The Fallen Ones (Holloway University #1)

2. Jace

Chapter 2

Jace

M y tires screeched as I drove away, leaving the girl I was in love with staring down at me from her apartment window. My Lily Pad, with her dark long hair and gray eyes haunting my soul and breaking my heart. I’d never felt pain like it before. I wasn’t used to being told no. No one had ever dared to utter those words to me before. But that’s one reason I was so drawn to Lily. She was different. Shy and sweet, but fiercely independent when she needed to be. She came from the blocks on the opposite side of the tracks in this same city where we now attended college. That side of town was mostly abandoned buildings, warehouses owned by gangs, and a few homes and apartments where time had stood still. I’d never crossed over the tracks to that side of town, never had a reason to, until I finally convinced Lily to be mine. She’d have me drive past places she still loved while pointing out old shops where she had fond memories. I’d do anything for her, yet she refused to put out and fuck me.

She’d had a rough childhood, something I could never understand no matter how much I tried, and I tried so fucking hard. I grew up a rich kid on the upper east side of the city. I’d ignored her throughout our school years, but that didn’t mean I didn’t see her. Didn’t want her. In fact, I wanted her a hell of a lot, but I let my pride stop me from trying. Plus, I knew she was my best friend’s stepsister for less than a year. Of course, that friendship ended long ago just like her mom’s marriage to his father had.

Lily kept to herself, never going out and doing all that much. Anytime I did see her, she was always with her best friend Caleb who had tagged along with her to college here at Holloway University.

The trauma inflicted by her dead mother seemed to affect her life in so many ways, and unfortunately for the both of us, empathy wasn’t my best trait. I’d been so patient with her, but her refusing sex for the better part of a year was enough to push any man over the edge. She was so perfect in every other way. No one else seemed to get why I’d chosen to be with someone like Lily. She wasn’t a cheerleader, or even one of the popular people. She was an art student. She dressed in darker clothes most of the time as though she was in a constant state of mourning. Her paintings were soulless, yet captured the fragility of life. I remember being confused and almost afraid by them the first time I’d seen them. Until she whispered in my ear and taught me how to understand that things in life do have deeper meanings. Just like being intimate with Lily would mean more than just sex to me. I craved her touch, and yet she rejected me just like every painting I’d attempted was tossed in the trash. Lily had me in a chokehold since the day we met, and that hold had only grown over the years. She tutored me in English Literature at Holloway, and I passed with ease. She was my saving grace whenever things got rough. I couldn’t afford to fail a class and be kicked off the football team. But even more importantly, I couldn’t afford to become a college dropout and bring shame on the Adams family name. At this point in my life, I was sure I’d make it to the NFL. My family adored status, and this would be huge for them.

Being an Adams, I always had the best of everything. The latest consoles and cellphones. Whatever I wanted I got. My dad wasn’t around much. That meant my mom spent a lot of time at home, playing the doting mother and socialite. What people didn’t know was my mother was as cold as ice and not as nurturing as she made people believe. My father spent a lot of his time at work, managing his multi-million dollar computer company. When he wasn’t doing that, he was catering to my mother’s every need. Lily was the only constant in my life, even if we didn’t interact as teens. I looked forward to seeing her each day, daydreaming about what it would be like to make her mine but knowing it was out of the question if I wanted to maintain my status. Uppers didn’t hang with the lowers. Those were the rules. I abided by them.

It was different now though. The only person to ever love me for who I was, for who I am, was her. She belonged to me, and there was no way I was about to let her leave without a fight. I had to get her back.

One way or another.

As I road raged through the city on a bender which included breaking my heart all over again through the lower side of the city and all the memories she’d poured out to me, I recognized the house by the tracks. Still on the shitty side of town, it was situated just on the edge of where garbage meant prosperity. It was her best friend Caleb’s place. I swerved my Range Rover into the driveway, barely avoiding the trees and sending the fallen crisp leaves upward, creating a mini blizzard.

I jumped out of my vehicle and headed to the doorway.

“Caleb,” I called as I banged on the door hard.

This old neighborhood didn’t even have doorbells never mind the techy camera ones.

