Page 83 of Forbidden Lessons

More like a rematch.

Poor girl really thought she could win a round?

I rub the side of my head where she dinged me with her textbooks. “If you gave me a concussion, I’m gonna be?—“

“What?” she cuts in viciously, glaring up at me. “Evenmorepissed off with me?” A few wild wriggles to punctuate her words before she gives up with an exasperated huff. “You’d literally implode.”

“Figuratively,” I say, using my pinkie finger to brush a strand of hair from her face with a flick of my wrist.

Then I lean forward, resting on my palms as I duck my head inches from hers.

“Got something to say?”

Her lips squirm together for a moment, her blue eyes flickering left-to-right on mine. Then she lets out a puff of breath, her body going slack under mine as she looks away.

If she’s looking for help, I’ve got bad news for her. This area is deserted during class. It only starts livening up after lunch time.

“What the fuck did I do to deserve this?” she whispers. “My dadmademe leave?—“

“I’m not pissed you left.” My hands curl into fists as I lower down even more, until our noses are almost touching. “I’m pissed you came back. You should have stayed gone.”

She frowns. “I had to, Kai.”

“No, Heavenly.” I look at her little nose, at her plump little lips, at that singular freckle. “There was plenty youhadto do. That any person with a live, beating heart would have feltcompelledto do. But coming back here just to rub your sluttiness all over my face?—”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” she bleats, eyes frantically hunting mine. “YouknowI’m not a slut!”

“Jesus,” I say, sitting up, leaning back, running my hands through my hair and not even giving a shit that I’m getting grass in it. “You’re so fucking delusional.”

I break off with a dry chuckle.

“If this is about my birthday?—”

“You thinkthat’swhat this is about?” I kick up to a stand, feet still straddling her hips. “Nah, Heavenly. That day was a fucking eye opener. Finally got to meet the real you. Pity it was eleven years too late.”

Her lips tremble, and it almost looks like she’s going to cry. But she’s always known how to squeeze out the odd tear or two when she needed. Hollywood’s missing one of their stars.

“I said I was sorry,” she says, shaking her head. “I said it a thousand times. If you want me to say it again, I’ll?—”

She cuts off when I press my shoe against her throat. I tilt my head, leaning back to study her.

“Aren’t you sick of being on your back all the time?” I angle the tip of my black Balenciaga sneakers so it digs between her thighs, and she stares up at me with morbid curiosity as I urge her legs apart.

“This is what you were doing over in Ashwood, right?”

Her lips part, but the only thing dawning on that pretty face is anger.

“Spreading your legs,” I stage-whisper.

I’m already stepping over her, dismissing her just like she fucking dismissed me.

Haven lets out this angry, snarling roar. “Asshole!”

She grabs my ankle andpulls.

Chapter 24

Haven

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