Unpredictable (Brighton Academy Book 2) Read online

  Unpredictable

  By Cala Riley

  Copyright @ 2020 by Cala Riley

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, except brief quotes used for reviews and certain other non-commercial uses, as per copyright laws. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Unpredictable Cover Photo by: TakeCover Designs

  Dedication-

  Cala for letting me take the lead on this one and running with it. And husband for locking me in the bedroom and not letting me out until I typed ‘The End.’ I love you both.

  -Riley

  Chapter One

  Victoria

  May

  It feels like just yesterday Sage came to live with us, but in reality, it’s been nine months and now she’s graduating along with Reed and Sterling.

  Sterling Brooks.

  I can’t hold in the sigh as I watch him across the courtyard talking with a group of other graduates. A nudge to my ribs pulls me out of my perusal.

  “Ow, what was that for?”

  “You have a little drool on your chin,” Sage deadpans while pointing to her chin.

  My hand instantly flies to my chin and finds it dry, making Sage laugh.

  “Ugh, why do I like you again?” I grumble.

  “You don’t like me; you love me. And you’re stuck with me for life, bitch,” she teases while pulling me in for a hug.

  Sage doesn’t give hugs often, so I make it last as long as I can.

  “You happy to be done?” I ask.

  “That would be an understatement.”

  “What would be an understatement?” The deep voice comes from behind Sage.

  We turn and find Reed, followed closely by Keaton, Tinsley, Finley, and Sterling.

  “She asked if I was happy to be done with this hellhole,” Sage says with a shrug.

  “Hellhole? My father and Reed donate way too much money a year for it to be considered a hellhole,” Sterling teases Sage.

  Ever since she was attacked, he’s been a little more accepting of Sage. She never told me what was said, but I saw him coming out of her room one night. I know they had a heart-to-heart.

  “A hellhole we’re stuck in for another year,” Finley grumbles. “I can’t wait to leave this place. New places, new women,” he says with a dreamy tone.

  “Ugh, you pig,” Tinsley says with her nose turned up.

  How can the guys be so blind to her wanting him?

  My eyes meet Sage’s, as if she read my mind. She gives me a sad half smile.

  “What’s the plan for tonight?” Reed asks everyone while casting Sage a hungry look.

  “We could do something low-key at my place,” Sterling offers.

  “Oh, your place? Let’s do it. I haven’t seen casa Brooks yet.” Sage claps.

  “I love his house,” Tinsley says wistfully.

  “You can thank stepmother number two,” he grumbles. “My dad’s out of town with stepmother number four, so we’re good, but let’s keep the number low.”

  “Easy enough,” Finley says while searching the crowd.

  “You looking for someone?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I saw my next lay while you guys were doing your thing, and I lost her in the crowd,” he mumbles.

  “Of course you did.” Keaton slaps him on the back. “Let’s go find her, shall we? Meet you guys at casa Brooks?”

  “Sounds good,” we say in unison before laughing.

  Tinsley comes and wraps her arm through mine, speaking to Reed, “See you at home?”

  “Sounds good,” he tells her while tucking Sage into his side.

  Before Sage, he would have made Tinsley go with him. He was overbearing and protective as hell. He’s learned to loosen the reins a bit, especially when she’s with Sage and me. The asshole Reed from before is still there, but not with us anymore, only the outside world.

  “And I will see you guys at my place. I have a couple calls to make,” Sterling tells us before heading towards the parking lot without looking back.

  Look back. Please look back.

  I know he won’t. That’s Sterling Brooks for you. Cold and distant.

  “Let’s go!” Tinsley says enthusiastically, breaking my gaze.

  “Okay. Let’s go, Tin Tin.”

  ✽✽✽

  I’m standing at the island in Sterling’s kitchen watching him hang out outside, surrounded by people as they sit at the outdoor fireplace. I can’t help but wish he would be mine and only mine.

  Don’t go there.

  He’s made his stance on relationships clear since day one. We may be exclusive, but we’re far from dating.

  It’s enough. For now.

  I feel someone brush up against me and look over my shoulder to find a decent-looking guy.

  “Well, hello, gorgeous.”

  I can’t help but roll my eyes and turn back around.

  “No need to be like that,” he teases.

  “Does that line really work?” I ask dryly, taking a sip of my warm vodka and cola.

  “On occasion.” His voice holds humor.

  “Those poor women,” I mumble under my breath.

  “Oh, come on, at least I want your attention,” he says sarcastically.

  I turn to face him. “Excuse me?”

  “You’ve been staring at that guy for far too long.” He points towards Sterling.

  I set my drink down and cross my arms while leaning against the counter. “And what makes you think I’m staring at someone out there?”

  “It’s obvious. Everyone here can see it.” There’s a challenge in his voice for me to deny it.

  “Sorry to disappoint, but I wasn’t staring at anyone. This party is so boring that I zoned out.”

  “You say that now, but he’s coming this way. Maybe a little kiss would really get his attention.”

  I force myself not to react.

  Is Sterling walking this way? Is he jealous?

