Playboy Princes (Royals of Arbon Academy, #2)(33)

“How about you stop with the posturing and empty threats and use those lips for something far more valuable?” he suggested and actually reached down to unfasten his pants.

I wished I was making this up.

“Oh hell no,” I spat, reaching down between us and grabbing a solid fistful of his balls—through his pants, mind you. “You need a lesson on how to act like a decent human being, Alex.” I was snarling now, and my fist tightened enough that Alex’s eyes went wide and he stopped breathing. “I personally don’t have the time or desire to teach you, so we’ll do it the easy way. Listen real carefully because I won’t repeat myself. Try to force me into a sexual situation one more time, and I’ll personally rip your balls clean off your body, then shove them down your throat. Ever seen someone bleed to death from their missing scrotum, Alex? I have.”

Just to drive my point home, I gave a little yank and twist, drawing a satisfying yelp from my loathsome ex-boyfriend.

“Glad we understand each other,” I whispered, then released his junk and shoved him hard enough to send him sprawling on the floor. “I almost feel sorry for Claudette.”

With one last disgusted sneer, I stepped over his groaning, fetal-positioned body and hurried my ass out of the library.

When the heavy doors swung shut behind me, I broke into a run, and by the time I’d arrived at the dorms, my whole body was shaking with tremors. I knew that I could beat Alex down in a fight, but this was so much more than that. He was a powerful heir who could destroy every aspect of my life, and I couldn’t kill him or I’d end up in prison or executed.

He fucking had me.

Without even realizing it, I’d let him into my head. My body’s reaction was a clear reminder that I could never outrun my past, that the scars of shitty foster homes and even shittier foster parents would stay with me for a long, long time.

Sniffling, I knocked on the door I’d arrived at.

“Hey,” I croaked, when the door opened, and even though I’d promised myself I wouldn’t cry over that fuck, one or two tears escaped. “Can I come in?”





Chapter 13





Rafe stared at me, his face blank and unreadable, but not cold.

Stepping back, he opened the door and allowed me inside. Moving past him, I didn’t look around, knowing he wouldn’t want me prying into his personal shit.

I actually didn’t even care what was in here, and I had no idea why, of all people, Rafe was the one I’d run to. Jordan made more sense, especially with Mattie currently out of commission.

Speaking of. “Is she okay?”

Rafe always seemed to know everything. I was praying he wouldn’t let me down with this.

“Alex was two minutes from creating an international incident between Australasia and the Guays. And in that situation, one is a superpower, and the other is… not.”

Spoken matter-of-factly.

“But she’s okay?”

He nodded. “Yes, Violence. She’s fine. It was averted by her leaving the room and Alex calling off his family.”

He watched me closely, those glittering eyes mysterious, his body looking ripped as fuck in his white button down with the sleeves rolled up. Like, why would he do this to my poor hormones? All men knew this was chick-kryptonite.

“When’s the next fight?” I pressed him.

He stepped closer, and I sucked in a deep breath, trying not to let show how much he affected me. “Did you not read my messages?” he asked softly. Deadly.

I cleared my throat, crossing my arms to try and protect myself. “I didn’t have a chance, what with being assaulted by my ex-fucking-boyfriend.”

When I lifted my palm reader, my hands were shaking, and I jumped as Rafe reached out and wrapped his hand around mine, engulfing it. Heat coated my palm as I closed my eyes briefly to get myself under control.

“Why do you let him do this to you?” Rafe murmured, so close now that I could smell him. He smelled fucking delicious, dark and spicy. His scent was as dangerous as he was.

“He holds all the power,” I whispered back, my eyes opening to lock with his. “I could kill him, sure; I probably have the skills to take him down, but then what? I’ll be hunted and executed for that crime. He knows there’s nothing I can do, and that makes me vulnerable.” My voice got harder. “I hate being vulnerable more than fucking anything else in the world.”

He yanked me closer; it was so sudden I had no time to brace myself. I landed hard against his chest.

“I know exactly what you need,” he said, the smallest of smiles playing across his lips.

Fuck.

Yes. Please may he be saying what I thought he was saying, because I needed that sort of distraction more than I needed air.

“Follow me,” he said, and then he let me go and disappeared into his walk-in wardrobe.

I blinked at that, because… the closet…?

Okay.

I was a few steps behind, and when I got in there, I slowed, swallowing hard at the bare back in front of me. Rafe had just shucked off his shirt, and as I watched the play of muscles, those curling tattoos that marked his body, I nearly bit off my own tongue so I didn’t moan.

He pulled on a tight black tank, leaving those arms bare.

Uh, wait a minute. Was he getting dressed again?