Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (15 page)

"Marli, relax, please?"

Relax?
My mind spun a million different directions. I'd left Jesse at Rick's mercy. Who knew what could happen once he had a Mason boy alone? And what if Jordan found out Jesse had come to Maple Heights to find me?

I checked off the faces of classmates dancing close by, some turning away when caught staring, others using the opportunity to pass judgment through steely glares. A thought passed without warning.
Could any of them be spies for The Program?

Rumors of "plants" paid to follow candidates my counselor dismissed to other paranoid applicants who'd broken the rules of conduct and ran scared. But what if the stories were true? What if one of these supposed friends passing judgment would, or already had, contacted The Program about my behavior?

Sam twisted a lock of my hair, forcing me from my obsessive thoughts. "Come on, can't tonight be like old times?" I cringed against the kiss to my neck, hating when his mouth covered the shell of my ear. "Everybody's figured out we're breaking up, Marli. They all saw you kissing both boys."

"Don't even go there," I quietly cautioned, not wanting to draw attention.

When the band took a break, I ducked outside under the pretense of going to the restroom. I checked my cell receptor, hoping for an instant message from Jordan. Instead, Jesse had left one only a few minutes earlier.
Be careful.
I tapped the reply
drive safe,
hoping he understood I wanted him gone from here and not waiting for me when I returned. Just the idea of Jesse's visit being considered forbidden made it more enticing. He existed behind a prohibited barrier and the want to crossover—to defy the rules or even break them, grew stronger each time I saw him. He had to stay away to keep me safe…from myself.

"There you are!" Alex called out. "We've been looking for you…" She blew a slow whistle. "You look
soooo
sexy. Sam will never let you go without a fight."

Brittany, who ended up coming with Jason after all, followed up Alex's comment with a harsh reminder. "Sam doesn't have a choice, and he certainly doesn't deserve Marli."

"'Sam bashing' now?" Alex debated. "Cut the guy some slack. He's obviously hurting."

"I doubt Sam's suffering too much," Brit replied under her breath, her expression twisted with regret when we locked eyes. She quickly explained. "I saw one of the sophomore girls hanging on him at the refreshment table."

Shoving past an unbidden ping of jealousy, I shrugged my shoulders. "She can have him. Tonight I'm breaking things off for good."

"It's probably for the best. I'd hate to see you get in trouble."

Alex giggled. "Marli's already
trouble
according to my mom. She called after her club meeting suggesting I reconsider my choice of friends."

We laughed at the outrageous assumption. Everyone considered Alex the "wild child." Her mother's observation, however, forced me to realize how reckless my behavior appeared. No wonder Rick always seemed riled.

I leaned over the railing, noting the clouds thickening and blocking the stars. A storm threatened, but in the atmosphere or my life? Alex climbed on the railing, holding the post for support and leaned out to look at the heavens.

"Rain, rain, go away…" she sang before pulling back under the eaves. A devilish grin brightened her face. "So what gives with Jordan's hunky brother?"

Head down, I picked at the sequins edging the slit on my dress. "The connection with Jordan is so strong, it scares me. Jesse's an escape. What I feel for him is pure lust
.
"

Alex laughed but Brittany didn't. "Watch out. Things happen fast. You and Sam haven't gone too far, and if Jordan's in The Program you know he hasn't done anything either. But Jesse? Is he still a—"

"Virgin?"
I gasped. Jesse never clarified one way or the other after he divulged his brush with the law. "I don't know and I'm not asking."

Alex slapped my shoulder. "Marli Davis, you're blushing. Mom's right. You are bad!" Out of the blue, she stopped giggling and stepped off the railing. "Uh-oh, speaking of
bad,
Sam's coming and he doesn't look happy."

Sam's angry footsteps echoed loudly on the planked porch. His gray eyes narrowed when he saw me. Flashbacks of the other day flickered. Being alone with Sam suddenly didn't seem the best idea.