  After a brief moment of silence, I’m sure he’s messing with me. As I’m about to respond, Sterling’s voice comes from behind me.

  “V, is this peasant bothering you?” The shivers his voice evokes never cease to amaze me.

  “Peasant? Seriously?” The disgust in his voice is evident as his eyes move back to me. “You could do so much better. Find me when you wise up.”

  I don’t respond as I feel Sterling’s hand slide down my arm and grasp my hand.

  “Come on,” he murmurs. Sterling pulls me through the party, up the stairs, and down the hall to the last door.

  Sterling’s room.

  “You have a house full of people, Brooks,” I tease.

  “Shut up, Victoria.” He pulls me into his room and slams the door shut behind me before pushing me up against the wall and getting in my face. “What the fuck was that?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “He was all over you!” he yells.

  “Are you kidding me?” I ask coolly.

  “No, I’m not kidding you. We have a deal, Victoria.”

  “Yes, we do, Sterling. We agreed not to let anyone else touch us as long as we’re sleeping together. He never touched me,” I tell him slowly.

  “How can I be sure? For all I know, you’re just like them and you're lying.”

  “You have got to be fucking kidding me. There was space for at least one person between us, and pot meet kettle.
I have to watch women touch you every day,” I snap. I touch his forearm. “Oh, Sterling, you're so funny.” I fake giggle.

  “Stop it.”

  I push his chest. “No, you stop. How dare you freak out on me for something so small when I have to deal with so much more on a daily basis. Do you think I enjoy watching other women touch you? Hit on you? But because of our rules, I can’t say or do anything.”

  “No one’s stopping you,” he says gruffly.

  “Admit it, if I said anything, you would shut this down. Has it ever crossed your mind that I don’t want to stop?”

  Next thing I know, Sterling’s pulling me towards him and slamming his mouth onto mine.

  His mouth moves with an underlying anger that I match stroke for stroke. He kisses me until my head starts to spin and I feel faint from the lack of oxygen. Right before I pass out, he pulls back and presses his head against mine.

  “You’re mine.”

  I don’t respond as his lips ghost against my jaw, trailing to my ear.

  “This body? It’s mine.” His hands trail down my body until one grips my hip while the other skims up my skirt, cupping my pussy. “This? This is mine. Tell me, Victoria.”

  I gasp as he grabs the middle of my thong, pulling it roughly down my thighs. I’m panting as the sting from his rough motions send tingles to my core. His fingers run back up my thighs until they dip into me. I moan at the sensation of his fingers gliding through my wetness. When he stops suddenly, I whimper.

  “Answer me, Victoria. Who do you belong to?”

  The fog in my brain clears. I hesitate, thinking about what this means. Does this mean he wants more? I stare into his eyes, looking for the underlying meaning. He must see something in mine because one moment I’m standing in front of him, and the next, he has me pushed onto his bed while he kneels between my legs.

  “It’s okay, V. You don’t have to say it. I’ll prove to you that this is mine.”

  Before I can even think to respond, his mouth is there. My legs instinctively close around his head while I try not to squirm from the onslaught of sensations running through my body.

  One hand slides up, pushing my stomach down to keep me still. His other hand, not one to be left out, snakes its way between my legs before two of his long, talented fingers slip inside. After two short thrusts, he curves them to hit my G-spot.

  All rational thoughts leave my brain as he works my body the way that only he knows how. The pressure builds inside me, like a tight wire ready to snap at any given moment.

  I hear the sounds coming out of my mouth, but I can’t focus on the words being said. My hands curl into Sterling’s hair as I climb closer to that high that I never want to come down from. I let out a primal noise as stars burst behind my eyes.

  As I come down, I feel my body continue to jerk. When my head starts to clear, I realize Sterling is still between my legs, lazily lapping at my clit. Each contact from his tongue sends a jolt through my body.

  I barely manage to push him away as I gasp for breath. He climbs onto the bed next to me and chuckles as he kisses my cheek before whispering in my ear, “Had enough of me yet?”

  I turn my head towards him, capturing his lips with mine. My hands hastily undo his zipper as I clumsily swing my leg over him.

  “Whoa. Careful there, V,” Sterling says as I straddle his body.

  “Shut the fuck up. If this pussy is yours, then this dick—” I pull him out, preening at the hiss he lets out as I slowly pump my hand up and down his length. “—is mine.”

  His eyes darken at my words. I don’t let him say another word. I sink onto him quickly, quieting whatever witty comeback he had planned. I start moving on top of him, but he flips me quickly before pulling out.

  “Fuck. Condom.” Sterling’s breath is ragged as he reaches into his nightstand to pull one out.

  “Shit. Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

  I expect him to be pissed, but instead he turns back to me with a cocky smile. “I tend to do that to women.”

  He goes to enter me again, but I push back. “Women, huh?”

  He leans in and gives me a quick peck. “Not women. Only you, babe.”

  Part of me knows he meant what he said, but the other part, the pathetic one who keeps forgetting that this is temporary, chooses to forget it.

  “Fuck me, Sterling.”

