let out a growl and nipped my bottom lip before releasing me.

The doorbell rang then. Fox turned and answered it, taking the boxes of pizza from the delivery driver and bringing them to the coffee table in the living room. We all moved and settled on the couches. Ethan got me a piece of pizza after Cole retrieved the plates from the kitchen.

‘So, what’s the deal?’ Enzo asked after his third slice, looking from me to Fox.

‘She said she’s in,’ Fox said, smiling at me. ‘She’s ours. You know that.’

‘You popped her cherry?’ Cole asked, winking at me. I flushed hot at his words.

‘Best I’ve ever had.’ Fox grinned at me. ‘Seriously. She’s amazing.’

Cole’s gaze swept over me, a look of longing in them.

‘We running that train, Sunshine?’ Enzo laughed.

‘I want to, but um, I’m kinda sore after Fox,’ I admitted bashfully. ‘Can we sort of do it slowly? I don’t want to rush it.’

‘Good lord, she’s another Ethan,’ Cole groaned. Ethan threw his balled-up napkin at Cole, bouncing it off his head. Cole chucked it back, grinning.

I got to my feet, feeling braver than I’d ever felt before, and went to Ethan. He stared up at me, his lips hitched in a curious smile. I sank down onto his lap.

‘Hey, beautiful,’ he murmured, surveying me. I breathed in deeply and pressed my lips to his. He came to life beneath me, his tongue sweeping against mine as his arms encircled me.

He deepened the kiss, his fingers tangled in my hair. I shifted on his lap, so I was straddling him, our centers align. He pulled me closer, his hard length hitting me in all the right places as I rocked against him. I let out a soft moan that had him grinding harder on my center. ‘Ethan,’ I rasped as the heat hit low in my belly, the impending euphoria making goosebumps pop along my skin. He kissed me again, continuing his movements. We both were breathing heavily when the euphoria took hold, sending me toppling over the cliff of pleasure. A soft moan erupted from my lips.

He let out a chuckle as our movements slowed, my body trembling from our heavy make-out session. I collapsed against his hard chest, feeling sated. He ran his fingers through my hair as he cradled me in his arms.

‘That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,’ Enzo murmured.

‘And here I thought you two would be the shy ones,’ Cole mused. ‘Guess I was fucking wrong on that account.’

I locked eyes on Fox, who stared back at me with parted lips, lust in his eyes. A flurry of heat swept through me at his hooded gaze.

‘I can’t wait until you’re rested, Rosie,’ he growled. ‘We’re going to have a lot of fun together.’

I cuddled closer to Ethan. ‘I can’t wait either.’