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She’s mine. And I’m hers. I’ll make her see that.

“Your jealous side is cute,” I say.

“Don’t patronize me.”

“I’m not.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “It’s endearing that you care enough about me to get jealous. Even if it’s unnecessary.”

“What about Gemma? She’s my friend and your sister.”

My hands shift down to her waist. “We’ll figure it out.”

“How?”

“We’ll take it slow. Keep it between us for now. See where this goes.”

She nods, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck.

“Now, are you going to come with me, or do I have to carry you?”

“You wouldn’t do—”

Before she can finish the sentence, I sweep her off her feet and throw her over my shoulder.

She lets out a startled shriek, slamming her tiny fists on my back. “Sebastian! Put me down!”

I chuckle, securing my grip around her thighs. “Sorry, princess. You had your chance.” I’m careful to keep my hand over her ass so no one gets a peek at what’s mine.

“They could see us.”

“I don’t care.” I carry her up the stairs to my room.

After locking the door behind us, I set her on her feet. She straightens her skirt with an indignant huff, cheeks flaming.

She’s so easy to fluster. It’s endlessly amusing. Adorable. And all mine.

Her eyes flick around, taking in the Spartan furnishings: bed, desk, and dresser. A few photos of friends and family on the wall. There are trophies lining one wall and framed jerseys on another. A bookshelf crammed with textbooks and a few ofher favorite books. Need to know what my princess is into. And after what I read, I can’t believe she’s still a virgin.

In the end, her gaze settles on the bed. She walks up to it, her back turned to me, unmoving, before straightening in a show of bravado that can’t quite hide her nerves.

“What are you thinking, princess?” I snake my arms around her waist.

“Your room is simple.”

“I don’t spend much time in here, honestly.”

“Why?”

“Well. I would like to. But there is a little princess always hiding in the library instead of my room.”

“That’s it?”

I rest my chin on her shoulder, inhaling her sweet chocolate scent. “Most weekends or vacations, sometimes even during the week, I fly home to work for my father.”

“Isn’t that too much for you during college?”

I shrug, my arms tightening around her waist. “It can be. I used to get these fucking headaches all the time. Stress, I guess.”

Her fingers trace patterns on my forearms. “Used to?”

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