Page 40 of Royal
Knowing I can’tnottell her the right thing to do, I exhale slowly. “It’s probably someone in the house messing around. You should consider telling the sorority president—or at least ask your big sister if this sounds like something that’s routinely done. And then if you rule out a TZE sister, notify the campus police, at the very least.”
She looks like she wants to vomit at the thought of it, and her hands are shaking, but nods swiftly. “Yeah. You’re probably right.” Then, quietly, she murmurs, “I really don’t want any trouble.”
Pressing my lips together, I point at the phone that she’s set on the table. “Can you open up a new contact?”
She blinks. “Um. Yeah.” Picking it up, she does as I ask, types something in, then passes it to me.
When I pick it up, the name Emory glares back at me. My teeth grit together, but I plug in my phone number and hand it back.
Glancing up at me, she questions, “Do you want me to send you a message or something?”
I hold up a hand. “No.”
Frowning, she sets it to the side.
“I didn’t give you my number because I was trying to get yours. I gave it to you to prove that you can trust me. And if you need me, all you have to do is call.”
NINETEEN
ECHO
Outside the coffee shop,Emory and I pause before going our separate ways. I don’t know what to make of this guy exactly, but I do know my assessment of him in class was spot on. So much so that it freaked him out. I don’t get why being protective or seen as a hero would have that effect. But the more I talk to Emory, the more I discover layer after layer to explore. “What class do you have next?”
“Anatomy.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Sounds fun.”
“It’s a lot of work but think whatever you want.” He winks at me and lifts a hand close to my face, which makes my heart stutter. His gaze shifts to the tendril of hair that he tucks behind my ear. His fingertips graze my jaw as he drops his hand. I blink rapidly, staring at the bruise on his cheek, unable to process that someone who could jump into the middle of a fight could also be capable of gentleness. “Seriously, though. Call me whenever. Think about reporting what happened if your president says they don’t subject freshmen to hazing like that.” His jaw muscles twitch hard. “Before you go to bed, make sure all the windows and doors are locked.” The fierce tone of his last few words and the way his eyes go all steely and cold sends a cascade of sparks through me. So strange that he can make me feel cared for one second and like he’d tear anyone apart who’d lay a hand on me the next.
I draw in a shaky breath. “Thank you. I-I will.” With a satisfied nod, he walks away, Superman good looks and all, giving me a wave as he goes. It boggles my mind that he keeps reappearing. If I’d never run into him and Benneti at the bonfire, none of this would be happening. I would have sat on Royal’s bench alone. I’d have walked home alone that night. And I’d be just another girl in his art class. Instead, he’s quickly becoming someone I can count on. The phone in my pocket tells me so.
Emory makes me feel safe, but I have no idea what he sees in me. I exhale, expelling the air I’d been holding in my lungs as he turns a corner and disappears from view. Except I do. He’d written the words right on his art project.Fierce. Determined. Bold. Resilient.If I channel all those personality traits, maybe I’ll get through this transition at Kingston University. My emotions are whizzing around in a blender right now, and I swear, if someone takes off the lid, my confusion and chaos is going to spew everywhere.
In fact, for a moment, with Emory, I thought that’s exactly what might happen. I like him a lot. But maybe I shouldn’t be letting anyone that close. Look what happened the last time I got attached to someone—Royal left me with scars so deep no one sees them and too much I have to keep hidden.
Not wanting to go back to TZE yet, I sit down on the same rocks where I’d encountered Emory earlier, close my eyes, and let myself remember, even though it’s painful.
The forest behind our school where our cross-country team often practices on the running trails is incredibly quiet, the air crisp and cool. Despite the late winter temperatures, my palms sweat in anticipation. Will he find me? How will our chase go this time?
“Echo. I know you’re out here. Do you think you can outrun me? We both know you’re a fast runner, but not as fast as me. I’m the hunter. And you’re my prey.”
With a squeal, I dart from behind the tree where I’d been hiding, my heart slamming around behind my rib cage. It wants to escape my chest way more than I’d ever want to escape Royal. The rush I get knowing he’s pursuing me is like nothing else. It ignites every nerve in my body; I’ve never felt more alive than I do when he chases me. What started out as our coach’s idea of a training exercise has become our own private game.
My feet crunch on leaves as I run. Twigs snap under my feet. He’s right behind me. His footfalls race along, and I know he’ll overtake me soon. He’ll catch me. And then how things progress is up to us. Will I give in easily? Or will I fight him? I never know until I’m in the moment. Sometimes the game we play gets so real it scares me. But that’s all part of the rush. It makes everything that much more intense.
Royal’s strong arms loop around my middle, lifting me right off my feet. All the air whooshes from my lungs. He pushes me up against the trunk of a tree, his body curling over mine. His hot breath gusts in my ear. “Caught you.”
“What are you gonna do with me?” I wriggle in his hold, feeling his erection against my backside.
“I’m gonna make you surrender to me, princess.” He nips at my neck with his teeth, and his lips and tongue do wicked things to me as his hands begin to roam. I grip the tree with both hands, the bark scratching at my palms, but I don’t care. There’s only Royal’s touch and the way he makes me burn from the inside out. His hands skirt up from my hips to my breasts, and I edge back enough that he can cup them in his palms. “Echo”—he pauses, his voice rough—“I think we should tell your brother. I’m tired of hiding this.”
My brows draw together. Oh my god, he wants to die today. “You can’t tell Davis. He’ll flip the fuck out.” Ragged breaths fall from my lips while I wait for Royal’s response.
“You’re mine, Echo. No one else will ever touch you.” His hands squeeze my breasts, and I gasp as pain merges with pleasure. One hand skims over my stomach, then dips down the front of my leggings. His fingers slide through my arousal, and I let out a low whimper. He rubs the pads of his fingers over my clit. A gust of air escapes me. Royal lets out a groan as he thrusts against my ass. “This body is mine. This pussy is mine. Do you understand me?” he rasps near my ear.
I quake in his arms, heat flowing through me at his touch. “Yes.”
“Say it. Tell me you’re mine.”
