Page 103 of King

“Yeah,” he says. “I’m staying.”

She smiles, “Then I guess I don’t have to worry.” Before she closes her side of the bathroom door I hear her yell, “If you break her heart I don’t care who you are, it won’t be pretty!”

I’m proud of that last bit. Why was I so worried about her getting in with the more popular freshmen? I trained her well. She can handle herself.

“Alright, Rowland.” Damien helps me off the bed. “Shower.”

We lock the door and I turn on the speakers, The Pretty Reckless filling the room. I start taking off my clothes and Damien doesn’t hesitate to help move me into the shower. I’m still sore from the wound and the bashing from Zane but with Damien next to me, I feel capable of pushing through.

The shower is comforting, the warm water stings the scrapes on my skin but soothes my muscles. Relaxes my mind. I breathe in the steam and let my mind drift, replaying the events of the last few days like a movie in my mind.

When did my life get so dramatic?

Hell, I guess it's always been dramatic. Since the day my folks died.

Sebastien King’s voice plays in my head.

She could ruin everything we’ve tried to build here.

Damien said similar words the day I met him. What could I do to ruin anything the Kings have going on? Is there more to Sebastien than I realize?

“Jo?” Damien’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts but before I can answer he’s moving back the curtain. His eyes wander down my body before his eyes meet mine again. “You alright? I called your name three times.”

“Sorry.” I look at him but his eyes are back on my body. “I’m a little distracted.”

“Me too.” He smirks. “Need some help?”

“No, I—”

Before I can stop him he’s climbing in, joggers barely off before the water touches his body. He takes the loofah hanging from the shower shelf. Putting some of the coconut body wash onto it, he rubs it along my body. He’s being gentle again and it’s so new yet so comforting. So calming that it scares me.

“Damien, if it's not too late for thank-yous, I want to thank you.” The feeling of the suds on my skin helps me relax. “For coming to The Grove, for handling Zane and for dealing with the Archibalds.”

He smiles at me, loofah dropping to the shower floor before his fingers shoot between my legs. “Don’t thank me yet."

Damien is gone when I wake up the next morning.

Again, I’m wondering if everything was all a dream but the pain when I try to sit up tells me otherwise. I check my phone and it’s past nine.

Fuck. I’m already late for school.

I groan in pain as I move my legs to the side of the bed. Why didn’t Vincent wake me? Or Willow?

There’s a knock at the door as I’m starting to make my way to the bathroom.

“Miss Rowland?” It’s Vincent. The door’s still locked but I hear a set of keys. "I’m coming in.” I'm startled by his announcement. He usually just bursts in. He does and when he sees me out of bed he frowns. “What are you doing?”

“Why didn’t you wake me? I’m late for school.”

“It appears you’re in no state for classes.” He ushers me back to bed, helping me under the covers. “Mr. King informed the school of your…incident. As such they’ve excused you for the week but they will be sending someone over with the things you’ve missed."I try to protest as he helps me under the covers. "You cannot slack. As per your agreement with the Archibalds your grades are to be top-notch. No excuses.”

“Wh-what about the masquerade ball?”

“You’re still permitted to go, but now…" He dusts off his hands like he touched dirt. "Smoothie or omelette?”

I smirk. “Thought you didn’t work for me.”

Vincent mumbles as he heads for the door and in thirty minutes, he brings me a banana smoothie anyway.

---