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

“OK. What songs have you picked out for your audition?” Enzo sank down onto the worn velvet upholstered chair in his finished basement.

I appraised the area, taking in all the stuff that decorated the place. Enzo’s house was large, not quite like Cole’s, but more like an actually lived-in space. His mom had even whipped up a dozen of chocolate chip cookies for us and brought them down before letting us know she had to run some errands.

“Earth to Rosalie,” Enzo called out.

I snapped my attention from the bar and pool table and focused on him. He’d grabbed one of the guitars from its spot and had it propped up on his lap like he was going to play.

“Uh, I haven’t picked one.”

“Sunshine, you have what? Only a few weeks left to learn and get ready for this? What the hell have you been doing? Don’t tell me it’s been partying because I’d have seen you out and about.”

I bit my bottom lip, not wanting to tell him I’d written a song for the audition but had gotten stuck on putting together the music for it. My focus had wandered in the past few weeks.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” I crinkled my brows at him, releasing my lip.

“It drives me wild when you pull that lip between your teeth. It’s hot as fuck.”

Heat flooded my face at his words.

“Don’t do that either.” He chuckled, placing his guitar in its stand and getting to his feet. “That sweet, innocent look is even worse. It’s what got you into trouble in the first place.”

He moved to sit on the leather couch and patted his leg. “Come here.”

I climbed to my feet and approached him nervously. I’d never been alone with Enzo be-fore. Like the others, his reputation preceeded him. The memory of his crotch in my face in the locker room flooded my mind. While I hadn’t gotten to actually see it, the thought he most definitely lived up to his Italian Stallion nickname jumped out at me.

Ethan was probably the only one without womanizer etched into his forehead.

“Sit on my lap.”

I sat on his thighs, feeling completely awkward, butterflies hammering in my tummy. His warm hand rested on my lower back.

“Don’t be scared,” he murmured, rubbing my thigh with his other hand. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

I swallowed, nodding.

“Talk to me. What do you want to do for your audition? I can play pretty much anything. My parents are big music buffs, so I’ve learned a thing or two.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?” He frowned at me, stopping the rubbing of my jean-clad thigh.

“Acting like you care.” I stared at him, trying to gauge what he was thinking. He had a hell of a poker face though.

“Who says I’m acting? Is this your way of telling me I should try out for the play too?” His dark eyes twinkled with humor. I relaxed slightly.

“I just don’t get what’s happening. You guys acted like you were going to be so rotten to me.”

“Have any of us been bad?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I shrugged. “No. Not really. I mean, Cole is pretty dark, and Fox is an asshole, but you and Ethan have been tolerable.”

Enzo chuckled as he went back to rubbing my thigh.

“Here’s the thing, Sunshine. Fox is angry by nature. Cole is a fucking weirdo. Me and Ethan? We’re the easy-going ones. But we’re all best friends and balance one another out.”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t be afraid?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m saying you can trust us to act accordingly.”

“That doesn’t seem like a good thing.”

“Trust me, baby girl. It definitely is.” He moved his hand from my thigh and pulled me closer to him. “I want to taste you.”

I let out a soft whimper, our faces inches apart.

I didn’t expected his next move. His lips met mine in a deep kiss, pushing through my barriers before I had time to recognize what was happening. I didn’t kiss him back, confusion flooding through me.

“Kiss me, Sunshine,” he whispered, kissing the corner of my lips. He shifted me on his lap, his growing erection apparent in his jeans. I swallowed hard, my breathing shaky as his grip on my thigh tightened.

“I don’t know what’s happening—”

“Anything you want. Just let go, and you can have it all.”

“Are you recording me?”

He chuckled softly, placing another kiss on the edge of my lips. “If I am, it’s for my eyes only.”

A thrill of excitement raced through my body.

“I’m not like the others. I’ll flat out tell you I want to be buried inside you.”

“Jesus,” I rasped as his lips moved to my neck.

“It’s god, baby. Don’t forget it.”