Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(29)

Trust me, I’m as fucked-up as they come.

However, if he really wants a reason for all my animosity toward him? I’ve got one.

“You looked at me like I was lower than dirt and then tossed me out like I was garbage,” I utter as a flicker of pain infiltrates my chest. “I snuck into the guesthouse because I was having a bad night.” Missing him so much it hurt to breathe. “I never went there to seduce you, asshole. So don’t fucking flatter yourself.”

It’s the truth. Not that I was mad when we hooked up—far from it—but it wasn’t the reason I ended up in his bed.

Although it was the reason I took off my clothes afterward.

Either way, his rejection when I was at my lowest and seeking comfort and human connection stung like hell.

Frowning, he rakes his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

My sadness is quickly replaced by rage. Screw him and his pity.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Bianca—”

It’s too late. I’m already slapping his face and kicking his shins as hard as I can.

I don’t even realize I’m crying until he’s pulling me into his arms.

“I know it hurts, baby girl,” he whispers against my hair. “I’m so fucking sorry he’s gone.”

And just like that, I’m back in my mom’s car, clinging to Liam’s hand for dear life because I can’t make it through the pain.

Only, it’s not Liam.

It’s Oakley.

But no amount of sorrys in the world will bring my brother or mom back.

And no amount of consoling will ever unleash the secret I’m forbidden to tell.

I clutch the collar of his t-shirt, breathing in his trademark scent. Marijuana and citrus soap.

I close my eyes as he tightens his hold around me. Like I’m the only one that matters to him.

His touch shouldn’t feel so good, but it feels like my salvation.

Like nothing and no one can harm me because I’m safe with him.

It’s comforting in a way I haven’t ever felt before.

“I—”

I want to tell him so bad. Tell him things I’ve never told anyone.

Things that shaped me into the fucked-up person I am today…but I can’t.

Instead, I slam my mouth against his.

“Goddammit,” he grunts as he pulls away. “No.”

“Why?” I yell. “Why does it scare you so much to want me?”

Everybody wants me…yet he’s the only one who won’t admit it.

His stare is downright murderous. “The only thing that scares me is how pathetic you are.”

With that, he stalks off.

My cheeks flame with humiliation as I run after him, the twigs and branches biting into my bare feet. “I don’t have any fucking shoes on, asshole.”

“Not my fucking problem, lucifer.”

From citizen high to citizen low.

I don’t know why he ruffles my feathers the way he does, but I’m so fucking sick of it I could scream.

But I won’t give him the satisfaction.

Instead, I square my shoulders and tread through the woods, refusing to make so much as a peep.

Not even when sticks and stones slice through my flesh.

Oakley wants me.

He might refuse to acknowledge it, but I feel it in my bones.

However, that was the last time I play nice and make the first move.

By the time I’m through with him, he’s going to be so blind with his want for me, the fucker won’t be able to see straight.

He’ll be down on his hands and knees begging for a taste.

And when I’m the one turning him down and spitting in his face…it will be sweet, sweet victory.

By the time I trudge over to his BMW, he’s already gunning the engine.

I want to wipe the smirk off his gorgeous face as I climb inside.

“Have a nice walk, princess?”

I give him a smirk of my own. “It was lovely.”

For the briefest of moments, uneasiness flashes in his eyes before he reverses out of his parking spot.

“I can’t believe Hayley left without calling me.” Shrugging, I study my nails. “Then again, the last time I saw her, Zack—her new boyfriend—was fucking her so hard on the hood of her car they probably left indents, so I can’t really blame her.”

The hand clutching the steering wheel tenses before he presses a button and turns the music up.

Buckle up, baby.

Because there’s plenty more where that came from.





Chapter 12





Oakley





Fuckity fuck fuck.

It seriously blows that my new apartment is in the danger zone, but there’s fuck all I can do about that right now.

“Everything okay?” my dad questions as he walks up the stairs.

“Yeah…no.” I give him the box I’m holding so he can take it back to his car. “The stuff in this one isn’t mine.”

Given it’s a bunch of shoes, it can only belong to one person.

Crystal.

Peeking inside the box, he mutters a curse. “Crystal asked if I could drop off some of her things at her new apartment. I must have gotten the boxes confused.”