Scandalous Games (Arranged Games Book 1)

(Seven years ago)

My boyfriend is nowhere to be found.

I circle around the club he brought me to where his friend threw a birthday party. Instead of sticking by my side, Niall has abandoned me to do God knows what while perfectly aware I hardly know anyone.

The music is too loud, sweaty bodies are jammed in every corner, and blinding colorful lights are making me dizzy. Honestly, I don’t get the freaking hype of a night out at a club. All night, I’ve been fighting off grabby hands and slimy flirts with bad breath.

Fuck. I need to get out of here.

I would call a cab and leave if I hadn’t stupidly given my phone to him since I decided to forgo my purse, thinking it’ll get in the way of dancing. Well, if you consider throwing your arms in the air as a form of dancing, because that’s the only move possible on the crowded dance floor.

This is the last time I ever listen to Rosa’s advice, since she’s the one who made me wear a dress with no pockets. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.

When the light flashes bright for a second, I make out a few people from our group on the floor above, peering over the railing. Maybe Niall’s upstairs too. I crane my neck and find the staircase in the left corner and push through the mass of bodies to climb.

It’s the first time I’m upset at Niall’s behavior.

Who runs off leaving their girlfriend all alone?

Ever since my awful and embarrassing run-in with his stepbrother, Niall’s mood has taken a turn for the worse. It has mainly to do with the fact that Dash is constantly hovering around since his return, which doesn’t allow us to have any alone time.

Our relationship has come to a standstill.

Because Dash has apparently made it his mission that I die with my virginity intact. I can’t believe the asshole actually eavesdropped on my private conversation. Then boldly taunted me. I almost punched him in his too smug, handsome face.

Not handsome. Stupid, ugly face.

Liar.

As if that’s not bad enough, he does little things to cause a rift between Niall and me. Like roaming around half naked in the house, cornering me without touching, and stalking me with his stormy eyes whenever we’re in the same room. One time, I was in the kitchen and he leaned right over my frame to pull something out from the top shelf.

My traitorous body reacted by shivering at his intoxicating scent.

And he does it all while Niall is around, so I have to spend my night calming him down. It’s a miracle they haven’t come to blows yet. Niall doesn’t understand that Dash is doing it on purpose. Except, I can’t figure out the reason for it. Or where their toxic rivalry stems from. Somehow, I’ve become their latest victim.

Tonight was supposed to be mine and Niall’s chance to have some fun, like we used to. Now, that’s ruined too.

When I reach upstairs, the area is less crowded. Thank goodness.

“Hey, Piya,” I shout at the girl, whose name I can remember. “Have you seen Niall?”

“Nope.” She turns back to her friend.

“Fuck,” I curse, frustrated.

Switching directions, I amble down the hallway at the back near the restrooms. The quiet that greets me is a balm to my building headache. Except it’s shattered as soon as I sigh in relief.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, when a garbled moan reaches my ears. Of course, the popular restroom hookup.

Seems like everyone is getting lucky and fucked except me in this universe.

Fuck it, I’ll borrow someone’s phone and call a cab. Or I’ll just march to the nearest bus stop. I turn around with every intention to walk away, when the same arrogant voice I hear in my nightmares reaches my eardrums.

Dash.

The devil of my personal hell.

As I hear his groans, followed by a loud moan, suddenly an enticing idea forms. The man ruined my night and sits eclipsing over my sex life like a black moon, so the least I can do is ruin his. Tit for tat and all that.

Slipping off my heels to avoid making a sound, I tiptoe closer to the door, which is slightly ajar.

Only he could not be bothered to lock it.

I peer inside, hiding my body behind the wooden door, and catch the couple mere feet from me. My plan to march inside and interrupt until the girl has to leave evaporates in flames at the sight of them.

Dash has the girl kneeling between his feet, her top undone and bunched at her waist. I swallow when he thrusts his hips, sliding his cock deeper into her waiting mouth while she stares up at him.

A strange sensation spreads over my entire body. Arousal.

No way. I’m not getting turned on by watching my boyfriend’s off-limits stepbrother throat fuck another girl. The one constantly and silently tormenting me these past few weeks.

And yet I am.

My heart is racing faster. Nipples, hardening beneath my dress, and I feel wetness pool between my thighs. His face contorted in lust is visible in the mirror above. Thick muscles in his arms flexing as he holds the girl’s hair captive in his fist. The sexy groans as he derives pleasure from the girl forever imprinted on my mind.

It’s erotic and filthy.

They are strangers yet their chemistry is more palpable than Niall and mine. Niall has never taken control and suddenly, I wish he would instead of treating me like a porcelain doll. This should be us. Driven with lust and making out in dark corners.

