Page 12 of Brutal Days

Most girls might be intimidated by someone with the power and backing of the Elite, but I wasn’t one of those. I didn’t feel bad. She was a bully, and it was time someone put her in her place. And drive it home even more.

“Just think of all the unflattering pictures I could capture. Mistakes even. Things that could cost you a part of life you deem very important.”

Her cloying perfume clogged the airspace between us as she leaned forward. “I would crush you if you tried to do anything so stupid. And not only me, but the Elite, and all of the squad associated with them.”

I snorted. “You can try. But once they see what an unfavorable article does to you, do you really think they’ll rush to your defense and risk one about them?” I scanned for a few of her people in the crowd. “I guess it’s just a risk you’ll have to take if you keep going after Gia.”

Jessica flipped her hair over her shoulder. “You have no power.” She skimmed me from head to toes. “You’re nobody. The joke’s on you. I can do whatever I want, and you can’t touch me. Something you should know after trying to do the same thing with that bogus article about Damon. Nothing you said diminished how he’s perceived. And it’ll be the same for me.”

I grinned wide. “Big difference is that you’re not one of the Elite. You’re not untouchable.” Done with the conversation, I pushed past her so she could stew on the truth I’d dropped on her.

It was no skin off my back if she chose to ignore me and continued to go after my best friend. She would learn real quick who her real friends were after I published something unflattering on her, and my guess was that very few would remain by her side.

I took the stairs nearest the science wing then hurried to the door, shedding the bad taste in my mouth from talking to Jessica. I had another issue to take care of that might not be as easy to fix. I didn’t think Damon would be there early, but I wanted to try talking to him before the teacher started class.

As tingles raced over my arms and up the back of my neck, I knew who had entered without looking. When I sensed him draw near, I stood from my seat and latched onto his arm, tugging him over to the large bank of windows. He let me lead him there. I wasn’t foolish enough to think I could physically move the guy. But that was good. It meant he would at least hear me out.

“How’s Polly Pumpkin Head?”

Fucker.I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Our eyes met and held, and I hardened myself to the fireworks exploding inside my body at his nearness.

“I want to make a deal with you.” I kept my voice low so no one could overhear what I was about to say. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment things that I had no plan to back up but that escaped my mouth before I could stop it. “I’ll do your homework in all your classes for as long as you date Gia.”

My heart thundered against my rib cage so hard I thought it would crack. Beads of sweat formed along my hairline. I felt wild and out of control, not my usual self. A sexy, devious smirk slowly tugged at his lips, and I found myself holding my breath.

“I have a counteroffer,” he said.

But then the teacher called the class to order. The glimmer in his eye made something tingle in my stomach as we broke apart to take our seats. The scary thing was, I planned to listen to his terms.

CHAPTER NINE

DAMON

#Symbiosis

Chemistry was the longest hour of my life. Just thinking about Sky, being in the same room with her made me hot and hard. I willed the clock to go faster. We had things to discuss.

I had a great view of Sky from the back of the classroom. Her dark hair fell down her back in thick waves, almost to her narrow waist. She had a fantastic ass, not too big or small. I wanted her, and nothing I did had convinced me I could walk away without a taste.

I wasn’t someone who had to blackmail or bribe anyone. At HVA, I was a fucking god and could have any girl I set my sights on. Except for Sky, who couldn’t move her stool farther from the aisle—creating more distance between us—and from my sight.

Letting her slip out with most of the class when the bell finally rang, I hung back so no one would be listening behind me when we spoke. I licked my lips as I exited the classroom, hungering to feel her mouth on me, to feel her softness. I didn’t even mind her acerbic tongue. In truth, I liked it. She had a backbone of steel and fire that burned hot in the blue depths of her eyes. I looked forward to every moment she would bend to my will, something I knew wasn’t in her nature.

Across from the classroom, she leaned a hip against a bank of lockers. I liked to see her waiting for me. I matched her pose, standing closer than I thought she would be comfortable with. And I couldn’t wait for her reaction to what I was about to propose.

“Name your price.” Her voice was raspy and sexy as hell.

“Meet me in the basement at lunch.”

Her eyes widened. “No.”

I grinned, enjoying this way more than I thought I would. “Then, I guess you don’t need anything from me, so…” I straightened to leave.

“Life is full of disappointments.” She delivered her hushed words like a whip. “My friend will get over it.”

Shit, she would walk. I grabbed her arm, and she glared at my hand until I released her.

“Just meet me in the basement at lunch, and we can work out the details. No fooling around. I won’t lay a hand on you.”Not one that you don’t ask me to put on you, anyway.

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