Caleb opened the door and looked me up and down. His wavy dark hair and startling blue eyes made me want to punch him in his pretty face. I had no idea why the pair had never hooked up, but now that I’d survived Lily, I understood it was more a her problem than a him problem because Caleb Watts wanted my girl. I’d seen it a hundred times. His blue eyes on her every move. The tiny smile that played along his lips. The way his voice grew softer and gentler whenever he addressed her.

Either she didn’t give a shit or she was oblivious.

“What do you want?” he demanded, his voice gruff. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. He clearly worked out. I knew he was at Holloway University on a scholarship, so the prick had both looks and intelligence. It made me hate him just a little bit more.

“I need to talk to you. It’s Lily, she–”

“Dumped your ass? Dropped you like a sack of bricks? Kicked you to the curb? I heard. She called me.” He scoffed and shook his head at me. “I can’t say I’m surprised, and to be honest, I’m glad,” he continued without holding back.

“Wait.” I threw my hand against the door as he tried to slam it closed in my face.

Caleb shook his head at me once more, a look of annoyance on that stupidly handsome face of his.

He was always so against Lily and I. He played the best friend role so fucking well, but all of my friends warned me about Caleb. He wanted my Lily Pad for himself. It wouldn’t surprise me if this dick hadn’t encouraged her to break up with me. He was the only guy she’d actually take advice from. And here I was going to him for help getting my girl back.

How the mighty Jace Adams had fallen.

“Listen, I have proposition for you,” I told him and shoved the door back open.

So fucking desperate. I couldn’t believe I was even considering the idea, let alone sharing it with Caleb.

“Lily doesn’t want to fuck you, Jace. Go home,” he taunted me, smirking. “Guess your pretty boy rich ass will have to find a new girl to win over.”

“She doesn’t want to fuck you either, cunt,” I bit back.

“Fuck you, Jace.” His smirk soon faded as he glared at me and balled his hands into tight fists.

“Listen. Let me inside. I don’t want to do this here.”

“I’m not helping you win Lily back.”

“Just…listen to me, OK? Give me five minutes of your time. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Caleb narrowed his eyes at me before stepping aside and allowing me entry.

I sat down on Caleb’s sofa. The place was disgustingly small. A TV stood atop a wooden unit in the corner as it tried to cater to the room.

Is this how poor people lived?

I’d never been inside a house on this side of the tracks before. Family portraits and old fashioned ornaments adorned the room. The smell of musk hit my nostrils with each shuffle as I tried to get comfortable on the sofa. It was so low that my knees reached my stomach. Maybe my height had something to do with that. I was six-feet five after all. Although, Caleb was nearly the same height give half an inch.

“Shit your place is small.” I couldn’t help but vocalize my thoughts.

“Not all of us were born with a silver spoon up our asses like you, Adams.” Caleb rolled his eyes and threw himself back in the chair beside me. It swayed back from his weight.

“You’re home alone right?” I asked.

“What is this, Jace? Some kind of setup? Yeah, I’m alone. This is my house.”

“Quit with the paranoia. If it were anything like that do you really think I’d have stood outside for anyone looking out their window to see and parked my hundred thousand dollar Range Rover in your driveway? That old tree best not break and land on it, by the way.”

“It’s been up for years. That old tree isn’t going anywhere.” He rolled his eyes. “Enough about the tree, Jace. What do you want?”

“What did Lily tell you?”

“That you were being your usual douchebag self trying to get her to have sex with you, and you were pissed when she refused.”

“That’s not entirely true. Lily loves my fingers and the way I make her feel. She gets wet for me. I can still smell her right here.” I waved my fingers in the air.

“The way you treat girls is so wrong.” He sat forward and snarled at me. “I’ve known you since freshman year of high school. You’re a fucking prick.”

“Oh, come on, don’t tell me you’ve never jerked yourself off thinking about Lily, because we both know you have.” I ignored his jab about my past failed relationships.

Caleb looked to the ground in a desperate effort to avoid eye contact with me.

“I… she’s my friend,” he finally mumbled, his entire mood shifting. “That can’t change. She would never let it.”

“What if I told you I knew a way we could both get what we wanted?”

“What are you talking about?” He looked at me, his brows crinkled.

“We could share Lily.”

