Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(41)

“Oh my god. You are! You’re a virgin?”

Dani is staring at me wide eyed.

“Well, if you must know, I am.”

“How is that even possible? I mean look at you,” she replies.

I let out a long sigh then.

“I told you I moved around a lot. Not exactly ideal for dating or forming any attachments. Add to that my many trust issues …” I trail off.

“And anyway, since when are you such an expert?” I mutter.

Dani just smirks at me in response.

“Hey, I may be a friendless loser around here in Regency but I’m in a band, remember—I get up to all kinds of things off campus,” she replies with a wink.

Now I’m the one to look at her in shock.

“Kidding. But my first time was with a guy from my last band. We dated for a year back in sophomore year but long distance relationships are too hard to maintain,” she adds.

“So, there’s nothing going on between you and Raph?” Dani prods. “Not even a little kissing, groping, touching …”

I make a face which is meant to be a grimace.

“You mean apart from the fact that the asshole hates me and he’s likely going to murder me in my sleep one of these days?”

Dani waves her hand dismissively.

“You know I’m not entirely sure he does anymore—or if he did at all. You know what they say about love and hate …”

“No, I don’t,” I lie.

“Well, whatever is going on—”

“Which is nothing,” I interrupt.

“—just be careful. Getting in with the Dynasty heirs is a dangerous game. No one comes out unscathed.”

I let out another sigh.

Dani says nothing as she squeezes my hand. She’s looking at me like I’m a dead woman walking and every fiber in my body agrees with her.



Later that evening, Sovereign Hall is blessedly still as I walk through the golden double doors.

My fists are throbbing and I can see the bruises beginning to form around the open cuts which still sting like a mother.

Letting out a long sigh, I head over to the kitchen and open the double doors to the freezer. I grab a handful of ice from the ice tray and dump it in a tea towel.

I’m in the process of putting together a makeshift ice pack, when the front doors fling open. I stiffen at the intrusion and prepare myself for another confrontation, although this time, I’ll probably end up putting my hands out of commission for at least a few weeks, which isn’t ideal, given that I need them to paint.

But instead of Layla’s hateful face, I see Baron walk in. He’s laughing at something and is in the middle of throwing a comeback when I realize that he’s not alone. Raph is with him.

I consider getting up and bolting to my room. But why the hell should I? I live here, too.

Baron surprises me when he walks over and flashes me that wide smile.

“You kicked ass today,” he says and I feel my eyebrows arch. Baron’s been pretty decent to me the last few times I’ve seen him, but the Dynasty heirs have known each other since birth, so I would’ve thought that his loyalties would lie with Layla.

“Really?” I say tentatively.

“Yeah, sure. Seeing the two hottest girls in Regency rolling around on the floor in their swimsuits was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

The excitement in his eyes makes me burst out laughing, despite the fact that his words totally gross me out.

“I think every guy in class sprang a boner. Hottest catfight ever.”

“You’re always so in tune about when the guys at Regency are getting boners—is there something you need to tell everyone?” I quip.

Raph, who has been standing in the entrance hall watching until now, walks over to us, and throws a smirk at Baron.

“Ha. Ha.” Baron replies, rolling his eyes.

I feel all laughter drain from my body and I’m suddenly on my guard again.

Raph had been furious the last time I saw him in swim class. I expect to see the same anger when I look into those impossibly blue eyes. But I think I see something like concern instead as his gaze falls on my swollen hands, which is ridiculous, because why the hell would he care? He hates me.

What he does then surprises everyone, including, it seems, himself. I can see the conflict raging in those midnight blue eyes as he takes both of my hands in his and presses the makeshift ice pack to my knuckles.

I feel like I’m two seconds from falling off my stool as I gape at him, and Baron looks like he’s about to keel over in shock.

The room is deathly silent and the air feels so charged, that it’s difficult to breathe.

Baron coughs and I turn to find him shifting awkwardly on his feet, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but here. Raph doesn’t seem to notice though, as he keeps his gaze locked onto my face.

“God, as much as I’m enjoying standing here choking on all this sexual tension, I think I’ll go upstairs and drill holes into my teeth—because that’ll be more bearable.”

Raph doesn’t say a word as he keeps the ice pack pressed onto my knuckles, and neither of us speaks as he takes out a first aid kit from one of the kitchen drawers.

I say nothing as he dresses the cuts on my knuckles, his expert fingers applying the antiseptic deftly and with surprising gentleness. I don’t move a single muscle, I don’t think I even breathe.