Mad Boys (Blue Ivy Prep, #2)(97)

“Trusting me,” I told her and tried not to take her wrinkled nose and skeptical frown to heart. I’d told her from the beginning to stay away from this piece of shit. It might have taken her a while to listen, but tonight she’d understand why.

Everyone would.

I was done playing games with RJ and his family. The school covered shit up once. Good luck with shutting this down.

RJ kept shooting me looks. His discomfort satisfied a very primitive part of me. But he didn’t understand just how bad this was going to be for him. I let him unlock the building and hold open the door.

I kept myself firmly between him and Ace. Once we were inside, I also paused to let him take the lead. His huff before he stomped ahead added another cherry to the justice sundae I was about to serve this motherfucker.

When he paused ahead of us, Ace slowed and I stopped with her. Then he held up a blindfold.

I snorted.

“She won’t need that.”

“Rules,” RJ reminded me, smirking.

“I don’t care about the rules,” Ace said, beautifully defiant. “I’m not putting that on.”

“Then we can call it a night right here.”

Oh, this was the hill you want to die on, asshole? I stared at him. Really?

“Works for me,” I said, giving Ace a squeeze. “I’d rather spend time with Ace without you, anyway.”

A scowl wiped away his self-satisfied bitch expression and he glanced at Ace. “C’mon, Blue. You can do this. We’ll both be there. Nothing will happen you don’t want anyway…”

She stiffened under my arm. I expected her to pull away, so I tucked her closer then pressed my nose to her hair like I was taking a deep breath.

Her sharp little elbow dug into my side, and I met the heated look in her eyes. I couldn’t help dipping my gaze to her lips. This close with the sweet scent of her filling my nostrils, all I wanted was to kiss her until the rest of the world faded away.

Unfortunately… “Tick tock, Blue.”

“She has a name,” I growled. The damn near triumphant look in RJ’s eyes should have warned me.

“Do you prefer Ace then, Blue?”

I was going to kill him.

“Oh my god, if you two wanna go make out with your fists, you can do it without me.” She yanked herself free of me and I glared as she snatched the blindfold out of RJ’s hand. “I’ll put this on, and you have exactly sixty seconds to get a move on or I will leave, clear?”

She was going to do it? It took every ounce of effort to wipe away my shock when she pivoted to face me. The dare in her eyes sparked a very real passion I’d been keeping a leash on.

I wanted to do more than kiss her… “Atta girl, Ace,” I said instead. “Such a good girl for me.”

The fact she rolled her eyes did nothing to diminish my pleasure at her cooperation. She pulled the blindfold over her eyes, and I stepped right up to her and took over tying it before RJ put a finger on her.

Frankly, at this point, if he even looked like he was going to touch her, I’d have to kill him.

I met his gaze over her head as I smoothed down her hair. Then dipped my head a little lower to press a soft kiss to her lips. She didn’t gasp, but there was no mistaking the swift inhale of breath as I nuzzled her lips. The scrape of her teeth was a warning, even as she put her hands to my chest. I caught them then tugged her closer.

“Don’t worry, Ace,” I murmured. “I have you.”

RJ’s scowl darkened, but I just smiled as I tucked her securely under my arm again, then raised my brows. Go ahead motherfucker, say something.

I dare you.

Instead of issuing a verbal complaint, he pivoted on his heel and stalked off ahead of us.

“Stay close to me,” I told Ace as I set off to follow him. She hooked her fingers through one of the loops on my jeans. The contact sent a ridiculous surge of lust right through me. Ahead, RJ paused to glare and I nuzzled a kiss to her ear.

With her eyes hidden, he didn’t bother to disguise his jealousy.

Good. Suck. It. Up. Ace was mine and I wasn’t fucking sharing with anyone, least of all his abusive ass.

“No matter what happens,” I said against the shell of her ear, not bothering to resist the temptation to trace the whorls with my tongue. She gave the most delicious little shudder. “Stay with me.”

“You already said that,” she complained in a breathless tone.

“Hmm, I did, didn’t I?” I pressed a kiss to her lips once more before I straightened. Time to get this going. She clung to me as I followed RJ down the dimly lit hall to one of the a/v recording studios.

Soundproofed.

Just like last time.

Once inside, no one could hear us.

The interior had been set up for some video project or other. The presence of a bed, roses, and candles were probably just staging. Once RJ secured the door, he turned to face us.

Now…I just had to wait. I had one arm around her and my free hand in my pocket. The remote was right there. I had to resist the urge to stroke the buttons.

“Blue,” RJ said. “You have solved all the puzzles and riddles. Proven that you are clever and witty. You have freed the knots, but to unlock the last chain, I—” He paused a beat. “We have one more riddle for you.”

“Yippee.” Ace was so droll I had to grin. “You’re also out of time.”