“What rumors?” I demanded, unable to bite my tongue. Alex must have already known what they were going to say because he let out a small sigh and shook his head.
A cruel smirk touched Rafe’s lips. “That Cinderella really will suck Prince Charming’s dick to get a crown. Pathetic.”
My jaw dropped. “Fuck you, Rafe!”
It wasn’t my snappiest comeback, but seeing as he was already passing us, I needed to say something.
He just smirked over his shoulder, his storm cloud blue eyes meeting mine with contempt. “Sorry, I’m not interested. Keep begging, though. It’s a good look on you.”
Ugh. I’d walked right into that trap.
Outraged, I had nothing to say that wouldn’t make the situation worse, so I just settled for flipping him off.
Jordan just shook his head, the picture of disappointment as he followed his friend. But who was he disappointed with? Me? Or Rafe?
“Ignore them,” Alex murmured, trying to rekindle the moment with small kisses along my jaw and down my neck. “They have history with me and are taking it out on you.”
I snorted, then pushed him back a bit. “Clearly. Do you plan on filling me in?”
Alex’s mouth tightened, and his gaze ducked away from mine. I’d take that as a no.
“Okay, I think that’s my cue to leave.” I slipped out from where he’d backed me into the wall and took two steps down the hall before he grabbed my hand.
“Violet, don’t do that,” he pleaded. “Rafe’s just a dick. Don’t let him ruin tonight for us.”
I arched a brow at Alex. “Tonight really wasn’t going any further than it already has, Alex. I’ve barely known you a week; sex wasn’t even remotely on the cards.”
My vag called me a liar, but I shushed the bitch.
“What? I wasn’t—” Alex shook his head, a small frown creasing his forehead. “Violet… can we just rewind five minutes? Please?” Rewind to the part where we were making out against the wall, huh? Yeah, no. Even if I badly wanted to continue that activity with him, I was too annoyed. What the fuck was the history he had with Rafe, and why was I being punished for it?
“Look, I just need to know what I’m getting into here,” I told him, folding my arms over my chest in a classically defensive move.
Alex’s jaw clenched, and I could tell he wasn’t going to go spilling all his secrets right here and now. Fair enough, too. Like I’d just pointed out, we barely knew each other.
“I’ll tell you,” he started, his voice quiet and his gaze on the floor. “But not yet. Can’t we just… take things slow?”
I snorted a laugh, thinking about how not slow we’d just been going. “Yeah, okay.” I reached out, taking his hand to show I wasn’t actually pissed off. “Sorry to push. Let’s just get to know each other, and then, maybe when you trust me more, you can tell me what Rafe’s damage is. I hate feeling like the only one out of the loop.”
Alex gave a small nod, tugging me closer to him again with our joined hands. “So, can I walk you to your room?” His face was full of innocent hope, and I couldn’t help myself. I reached up on my toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
“Sure. But so we’re clear, you’re not coming in.” I meant it as a joke, seeing as he’d just asked to take things slow, but his eyes flared with the challenge.
Chapter 13
Alex’s plans to seduce his way into my room were thwarted when we arrived and voices came from behind my closed door.
Alarmed, I froze with my hand on the doorknob. Alex must have heard them at the same time because he gently moved me aside and opened the door himself. It was such a protective gesture it did all kinds of things to my heart. Not that I needed a big strong man looking out for me—I was more than equipped to face any intruder—but it certainly helped me keep my secret a bit longer.
“What the fuck are you doing in here?” Alex demanded, but the lack of panic in his voice assured me it wasn’t masked intruders come to haul me away for owning a weapon.
“What are you doing in here?” Nolan snarked back, and I squeezed past Alex to glare at the twins, who’d made themselves at home on my big bed.
“Alex was walking me back from dinner,” I explained to them, then propped my hands on my hips. “How did you guys beat us? And why are you in my room? How did you even get in here?” I had more questions, but those seemed most important.
Mattie just rolled her eyes and flopped back into my pillows. “Movie date, remember? You promised.” She gave me a pointed look, then slid her gaze to Alex. “Thanks for seeing our girl back in one piece, champ. You can go now.”
“Yep, we have it from here, your highness,” Nolan added with a snicker. “Be a darling and close the door behind you.” His level glare left no mistaking—Alex wasn’t welcome for this part of the evening.
Alex clearly wanted to argue back, but I was just done. So fucking done. Whatever these pre-existing issues were between the students of Arbon Academy, they weren’t my issues and I was too damn tired of being caught in the cross fire.
“Alex,” I said, laying a hand on his arm and pulling his attention away from Nolan and Mattie. “Thank you. Tonight was… enlightening.” I raised a teasing brow at him to show I wasn’t being bitchy. It would be a lie to say it’d been amazing, but I’d had fun and gotten to know the golden-haired prince a little better.
The make out sessions hadn’t been half-bad either.
“Any time, Violet,” he replied, his gaze serious as he tucked some hair behind my ear, then left his hand against my neck. “Maybe I can meet you at the library again tomorrow?”
Mattie made a sound in her throat, but I ignored her and gave Alex a nod. “Sounds good. You can help quiz me on coding.” I cringed at the mere thought of that class. Needless to say, coding wasn’t something I’d ever been exposed to as a dirt poor orphan girl. The class was like jumping into the deep end of a pool with no floaties and zero clue how to swim.
Alex beamed. “Absolutely. Enjoy your movie.” His gaze flickered back to my friends sitting on my bed.
“We will, if this goodbye ever ends,” Nolan sniped, and I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Alex,” I murmured, holding my door open with a clear indication for him to leave. Not that I wanted him to go, but because it was all too clear that putting Alex in the same room as Mattie and Nolan was like waving a lit match at a barrel of gunpowder.
The handsome prince started to leave, then turned back and captured my face between his hands. His lips found mine in a quick yet dangerously possessive kiss that left me panting for breath after he was gone.
A pointed throat-clearing snapped me out of the lusty daze I’d been standing there in, and my face flamed with embarrassment as I turned back to my friends.
“So, that’s new,” Mattie commented, giving me a flat stare. “What happened to your whole steer clear of the royals plan?”
I glared back at her. “You happened, Princess Matisse of the Guays. Besides, Alex is really fucking hard to say no to. Even you guys have to appreciate how gorgeous he is.”