With my attention drawn back to Dash, I take in the sight of his abs clenching while their sounds get louder. My first instinct is to run but then I remember if anyone’s at fault for my dull sex life, it’s this man himself. And I’ll be damned if I don’t give him a taste of his own medicine.

Just then, his hooded gaze clashes with mine.

They darken with madness instead of the thawing ice they usually stare at me with. My lips part when he doesn’t stop, his pace not even slowing down. When my eyes inevitably fall to his thick shaft, I wrench them back to his face and watch his lips curl into a taunting smirk.

I lost it.

Flashing him a twisted smile, I step farther inside and clutch my chest dramatically before yelling, “You bastard! You’re cheating on me again?”

His face falls in absolute shock and so does the girl’s, who pushes his dick away and hastily covers her naked breasts. Standing up, she stares at him in horror. “What the fuck?”

I’m not finished, feeling emboldened at catching him off guard. Bet he didn’t see that coming. “Didn’t you learn your lesson after giving that poor girl and me chlamydia, Dash?”

He tucks his dick away while the girl screeches, “You asshole! You said you didn’t have a girlfriend.”

“I don’t,” he calmly replies, not at all perturbed by two hysterical women. Even if one is acting.

“Wow!” I fake-whimper and fan my face as though I’m trying not to cry. “I can’t believe this. And to think I wanted to have your babies.”

“Liar!” The girl slaps his chest and I stifle my laughter. “You better not have given me an STD.”

“We didn’t have sex.” His tone is dry.

It only makes her angrier. While she hits him again, his gaze meets mine above her head and I wink until his eyes narrow in warning. I’m surprised to see there’s amusement in them as well. I quickly mask my features and sniffle when the girl relents and turns to walk out.

She pauses beside me and with an embarrassed hue to her cheeks, whispers, “I’m really sorry. It’s always the hot ones, isn’t it?” I nod and she pats my shoulders soothingly. “Dump him.”

With one last scathing look at Dash, she disappears after slamming the door. I drop my hands and square my shoulders with a satisfied smirk. “Good luck finding another girl in the club.”

“Still holding a grudge, are we?” he muses, inching closer.

“We’re even now.”

Twisting around, I open the door halfway. My spine tingles when Dash snaps it shut with his hand above my head before I’ve even taken a step. His hot breath shuffles my hair when he leans down to whisper in my ear, “Has my brother fucked you yet?”

“None of your fucking business.”

“So no.” He hums before mocking, “Poor kitten.”

“My name is Bianca,” I snap through gritted teeth.

“I know, kitten.”

Don’t hit him.

I don’t dare turn around. Not when his lips brush my cheeks. Not when he traces one single finger down the length of my spine, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake.

“You shouldn’t touch me.” I hate the tremble in my voice, and the breathlessness. I summon more steel in my tone. “I’m Niall’s.”

His hand drops but he makes no move to stop crowding me. “Then why isn’t he here? I doubt he’ll be pleased with you staring at another man’s dick.”

“Let me go.”

“Say my name first,” he demands in a gravelly tone.

“Why?”

“I want to hear it.”

I shake my head and his fingers grip my waist. It’s like he’s punishing me for saying Niall’s name while branding me with his touch. I’m trapped between him and my only escape. I would give in to his demand if it didn’t feel like crossing a line. I’m already crossing a few just by letting him touch me, no matter how innocent it is on my part.

One move and he’s sucked all the power I held when I came in.

“Say my name,” he coaxes in a soft, seductive whisper. “And you can walk out.”

It’s just a name. Say it. It doesn’t mean anything.

“Let me go… Dash.”

The second his heat vanishes, along with his masculine scent, I run until I land back in the chaos. It seems I’m nowhere safe from the turbulent force that is Dash.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop the flashbacks of him with that girl out of my mind. It replays as I push through the bodies and continues till I’m outside, struggling to catch my breath. The cool air feels refreshing on my heated skin. The quiet of the night, a welcoming surrounding without the god-awful music damaging my eardrums.

Now I just need to find my way home.

The street is deserted with a few people mingling on the side of the road since it’s a little after midnight. I make out the taxi station I saw earlier and decide it’s my safest bet. After bending down to slide my heels back on, I amble down the dark street.

Anger rises within my chest at Niall and the asshole stunt he pulled tonight. I bet if he knew Dash was at the club too, he wouldn’t have let me out of his sight.

“Stupid asshole men,” I curse. “I’ll teach them a less—”

A scared yelp slips from my throat when a rough hand yanks on my arm, pulling me into a dark alley. I fight against the grip, only for another person to grab and shove me hard against the brick wall. Pain stings the back of my skull into a thousand pinpricks of needles.

“Look at those tits, man,” a drunken voice taunts.

Another man laughs. “Our lucky night.”

