Page 3 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

“This way.” He leads me down a side hallway. He slides open a door to an office and enters, throwing himself into the chair behind the desk. “Why should I take you at your word, Sheep?”

I’m numb to it at this point—happily so. “Caleb thinks I’m to blame for the video.”

Ian snorts. “Impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because I know who took the video.”

My mouth drops open.

He continues, “Did he blame you publicly? Honestly, I doubt anyone would believe it. You make some rather hot noises in it, but I didn’t peg you to be an exhibitionist.”

My face gets hot.

He tuts, leaning back and putting his feet up on the desk. “Why did you come here?”

“I had to go somewhere he wouldn’t find me.” I shrug, trying to keep my voice from trembling. Fuck, he’s intimidating. “And I figured… here was good.”

“After what I did to you.”

I wince. “Especially after that.”

He watches me for a long moment.

“You don’t have a stupid fucking crush on me, do you?”

I snort. “God, that would make things complicated.” I stand. “I’ll go.”

“Sit,” he orders.

I grind my teeth and glare at him. I do not sit. “I’m really sick of people ordering me around.”

I put my bag over my shoulder and find my way back to the front door, ignoring the way his attention stings.

Finally, he calls, “Wait.”

I glance back.

“I have a guest room,” he concedes. “My parents go to Los Angeles for the winter, and they’re already there. They’ll never know.”

“What’s the catch?”

He snickers. “What makes you think there’s a catch?”

“Because your name is Ian Fletcher.” I cross my arms over my chest. “So?”

“I’ll let you stay… for a kiss.” He walks closer, circling around me.

“Why did you kick me in the stomach?”

His eyes light up. “Ah. Do you still have bruises? Can I see?”

“This was a mistake.” I can’t get away from him fast enough. Honestly—what on earth was I thinking?

I try to step around him, but he blocks me. I step around him again, and he follows me down a hallway, into the kitchen. It’s big and cold. There’s a sliding door that leads out onto the porch. I got drunk in this house. It was here that Unknown got that damn video of me.

“Kiss me and you can stay, rent free, for a month. If you aren’t discovered before that.”

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