It’s only been two months since I first laid eyes on him. The party pops into mind, and I recall just how his gaze burned into me. It was purely by accident, but the times after were on purpose.
He couldn’t resist the pull of the forbidden, and now neither can I. Desire flits through me at the memory and how the warmth of his body against mine sent me spiraling out of control. I spun around in his arms, and when the music stopped, he didn’t let go. He held on until it was the final moment.
But he had no idea who I was. Even that night, when he tried to call my name, he couldn’t, because I’d vanished like Cinderella on the night of the ball. I didn’t leave a shoe behind, and I most certainly didn’t think I’d be the one to find him.
But here we are.
He grins at her. But he doesn’t lean in to kiss her, which I’m grateful for. They sit back, and I notice how his gaze is on the ocean instead of the woman beside him. She picks up a book, a romance novel I’ve already devoured on my Kindle, and she flips the pages open until she settles back.
They seem like the loving couple most times. But there are those moments I pick up on the animosity that lingers between them. I’m not sure why they may feel like that about each other, but it’s there, thick and heavy.
I smile as I lie back on my towel and close my eyes. Time to catch some rays before I’m meeting a friend. Well, a friend with a multitude of benefits. But he knows, the moment he sinks into my body, it’s a stranger I’m thinking of.
And it’s him I’ll get someday soon.
15
Elian
The familiar rumble gets louder with every passing second, and when it reaches the academy, everyone turns to see my brother pulling into a parking space. His passenger is holding onto him as if he were her lifeline. Annoyance grips me, its fingers cloying at my insides, but it’s only when the passenger pulls the helmet off that my body grows cold with jealousy.
It’s never happened to me before. Ahren and I have had our fun. We’ve also had our agreements, and no other woman has caused me to simmer with the need to possess her like Arabella does. And I don’t know how I’m going to share her with him.
Perhaps it’s time I spoke to Ahren and pulled out of this arrangement. Because if I had to be brutally honest with myself, with my brother, I don’t think I can allow him to have her.
She climbs off the bike as if it’s no bother her being with him. A smile lights up her face, making my chest ache with the need to see her smile like that at me. She hands him back the helmet before planting a kiss on his cheek, which only causes my hands to fist at my sides.
Ahren glances my way, tipping his head in greeting with his smile telling me he’s doing this to rile me up. My decision is made—I don’t want her with my brother. She can’t be with him because he’s bad for her. But then, what does that make me?
Arabella sashays her ass toward me, her eyes sparking with challenge when she reaches me. Her lips are once again glossy and shiny, and I’m tempted to swipe that sticky shit off and give her something to grin about.
“Good morning, Mr. Donati,” she says in a syrupy-sweet voice. The look in her eyes turn my blood hot, my body molten. My hand itches to spank her perfectly rounded ass. She’s toying with me when I’m meant to be the one in control.
I follow her. Keeping my distance, I ensure my eyes are on her every second as she makes her way through the throng of students and into homeroom where she has her first class. It’s empty because there’s still fifteen minutes before the bell rings.
“What are you doing?” I stop at the desk where she’s set her backpack down. “I’m done dancing around this thing between us. You want this?” I question, my voice tight with tension. My muscles ache. They’re wound so tight I’m sure they’ll snap if she pushes me further.
“If I say yes, what exactly does that get me?” she asks, a sly grin making her full lips look like a temptation sent straight from hell. If I didn’t know any better, I would be convinced she is the devil incarnate. A succubus here to suck the soul from me. “I like Ahren, and if you want to tell me who I can and can’t be friends with, then perhaps this isn’t going to work after all.”
I lean over her, knowing we could get caught at any moment. Heat sizzles between us when I grip her neck with my fingers wrapping right around the slender column. “Listen to me right fucking now. This isn’t ending here. I say when it’s over.”
“Do you?” Her challenge is clear. She knows she has taken the power.
I’ll allow her that.
I can’t keep fighting this.
Our banter is filled with sexual tension. She may be younger than me, but she most certainly is not immature when it comes to this thing between us. “Meet me in my classroom this afternoon.”
“And if I don’t?” Her brow arches, and I slowly trail my gaze over her face, dropping it to her chest where I can see the red bra cupping her perfect tits.
I release her, stepping back before I bite out, “Then we’re done.”
“I don’t accept that.” Arabella folds her arms across
