Page 35 of Darkened Truths
“You’re putting a no touch rule on me?” He asks, amusement lacing his words. He laughs when my cheeks redden instead of offering him an answer. Turning to face me head on, he asks, “Are you jealous?”
I cross my arms over my chest and hate that I am. The conflicting emotions I feel toward the three of them leave meconfused most nights. I could picture myself with Wesley. He has a way of making me feel wanted and cared for when he’s not doing Julien’s dirty work. Zander is a man of few words but is intense. I know he stands up for those he loves and would do anything to keep them safe. He’s that way with Ava, protective of her. And I have a feeling he would be that way with me, too. The only hint of interest was when he dropped to his knees that first night in the woods and stole my panties. But yesterday’s manhandling didn’t feel like want. It felt like a warning.
Julien though…Julien I can’t figure out. He’s messed in the head. Something happened to him to make him this way. Something big. He says he hates me, but the way his body reacts to mine, I know he’s lying. And mine reacts the same to his. He turns me on even when he’s being a jerk to me. I don’t know what draws me to him, but I wish I could carve it out of me before it becomes something I can’t escape. We’re in this game of tug-of-war and I’m not sure who will win.
“I don’t enjoy being played with.”
He leans in and whispers in my ear, “but think of how much fun we could have.”
My entire body heats as I think about how easy it was for me to come with him earlier today. If it’s like that when he’s not even trying…what would it be like if he was?
“Orgasm after orgasm, Hellcat,” he answers my unspoken question. I suck in a sharp breath and school my features. My lack of poker face is not dealing me any favors. It feels like everyone knows exactly what he’s said. I stuff food in my mouth, looking for any excuse to end this conversation.
Ava and I were in class together again this morning, and I was so happy for a familiar face today. I still have weapons, shooting, and a swim class to get through. Swimming seems random, but according to Ava, everyone has to take it. I guess it’s good they don’t want students to drown. Zander meets me outside of my class and he spends a moment speaking with Ava quietly in what I assume is Russian before turning his stare on me.
“Bye, girl,” Ava says as Nick jogs up to her. I hear her laugh and Zander growl.
I spot the moment Zander realizes Nick is trying to make a move on his sister. His stance goes rigid and his muscles flex like he’s restraining himself. So I touch his upper arm, stopping him from going after them. He glances at my fingers on his right biceps and glances up into my eyes before looking away again.
“She’s fine. He’s nice. She said you know his family.” He gives a curt nod but doesn’t relax. The muscles in his neck strain under his black button down. “Zander. Let her live a little. She wants this too. How much trouble can she really get in?”
He actually looks at me this time. “That depends. Trouble seems to findyoueasily.”
“Not because of my doing,Daddy.”I emphasize the last word for good measure, just to dig it in a little.
I walk away, feeling good about myself and my witty retort, when he catches up and collars the front of my throat, pulling me flush against the hard plains of his body. Instantly reacting to his touch, heat pools low in my belly. I press my backside against him and extract a guttural groan from his lips. I know I’m notimagining the way he also responds to me. He may be a man of few words, but this situation requires no words.
“Watch it, Luna. Keep that up and you’re going to find yourself bound and gagged with no way to escape. I won’t play fair, either.”
I’m not sure what comes over me, but I can’t stop the words that fall from my lips. “Is that a promise?”
His lips are against the shell of my ear as he caresses my throat, cutting my air off just enough to make me wheeze. I lock my hands around his wrist, but I know he won’t hurt me. He would have done it by now if he was going to. “Yes,” he growls quietly in my ear.
Great. And now I need new panties.
EIGHTEEN
RILEY
Icausally slipped the information about the fight to Nick and he asked Ava straight away. It turns out he was going too. He holds a standing invitation and said he attends from time to time. Ava needs to have a bit of fun too, and while a fight isn’t exactly my idea of a good time, it’s something to do. It gets her out of the dorm and she can spend more time with Nick.
My muscles cry out in agony from my first week of classes and the extra training sessions from Wesley. Thank God Julien tried nothing else in my survival classes. Although, being partnered with one of the girls probably wasn’t much better. I had whispered insults slung my way throughout our entire sparring session. I could feel Julien’s eyes on me the whole time. Not missing a beat when I escaped someone's grasp. And if I’m not mistaken, I could have sworn I saw a minute smile. And I won’t admit this to anyone, but I secretly loved it. I shouldn’t care—I don’t care, but gaining his approval did something to me. Made me feel more confident, maybe? I don’t know, but I like it.
I will say I was pretty proud of myself for taking her down and earning a “good job” from Mr. Scarboro. Julien glared at me as if I had personally offended him. I wanted to flip him the birdbut thought better of it at the last minute. No need to poke the bear more.
The other women here hate me. I keep trying to make friends but I’m shut down. Darcy and Julie are the only ones who speak to me, and only when I’m with Ava. Maybe I don’t need anyone else. What’s that saying, quality over quantity? Leah is the only one out of my high school friends who attempts to reach. And Ava and I get along great. I'm not sure how I would have managed with a different roommate.
This morning I swatted Wesley away when he stepped into my room at four in the morning. What kind of monster doesn’t sleep in on the weekends? It's Saturday and I don’t need to do homework. When he extracted me from my bed himself, I went dead weight on him. I guess that works better while standing because he had no problem tossing me over his shoulder and swatted my butt. Ava woke and told me to keep it down. She needed her beauty sleep and then rolled over like I wasn’t just flung around like a sack of potatoes. What ever happened to chicks before dicks?
We trained for an hour, where I pinned him twice. He told me we were going to start with weights next week before he let me go to get food. Since it’s a weekend, I don’t have to be in uniform and I ran straight over, thankful for the lack of a line. I’ve gotten used to having him eat with me, so I was a little saddened to sit alone, but since most students weren’t up yet, I could eat in peace. Another thing I was grateful for. I haven’t seen Wesley since then. He told me to wear something nice tonight, so I’ve been back and forth on whether or not I wear a cute pair of wedges.
“Just wear ‘em,” Ava insists, putting the last pin in her hair to hold it up. “You’ve been staring at them for like ten minutes now.”
I huff and nod. She’s right. I’ll wear them. As if on queue, there’s a knock at the door. I know it’s Wesley because Ava told Nick she’d text him after I was gone. Better safe than sorry.
I open the door and Wesley drinks me in. I’m wearing a pair of dark skinny jeans that hug my curves, a light purple sweater that falls off my shoulder, and my hair falls in loose curls down my back. Top it off with the sexy wedges and I feel confident, ready to face anything. Including the sexy as sin man who is standing on the other side of the door frame.
“Damn. You look good enough to eat.” He leans in and places a chaste kiss to my cheek.
