Page 8 of V for Vindictive

“Nigel told me,” Sloan confirmed with a boyish giggle. “He said it was a local secret. Probably where all the teens go to—”

“Be naughty?” I finished, cheeks on fire.

I’d bet my favorite dagger Sloan figured me out from the very beginning. It didn’t take someone clever to realize I was a total noob at dating hot guys—or really, guys in general. It seemed stupid to try to hide it when up against a top-level Hunter of his age and skill set.

Still, call it baseless pride, but I wanted Sloan to think I could act the part of a well-trained Hunter even out on a pseudo-date like we were. Pity date? Whatever it was, I’d never be convinced someone like Sloan was truly interested in a girl like me.

Sure, the Brit didn’t strike me as the type to play games the way Phil did, but everything about the night felt a little too accommodating andconsiderate. Like appeasing a child. Regardless if that was the case, I slowly fell victim to Sloan’s potent charms.

As my heart tried to figure out a rhythm, I worked quickly to control the emotions leaking into my expression. I schooled my face and relaxed my posture. Then finally, I unclenched my jaw. “It’s all a little…”

“Romantic?” Sloan supplied, his happy grin not lost on me. “Perhaps that was my intention.”

I wanted to scorn him, to call it a horrible waste, but I worried about seeming ungrateful. With Phillip, I never hesitated to say what was on my mind. Sort of the beauty of the relationship I had with my sarcastic asshole of a partner. But with Sloan, I watched what I said and filtered out most of my usual sarcasm. I couldn’t help it.

“It wasn’t necessary, Sloan. All of this.”

The glint in the Brit’s ice-blue irises had my body reacting in the most girly way it could, and I hated how easily he broke through my bravado. “I beg to differ, but I’m not really the type of bloke to argue with a beautiful, quick-witted woman.”

Fuck, this dude is good.

I could almost hear Kate saying I didn’t stand a chance. And she’d be right.

Every time I tried to argue a point, Sloan found a way to reject me in a way that never sounded rude or dismissive. It was beyond impressive how Sloan used compliments and subtle flattery to put my complaints to rest. Worse, the way the other Hunter came across was completely genuine.

I’d been taught over the years on how to detect dishonesty and lies, and even if I hadn’t, the feeling Sloan gave was one of sincerity and completehonesty. And sadly, I couldn’t ignore how adorable Sloan was when he laughed like a little boy.

His laughter quickly filled the silence.

I could only open and close my mouth, unable to argue with his point despite the fact that it was quite literally insane how fast the other Hunter praised me. After seeing how he fought and what sort of ruthless and unforgiving trainer Sloan was, the gap between the person currently giggling happily beside me and the stone-cold killer was almost too much to comprehend.

Sloan sighed and scanned the cliff-edge view with a sweep of his eyes. “You still have your guard up around me. You don’t need to.”

“I don’t,” I argued quietly.

His smile dropped some. “You do, but it’s understandable. It would be strange if you acted the same way you do with Phillip. But I’m greedy. I want it all. Every part of you.”

What?

I offered Sloan an eyebrow, not following. “What do you mean?”

For the first time, Sloan wasn’t smiling. Instead, he let loose another breath and carded slender fingers through his thick hair, finally showcasing a rare side—agitation. It took me by surprise and I watched, completely captivated.

“I’m not making any sense, I realize. Forgive me. I seem to lose myself a little around you.” His eyes captured mine in a breathtaking moment, the gleam of determination not something I was ready to see. “That doesn’t mean, however, my feelings for you are impulsive.”

His feelings?

“He may have his reasons, but I don’t agree with how Phillip treated you.” Sloan leaned forward and, unfortunately, I didn’t move away like I should. No, I hung onto every word he said. I wanted to hear everything, and I stopped breathing just so I could. “You deserve to be cherished, V. It’s Phillip’s loss that he didn’t go out of his way to do it. He left space for another. I’m not the kind man you think I am. I’m greedy and will absolutely exploit any and all opportunities to get what I want.”

It wasn’t that Sloan was wrong, but it hurt to hear bad things being said about Phillip.

Whether or not he treated me the way I deserved, the Austrian never misrepresented who he was. If anything, I was the one in the wrong. After I realized I might be in love with Phillip, I wanted it to be the same for him. I wanted to drag the statement out of him without any regard for how he felt or what he wanted. It was immature and selfish. And then we fought. So, if anyone was to blame for how things ended, it was me.

My throat constricted painfully, the realization of how I’d ruined things a tough pill to swallow.

Phillip made it clear he wasn’t interested in a relationship, just fun. The Austrian did what he promised he’d do from the very beginning. It may have been like he said, he’d developed strong feelings for me, but the difference between us was Phillip knew when it was time to call it quits. Not to mention, he barely reacted when he found Sloan and I kissing.

The grip on my heart was deadly, and I suffered through an agony I’d never experienced before.

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