The Lie: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 2)

A throat clears. “Mila.”

I blink a few times before groaning at the sunlight streaming in the window. Shutting my eyes, I quickly bury my nose into Hunter’s throat and groan at how tired I am.

“I don’t wanna get up,” I whine, and he pulls me in tighter and mumbles something.

There’s the buzzing of an alarm, and Hunter rolls to turn it off, taking his body warmth with him.

Why does he have to train so early…or watch tapes or whatever they do on Saturday mornings? It’s too early. Why didn’t we close the curtains last night? I swear they were closed when we got in here.

A throat clears again, and I hear my name.

“Mmm…babe.” Hunter nuzzles into my throat and smiles lazily. I’m a little sore all over from the fun we had last night. “You smell so good. I need to taste you again so I don’t convince myself I’m dreaming right now.” He runs his fingers down my belly and between my legs, stroking over my clit.

I moan. “Mmm…yes.” I want that too.

Hearing a sound on the other side of the room, we both sit up. I blink as I rub my eyes and see Asher sitting on a dresser on the opposite side of the room. The hell?

“What the fuck, Asher? Get out,” Hunter screams at him.

Asher jumps down as I scramble to cover my naked body with the sheet. Hunter’s not helping as he shuffles to the side of the bed.

Asher holds his hands up in mock defense and chuckles. “To be fair, I knocked a bunch of times. I tried to get Mila to wake up, but she seems to sleep like the dead. And you snore, Hunter.”

Hunter snores? Why would Asher be waking me…Oh, fuck. He’s supposed to give me a ride to his house. No, I’m giving him one. Since he wanted to drink, he got a lift here, and I promised to take him home so he could ride to training with Dad. I forgot.

“Shit, I’m supposed to drive Asher home.”

But that doesn’t seem to placate my boyfriend. Hunter’s worked up as he stands on the side of the bed, naked, holding his junk.

Asher shakes his head. “It’s true, I was just trying to wake her…your version of waking her was a little nicer,” Asher says as he cocks his head and winks at me.

Hunter grits his teeth and glares at Asher. He turns to me to get back into bed when Asher decides to speak again.

“Next time, a heads-up about the early morning sex show would be good…I wouldn’t have jerked off in the shower earlier. I would have waited for the show.” Asher grins.

My mouth drops open. I swear, he has a death wish right now. Hunter’s no longer getting back into bed or holding his junk. He’s rushing toward Asher. For fuck’s sake, boys are so dumb. Asher’s just riling him up, and I have no idea why.

Hunter and Asher are so alike, it’s not funny. Maybe that’s why I find Asher attractive…because he reminds me of Hunter at times. But right now…this is all Asher.

“Fuck no, if I have to see your dick, I’ve changed my mind about the show.” Hunter has his hand on Asher’s throat and he lifts him a little.

But that doesn’t deter Asher in any way. “Oh…I’m part of the show too? Kinky.” He winks at Hunter, who drops him and looks back over to me, wearing a myriad of expressions.

I let out a breath and throw myself back down. “Asher, stop riling Hunter up with your early morning bullshit. I’m getting up once you’re out of here.”

Asher makes a strangled sound. “No fair, Mila. You’re ruining all the fun.” He chuckles, and I hear the door slam close.

Opening my eyes, I look over to Hunter, who is staring at the closed door.

“Ignore him, he can be a dick. Just like you.”

Hunter turns on me and, with a gleam in his eye, he charges at me, pounding his chest like a caveman. He jumps onto the bed and laughs as he wraps me in his arms and twirls us. The bedding is all caught around me, and I’m pinned.

“My little burrito.” He kisses my nose. “I need to leave, but I’ll come see you later?”

I nod, and he kisses me quickly before jumping up and reaching for his jeans. “Hey.” I wiggle in the sheets.

“Hey, what?” He smirks over at me, and my heart flips.

“I love you.”

He stands, his jeans on, a smile beaming over his gorgeous face. The little bit of dark stubble on his chin in the early morning sunlight makes butterflies dance in my belly.

