Playboy Princes (Royals of Arbon Academy, #2)(34)

This wasn’t exactly what I’d thought we were doing.

Spinning around, he threw another shirt my way.

“Come on, Violence. It’s time for you to train.”

Well, fuck.





He led me onto the soccer field, but we continued on through that, ending up in a large gym crossed with a dojo. I paused at the door, breathing in that familiar scent—sweat, chalk, and deep heat. Some of the panic that had been thrumming through my body faded. A hundred memories hit me, and I wondered if a portion of my unease over the past few months had been because I’d stepped away from this life.

The indoor running track, mats, weights, and a bunch of other shit that I’d used every day for the last ten years were scattered about, and I was so here for it.

“I had no idea this room existed,” I said breathlessly, looking around with a gleam of excitement. “I’ve missed training.”

Rafe let out a low laugh. “I figured.”

I wasn’t exactly dressed for it, clad in Rafe’s shirt that was miles too large. I’d tied it in a knot just under my breasts, exposing my stomach, and I wore my skirt with boy short underwear beneath, so I wasn’t in danger of flashing anyone. But still.

Whatever. He’d seen me naked.

“Wanna run?” he said, and I could have orgasmed right then from how fucking sexy this dude was. In some ways, I needed him to be an asshole to me because I couldn’t fall for Rafe. Not really.

He was unattainable to me, and the longer I spent time in this world, the less I wanted it. The royal life. Fucking no.

I had to remember that.

Rafe started out slow, but I needed to forget. So as soon as I was remotely warmed up, I let loose. Pushing myself hard, I flew around the track. My bare feet were not the best for this surface, but I didn’t care.

Rafe kept pace with me, not even breathing heavily. He was super fit from soccer, and there was no way I’d outpace him. Not ever. Especially while I was out of practice.

I didn’t embarrass myself though; we ran for an hour. When I was done, my lungs aching as I sucked in air, I felt a sense of achievement.

“Can I use this whenever I want?”

Rafe’s smile was slow, a smirk that continued on to a full-blown grin. “Yeah, I think I can arrange that.”

I snorted. “What? No return of favor required?” I hadn’t forgotten his message when I’d asked to be in for the next fight.

He crowded into me, his huge body drowning out the fucking light and oxygen, shooting me off center. “What are you offering?”

My pussy clenched. Bitch was literally trying to jump out of my skirt and fuck him. But I’d never traded sex for favors before, and I wasn’t about to start now. If Rafe and I fucked again, it would be because neither of us could help ourselves.

I pressed my hand to his chest, trying not to dwell on the hard planes that caressed my skin. “I’m not one for favors, Rafael. If you want something from me, just fucking ask.”

This was whispered through gritted teeth, and the only reaction I got was a predatory grin in return. And a second to suck in a breath before his lips slammed into mine. A groan escaped, and then my hands were tangled in his shirt as I yanked him closer to me, my body needing five fucking seconds of this.

This erased Alex.

Jordan and Rafe erased Alex, and I hated how badly I craved their touch.

Our tongues tangled, and I opened wider, pressing against him to feel every hard line. His hands wrapped around my waist, and he lifted me higher, pulling me flush to his body. Needing something to do with my legs, I wrapped them around him and ground against him, my clit aching. Tingles shot across my skin and down my spine.

My entire body was burning up, and I couldn’t think straight.

How in the fuck did he do this to me?

“Is this what you want, Cinderella?” Rafe drawled against my skin, his mouth moving down to my neck. “To forget?”

Fuck! Fuck!

I wrenched myself back, deep, lung-filling breaths choking out of me. “Fuck, you’re an asshole.”

He didn’t smile. Or reply.

“You want to fuck or fight?”

Oh man. Decisions…

I wasn’t sure I could make that choice, but I knew the safer option.

“Let’s fight.”





Chapter 14





“You walking funny?” Mattie asked, eyeing me as I hobbled out of my room the next morning. “Please don’t tell me Rafe visited.”

I groaned, his name evoking the ass-kicking he’d handed me yesterday. I’d been distracted. He’d been ruthless. And yes, I was walking funny.

“Don’t want to talk about it,” I grumbled. “And trust me, it was nothing fun.”

“I hope he looks as bad as you,” Mattie said with a grin.

I snorted. “Yeah, he’ll be hurting too.”

I’d gotten him more than once, and for that, I was patting myself on the back. Rafe was a formidable opponent, and sparring with him had pushed me to new places I hadn’t gone in my fights. I couldn't wait to try it with weapons.

That was where I really shone.

“Ready for classes today?” Mattie asked, thankfully forgetting my pained expression.

I shrugged. “They’re sure to be a breeze.”