The door clicks behind me, causing me to spin on my heel, and I find Ahren on the threshold of the classroom. His dark eyes finding me, he lowers his hand holding his phone.
“Then I guess I better be here for the decision,” he says, shutting himself inside and making his way toward the desk. He stops beside me, his arm snaking around my waist. “Did my brother tell you that he was testing you for this?”
“What?” I glance over at Elian who’s shaking his head slowly. He looks at his brother, anger dancing in those endless pools. “What is he talking about?” Even as I ask the question, I know what Ahren means. They both know about my past.
“I got your file when you joined my class. I read up on what happened, why you came to Black Mountain, and I know about your past,” Elian tells me. He doesn’t flinch when he speaks, and he doesn’t look away from me, the honesty in what he’s telling me shining in his stare. “I know about the night you were arrested. And I know about your… proclivities.”
“So, you and your brother decided to toy with me?” The surprise is clear in my voice. I can’t be overly angry; the story made the media frenzy follow me around as if I were a celebrity. But I have to own it. I’m not ashamed of that night, it was fun, but what I am remorseful for was the drugs that night of the break in. I never want to dive down that rabbit hole ever again.
“Yes, I did play with your emotions, as well as Ahren’s,” Elian finally answers, bringing me back to the present. “I wanted to see if you could be swayed.”
“But he’s feeling guilty and wants your forgiveness,” Ahren finishes his brother’s sentence. “I won’t stand in your way, pretty girl,” Ahren tells me. “This is your choice. And I will respect it. As I said to you on Friday, all I ask is for a fair chance to be your friend, even if you choose Elian.” I find his honesty refreshing. His dark eyes simmer with affection, and even though we haven’t known each other that long, I’m almost certain he’s going to play a huge part in my life.
I turn to his brother. “Do you enjoy fucking around with people’s lives?” I ask Elian who’s watching intently. As angry as I am right now, I don’t walk out like I should. “Tell me something, and I want complete honesty.”
“Anything.” Elian waves his hand as if he’s not bothered by everything that’s transpired here today. “I will never lie to you.”
“Tell me, why me? Of all the girls in your class, you chose me. And why hurt your brother like this?” The thought of choosing one brother over the other makes my chest ache. It may be stupid, but I do like Ahren.
“Because when I look at you, you’re the only woman in my class I want to fuck so hard she doesn’t remember her name the next day,” Elian says with a nonchalant shrug. “Putting my job on the line for a woman is not something I take lightly. My brother is stronger than you can imagine. His hurt is only his ego. Nothing more. But my reason for doing what I did was to give you a chance with someone closer to your age, someone you can walk hand-in-hand down the street with. And I needed to know if this was merely a game to you.”
“But that’s not what she wants, Elian.” Ahren steps closer to me. His hand landing gently on my shoulder, and I glance into his dark stare. “I have to head out,” he tells me, then leans in to press his lips to my cheek. Before he pulls away, he whispers, “It’s okay. I promise you; he will be good to you. Just remember, you hold all the power.” He turns and heads for the door because he knows my choice before I voice it. “Brother.” He tips his head toward Elian before shutting us in the classroom alone.
I turn my gaze to Elian who’s watching me with those iridescent eyes. “I’m not here to play games, Mr. Donati.”
“Neither am I,” he tells me, closing the distance between us, and at full height, I have to tip my head back to look at him. “Now tell me honestly, since the choice is yours, who is it going to be?”
He stares at me for a long while. There can’t be any doubt in his mind anymore. He knows it’s him, but he wants to hear me say it. My heart thuds, beating in my ears, deafening me. I need to make a choice. Even though I know I want Elian more than anything, it’s the trust and affection in Ahren’s eyes that keep me from opening my mouth.
Elian is forbidden.
But I can break the rules once more.
Can’t I?
17
Ahren
Shrugging on my leather jacket, I make my way down the driveway to my bike. The apartment I’m renting has everything I need, and it also offers me solace from the town that’s always had its watchful eyes on me. I haven’t spoken to my brother or Arabella since yesterday afternoon, so I’m not sure what happened after I left. He hasn’t called me, so I figure they’re getting to know each other more intimately.
My choice to step back and allow Elian to be with Arabella doesn’t hurt me, but it does frustrate me because she’s fucking gorgeous. I want nothing more than to devour her whole, but I know she likes him. And I’m not a homewrecker.
My cell phone vibrates in my pocket, and when I pull it out, I see the name of a man who’s offered me a chance at a job when I leave school. He’s one of the most talented tattoo artists out there,
