Page 135 of The Ruthless Note

I lick my lips, my eyes narrowing on him.

“Because if you are, I’d respect that.”

My eyebrows hike.

He tilts his head. “I’d marry you.”

A humorless laugh breaks free from my lips. “I would never be stupid enough to chain my life to yours. Do you think I’m insane?”

“You have to be a little insane to keep my attention as long as you have, Brahms.”

“So now your obsession with me ismyfault?” I roll my eyes. “What’s with all the questions?”

“I had to check.”

“Check what?”

“That you’ve never gone past first base with a guy before,” he says confidently. “That I’m your first in everything.”

“Do you have a death wish?” My fingers tighten on the rag.

His eyes meet mine. That smug expression is still on his face.

I bristle. “What about you? How many girls have you been with?”

“Enough.”

“Which means you’ve lost count.”

He shrugs.

A cold prickle of jealousy flows through me. Which is ridiculous. Why do I care if Dutch has screwed the entire school? It’s none of my business.

Dutch chuckles as if he can sense my annoyance. “But you were the first and the only one I had on top of a piano.”

My body heats up with the reminder of our passionate kisses. Tension spreads across my shoulders.

This isn’t fair. I need him to feel as off-balance as I do.

I need him to bleed.

“Is Sol dating anyone?” I ask with a calculating smile. “You think he’d say yes if I asked him out?”

Dutch goes cold. He unfolds himself from his position on the bench, slowly, methodically. A panther stretching its legs.

I’m so aware of every move he makes that my heart starts beating in time to his footsteps.

Hatred runs wild beneath the currents of the air, but it overlaps with something even more dangerous—desire.

Punishing amber eyes drill a hole into my face. My heart thuds frantically, eager to either run away from him or move closer.

But all I can do is stand there, frozen, as Dutch moves behind me, his scent wrapping around my arms like metal bands.

My stupid heart can’t seem to get that this guy is bad for me.

It’s humiliating, this weakness.

I thought I’d banished whatever feelings I’d developed for him, but the crumbs that are left are wreaking havoc.

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