Page 44 of The Puck Secret

My mouth is dry and my thighs wet, as Nova leads me back out of the stacks with my retrieved book in hand. He pulls out my chair forcing me to take a seat, before he takes a spot opposite me silently. Then he pulls out his own books and begins to study as I stare at him wordlessly, not sure of how we got here. We fucked again, and it’s as if every time I let him inside my body, a piece of him slips inside my heart, and that’s the problem. I can’t do this with him, I can’t do this with anyone, and yet, for the first time ever, I reallyreallywant to.

I watch him for a few minutes, and apart from a few little knowing smirks pulling at the corner of his mouth every time he glances up and catches me staring, he remains focused on his work. That’s the only thing that allows me to return to my own, and unlike before I feel completely at ease as I go back to writing my essay from earlier.

By the time I am finished, two hours have gone by, and when I look up I find most of the library has emptied out, and Nova is now watching me quietly, his own books already closed. He is looking at me as if watching me study is the most fascinating thing in the entire world to him, like he wants to rip me apart and know every one of my secrets, and I feel that familiar buzz of anxiety beneath the surface of my skin.

“What are you staring at, Darkmore?” I attempt for my voice to sound casual and like the usual way I address him, but even I can hear the breathiness to it and I curse internally at myself.

“Just picturing my cock between those perfect tits,” he drawls, that usual signature smirk perfectly in place on his lips, and the blush to my cheeks is instant.

How the fuck did we get here?

I pack up my books with a huff, trying and failing to keep my own smile at bay before I quip, “Well stop it, this thing between us isn’t happening.”

Nova rolls his eyes, taking my bag from me as I stand and slinging it over his own shoulder, leaving me no choice but to follow him as he moves to leave. “Whatever you say, Princess.” I feel eyes on us from the few people still lingering around, as I follow Nova outside. I am grateful to spot Julian waiting by the curb to give me a ride home, and as if on instinct, Nova eyes him coolly with a little nod of his head. “I’ll be seeing you, Peters,” is all he adds, giving me my bag back, before turning on his heels and stalking off into the night.

I’m not ashamed to admit my gaze lingers on him until he disappears, and when I approach Julian, he eyes me with a knowing stare, but remains silent as he opens the door for me to climb inside. I try to focus my thoughts as he drives us across town, but all I can think about is the feel of Nova’s eyes on me, both in and out of the stacks. I already know I am in too deep with him, but the problem is, I don’t want to find a way out, even when I know I should.

Fuck.I’m in so much trouble.

* * *

The next fewdays pass in a blur of classes and an unbearable family dinner with the Thorne’s, and I feel like the walls are truly closing in on me. My only solace seems to be the brooding hockey player with the knowing eyes and the rough hands. I haven’t spoken to Nova since we left the library the other night, but I have seen him in passing a few times, and every time his eyes burn across every inch of my skin like he is imagining undressing me. The way he looks at me makes me feel alive, makes me feel wanted, makes me feel worth more than just becoming someone's wife. Nova looks at me and sees Maddie, the real one. Gone is the disgust of being the Mayor’s daughter, and in its place is the dirty little secret we both now share.

Then there is my Charmer, the mysterious stranger who has also dug his way into my heart, much to my dismay. I’m on the way to the lunch hall to meet Hallie when I check my phone for the hundredth time today, only to find there is still no new message from him. Our texts have been few and far between the last few days, and I can’t help but feel our connection is finally breaking down, especially since we have both alluded to other people being in our lives. I knew it would happen, I knew it was inevitable, but what I didn’t know is how attached I had become to his virtual presence in my life.

I try to remind myself that this is for the best, that I can’t be getting attached to anyone, not when my engagement is going to be announced next month. But it doesn’t help my mood, and I can’t stop myself from sending him another message even when I know I shouldn’t.

Maddie: I miss your giant ego!

When I finally make it to the dining hall, I practically throw myself into the chair beside my best friend, making her yelp. “Oh my god, Wendy, don’t sneak up on me like that, you almost gave me a heart attack.” Too upset to actually respond, I reach over and steal half of her sandwich from her tray, and I feel her eyeing me with worry. “What’s wrong?” When I still don’t answer her, she sighs, sliding over a piece of cake from her lunch tray too.

“Thank you,” I reluctantly grumble under my breath, slowly finishing off the food I stole, as I let my eyes move around the hall.

Josh is sitting at the usual hockey tables with his teammates, which much to my surprise includes Nova. Okay, so they are sitting at opposite ends of the table, but still, with the hatred between them I find it hard to see them close together. Of course they are all surrounded by their usual pack of puck bunnies, and I try not to let jealousy churn inside my gut as one of them strokes her hand across number nineteen’s shoulder.

My brother is the first to spot me, waving in our direction, causing a few of his friends to turn our way too. By the time Nova notices me, the girl at his side has too, and the scowl she offers me causes me to drop my head, but before I can turn my attention back to Hallie, that voice that whispered filthy things in my ear, booms across the cafeteria.

“Looking good today, Princess Peters! Why don’t you come over here and sit on my lap?” Nova’s tone is casual and taunting, the one I am most used to, and when my eyes meet his, he is wearing that new knowing smirk of his.

I have to suppress the blush I can feel creeping up my neck as I shove my middle finger in the air. “Get fucked, Nineteen!” I curse back, flipping him off and making his teammates laugh.

“Only if you're the one offering, Princess,” he tosses back, and I swear the girl at his side looks like she is about to combust, as does my brother.

“Nova, I swear,” Josh starts, rising to his feet, and to my surprise, Daemon is the one to stand up next to him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and whispering something into his ear. Nova doesn’t bother watching their exchange, his eyes staying fixed on me, and this time when I drop my head it’s because I can’t hide the blush.

This is bad. Worse than bad, and I have no idea what to do. Turning my attention to my best friend, I exhale a deep breath. “I’m in trouble, Hals,” I sigh, twisting my body to look at her fully. “I’m going to admit something, just once, and then I never want to talk about it again, okay?”

She is already smirking at me, as if she can read every thought in my mind, and as my best friend she probably can. I just need to say the words once and then smash them back down into my body and forget I ever did. I take a deep breath before I whisper, “I like him.”

Hallie nods, that insufferable smirk still in place. “Like who?” she asks innocently. “Your stalker turned Charmer, or the sexy hockey player whose baguette you ate.” I groan at her response, to which she only smiles harder.

“Both,” I admit, more to myself than to her, before I hastily add, “But this is the last time we are ever talking about it.”

Her smile is still in place as she nods, before I watch it disappear, and a look of hatred take its place. “Well, that’s good because speaking of trouble,” she grunts, eyes lifting over my head with a look of disdain, and I barely even get a chance to turn around before a firm grip finds my arm.

“A word, darling,” Brad spits through his teeth, pulling me to my feet and across the hall towards the doors. I feel eyes watching us from every angle, but my attention snaps to one person in particular, and I don’t miss the anger and confusion now marking his features.

Brad doesn’t stop until we are outside of the cafeteria and away from prying eyes, and when he finally does, I can already feel the bruise his grip will leave behind. His temper tantrums are something I have become familiar with in the last month. It's always constant snide remarks under his breath every time our father’s backs are turned, but this is different. This is like the night of the party all over again, like him marking his territory and making sure everyone knows I’m his. He doesn’t care that the announcement hasn’t been made, the decision was enough for him. He thinks I belong to him now.

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