Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(119)

There’s a slight smirk on her lips as she turns around to face me. “More like I’m a sucker for it.” Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pulls me in for a quick kiss. “I don’t want to go to school.” Her mouth drops to my jaw. “It was so much more fun when you went there.” Those pouty lips of hers travel to my earlobe next and I can’t resist cupping one of her tits. So firm and perky. “Think of all the hot sex we could have had. I bet we could have found an abandoned classroom where you could bend me over a desk and—”

I give her ass a playful swat because I know exactly what she’s doing. Giving it as good as she gets it.

“Stop making my cock hard and get your ass to class.”

“Fine,” she says with a pout before she saunters out of the bedroom.

She’s almost to the front door when she pauses. “I’m only a phone call away if you need me.”

And just like that, my good mood dissipates.

While Bianca’s at school today, I’ll be heading over to my dad’s to meet Clarissa Jasmine for the first time.

It’s been a little over three weeks since he begged me to stop by and he won’t let up.

However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous as fuck about it.

Bianca must sense this because she treks back over to me. “Everything will be fine.”

I highly disagree. There are too many variables to consider. Too much shit that can go wrong.

First one being the most obvious. I’m not cut out to be an older brother.

Jace—the responsible motherfucker in our crew—is the one who’s made for this shit.

My reckless ass can’t even manage to buy groceries.

“She’s gonna love you,” Bianca assures me.

I snort. “She’s only nine months old, she has no idea what love is.”

Shit, I’m only just starting to realize what it is now.

Thanks to the girl standing in front of me.

She palms my cheek. “Doesn’t matter. You two will have a bond. You’ll see.”

I start to argue, but she removes her necklace and places it over my head.

Perplexed, I stare at it in confusion. I know how much the St. Christopher pendant Liam gave her back when they were kids means to her. “What are you doing?”

She fingers the pendant I’m now wearing. “Liam was not only a great brother, he’s also a great guardian angel.” Sadness lingers in those baby brown eyes as her fingers drift to the silver feather she pairs with the charm. “I want him to watch over you today and give you some big brother luck.”

Jesus. This girl. She never fails to split me wide open when she shows me her heart.

“Bianca, I can’t—”

She silences me with another kiss. “Yes, you can.” A smirk plays on her lips as she edges away. “Besides it’s the least I can do since you refuse to let me go with you.”

“Only because it would turn into a bloodbath.”

And she knows better than to try and deny it.

My girl has a sharp set of claws and a jealousy streak that’s about two miles too long.

There’s no way in hell I’m putting her in a room with Crystal because chances are my vindictive stepmother won’t make it out alive.

And fuck knows there aren’t enough conjugal visits in the world to ever satisfy my appetite for Bianca.

Ergo, it’s safer if she goes to school and I head there alone.

“I appreciate you loaning me your necklace,” I tell her because there’s no use arguing about it.

Once Bianca sets her sights on something, that’s it. Game fucking over.

Speaking of which. “We still doing that thing tonight?”

That thing consists of sitting her brothers—my two best friends— down and telling them I’m boning their baby sis on the regular now, but not to worry because I’ve developed serious feelings for her and intend to do right by her.

Yeah. The whole thing’s gonna go over like a sloppy blow job in the middle of church on a Sunday, but shit’s gotten too deep between us to keep them in the dark any longer.

Therefore, I’m ripping the Band-Aid off.

Although I’m starting to suspect Dylan already knows the truth about us, but she doesn’t want to bring it up because then she’d have to keep it from her boyfriend Jace.

Either way, Bianca deserves a man who’s not afraid to stand up and declare to the world that she’s his.

Even if doing so is bound to cause more than a few waves.

Hopefully it won’t cost me my friendship with Jace and Cole, though.

But if it does? Hell, Bianca’s worth it.

“We don’t have to—” she starts to say but I shake my head.

“We’re doing it.”

I don’t want to be her dirty little secret anymore.

I did that shit with Crystal and I’ll be damned if I have to do it with Bianca too.

Things are different between us. Stronger.

Because unlike Crystal, I know Bianca would never use or betray me. I trust her.

Apprehension flashes in her eyes. “Everything’s gonna change, Oakley. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

I tip her chin. “Everything’s already changed.”

She gives me one of her gorgeous smiles. “True.”