  He thrusts into me without another word. What starts as slow and methodical, quickly picks up pace. As I feel myself chasing my next orgasm, I dig my nails in his back. He hisses as the pain hits him, but it doesn’t slow him down.

  “You marking me, baby? Want everyone to know I’m yours? You think you can claim me like that?” His words, while harsh, turn me on even more. He doesn’t stop me from digging my nails deeper, instead encouraging me. “That’s it. Leave those marks. I’ll leave some of my own.”

  He leans down and kisses along my neck. It isn’t until I feel a bit of pain mixed with my pleasure that I realize what he meant—not that I could stop him now. I crash over the edge once again as he grunts his own release while sucking hard on my neck.

  He continues to lie on top of me while we recover before flipping over and lying on his back.

  “I think I drew blood.” I break the silence as I look at my hands.

  “I left a huge-ass hickey on your neck. I think we’re even.” He leans over and kisses the still tender spot on my neck.

  “You asshole. At least you can cover yours.” My hand reaches up to cover the spot.

  “Maybe I don’t want you to cover yours.” He winks. “I need to go back down there. Feel free to use my bathroom to clean up.”

  Like a flip of a switch, cold and distant Sterling is back. Just like every time we have sex.

  I watch as he shuts the door, leaving me lying alone in his bed. I know I need to get up and leave. As much as I want to stay, he always kicks me out before the morning. Or he ghosts me before I wake up, leaving me reaching across a cold bed.

  Allowing myself one more moment to lie in the comfort of his bed and wish for things to be different, I cuddle into his bedding, basking in his scent.

  ✽✽✽

  Stretching my hand over my head, feeling completely spent, I hear a crinkle come from behind my shoulder. I sit up and find a piece of paper. Glancing around the room, I realize I must have fallen asleep. My gaze lands on the bathroom door, where I assume Sterling is since I can hear the shower running. Slowly, I unfold the paper.

  Congratulations Sterling Brooks,

  We are happy to announce you have been accepted to start during our summer program of 2020.

  I skim the rest of the letter in a blur.

  “What are you looking at?” he asks as soon as he crosses the threshold.

  “You leave in two weeks?” I ask befuddled.

  “Reading someone else’s mail is a felony, Victoria,” he says gruffly as he roots around in his dresser for clothes.

  “It wasn’t in an envelope, and I was lying on it. Were you going to tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it was any of your business,” he says coolly.

  “None of my business?” I ask with wide eyes. “We’re friends, have been for years. On top of that, we’ve been sleeping together for over half a year. Didn’t you think I would want to know?”

  “We’ll figure it out.” He shrugs.

  “We’ll figure it out,” I repeat. Shaking my head, I slowly stand and straighten my clothes robotically, my mind racing.

  What does this mean for us?

  Are we over?

  Was he just going to leave?

  Do I not mean anything to him?

  “We’ll make it work, V. I promise,” he tells me while pulling his underwear on.

  “Sure. Yeah. Whatever.” I look to the window and notice that it’s light out. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I should go.”

  I make my way to the door, but he grabs me from behind. “It’s okay. I didn’t mind. I thought maybe we could repeat?”


  His hand starts to trail down my stomach, but I pull away. Turning in his arms, I give him a quick peck. “Sorry. I should be getting home.”

  Before I close the door, Sterling calls out my name. For one split second, I let myself believe he’s calling me back to tell me he’s finally come to his senses. Then I remember it's Sterling Brooks I’m talking about. I poke my head back through.

  “Are we good?” Sterling is standing in the middle of the room in nothing but boxers.

  Part of me wants to go back in there and live in my fantasy world. The other part cannot forget the words I read.

  Summer Program.

  I thought we had more time.

  Forcing a smile, I nod before pulling the door closed. As soon as it shuts, I feel the first tear fall. It isn’t until I hit the stairs that the sobs hit me. I barely see the stairs as I race down them. Once I get to the bottom, I slip, falling to sit on the last step.

  I let myself have one more sob before I take three deep breaths, collecting myself.

  Then I do what I do best. I wipe my tears and push the pain down deep inside. Picking myself up, I hold my head high as I walk out the front door. Not willing to look towards his bedroom window, I slide into my car and leave his house without looking back.

  You can’t keep doing this, my mind urges me.

  You can’t stop it either, my heart argues.

  The whole ride home, I feel the war brewing inside. I sob one more time and slam my fist into the steering wheel.

  Fuck you, Sterling Brooks.

  ✽✽✽

  Chapter Two

  “Are you okay?” Sage asks for the third time tonight.

  It’s been a week since that fateful night at Sterling’s house, the night that opened my wool-covered eyes. He’s called countless times and tried showing up here once, but I’ve been successfully avoiding him. That’s why I asked Sage and Tinsley to have a girls’ night tonight instead of hanging with the guys. That’s how we ended up in the Yates’s entertainment room watching reruns of Riverdale.

  I let out a heady sigh. “Honestly? Not really, but I will be. I’m just in a mood.”

  “It might make you feel better if you talk about it.” Tinsley shrugs as if it’s no big deal.