Oh god, no. Fear like no other flashes through my mind and my fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. I yell while kicking one in the shin with my leg. “Let me go. Help! Hel—”

One of the drunk guys covers my mouth, cutting off my plea. I can barely make out their faces through my blurry eyes as tears form. They appear older and bigger than me, making my terror rise tenfold. This can’t be happening.

I bite down on his hand just as his friend gropes my breasts. He drops his hand with a curse.

“Fucking bitch,” he slurs before yelling at his friend. “Hold her tight.”

They are clumsy due to the alcohol coursing through them and are slow when I kick my leg out again. This time, managing to hit the one holding me captive between his legs until he howls in pain. Without another thought, I run, and their footsteps follow.

The distance is short to the wide road but it feels like a mile. I almost slip when my ankle twists in my high heels but I push through the pain. Sweat dots my forehead and my heart is in my throat. Their ugly laughter sends another trickle of terror down my spine. When a shadow appears in my path, I think it’s another dangerous guy until I look up.

“Dash,” I cry out.

His concerned face twists into rage and I throw myself into his arms, relieved beyond measure at his presence. He catches me and tears free fall harder while I cling to him.

Pair of footsteps pull to a stop behind me and one of them snickers, “Found your boyfriend, you little cocktease?”

Dash goes rigid before taking a menacing step, but I clutch him harder. His arms tighten when my body shivers uncontrollably, and I whisper, “Don’t.”

I feel his rough exhale, every inch of him locked with violence, but I’ve never been gladder when he puts me first.

“Walk away before I bury you both into the ground,” he threatens.

The stupid drunks don’t heed his warning. “After feeling those tits, I’ll die happily.”

In a flash, Dash’s warmth disappears before I hear bones crack, followed by a pained wail. I whirl around and gasp as one of my assaulters sits on the ground, clutching his bleeding nose, while Dash pummels the other one with quick, hard punches.

“Dash! Stop,” I shout. “Please.”

Throwing a painful kick to the gut to both of them, he returns to my side. His eyes are still livid but they soften slightly when they lock on mine. His torn knuckles cup my cheeks gently and he asks, “Tell me you’re okay, Bianca.”

I’m only capable of nodding.

“I’m taking you home.” Taking my hand, he guides me, but stops as soon as he notices me limping, and curses, “Fuck. What did I just ask?”

“I twisted my ankle.”

Bending down, he picks me in his arms while I wrap mine around his neck. As he carries me back to the club, he demands in a hard voice, “Where the fuck is Niall?”

“I-I don’t know. I lost him inside the club,” I reply with a wince.

His features twist into rage again but I know it’s for his stepbrother, not me. “Why would you leave the club alone? Where’s your phone?”

“He has it. So I couldn’t call a cab.” My answer doesn’t help and he roughly exhales.

“Don’t ever put yourself at risk like that again,” he demands, meeting my eyes. “Promise me.”

The protectiveness in his depths takes me aback. Suddenly, I see him in a new light and it’s nothing like the way Niall described him. I hold his gaze as I promise, “I won’t.”

We reach his car and he buckles me into the passenger seat before coming around to slide behind the wheel. The ride back is silent and the tension doesn’t disappear from him until we are at his house. I’m once more back in his embrace as we step inside and when he walks in the direction of the stairs, I stop him.

“No.” He stares questioningly. “I don’t want to stay alone.”

Understanding dawns and he instead lays me down on the couch, arranging the cushion against my head. Straightening, he says, “I’ll be back.”

I’m still shaken by what happened outside the club, coming close to thinking I’ll be assaulted, or worse, raped, if Dash hadn’t showed up on time. I don’t care if he followed me or was there by chance, I’m just grateful he was there.

Few minutes later, he returns and places a glass of water and painkillers in my hand. “For your ankle.”

I thank him for the pill and everything he did tonight. While I drink the water, he covers my naked legs with a soft blanket. After switching on some random movie on the TV, he settles beside me at the end of the couch with one arm stretched along the back.

It’s the first time we’re civil around each other and it doesn’t feel awkward. My eyes keep drifting between him and the screen until I begin to feel sleepy. When the events of tonight catch up on me, I want to forget everything. Still, a burning question that’s plaguing me for a long time slips from my mouth.

“Why do you hate Niall?”

Vivid green eyes collide with my brown ones and I’m almost certain he won’t answer me but he does and the coldness in them renders me stunned. “He would have to mean something to me for me to hate him.”

“Yet you’re always riling him up.”

“Just because I don’t hate him, doesn’t mean I like him, kitten.”

I roll my eyes and face forward again. There’s more he isn’t telling but I’m too exhausted to peel his mysterious layers. Eventually, heaviness sinks in and it’s not long before my eyelids close. Somewhere in my unconsciousness, I hear Dash whisper, “I never had a reason to hate him… Until you.”