Page 19 of Villainous Kingpin
“Bas-”
I grabbed her chin gently and stopped her protest. “Which do you prefer to wear tonight?” I asked her softly, keeping her eyes on me. Emilia would pay for her disrespect.
“White flats, please.”
Wynter slipped on her shoes with my help and I rose to my full length, meeting Emilia’s gaze. Taking an advanced step toward her, I gave her a cold smile.
“Keep your mouth shut about our visit,” I warned. “If you do anything to jeopardize Wynter or speak of her to anyone, I’ll be back.” The warning of what would follow hung in the air. Emilia’s expression slipped for a moment and her eyes filled with fear, but she quickly masked it with defiance. “Understood?” I growled.
She took a step back, quickly nodded and lowered her eyes. Emilia liked to stir trouble for those she considered less worthy. Wynter was definitely more worthy than her, but Emilia didn’t see it like that. Unless she had power and status, she was nobody to her.
My muscles brimmed with tension, the need to make her pay for upsetting my woman clawing at me.
“Bas?” Wynter’s soft voice soothed the anger inside me and I inhaled deeply, her honey scent seeping into my lungs. She was so goddamn beautiful and kind, it almost hurt to look at her. She was so much better than I deserved. “Are we ready?”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around her and meeting her gaze. God, those eyes of hers could soothe the beast inside me on the darkest days. There was something remarkably calming and consoling when you drowned in her eyes.
Twenty minutes later, we were back in my car.
“Thanks again,” she said softly. “I-I didn’t want to say anything at the store, but I can’t take all those shoes home.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I’m still in the dorm. I’ll be moving soon and explaining to the girls about twenty thousand dollars’ worth of shoes will be hard.”
“What university are you attending?” I asked her. “Here in the city?”
She shook her head, her golden curls bouncing. “Not in the city. I go to Yale.”
My lips curved into a smile. “Smart girl, huh?”
She chuckled. “I’m not super smart. Davina, my friend, is brilliant and savvy. I got in on an athletic scholarship.”
“What type of athletics?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “The general kind.”
Odd. She avoided specifics and it struck me odd that she’d feel uncomfortable to share it.
“What are you studying?” I inquired curiously. Maybe Wynter’s family wasn’t well off financially and it made her feel uncomfortable to talk about the scholarship. Of course, she’d never have to worry about money again.
“Mathematics and physics.”
“And you say you’re not smart,” I teased. “Math and business were my majors, but not even I could pull off physics.”
She let out a bell-like laugh, the sound ringing through the car.
“Somehow I doubt it.” She smacked my forearm playfully. The girl really did not fear me. I fucking loved it and as she beamed with happiness, I couldn’t peel my eyes from her.
Noticing my eyes on her, she raised her eyebrows. “What?” she asked, her beautiful lips curved up and her eyes shining.
“I like your laugh,” I admitted. And then decided to bring it back to her original question. “I’ll keep the shoes for you at my place,” I offered. “I want to see you wear them all.”
Her face lit up, and I found myself pondering how I could keep all her smiles and attention to myself.
“So does that mean I get to see you again?” She locked her eyes with me, her gaze soft and hopeful. If she only knew the ideas floating through my brain. I wanted to lock her up and throw away the key.
“I’m counting on it, principessa.”