“I don’t need to share her. She’s my best friend and has been long before you came on the scene.” He rolled his eyes at me again, clearly not picking up what I was putting down.

“Not in a friendship way. What if I told you that my little idea would result in you buried balls deep in Lily’s sweet pussy? And trust me it’s delicious.” I teased the idea, unsure of what reaction I’d get from Caleb.

“You’re unhinged,” he snapped out.

“So unhinged that I’m willing to share my girl. To show her all the delights she’s been missing out on. To truly rid her of her deepest fear and free her over and over. Wouldn’t you want to do that for your best friend?” I push the thought further into his mind.

When he didn’t answer, I pushed it further.

“Smell her.” I stood and waved my fingers in front of his nostrils. “Inhale our girl. Go ahead, don’t be shy. It sounds good doesn’t it. Our girl?”

Fuck, I was desperate.

Caleb froze before leaning in to meet my fingers and inhaling.

“Smells sweet doesn’t she?” I asked in a low voice.

“She does.” Caleb nodded as he inhaled the sweet scent of Lily’s pussy from my fingers a second time. His Adam’s apple visibly bobbed. It was all the confirmation I needed.

“Then listen up. You’ve heard of the annual Halloween party over at Satan’s Hollow?” I dropped my hand away from his face, mentioning the mansion which housed some of the most elite students in the country. I was supposed to be part of it but had bailed to focus on my football career. These men were monsters. They didn’t fuck around. Anything that went down, they had their hands in it.

“Yeah, it’s where all the rich dicks hang out. The elite pricks who control this campus. I’ve never been invited,” he said sourly. “I’m sure you’re aware. You’re one of them, aren’t you?”

I ignored his jab. While I wasn’t hanging my hat at Satan’s Hollow, I was still in the know and held in pretty high regard with just as much power as they held. “I was planning on taking Lily this year, you know since she was my girlfriend and all.”

“I heard that weird shit goes down in there. I don’t think that’s her vibe. Plus, she kicked your ass to the curb.”

“It’s not, but I need you to make it her vibe. I had something special planned for her.” The lie came out easily. I’d rectify it later, knowing full well I could make it happen. “I got us a room just for the two of us, but now it looks like it’ll be a room for three.”

“Three?” He laughed. “What are you even talking about?”

“I’m talking about a paradise I’m willing to share if you help me get her there. It’s a party where we get to hook up with anyone who gets the same key as us. Everyone is masked. No one know who anyone is. You get her there, and I will ensure she gets the key to our room. Then, we fuck her.” Fuck, those words were hard for me to say.

“You want me to convince her to attend a party where she’d fuck you? You think she’s going to just give you the one thing you want because you have me drag her to some elite house party?” He snorted at me. “You’re fucking nuts, Adams.”

I ground my teeth for a moment. “I’m not nuts. Your job is to convince her to let this insane virginity thing go. To get past all this shit in her head. To get her to just fucking relax about it. She listens to you. I know she does.” I shook my head, that familiar desperation rising in my chest again. “I love her, Caleb, and I know you do too. Once she lets go, I know things will change. She can have us both if she wants. No one will know who we are. It’s mandatory masks at the party. We keep them on. We fuck her. We make her realize how good it can be. Then she’ll come to us. For us. With us. If she doesn’t enjoy it and want more, then she never has to know it was us. We walk, both getting a chance at what we want. I’ll even pay you if that’s what it takes?—”

“I don’t want your money,” he snapped, getting to his feet and pacing the small space. I watched him move, his body tense.

“Then what do you want?”

He stopped and tugged at his dark hair for a moment before finally looking to me. “I want her. If I do this and she decides she wants me, you back off. I get her.”

“And if she wants us both?” I challenged. I wasn’t the sort of guy who was willing to share, but this was dire. I wanted her no matter what I had to do to have her. There was an old saying. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Caleb was my enemy if he wanted my girl too. By sharing, it could save us both a lot of this fucking heartache I was experiencing.

“Then you know I’d give her whatever she wanted.”

I got to my feet. “So we have a deal?”

He was quiet for a moment before visibly swallowing again.

“Caleb?”

He let out a sigh and looked down at his feet before locking eyes with me.

“We have a deal.”