Page 51 of Brutal Kingdom

I don’t want to involve my PI any further. At least not for now. I have these documents and since I now know what Jordanna’s up to, I can do some digging on my own. Quickest way to get some answers is to go to the subject of my investigation. Time to play a quick game of two lies and a truth.

I maneuver the car out of the parking lot, throwing the throttle wide open on the highway, speeding towards campus. Jordanna should be at the paper tonight. If this is a hoax and she gets caught, she’ll be sporting the same color prison blues as the step-father she pretends to hate. Maybe this is a scam she cooked up with him.

Innocent doe eyes and bomb ass pussy won’t fool me again. I want answers whether they’re given willingly or I have to drag them out, one dirty little secret at a time. Make no mistake, I will uncover the truth.

I’m going through the photos I took this week, when someone knocks on my door. I swing it open, finding Logan on the other side. At the paper, I’ve gotten good at pretending he doesn’t exist, by closing my eyes and holding my breath when he comes near, so I can’t see or smell him.

I can’t do that today because he’s in my doorway, scowling at me. “You’re supposed to be at the paper.”

“I had something to do, so I’m here, working. Last week’s photos are already in and I’m not on deadline. Bye-bye.” I push the door closed, but he wedges his foot inside, preventing it from closing. Pushing his way inside. There’s only one way to handle this. I go back to my desk and ignore him. Clicking on a photo, I add a filter, giving it a gothic feel since it’s for an upcoming Halloween issue.

“How long are you gonna pretend I’m not standing here?”

“For as long as it takes for you to go away.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I can see that. Jerk. “Noted. Stand there all night. I’m on my way out, anyway.”

I stand to leave and he shoves me back in my chair, grabbing the arms and leaning forward, caging me in. “You’re not gonna disrespect me by walking away when I’m trying to talk to you.”

I jump to my feet, jabbing him in the chest with my stapler. “Au contraire, mon ami. I’m gonna be disrespectful as hell, because you haven’t earned, nor do you deserve any of my respect.”

He takes a small step back, muttering, “Here we go.”

“That’s right, here we go. I’m inmydorm room, minding my business. And you showed up uninvited because I’m not where you think I should be? You’re some kind of narcissist, to think you can get everything you want. Fuck your wants. I politely asked you to leave, but you wouldn’t do it. You just can’t stand to see me happy. You gotta come to me with your shit all the time. Congratulations, Logan, you woke up my inner bitch. So yup, here we fucking go, now what the fuck do you want?” I cross my arms, not missing the flick of his eyes towards my breasts. My nipples pebble, and I shift my arms to hide them in case he can tell.

His tongue darts out to wet his lips and my stupid clit throbs, as my body remembers the feel of that tongue on the area I’m hiding.

“Well?” I clear my throat and say it again. “Well? Speak.”

He pulls his eyes back to mine. “What am I, a dog?”

“You really want me to answer that?”

“If I am, what does that make you?”

“We’ve already established that tonight I’m a bitch.”

“A bitch in heat…” he mumbles under his breath.

“I heard that asshole.”

His lips tilt on one side. “Where’s the lie?”

It’s all a lie. And it’s also the truth. It’s been a year of this back and forth with him, and as tired as I am of keeping up with these moods swings and maintaining this facade of uncaring - when I care too damn much- I can’t drop my mask, not even for a second.

We’re locked in a battle of wills and that familiar spark arcs through the air. How can someone I loathe still excite me this much? It goes beyond hatred and surpasses the need for revenge. When we strip away everything that transpired last year, one truth remains. My body still cravesus.

He steps back, giving us space and the fog that was starting to envelope me abates. Logan’s not here for a hate fueled hookup.

“So since you’re just here for name calling, you can leave. Like I said, I’m on my way out.”

“I know what you’re up to.”

I sling my satchel over my shoulder, grabbing some paints. “I’m heading to my studio to work on my senior project, just like I do most nights, so everyone knows what I’m doing.”

“I mean, the other project you’re working. The family tree. And I want in.”

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