Page 29 of Deceit

To my surprise, he continues a moment later. I do my best to stay quiet as his fingers work through every single strand of hair. I’m practically putty in his hands as he washes the beer and dirtfrom my hair, replacing the smell with something fresh and a touch masculine. You won’t hear me complaining, though.

“Rinse,” he rasps roughly. I turn around to face him, keeping my eyes locked on his as I lean my head back under the water.

Only a second or two passes before he closes the distance between us, leaning over me as his hands massage my scalp a bit more, rubbing out all the shampoo as he does. I feel his breath against my neck and when he looks from my hair to me, my stomach flips. Without meaning to, I feel my teeth sink into my lower lip, pulling on it slightly. Ronan’s eyes snap down, watching me with rapt attention. I don’t know how long we stay like that before he’s shaking his head and ripping away, like touching me physically burns him.

“Go ahead and dry off. I’ll walk you back to your room once you’re dressed,” he says, practically jogging out of the locker room before I can even tell him I can’t get into my room.

I stand there for several seconds, allowing the water to pour over me for just a little bit longer before I shut the shower off. Quickly, I peel off my soaked clothes, tossing them on the ground before slipping on the shirt and sweatshirt. They are both at least five sizes too big for me, so I end up rolling the sweatpants several times and tying the shirt off into a crop top.

Wrapping my clothes up with the towel, I walk out of the bathroom to find Ronan leaning up against the wall. He pushes away from it quickly, as his eyes rake over me for only half a second before he looks to the floor roughly.

“Let’s go.”

“I don’t have my key, I left it inside my room.”

He nods before moving into his office, grabbing out a key card. “Master key,” he explains.

I frown at that.

“I’m not sure I like the idea that people have access to my room whenever they want.”

“Not people, just me and the dean.”

My head tilts to the side at that.

“Why you? The dean and the swim coach? Seems like a strange combination.”

His jaw tightens as he gives me a look of irritation.

“Is that how you say thank you?”

“No,” I answer flatly, causing him to let out a gruff laugh. Or maybe it was a bothered huff. Either way, he scrubs his hand against his jaw and shakes his head.

With that, he heads for the door. I follow right behind him as we leave the pool, shutting the lights off as we go before stepping outside. The crisp night air instantly bites at my wet head, and I shiver the entire way until we make it to the Parris dorm.

As soon as we get there, Ronan smashes the elevator button like it has personally offended him before stepping to the side. When the elevator opens, he makes a sweeping motion with his hand as I step inside. He follows in after me, and soon the doors are opening again once we’ve reached my floor.

We walk down the hall until we’re outside my door. I point at it in silent communication and Ronan waves his key card over it, forcing the locking mechanism to whir on command before I push it open. Instead of just walking inside I turn to look at him, so many words, yet none at all resting on the tip of my tongue.

He doesn’t wait around for me to say anything, though. Instead, he turns, moving to the elevator before hitting the button once more. His blue eyes turn to mine as he speaks softly, just before the doors open.

“Good night.”

“Night,” I say, my voice being cut off midway as he steps inside the elevator, the doors shutting right behind him.

My head is pounding, and I’m not sure I’ve been so ready for a week to be over in all my life as I step inside my dorm. I don’t bother turning a light on. Instead, I numbly walk over to my bed,pausing when I see a white rose and a note on my bedside table. I squint at it, my eyes trying to adjust to the darkness with only a stream of moonlight illuminating the room.

The note is scribbled in messy handwriting, and I already know exactly who it’s from.

Welcome to Gallows Hill.

My lip curls up in disgust, as I shake my head and crumple up the note, tossing the rose and it into the trash. I don’t know why he is so hell bent on harassing me. I have literally done nothing to him, other than exist. Is he mad that I’m marrying him? Well, same here.

Fucking asshole.

Chapter Twelve

Skyla

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