Page 99 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

“Ah, you did see me, huh?”

The bottle of whiskey in his hand comes to mind. And his dance moves.

The way Jackie held on to his hip, shaking her hair out. Why shouldn’t he pay attention to her?

“But I don’t think you saw me,” I add lamely. “I’m going to sleep.”

I pull the phone away, my thumb hovering over the red button. It would be easy—I can hang up and we’ll both forget this ever happened. Except…

“Talk to me,” he says.

It’s clearer.

I sit up. “Why?”

He coughs. “Who else do you talk to? About important shit.”

“Well, not drunk you, that’s for sure.” I rub my eyes. “Goodnight, Eli.”

“Stop.”

I do.

My heart hammers.

“You danced with Jackie,” I say. “That’s why I left early.”

He groans. “Are you telling me that in an attempt to drive me away?”

“Maybe.” I rub my eyes. Am I? Do I want him away?

“It won’t work.” He grunts.

Something hits my window, and I jump.

It happens again. A little clink against the glass.

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel…” Eli says into the phone. “Fuck, I don’t know. Let me in.”

I groan. “You’re outside.”

“Obviously.”

“Why?”

He tuts. “I’ll tell you if you unlock your door. I’d prefer not to climb the trellis again.”

It happened once, in the middle of the day. Just to see if he could do it.

He did… barely.

I sigh. “Fine. Go to the back.”

My parents’ door is shut, but I still use supreme caution when I leave my room, tiptoeing down the stairs. I know which ones to avoid because they creak. It was mapped out by Noah when we first got here.

Through the dark kitchen, I pause at the entrance to the mud room. Do I want him in here?

Ugh. Yeah, I do.

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