Page 98 of Brutal Kingdom

And when I didn’t fall for it, she went running to her dad. “I know. I told you I was being a bastard to get back at my dad.” She eyes me suspiciously. “I’m not saying I’m suddenly confessing long dormant feelings for you. But if we’re gonna be a team, we need to start acting like one, instead of channeling this underlying competition thing we’ve always had going.”

“Agreed.”

I stand, needing to get away from her and digest what I’ve basically agreed to. “I’ll let you get ready. Have fun shopping.”

* * *

I went to my studio to burn off some steam. Now I’m wavering in front of Jordanna’s door. I need to tell her what’s happening with Bella. I knock before I lose my nerve. She answers, wearing a sweatshirt, boxers and slipper socks. A spoon is hanging out of her mouth and what I planned to say goes out the window. “Now don’t you look adorable.”

I step inside without waiting to be invited, poking my head into her bedroom to see a tub of ice cream sitting on her bed. “You’re eating all that alone?”

“Kassidy has a study group.”

This outfit, and the snack, is what she does when she’s waiting on an answer about something important. “What’s got you so stressed, baby?”

“Nothing.”

“Really? Then this must be a new food craze or viral challenge. What’s it called? The brain freeze? Human popsicle?”

I pull the carton from the bed and take it into the kitchen. Whatever issue she’s having, eating all this ice cream won’t help. I spoon some into a bowl and put the rest away, then rejoin her in her room, passing the bowl to her before I climb onto the bed. My shoes hit the floor with a heavy clunk. I pat the mattress, waiting for her to join me.

After a few minutes of torturous silence where I have to watch her suck and drag that spoon in and out of her mouth, swirling her tongue around it, I say, “You’re fucking killing me, Jordy.”

Her lips twitch, but she doesn’t stop.

“If your oral fixation is that strong tonight, I’ve got something more satisfying for you to suck on.”

She puts her bowl aside, lies on her back, pushing her boxers off, then parts her legs. My eyes dart to the space between her thighs then back to her face, when she says, “So do I.”

She’s not ready to talk, and to escape the shit I’m dealing with, I’m more than willing to help her avoid whatever’s troubling her for a little while longer.

THIRTY-EIGHT

JORDANNA

“Can I help you with something?”

Bella jumps and straightens, hiding her hands behind her back, but not before I get a look at the keys in her hands. Looks like Logan was right about her trying to get into my room. I’m glad I let him change the locks. Since she’s standing out in the hall, I think it’s safe to assume he didn’t give her a copy of my new key.

I repeat my question, even though I know she’d never admit to needing my help with anything.

“We need to talk.” She steps aside as if she’s waiting for me to open the door. Like I’d be stupid enough to invite her into my place.

“So talk.”

“We should go inside so we won’t be disturbed.”

“There’s only two other people living on this floor, and I barely see them this early in the day. So whatever you came here to say, say it.”

She’s looking at my chest where the pendant still hangs. Was she trying to get into my room to steal it? I clear my throat, waiting for her to get started. When she doesn’t, I say, “Good talk. Next time maybe try using actual words to get your point across. You know, in case my telepathy is on the fritz.”

I turn towards the elevator. If she wants to stand in the hall, that’s her business. There are some other things I can do around campus until she leaves.

She calls out to me before I reach the end of the hall. “What do you hope to gain by going after this inheritance?”

I stop, turning back around. “That’s the same thing I could ask you.”

“My family has known since I was a baby that I would claim this inheritance. We’ve waited all these years just to make sure there were no other descendants. No bastard children. Now all of a sudden, here you come and you expect the case to turn out in your favor?”

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