Page 32 of Hades' Shadow
I race up the stairs, leaving Raven on the fifth floor, and keep going up until I get to the top. I sigh as I make it inside and go directly to the bathroom and peel off my soaked clothes and wrap up in a fluffy towel.
“Shit.” I jump as I walk into the room and find Jayden staring at me from my desk chair.
His eyes travel up my bare legs and he gulps as he takes in the towel. Heat pools in his gaze. “I said ten minutes, Jayden.”
That motherfucker has no damn boundaries.
“I was done quicker,” he croaks out and clears his throat.
“Ugh,” I yell, about to throw my hands up in frustration when I remember the towel around my body and think better of it. “Give me a second to change.”
I walk into the closet and close the door to the sound of his dark chuckle. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, Beth.”
I storm back out and get right in his face, poking my finger into his chest when he stands with a smirk. “You are an asshole and just because you have seen my body before doesn’t mean you will ever see it again.”
“Yeah, I’m sure your boyfriend wouldn’t like it, would he?” He crowds closer to me, pushing my back against the wall.
“I have already told you, I don’t have a boyfriend,” I whisper.
Jayden’s touch is electric and makes me want stupid, stupid things.
“You looked pretty cozy with Dax when he thought to lay claim to what’s mine.” He runs his nose up my neck.
I take a shuddering breath.
Fuck. This guy is driving me insane.
“Fuck you, Jayden,” I whisper. “I never asked for that. I pushed him away. Can you say the same about Mia?”
“Are you going to bring that shit up forever?” He runs a hand through his blond hair and takes a small step back but doesn’t stop touching me.
“You used her to get back at me when I was practically assaulted by someone else’s lips,” I shout.
“How was I supposed to know you don’t want him? He’s always around. Always fucking panting after you,” he roars and spins away from me, clenching his fists at his sides.
“Kind of like you were before?” I do throw up my hands this time but my knot in my towel holds. “We both know how well that worked with me.”
I storm into my closet, slamming the door behind me, and flick on the light.
Stupid fucking idiot.
I quickly dress in a pair of leggings and a tight tank top and when I walk back into the main room, Raven and Adrian are here. An awkward silence permeates the space. I don’t dare ask if they heard that argument. It’s clear they did. Whatever.
“Did you grab a map, Adrian?” I ask, turning back into the closet and reaching for the map and book.
“Yeah, it’s on the desk.” He points to the desk that used to have books on it.
I glance at my bed and groan, seeing all my crap piled on the end of my bed. “Thanks, guys.”
“We could have put it all on the floor,” Jayden growls, spinning around in my chair.
“Whatever. Let’s just map this out.” I shake my head, bringing the map and the book over to the desk and set them down gently.
Jayden’s eyes glimmer as he scans the cover of the book. “How old is that?”
“It’s ancient and one of a kind.” I stroke my fingers over the cover.
“No wonder you didn’t just put it in your bag to carry it to the library.” He shakes his head.
