Page 163 of Dare To Break

His expression darkens. “No.”

“Is he away visiting family?”

“We broke up.”

Finding his hand, I give it a squeeze. “When?”

“The weekend before Halloween.” He toys with my fingers, stroking his own over mine.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“It hurt.” His voice is no more than a whisper. “And then I just didn’t want to think about it, so I pretended it never happened.”

I rest my cheek on his shoulder. “I wish you had said something.”

He drops a kiss on the top of my head. “I’m okay. I’ve been finding things to distract me.”

I’m about to reply when Miles flinches.

“What the fuck?”

Straightening up at his angry words, I’m in time to see something white hit the back of his head. It bounces to the floor behind us. I twist just as Kellan smirks and tosses another scrunched up piece of paper at my friend.

I send him a glare. “He’s such a dick.”

Miles’ cheeks go red, and he keeps his head down. “Just ignore him.”

A third one makes impact with the back of his neck.

My temper rises, and I turn in my seat. “Stop it!”

Kellan slouches back in his seat and tips his head to the side. “Hey, pretty boy. Stop ignoring me.”

“Fuck off, Fraser,” Miles snaps, still facing forward.

My gaze shifts to Eli.

He’s staring at me, and the hair on the back of my neck rises. I hold eye contact, Sin’s words in my head. I won’t back down. I’m not going to show weakness.

I am not weak. I’m strong. I’ve done things that the old Arabella Gray would never have done. I won’t let him intimidate me anymore.

Seconds pass, and we continue to stare at each other, caught in a silent battle of wills.

His attention flicks to my mouth and holds.

My lips tingle and part with awareness.

Tongue darting out, Eli licks his lips, playing with his lip ring, and then he smiles.

My entire body flushes with heat, my pulse picking up to a faster beat. Everything inside me recoils in shock, and I turn away, breaking the connection.

I did not just get turned on by my stepbrother licking his lips.

“I think I’m going to head back to my dorm,” Miles says.

I rise from my seat. “I’m coming too.”

Chapter 104

---