Page 226 of Heartless Legacy

Rubbing my hand down his back, I say, “You’re a bastard on the best days. I go back and forth between wanting to throat punch you and kiss you.”

“Same. So what do we do about it?”

“I don’t know. Today, I think I’ll keep you, so we can play games like this again.”

He grabs my hand when I roll to get off the bed. “Where are you going?”

Pointing to his ass and the sheets, I say, “To get a rag and clean this up.”

His eyes widen and my heart cracks a little when he whispers, “You want to clean me up?” I nod, but instead of letting my hand go, he pulls me back down onto the bed and spoons me. “That can wait.”

He’s so still and quiet that I think he’s fallen asleep. His hold tightens when I shift in his arms, and he murmurs. “I know I don’t deserve you. But I’m too selfish to let you get away.”

Pax

“What’s a girl gotta do to get some space around here?” Thea grumbles, shoving me away from the door as she exits the car. Holden wanted to see Thea, so I came down to the parking lot to wait with him.

I answer, “She needs to be someone other than you. Then she can have all the space she wants.”

“So what you’re saying is, I dicked you down so good that I turned you into a stage five clinger?”

I watch her shiver as I blow against her ear and whisper, “I’m happy to return the favor.”

“Don’t you have a lingerie show to get to?”

Holden answers, “We do. Are you going to breakfast?”

“Not this morning. I’ve got some research to do.”

He grabs her neck, yanking her against his chest, and kisses her goodbye, before saying, “See you at lunch.”

She salutes me with her middle finger and spins it in a circle before taking off towards the library. Holden and I watch until she disappears around the corner. We know there are guards around, but things feel even more perilous now that we know who she’s connected to.

When we get to the dorm, the lobby area is already bustling with activity. “Finn’s not here yet.” I say, eyeing his empty seat. He left their place earlier for some super secret project and said he’d meet us here.

I huff my agreement when Holden says, “Mentally, neither am I.” He follows that up with, “Why are we still doing this?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to give my usual responds,because this is what’s expected of us,but I guess that’s the point he’s making. Instead of entering the seating area, I walk over to the elevator.

“Pax.” Eloise calls, rushing over to me. “Where are you going?”

“To my room.”

“Now?” She glances nervously behind her. “The show is about to start.”

“And?”

“And you have to be here to watch it.”

She’s never masked her disdain for the show, but now she wants me here? She’s up to something. “Why? What benefit amI getting from watching people walk to and from the shower every morning?” Stabbing the elevator call button, I say, “You should be happy I’m skipping it. You’ve never been a big fan of it, anyway.”

“I might not like it, but it’s part of your routine. It’s expected.”

Holden says, “Everyone needs to change their expectations because we won’t be suffering through it anymore.”

She gives me a pointed look, and it’s freeing to say, “My word is his and his word is mine.”

Forcing a smile on her face, she says, “Of course. I just need a minute to speak with you in private.”

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