Page 63 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

A week of being plagued by thoughts of her. They’re inescapable, a true affliction tormenting my every waking moment.

I’d almost given into my basest desires and kissed her. I’d wanted to, especially when I’d seen her tongue dart out and wet her lips. They glistened and called loudly for me until a ball of desire constricted my stomach.

Fingers snap in front of my eyes, pulling me abruptly from my reverie. Rogue hands me a glass of whiskey and drops into a seat in front of me.

“Cheers,” he says, raising his own glass to his mouth, “Thanks for joining us back down on earth.”

I scowl at him and take a sip. The alcohol burns the back of my throat and I relish the pain.

“What happened when you went home? You’ve been acting weird ever since.” Rhys asks.

“Nothing.”

I wonder what they’d think if they knew I was engaged, and to Six of all people.

Part of me wants to see their reaction and the other knows that I wouldn’t like it. Those two think they know better about my life and my… association with her than I do.

“I couldn’t help but notice Sixtine posted a selfie back home with her family that same weekend.” Rogue adds in a tone feigning innocence.

I grind my teeth. “If you can’t help it then unfollow her, that should do the trick.”

“Why would I do that when I get all these insights into things you’re keeping from us?” He questions with a taunting grin that makes my fist itch to familiarize itself with his face. He takes another drink and sets his glass down before looking me in the eye. “Plus, I enjoy the view. She posted a bikini picture last week that left very little to the imagination.”

My left eyelid twitches.

Once.

Twice.

It takes a conscious effort to not slit his throat and bathe my feet in his blood, but I know he’s looking for a reaction, for a weakness, and I won’t give him one.

Plus, the best defense is always a good offense.

“Hmm,” I hum, before asking pleasantly, “How many times do you think Jeremy’s fucked Bellamy since you’ve been gone?”

Rogue is out of his seat and lunging at me the second the words leave my mouth. Rhys fists his suit jacket and stops him, throwing him back down into his chair before he can get to me.

“Hey you fucking twats, can one or both of you remember where the fuck we are and give it a rest?”

I sit deeper into my chair, giving Rogue a vicious smile as I take another drink.

He slaps Rhys’ hand away and smooths the lapels of his jacket before standing. He buttons his suit in a polished gesture, glaring at me as he does so.

We’re at an event with shareholders of CKI, his father’s company that he’s going to inherit one day.

His father’s an evil sociopath and this cocktail hour is meant for Rogue to woo over the shareholders to ensure a smooth succession in case Robert decides to give Rogue any trouble, which he undoubtedly will.

He’s got a lot to lose if he gives in to the voices in his head screaming at him to do something foolish like hit me in the middle of this fancy gentlemen’s club.

I know that I’ve enraged him but there’s nothing he can do about it, so I grin up at him like a maniac.

“I look forward to wiping that smug expression off your face soon, asshole.” He hisses before marching off.

I turn and watch him greet one of the shareholders with a handshake and a clasp on the shoulder, the anger smoothly hidden away behind the mask he wears.

He can be charming when he wants to be, which is almost never.

“He’s going to kill you if you keep talking like that.” Rhys comments agreeably from behind me.

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