"I better go. I'll call you tomorrow." I hurried to meet him, feeling an uncomfortable urgency knotting my insides.

Sam stared with an unnerving darkness set in his eyes. "Nice disappearing act, Marli. Let's go. This dance is lame and I'm tired of all the stares." His eyes checked off my body again and his hand lightly brushed my bare shoulder. My skin prickled. "What do you say we go someplace private?"

I pressed a fist to my queasy stomach.
Private
with Sam given his mood and the way I was dressed, screamed danger. For once, I decided to pay attention to the warning voices shouting in my head. Remaining at the country club kept me safe, but I needed to convince Sam to stay. I'd also call Rick for a ride home.

"What about the team party?"

His voice deepened, a finger tracing the edge of my bodice. "I don't care about the team. I want to be alone with you."

"But—"

I didn't get to finish my sentence. Sam pushed me against the clubhouse, the fabricated siding used to give a "log cabin" appearance, scraping against my naked shoulder blades. He pinned my arms to the rough surface, placing a hard, territorial kiss on my mouth. His tongue tasted of something bitter mixed with the lingering fruity punch flavor. I doubted any alcohol could be smuggled in under the security detail assigned to the dance, but chemical enhancements in small vials could easily be hidden inside a bra or an elaborate hair clip.

When Sam's knee pressed between my legs, the fabric at the top of the slit on my dress strained. "Samuel Jenkins, if you ruin this dress I'll kill you!" I hissed against his lips. His brow rose in a brash
like I care
arch. His mouth slowly grazed over the exposed skin on my chest and when he pressed his hips hard against mine, the satin finally surrendered with a small tear.

I fumbled with the receptor still in my hand, locating the "0" key. A message for help with my location would automatically dial the last number I used. Of course I thought that number would be Rick because he'd called to reinforce his concerns while Sam drove to the dance. Unbeknownst to me, however, my instant message to Jesse logged his number as the last one entered.

When Sam released my arms to indulge in a hand slide up my exposed thigh with one hand, while the other cupped a breast, I shoved him back.

"That's it, Sam! We're done. I'm calling Dad to come get me."

He scrubbed his hands through his hair, keeping his body close enough I couldn't move away. "No, don't. I'm sorry, really. I don't know what came over me. I'll be good, I swear."

"Is the punch spiked with something?" I asked, debating whether to give him another chance.

"Do you really think someone would be stupid enough to risk their graduation by pulling that stunt?"

"Yeah, I do. I tasted something metallic in your mouth when you tried to swallow my tongue."

He stepped back and drew a deep breath, his gaze turned to the golf course hidden in the black beyond. "You know me, Marli. I don't mess with that shit. I confess I had a couple of drinks from the decanter I carried into the party room because I was thirsty, but I swear I know nothing about it being laced with something." Gently, he stroked the side of my face. "Please stay."

He handed me the clutch bag I dropped when he caught me off guard with his groping fest, and begged for another chance. I hoped sincerity lie somewhere in the depth of his dark eyes and I wasn't making a mistake. I placed my cell receptor inside my purse and linked my arm through his. I'd forgotten, however, to cancel the distress call.

I stopped just outside the room Coach reserved for the team party. I never really fit in this part of Sam's world. We worked as a couple until Sam found himself in a situation where competition clouded his common sense—like the morning he caught me in Jordan's arms. His insecurities surfaced too fast for him to handle so he'd morph into the only skin he felt empowered within—a cocky smartass. I could almost see his body ripple with the transformation the minute he entered the room.

The second I stepped in the room, I regretted my decision to stay. Athletes representing all the school teams milled about, girls fused under their arms. A couple of cheerleaders sized me up from their perched positions on boyfriends' laps. My own lack of self-confidence swept through me and I fingered the slit of my dress, hoping the glittery beads hid the inch-long tear. A few loud, obnoxious boys huddled in the corner.

