Page 21 of Baby Duke

The bell rings to signal the end of lunch, and East reluctantly agrees to suffer the burn of beauty. We agree to meet at the front of the school at the end of the day and part with a hug. We were going to get on just fine.

Chapter Nine

West

I am easing back into my computer chair in Business when the chatter around me dies and in walksher. The fuck she is doing in this class beats me. I mean, maybe in her old school girls were allowed to learn about the running of a business, but this wasn't any old school. This was Double Bay High. This was the world ofmen.

Mr. Appleyard, the old bastard, clears his throat at the front of the class. "Are you lost, miss…?"

"Oh, I don't believe so, Mr. …?" she counters sweetly, tipping her head to the side. "The door says room 5.04 Business.My timetable says 5.04 Business. I think I am good. Sir." She seems to add the title as an afterthought.

Mr. Appleyard's face turns bright red as he sputters. "You… this class… I… you are agirl! I refuse to have a girl in my classroom."

Roe scowls, and her mouth opens to let the world know her fucking headstrong opinions.

Beside me, Law breaks out laughing.

"I love this fucking chick!" he hollers. "Mr. Appleyard, stop being a prick and get on with the lesson. Roe, come sit by me, will you? I need your humor to get me through the afternoon.”

Roe gives Law a dubious look but seems to decide to give him a chance when she shrugs and skips down the aisle, sending a twinkled finger wave back at Mr. Appleyard. Appleyard, after huffing and muttering furiously under his breath for a moment, turns back to the whiteboard to prepare for the lesson.

I am across the aisle from Law, so I don't hear what he whispers to Roe when she takes her seat, but she throws back her head and laughs, quickly covering her mouth when the teacher throws another glare her way. She leans close to Law and whispers something back, which has him smirking like a fiend. I clench my fists, willing my blood to cool down before I punch one of my best mates in the teeth.

Brett, on my other side, senses my unease. "Chill out. That chick really gets on your nerves. Maybe you should just fuck her? Get her out of your system, man."

My cock twitches in anticipation. Nowthatwas something I could fully agree with.

I am agitated as shit when the final bell rings. Law and Roe were gossiping like tween girls the entire lesson, whispering, giggling, and leaning closer and closer to one another with each breath.

They are still chatting away as my hand lands heavily on Law's shoulder. "Law. Let's go."

Roe instantly scowls at me and then Law as he rises unquestioningly. "You always follow Baby Duke around like a lost little lamb?"

Law shrugs, grinning without a care in the world. "Baby Duke gets crabby when others don't do as they're told."

I shove the asshole back into his seat with a glare. He laughs it off, getting back up and offering a hand to Roe. She takes it, and he hauls her to her feet with unnecessary strength, pulling her against his body and wrapping his arms around her slim waist.

"Hey!" she squeals with indignation, but I hear the smile in her voice.

"Baby girl, I know you want a ride on my cock; you didn't need to throw yourself at me."

Roe calls him an entitled asshole while prying herself free. Law just laughs and tucks her tighter against him. Roe seems to realize her loss and stops struggling.

“'Atta' girl," he whispers huskily.

"Enough," I growl, hauling the feisty girl so her back hits my chest. We both freeze at the contact and I can't help but breathe in the scent that is so uniquelyher. The moment ends abruptly as she remembers herself.

"Back off, Baby Duke," she hisses, pulling away from me. I tug her back for a second, just to run my nose up the sensitive skin of her neck, feeling smug when I notice the goose bumps that follow my trail. I let her go and smirk as she turns on me. "The fuck you do that for?"

"Because I can," I reply, loving how tense I make her. "You belong to me now."

"Like fuck I do," she growls, snatching her bag up and storming out without a backward glance.

"Fuck, dude, if you don't marry her, I will," Law says.

Brett breaks his silence with a breathy laugh. "Lawson Hawthorne, womanizer and man whore, brought to his knees by a feisty street brat."

"Brett," I growl, "shut the fuck up before I break your jaw."

---