Page 341 of A University of Betrayal

I said in a shaky voice, “You didn’t have to save me. Enough other male dancers in this room are interested in me.”

The last part slipped from my lips more confidently than I’d expected. But I knew a lot of guys in the pack would love to dance with me.

“And yetI’mthe one who asked you to dance first in front of everyone.”

I stared at him.

“Don’t think I really wanted to help you,” he added quickly, and I managed to pull my face from its stare.

What else had I expected?Of course,this was one of his stupid games.

“Why would I think that?” I laughed, trying to block out my family.

Maybe I could get rid of Miles in time and save us both a lot of drama.

Miles’ gaze was steadfast. “I just want to make sure.”

“Make sure your karma account stays low enough in the red?”

My words made him grin. I had given up trying to insult him, because either he found it funny, as he did now, or he always found a counterattack.

“Believe me, it’s one of the most satisfying feelings when Emely Copeland owes you something.”

My mouth opened slightly in disbelief and I saw his eyes move down to my lips. Then I remembered his warning... and pressed them together immediately.

But he noticed immediately and looked at me with a shadow crossing his face. A shadow I hadn’t seen from him before.

“Every time I try to force myself to think well of you, you manage to convince me otherwise,” I laughed, and the shadow disappeared from his face.

“Oh.You’re trying to think well of me? What have I done to deserve this honor?”

Shit.He was right.

I raised my eyebrows. “You don’t deserve it at all.”

“I don’t advise it either,” he added. It wasn’t a warning, sounded almost bitter and... honest.

“Don’t worry,” I just laughed, feeling Miles’s fingers move over my upper back to my lower. It should feel weird, strange, uncomfortable, especially with the cold of his hand. But my body was so overheated that it felt forbiddenly good.

Arcade – Violin Version

ItsAMoney

I quickly smoothed my face and tried to erase the feeling from my body, to bury it...

Miles seemed to be watching me closely, and I noticed how my lips had unconsciously opened a crack again.

It was fun to know that this upset him. Especially when his hand slipped a little lower.

I could well imagine that Miles had to run for his life after that evening, because I could feel the pack’s eyes so intensely on my back, which, by the way, was completely exposed thanks to the dress.

“Do you think anything would be different if our families weren’t enemies?” I asked quietly, and Miles maintained eye contact.

“Everything would be different.”

His words sounded tense, as if they hurt. And then I realized that they actually did. I tried to block out the feeling and face reality.

“I don’t think so. Because you’d still be the Miles I know.”

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