Page 107 of King

“Didn’t think you would.” She returns my smile and it feels good, despite everything.

“I’ll catch up with you guys,” Nate says. “Carlos looks…thirsty.” I turn around and Nate’s already leading Carlos towards the refreshment table.

A couple of seconds of silence span between us before I blurt out, “I’m sorry.” But I smile when I realize we've said it in unison.

“What do you have to be sorry about?” she asks. “I’m the one who lied to you.”

“But I never gave you a chance to explain.”

“And I don’t blame you.” She takes a step closer now that she’s realized my walls are down. “It was a pretty big lie. I just…I didn’t want you to think I’m anything like these assholes. They don't treat me like I’m a part of their circle anyway and I didn’t want to lose you as a friend.”

“Allie, I don’t care where you come from, or what your last name is,” I say. “Or even if your brother can be a hell of a jerk. You were the first person here to be nice to me and that speaks volumes. You were my first friend.”

“Past tense?”

“No.” I take her hand and pull her in for a hug. “Friends.”

She squeezes me and while it feels great I let out a groan. Allie backs off and looks at me. “You okay?”

“There’s plenty to catch you up on,” I say, my hand going to my side.

Damien comes back with two cups. “Allie.”

“Damien.” She eyes him up then looks at me as Damien hands me a red cup. It smells like fruit punch, but I detect the alcohol in it. Allie smirks, but there's a cringe in her expression. “So this is a thing huh?”

Glancing at Damien, it's hard not to smile, “Like I said, plenty to catch you up on.”

She shakes her head. “Fine. Over lunch. Emilio’s.” I nod as I see Lea come into the main room with Xavier. She immediately takes him on the dancefloor, demanding space around them. Allie’s eyes land on them for a long while before she straightens her posture. “I could use a drink myself. See you?"

"Definitely."

“Love your dress, Jo!” A group of sophomores walk by, Allie walking away. They wave at Damien. “Hi, King.”

Damien doesn’t say anything but they still giggle as they walk away. At least my nickname is gone. He leans into me,.“Seems like you have new fans.”

I stare around us at the decorations and the students and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. Have I made a spot for myself in this school? There’s a chance I can finish high school in peace, with the hottest guy in the school by my side.

Damien actually seems to give a shit about me. He even cares about Willow. But it's scary. I've let my guard down before.

There's still so much to Damien I don't know. So much to second-guess. Like tonight for example. He wants the school to know we're together but did he have to pull that stunt? Did he have to hide it from me? Is it always going to be a game with him? Am I always going to be the pawn in his plans? What more is he hiding?

“Want to blow this joint?” Damien's question pulls me out of my silent tizzy. He holds a joint in front of my face and I have to grab it out of his hand so we don’t get caught.

“Are you trying to get me kicked out already?” Looking around the room, chaperones don't seem to notice.

"If you haven't noticed, you're with me now." He holds out his hand as if asking for the joint. "I showed the entire school that you’re mine. You have very little to worry about, Rowland. Except where you’d like to smoke this joint...and where I'm going to put my cock in twenty minutes."

He stares at me, mischief in his eyes and I give in, putting the joint in his hand. Tucking it behind his ear, he leads me out of the venue.

This night, while we haven’t been at the dance long, is perfect. But I don’t want to go back to the Archibalds’ and I don’t want to go back to Damien’s. Isaac’s having an afterparty but I’m not even sure if I’m down for that, considering how the last party ended.

“Wait.” A sexy grin pulls at Damien’s lips once we're in the night air again. “I’ve got a better idea.”

Damien calls his car service and we smoke his joint by the time the car arrives. He doesn’t tell anyone we’re leaving. Doesn’t make a big gesture out of it and I’m starting to think I'm worrying over nothing.

Leaning my head on him in the car, I soak up his warmth throughout the ride. I pretend not to notice his fingers between my legs, grazing my skin as the moonlight guides the drive. He knows how to make me fall apart with his almost-there touches, and by the time we arrive at our destination, I want his body on top of me.

When I get out of the car, I’m floored. The sound of rushing water is all I hear as the car leaves us on the gravelly driveway. The two-storey modern fixture that Damien calls a house is behind us but the view is breathtaking. Waves splash against rocks, a lighthouse in the distance and there’s nothing else but the sound of us.

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