Rebel Princess - Book 2 (The Hope Saga) by Chrissy Peebles Read Free Book Online Page B

wants me to…he’s trying to blackmail me.”
    Confusion flashed across his features. “He’s what?”
    “He has footage of Rachel and me on the dock. He said he’ll expose us if I don’t break up with you, because he doesn’t think I’m worthy or good enough to date you. He doesn’t want us to be together.”
    Brett looked at me, shocked and dumbfounded.
    “It’s true. I’m supposed to break it off with you right now, or he’s taking the footage to the authorities.”
    “And he didn’t think you’d tell me?”
    I bit my lip hard. “I don’t know. We both know your parents haven’t ever liked me much.” I gripped his hand.
    “Yeah, I know.”
    “What else has he said? The usual crap about how wrong we are for each other?”
    “You know my parents hate seeing us together, but I didn’t think…well, I never thought my father would go this far.” The next thing I knew, Brett was ranting and raving about his father, going off in a tirade of all-out rage. He was pissed beyond belief that his parents could be so cruel and diabolical.
    “Shh,” I said, trying to calm him down.
    He held me close, sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “How dare my dad do this?”
    “He asked me if you knew about it, and…well, I couldn’t lie.”
    Brett blew out a breath. “And what did he have to say about that?”
    “He thinks I’m nothing but trouble for getting you involved in this mess. Don’t worry, though. You know if Rachel and I do get caught, we’d never implicate you. I’d never purposely get you in trouble.” I blew out a long breath. “What do you think is the worst that could happen?”
    He embraced me tightly.  “The worst? They’ll take you away. I can’t stand the thought of being apart from you till I turn eighteen and go to the surface.”
    “I can’t break up with you,” I said. “What are we gonna do?”
    “Well, I’ll tell what we’re not going to do,” he said, staring into my eyes.
    “What?”
    “We’re not going to give in to my dad, that’s what.”
    I smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
    He leaned forward and brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. I felt his hot breath whisper against my lips. I cupped his face, and his lips swept softly across mine. When I looked into Brett’s eyes, the whole watery world seemed to disappear around me. My heart thumped excitedly, and a chill shot down my spine as he took my mouth with his. I loved the way his hot lips conquered mine. They were warm, soft, and smooth—absolute perfection. Brett made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. He tangled his fingers in my hair, and I devoured the sweet taste of his tongue as we entangled in a passionate, emotional kiss. Our mouths danced in perfect harmony, and we couldn’t get enough of each other. I knew, in that very moment, that I could never bear to be away from him, not for a second. I refused to be torn away from the boy I loved with all my heart. Brett was my everything. I couldn’t breathe without him, and in spite of what his father had threatened, I couldn’t let him go. I would never have the strength to let those horrible words come out of my mouth. His hands moved over my skin and slid slowly down the curves of my hips, sparking electricity in every nerve of my body.
    When the door creaked open, I panicked and broke the kiss.
    “It’s just me,” Rachel said. “I figured you guys would come here.”
    Brett motioned her inside. “Come on in.”
    “I just talked to your dad. He told me everything.”
    “Yeah, well, he’s being a real jerk,” he said.
    “We won’t break up,” I said. “We love each other, and we really don’t care whether anyone likes it or not. Besides, love conquers all, right?”
    “Only in cheesy romance novels and movies,” Rachel said. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “He’ll do it, Sky. He’ll turn us in, and if he does, you won’t see each other for a very long time.