Page 4 of Come Here and Kiss Me

My pulse quickens. I swear to God, if he tells me I need to drop out, I think I’ll throw this mug at him. I don’t even want to be at their university. Ihaveto go or else my father will… Well, he’ll threaten to cut me off and order me to do something else I don’t want to. It’s the way it’s always been. Either I march in line with his strict rules or I’m out on my ass with no money or trust fund. I won’t survive. Much to my disappointment, all I know is my father’s money.

I take in a steadying breath. “What about it?”

“Have you gotten an email or a message from anyone?” he asks out of nowhere, once again with a cautious tone.

I confidently state, “I’ve seen your dick. You’ve been inside me. So why are you talking to me like I’m suddenly under investigation?”

“Then you’re saying it wasn’t you?”

Nearly slamming my mug down on the marble counter, I can’t help the exasperation as I respond, “What wasn’t me?”

“Check your email,” he tells me. I pick up my coffee and walk with purpose right by him, letting my side brush against his when he doesn’t get out of my way in time.

I ignore him and try not to listen to his footsteps as I go back to my bedroom, the thick curtains keeping it shadowed compared to the living room. I scroll past the texts from my father, past the missed calls from both him and Ronan, and check my email. My heart races and my stomach drops, though I don’t know what I’m waiting for.

“There’s nothing here,” I call out, then turn around to have a damn heart attack. Unbeknownst to me, Ronan stands at the foot of my bed, catching me by surprise. I wasn’t aware he was that close to me, and it’s both a blessing and a curse.

“Jesus fuck,” I gasp with the hand holding my phone over my heart.

“Sorry,” he softly utters. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just … fuck.”

“What?” I insist, sitting on the edge of my bed.

Ronan paces with his head back and his hands in his hair.

Shaking my head, I’m still confused by the turn of events. “What is wrong with you?”

“They know!” he shouts, abruptly turning to face me.

I’ve never seen him like this. I’ve only ever known this powerful man to be controlled, calm, and composed. It both thrills me and frightens me that he’s showing me a side of him I didn’t know existed. Ronan is older, and his family is slightly wealthier than mine, but there’s a darkness about him that fills the air around him to bend to his will. He’s always gotten everything he’s wanted and been out of reach.

For me.

And for everyone.

CHAPTER2

Brooklyn

Idon’t know what to do with the man standing before me. There’s so much I want to say, yet I can’t fathom one single thought of what he’s talking about or why he’s in my place to begin with.

I think back on his earlier question. “How did you know where I was staying?”

He’s again at the foot of my bed, indignant over something he seems to blame me for.He swallows so hard this time, I hear it before he looks me dead in the eyes.

In one determined breath, he informs me, “There’s a video of us last night.”

My heart sinks, and my blood goes cold as my unsteady stare widens.

“You’re lying,” I spew without knowing if there’s even a real possibility that this could indeed happen.

“It was emailed to me, and the university board was cc’d.”

I lightly gasp, taking in his words as if he just told me hell has frozen over, and in a way, it has.

What. The. Fuck.

In seconds, his eyes shine with rage and disbelief and regret. Making me feel like shit and ashamed.

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