Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(15)

“Oh, I think you know who I am, Jaz.”

“Jazmine,” I correct him.

He pretends to think something over.

“Naah. Too many syllables for someone so insignificant. It’s a waste of breath. I think I’ll call you Jaz.”

The insult stings and I can feel the swell of indignation in response.

“And I think I’ll call you a fucking bastard.”

I see the surprise flare in those piercing blue eyes. I expect him to be offended but he seems … oddly fascinated instead. He’s probably never been insulted before in his life. Probably used to girls just throwing themselves at his feet and is expecting me to follow suit. Well, he has another think coming.

He cocks his head to the side as he regards me.

“No. that would be you—you’re the bastard here, remember?”

The indignation turns into white hot rage at his words. This guy may have the face of an angel, but he has the mouth of the fucking devil. It figures that someone so hot would be such an asshole. It only makes perfect sense. I guess I hadn’t been wrong about what I hoped I’d find up close after all—because his face may be even more beautiful up close, but his personality certainly isn’t. This guy is the biggest asshole I’ve ever met in my entire life. Some part of me is glad. Because if he hadn’t turned out to be such a bastard, I’m pretty sure that I’d be in trouble.

“Fuck you, asshole,” I hiss, giving him a look that could kill birds in mid-flight.

His eyes travel the length of me and I’m suddenly aware of his closeness. His scent engulfs me, making me think of citrus and cool winter mornings. My traitorous body responds to him on an almost primal level, which surprises the hell out of me, because I haven’t even so much as looked twice at a guy before, regardless of how good looking.

But there is something about this guy that makes me feel like my body has a mind of its own, something about him that makes me feel like the whole room, hell, the entire universe disappears in his presence, leaving only me and him in the vastness of time and space.

The smirk on that impossibly beautiful face tells me that he is well aware of the effect that he has on me.

“Are you offering to fuck me, Jaz?”

I think my jaw hits the floor at the outrageous question. Then I throw my head back and let out a harsh laugh. Is he being serious?

When I turn back to him, he looks far from amused. In fact, he looks pissed.

“I’d rather swallow glass than go anywhere near you.”

His gaze rests on my neck where my pulse is fluttering just beneath the surface, and he flashes me another arrogant smirk.

“You sure about that, Jaz?”

“Hmmm. Let me think.” I tilt my head to the side, and narrow my eyes before looking at him straight on.

“Yeah, pretty damn sure.” I meet his gaze unflinchingly, although it’s a struggle to keep eye contact when those impossibly blue eyes make me feel like I’m falling through the sky if I let myself look into them for too long.

“I think you’re a liar.”

“And I think you’re delusional.”

“Because you’re new here, I’ll let you insult me this one time. Once. But let me get one thing straight, Jaz—around here, I run shit. One word from me and I can make your life a living hell. This is my planet, my world—and you don’t belong here.”

His words are like a slap to the face, but I school my expression into staying blank.

“And let me get one thing straight, you spoiled prick—I don’t give a shit who you are, I’ll talk to you however I want. I didn’t choose to come here. I was kidnapped and now I have no other choice but to stay. But just because I have to be here, doesn’t mean I’m going to put up with threats from a spoiled asshole like you. You have no idea what I’ve been through or who I am. You want to make my life a living hell? Go ahead. I’ve been there, done that.”

Something flickers in the depths of those vivid blue eyes just then, and his gaze seems to falter for a moment. But he recovers quickly, flashing me a cold smile.

“Watch yourself, Jaz, you’re not in the trailer park anymore.”

I’m not sure how the hell he knows about foster home number ten, and I don’t even want to think about what else he knows. I make sure that my expression betrays nothing.

“Wow. So, not only are you a total dickhead, you’re stalking me, too.”

He bares his teeth in what would be a smile, if it didn’t look so menacing.

“Don’t flatter yourself, baby.”

I almost gag in response.

“Urgh, trust me, there is nothing flattering about the thought of an ass-wipe like you stalking me. In fact, the thought gives me nightmares.”

He narrows his eyes at the insult and I can feel the venom in his gaze. But there’s no way I’m going to let this asshole intimidate me.

“You don’t know what you’re messing with, Jaz. This world may seem beautiful, but you have no idea.”

“No—you have no idea. If you think you can just threaten me and bark orders at me, then expect me to roll over and obey, you’re in for a surprise, you royal asshole. I’m not sure how things work around here in Eden, but where I come from, you can’t just treat people like shit for no reason at all.”