Page 46 of The Wallflower

It's a flat lie. I can’t stand touching this girl. She's not mine. I don't want anything to do with her when my little wallflower waits for me.

We go silent for a while, and when the song ends, I escort her to the bar for a glass of champagne. It's dry as fuck, but it's keeping me from losing my shit at the moment, so I order another round.

It's still not fucking enough.

She grabs my hand, interlacing our fingers, and pulls me to the edge of the ballroom. I allow her to drag me away, just to see what the little heiress will do.

That's all she can be, or else my father wouldn't ask me to spend time with her.

In my father's world, there is never enough money, and marrying me off to a rich brat will secure the family plenty more money. Security is the most important thing to him.

I'm actually surprised when she leans in, unbuckles my belt, then goes for the button of my pants. I place a gentle hand against hers when she reaches for my zipper. "I'm sorry, I’mflattered, but there are things I want to do with you that can't be accomplished here."

Her eyes go round, and she nods, oblivious to the threat lacing my tone at the statement. What a fucking idiot. I lean down and place a chaste kiss on her cheek. "I have to go. I'm sure I'll see you soon."

I feel dirty as I leave the party. Like I did something wrong when, in reality, I didn’t... right?

I don’t belong to anyone. Not even Bel, even if that’s the only person I want to see. The only person I can be myself around. I fix my pants, fish out my cell phone, and send Bel another text. Again, she reads it but doesn’t reply.

With what I've endured tonight, I'm not taking shit from her too. If she wants to push me, then she’ll endure the consequences.

I slip out the back unnoticed and hop in the car, I direct the driver to take me to the dorms, and then I text Bel again.

Me: This is a warning. Answer me or suffer the consequences.

Her response is almost immediate.

Bel: Fuck off and leave me alone.

I grin at my phone before typing back a response.

Me: Did you just tell me to fuck off? Because you weren't saying that when you were practically begging me to fuck you in the library. Try again. Be nice this time.

This time, there is no response. I direct the driver to her set of dorms and hop out of the car. I strip out of my jacket and carry it over my shoulder as I stride down the sidewalk. That five hundred I paid the maintenance man to make a copy of her building key card and room key is showing its value. Playing the doting boyfriend always works, especially when a few hundred bucks sweeten the pot.

I slip inside unnoticed and down the hall, stopping once I reach her room number. Taking the doorknob into my hand, I twist it and test to see if it’s locked.

All I can do is smile when I find the door locked. At least Bel’s smart enough to try to keep me out.

I pull out the copied key I had made from my pocket and insert it into the door and turn it. The lock disengages, and I twist the knob, pushing the door open gently. I’m greeted by darkness and silence. I peer around the living room. There’s a soft light under Bel’s closed door. Her roommate’s doorway is dark. She’s either sleeping or gone. My bet is she’s out being a normal college student. And that means my little flower is all mine for the taking.

I toss my jacket and bow tie on her table and approach her bedroom door. I throw it open; the door hits the wall with a harsh thud, and I brace my hands on either side of the frame, blocking the only exit from the room.

Frozen like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, she stares at me. It only takes a moment for reality to come crashing back down, and then her gaze widens tenfold.

"What the fuck?"

"The better question is, did you really just tell me to fuck off?"

Just try to run, flower.

CHAPTER 16

BEL

It takesa moment for my brain to catch up with my eyes. Is that really him standing in my doorway, looking like a snack in a fucking tuxedo, or am I imagining it? I force another breath into my lungs, hoping maybe more air will make my brain realize this isn’t real and move to sit up, but the second I flinch, Drew saunters into my room like he owns it.

Nope, he is very much real.His tall frame is tense, his shoulders are tight, and his back is like a panther ready to spring.

---