Page 1 of Of Flesh & Bone

Chapter 1

Eve

Ugh!It smells likebitches and pretension in here.My inner monologue races, threatening to seep out.

Focus.Just hit the ball, Eve.

One last serve and I won't have to see any of them for a few days.

Thump!

I serve and watch as the ball goes flying through the air at breakneck speed and soaring over the net.Marley goes for it in a dive on the other side of the net, skidding across the floor with a grunt."Umpf!"It serves you right.I tried to show you how to read the ball.But did you listen?No the hell you didn't.My internal thoughts are savage and demand to be set free.

Her efforts are fruitless.The ball hits the floor, and I smile.Something rare for me in present company.

I could offer some constructive criticism here, but I won't.

Several things come to mind, but my lips are sealed.These girls showed me who they were within the first week of my arrival and, if there’s one rule that I live by, it's when people show you who they are, believe them.

One might think that this state-of-the-art sports complex featuring three full-size volleyball courts, two Olympic size swimming pools, and a bunch of other shit I could care less about would be worth dealing with these assholes...it isn't.

Straightening, I turn and walk off the court.Saying nothing to anyone, they return the favor and say nothing to me.Sometimes I wish things had gone differently for me here, but I should have known better than to hope in the first place.

Hope is a killer.

As I'm wallowing in the regret and self-pity of it all, I look up and notice them.Three tall, gorgeous men stand at the bleachers inside the cutting-edge volleyball complex.I don’t recognize any of them, but I deduce they're athletes just by examining their tall, muscular builds and blazing self-confidence.Football or rugby, if I had to guess.

Damn, these guys are massive.

None of them could possibly be under 6'3, but my eyes are drawn to the shortest of the three and my thoughts begin to pivot.

Gorgeous black hair.Those seductive eyes are so dark.Where does the iris end and the pupil begin?How is he so muscular and lean at the same time?And that face.It's dangerously chiseled.Everything about this man screams menace.

Internally, my eyes scrape the back of my skull chastising me for my own lustful thoughts.

That's right.Bad news.Just keep walking, Eve.

I look to the bleachers where I sat my towel and Body Armor earlier.I see my towel and...

Where is my drink?I sat it there next to my towel, didn't I?

There is another Body Armor there, but it's not mine.That one is orange.

Orange mango flavor probably.It's good, but I brought a strawberry banana.Dark pink.Where is it?

Then, I see it.That hulking yeti has it.The dark, scary one.He’s holding MY delicious strawberry banana while his inferior orange mango sits UNTOUCHED on the bench.

Today is just not the day, asshole and I am not the one.

Walking straight toward them with indifference on my face and badassery in my steps, I call upon my inherent bitch.

The moment they notice me, fire nips at my neck and spreads across my skin.I'm hyper-aware of the dangerous looking one.Why is HE glaring at ME?The urge to wither under his scrutiny is strong but I glare back anyway.

The inner Eve sounds off in my head.I don't cower for anyone.Least of all you, jackass.

Just before I reach them, all three mountains of muscle turn to me with quizzical expressions.I keep walking until I'm nearly chest-to-chest with the drink stealer.

I am not afraid.I am NOT afraid.I am a badass.

---