Sam's team captain sauntered up to me, draping an arm around my neck. "Yo, Marli Davis, 'Princess of the Porsche,' or is it a Ferrari today?"

Loud mouth Craig Hansen had been a thorn in my side since elementary school and tonight proved no exception. When he planted an unexpected slimy kiss on my mouth, my suspicions about the punch were confirmed. The same strong medicinal taste I discovered in Sam's mouth seeped through my locked lips when Hansen tried to force them open with his tongue. I planted my knee in his groin when he came at me a second time with his ugly mouth, feeling a hand graze someplace off limits. I glared at Sam, who'd joined his foul-mouthed comrades across the room.

"Gotta watch my girl, Hansen," he shouted, summoning everyone's attention my direction.

"Shit Jenkins, she's not your girl," Hansen coughed. "She's everybody's lately. I'm just sampling the buffet."

I turned my back to the room, forcing down angry tears. Crying would only encourage the loathsome banter. Sam stole behind me and kissed the bend where my neck and shoulder met. I waited for the apology but instead, he accused me of being uptight and no fun. He gave my butt a playful swat, encouraging whistles and heckling

"Jerk!" I snarled, which he followed up with his usual "whatever" and walked over to the refreshment table. A petite blonde in short, tight skirt sidled close to Sam, holding out her glass for a refill. He hesitated before deciding which container of berry-colored liquid to pour from until Hansen gave him a thumbs-up. It appeared Sam also lied about his innocence on the spiked punch.

"You lying ass! Drop dead, Jenkins!" I stormed out of the room, ignoring Sam's demand to stop. Wrenching my dress to my knees, I made a break for the exit, hearing Sam's footsteps gaining. I jumped the steps from the deck and ran down the gravel driveway, sliding sideways and landing in the dirt. The heel broke off my new shoe heightening my anger level.

A car skidded beneath the iron arch marking the entrance leading to the clubhouse and raced toward me with alarming speed. Dust plumes twisted in front of the headlights and the driver door flew open.

"Mars!"

"Jesse?"

He lifted me onto my feet and brushed the dust off the side of my gown. "What happened? I got your distress message and turned around at the first exit."

I didn't get a chance to answer before Sam caught up to us, following the oath he cursed when he saw the Ferrari. "Unbelievable!" he yelled, his echo swirling on the wind. "I can't even have one last night alone with you without one of the pretty boys showing up to swoop in and save you from 'big bad Sam.' Hell Marli. You promised."

Jesse's body stiffened and I pressed a hand to his chest. "Ignore him."

"Ignore me?" Sam raged and I cowered against Jesse. "That's all you've done tonight!" He pushed his fingers through his ebony locks, cocked his head and checked his tone. "Can I talk to you alone?"

"Like earlier?" I pointed to an old pickup across the parking lot. "Maybe you could throw me against the grill of that truck? That should leave some nice marks to match the scrapes on my back. Who knows? My whole dress could rip apart this time and you could finish what you started."

"What the hell?" Jesse drew me closer, his arms a warm shield of armor. "She's not moving an inch closer to you, jackass. I won't let you touch her again with your filthy hands."

"Going to keep your brother's mitts off her, too?" Sam smirked. "That's right, you can't. Marli's his 'government issued' property. He can do what he wants with her—things you can only dream about, loverboy."

Jess moved me behind him and took a stance I now recognized the Mason brothers did in preparation for battle. That's when Sam saw the band circling Jesse's wrist."

"Well, well. You're no better than I am with your piss-yellow bracelet. In fact, I'm guessing you're violating a shitload of regulations right now."

The gravel crunched beneath their shoes when they stepped closer to each other. I shuffled around Jesse, finding myself boxed in the middle.

"Not as many as you apparently have, asshole," Jesse answered. "Assaulting a candidate carries a hefty fine."

Sam's voice dropped, his tone menacing. "Nothing compared to 'stealing' one. I'll bet your brother would rip your head off if he knew what you were doing."