Page 16 of Guarded Rebellion

Watch me.I glanced at the mirror, finding the broody asshole paying attention to the road.Judge me all you want and watch me, Lev. Watch me rebel against your overprotective ass while I try to live a little before my goddamn fate is the sentence I’ve never wanted.

If he could be so pissy about a guy putting his arm around me…

You haven’t seen anything yet.

A slow smile lifted my lips as I stared out the window and wondered how much further I could push to get another taste of what I wanted to call freedom.

7

LEV

Eva’s attitude worsened over the weekend. Ever since I caught her smiling at that fucking punk trying to look like a badass in his preppy clothes and sporting those smug smirks, I made it my mission to drive her rebelliousness out of her.

Her mood of hating me lingered well into Monday morning as she took a seat in the lecture hall. “It’s bad enough that you make me live with you?—”

“You’re stuck with me no matter where you sleep,” I muttered as I sat right behind her.

“—and you deprive me of living with Kelly in the dorm,” she ranted without pause, as though I hadn’t spoken. “But you fail to give me one damn good reason she can’t hang out with me at the apartment over the weekend.”

“Because I can’t vouch for her. No one can vouch for her.” Kelly’s background was still too vague for me. Sure, going through the foster care system could warrant a few blanks, but I refused to lower my guard. Even if babysitting was a mockery of a job for someone like me.

“Ican.” She spun in her seat to glare at me. “I can vouch for her. For fuck’s sake, Lev, you’ve seen her with me for the last three weeks.”

I merely stared back, trying not to notice how smooth her cheeks were, reddened slightly with anger now. It was becoming harder and harder to ignore how gorgeous she was when she actually let loose to show an emotion or two. Especially anger.

“Are you not letting Kelly visit me at the apartment as punishment?”

The corner of my lips kicked up. “Punishment?”

“Yeah.” She arched a brow, sexy as fuck with that haughtiness. “Because you saw Bryce put his arm around me Friday.”

“Trust me, Eva. You would know it when I endeavor to punish you.” Fantasizing about spanking her round ass to get her submission was my favorite. The vision that came as a runner up was stuffing her sassy mouth with my cock and feeling her moan.

Her eyes slitted. “You?—”

“Oh. Gee.” Kelly scooted into the row past Eva, who turned to face forward again. “Look. It’s the bickering couple again.”

Eva jabbed a finger at her. “We are not a couple.”

“Fooled me.” Kelly rolled her eyes as she sat. “The way you two argue nonstop would suggest otherwise.”

“I amstuckwith him. That’s it.”

The idea that I could be seen as one half of a couple with Eva was laughable. She would never be mine. Despite the trend of my thoughts running filthy and squarely in the gutter where she was concerned, Eva wouldn’t ever be my woman. I was here to ensure her safetyandpurity—for whoever ended up as her husband.

As the lecture hall filled up, it became clear that seating would be an issue. That little fucker, Bryce, took the seat toEva’s left, leaving her caged in with Kelly to her right. When a student glowered at me, I stared right back without a flicker of an expression on my face.

“Are you even a student? You can’t be enrolled in this class. I never see you take notes.” He crossed his arms, disgruntled and impatient.

Even though Eva didn’t turn to face me, I caught the sight of her cheek rising in a smile.

“If you’re not in this class, move.” The guy looked down at where the professor set up to begin. “I don’t want to miss the lecture.”

I stood, maintaining level eye contact on him. Then I walked around to Eva’s row and grabbed the front of Bryce’s shirt.

“Hey! What—” He damn near fell into the next row down as I took his spot at Eva’s left.

She fumed. Angry heat practically vibrated off her throughout the whole lecture. And her fury remained burning at a simmer for the rest of the day as well.

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