Slowly crawling across the bed, he helps to unwrap me, never taking his eyes from mine. “I love you.” He kisses me, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

I don’t want to let go. But I don’t want him to be late, and Dad is waiting on Asher to come home so he can drive them both to training.

“Call you later.” He jumps up and grabs his tee and other clothing and rushes through the door.

When it closes, I melt into a happy puddle in the bed. I quickly put my clothes back on. I’m glad too, because the quiet in the room doesn’t last long.

The door opens and Asher stalks in with a cocky grin, Walker just behind him. “Please take him home, Mila. I love ya, girl, but your boy here is driving me crazy.”

I sigh and look between them. Asher’s looking all coy and innocent, and I’m growing a little wary of this act.

“What’s up with you, Asher? You like Hunter. Why did you mess with him this morning, and don’t say it’s because it was fun. I thought you were becoming friends and stuff…which, yeah, in the grand scheme of things with the Kings and Rebels rivalry is, well…strange. But you’re still human and have feelings. Did you want him to snap your neck?”

Walker turns to Asher. “The fuck, man? What did you say to him to have him wanting to snap your neck?”

Asher shrugs, and I cross my arms. “I won’t leave here until you tell me, or I’m telling Dad you wanted to see me naked.”

At that, the whole room goes quiet. All I can hear is the two of them breathing as Walker turns to Asher and nudges him with his shoulder.

Asher throws his hands up and lets out a deep exhale. “Okay…all right. You once asked me if guys and girls can be friends without all the sex shit getting in the way. I told you…”

He takes a step toward me. “My truth. When it comes to you—I want you, I know I shouldn’t, but I do. I’ll get over it, don’t worry, and I’ll apologize to Hunter.”

Walker just shakes his head and gives Asher a sympathetic look. Fuck. I run my hand down my face and stare at my bare feet. I haven’t put my sneakers on yet. I thought…he said…I touched his…fuck.

“You know why we can’t,” I whisper. Why did that come out as a whisper? I look up at him, and he gives me a small smile and shrugs.

“I know why…but it’s also an excuse. They would understand. You feel it too?” His hand is outstretched to me.

Do I feel something for him? Yes, but not like how I feel for Hunter. But is what I feel for Hunter because we have history? There’s a foundation already built between us. Asher is new; we’re only making a history, building a foundation, now.

When I don’t say anything, Asher shakes his head. “I’m sorry I acted like a dick. Just chalk it up to jealousy.”

I don’t like seeing Asher like this. We both agreed it was just sexual attraction between us…a lot of attraction, but still. He’s been an amazing friend, and I guess we’ve gotten closer than ever since my accident. So much so that even Dad and Kate have mentioned it, and I worried they wouldn’t be happy, but they were. I just didn’t see this coming.

Did I miss it, or have his feelings been there the whole time? Why would he think I feel it too? I think back over the past week, and it hits me.

“Want to watch a movie with me?” Asher asks as he helps me with the dishes. I’m attempting to dry the pots, and he’s getting water everywhere. His white tee is soaked, and I can see the ripples of his abs through it. I suck my lip into my mouth and chastise myself for looking at him. But I’m a girl…who likes the male body. It’s hard not to look.

“Huh?” I look up at him, and he has a grin on his face. Shit, did he catch me looking at him? I fumble with the pot, and it crashes to the ground, clanging around. And I freeze. Shit.

“Are you all right in there?” Kate yells out from another room.

We both reply, “Yes.”

“Jinx,” we both say together, and it breaks the strange spell between us as we laugh together.

I bend down to pick up the pot, and just as I touch the cool metal, I feel Asher’s warm, calloused hand on mine, but he doesn’t pull away.

Freezing, I look over to him. He’s so close that I can see gold specks in his deep brown eyes that I’ve never noticed before. They’re so pretty. My eyes roam over his face as my hand grows heated under his, but he makes no move to let go.

We just stare at each other, and it’s as if time has stilled and we’re both frozen in place. The only hints we aren’t frozen are the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallows and the small intake of breath I take at the sight.

I feel…

Butterflies. Fuck.