Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(84)



Still, I keep my guard up when instead of following Layla to the front row, he walks towards where I’m sitting. The desk beside me magically empties and Raph drops down into it.

“Jaz.” He greets me with that heart stopping smile and when my gaze falls on those sensuous lips, all I can think about is the wicked things that those lips, that tongue did to my body all weekend long.

The smirk on Raph’s face tells me he knows exactly what I’m thinking and that he’s thinking of exactly the same thing, too.

“Hey,” I manage, keeping my tone casual.

A small frown forms on his face as he assesses mine.

He leans over to me and the feel of his mouth so close to my ear causes shivers to race through my spine.

“I woke up this morning thinking it was going to be the best Monday morning I’ve had in a long time, but I was bitterly disappointed when I realized that I was all alone in that big bed of yours,” he whispers.

I force my erratic heartbeat to calm. I need to keep my head and it’s proving almost impossible with Raph whispering in my ear.

“I had to get to class early,” I lie and even I can hear how lame that excuse is.

I don’t turn around to see Raph’s reaction, but from the corner of my eye, I don’t miss the way his frown deepens.

Thankfully, I’m saved by Professor Hoxton, who hands out a surprise quiz, which means that we’ll have to spend the rest of the class in silence.

It doesn’t stop Raph from burning a hole into me all the way through class, though, as those impossibly blue eyes turn to study my profile more than just a few times. I can sense him trying to read me, but that’s the last thing I want.

When the bell rings, I grab my things hurriedly and head for the door without a second look back. I’m halfway down the hallway when I feel Raph’s hand closing around my arm. Dammit.

I school my face into a neutral expression as I turn slowly to face him. But his expression is nowhere near as calm. He looks confused and there’s something else mixed in there, too … hurt? But that doesn’t make sense because I can’t let myself believe that he’d actually be hurt by anything that I could do to him, regardless of all that he’s said to me.

“Is … is something wrong, Jaz?” he asks tentatively, searching my face.

I work to keep him from seeing anything in it which might give me away.

“No, no—of course not,” I reply. “I’ve just got a really busy day today,” I add quickly.

He searches my face for another moment and he looks like he might try to push the subject, but nods slightly instead.

“Okay,” he says finally.

“You coming to lunch?” he asks, looking at me expectantly.

“No—I have to drop some books off at the library, then see my art professor before next period,” I lie again.

I don’t give Raph a chance to object, as I turn on my heel and walk away, practically running from him.

I avoid him for the rest of the day. I ignore his confused looks, which turn into concern and then finally anger. I ignore the impulse to throw myself into his arms and kiss him in front of the entire class, so that everyone here knows that he’s mine. I tell myself that the impulse is a crazy one, because of course, he’s not mine and nor will he ever be mine. I need to accept that and forget everything that happened this weekend and I need to do it fast.





27





Sovereign Hall is as still as a tomb when I get in after class. I know that Raph usually has soccer practice on Monday afternoons, so I’m safe for another few hours. I don’t want to think about what’s going to happen when he gets home, when he knocks on my door tonight.

Needing to work off the agitation that has been building inside me all day, I dig around in my wardrobe for my swimwear, feeling like a few laps in the pool should do the trick. Unfortunately, other than my now replaced Regency issued black one piece, my swimwear consists only of bikinis. I grab the first pair that I see—red and nicely cut. Not that it matters, because there’s no one home to see anyway.

The water in the heated pool feels amazing against my tense muscles and I feel the tension slipping away with each lap. I’m probably on my fifth lap when I notice someone standing over the far edge of the pool.

My stomach sinks when I realize it’s Raph, and at the same time, my heart speeds up, as I take in the sight of him. The soft pool lights reflect against his golden skin and every inch of him is ripped like a dream. My mind plays unwanted images in my head of the sight of that powerfully muscled body above mine, the feel of his rock hard chest crushed against my breasts and I’m glad I’m submerged in water, otherwise I think my skin will burst into flames.

The look in Raph’s eyes makes me still completely. Those midnight blue eyes are clouded over and pissed, very pissed.

“Hi,” I say lamely.

“Care to explain why you’ve been avoiding me all day?” he asks, crossing his arms over his ridiculously chiseled chest in a way that makes his arm muscles bulge.

For a moment, I consider trying to deny it. But then I realize it’s no use. One, because he’s clearly not going to believe me and two, because it’s probably better for us to get this out of the way now, so that we can go back to, well whatever it was we were before all that happened between us this past weekend.

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