The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (124)

“Serves you right.” I reached out a hand, which I realized he took out of politeness because I wasn’t really much help.

“I don’t think I’m going to sit down for a week.” He pulled his phone out and checked the time. “What do you say we get you home?”

I peered at his still lit screen and frowned. “But it’s only eight thirty. I can stay out until ten.”

“Ah, yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s just that I have some homework to catch up on before I hit the sack.”

I might have believed him if he wasn’t staring at the floor.

Chicken shit.

After he drove me home, I let him walk me to the door and even agreed to a second date, but any hope I had of this going anywhere died when he walked away without a goodnight kiss.

I found Tyra, Vaughn, and Jamie in the family room watching Now You See Me and tried not to dwell on where the lord of the manor might be.

Tyra was the first to notice me and abandoned her cozy spot under Vaughn’s arm, much to his displeasure. “So, how was it?” she prodded.

“I had a good time.”

She seemed a little distressed by my answer. “Then why aren’t there stars in your eyes?”

I peeked at Vaughn and Jamie who were doing a horrible job of pretending not to listen.

“It was only the first date.” Lame. By the disappointment in her eyes, Tyra wasn’t buying it, either.

“I know why there aren’t stars in her eyes,” Jamie boasted.

“Oh, yeah?” Tyra whirled around to face him. “Do tell.”

He shared a smug look with Vaughn. “What time is it?”

Vaughn made a show of checking the time. “Eight fifty-nine.”

“And are you happy with yourselves?” Tyra scolded with her hands on her hips.

“My best friend spent the night sulking. What do you think?”

I found myself glaring at Vaughn, and he glared right back. “So, screw me and what I want?”

“You want Ever,” Vaughn gritted. Much softer he said, “And Ever wants you.”

“That’s what happens when you grow up entitled. You never stop to consider what you even deserve.”

Green eyes flashed, but he stayed silent, and I didn’t stick around. I said goodnight to Tyra, ignored Vaughn and Jamie, and rushed upstairs to get these damn clothes off and my hair in a ponytail.

Love could blow me.





MY HANDS WERE BRACED ON her door, but I couldn’t bring myself to knock. I could hear her moving around and cooing nonsense to her mutt as she removed that sexy fucking dress she wore for him and not me.

When I held her after the corn maze, I was ready to do whatever it took to keep her. But then she warned me not to make promises I couldn’t keep, and I remembered the one I made four years ago. I was just a fucking kid, but I never regretted the vow.

Until I was forced to watch a guy notice her and not care that she was mine.

I could have ripped him apart and driven him away. It would have been so easy. The hard part had been letting her go.

I didn’t count on Vaughn and Jamie stepping in to remind her that she was mine. The selfish part of me hoped she’d submit and call it off, but my wild girl had other plans.

I rested my forehead on the door.

Always so damn troublesome.

A second later, I stumbled over the threshold. I caught my footing before I could kiss the carpet. Four looked ready for bed in her tiny shorts and T-shirt with her hair swept up in a messy bun.

“What the hell are you doing hugging my door?”

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, and when her jaw dropped, I looked away.

“A—are you blushing?”

“No.” I peeked at her.

She looked like a fucking puffer fish as she held in her laugh.

“So, what did you need?”

You. “Nothing. You going somewhere?” I questioned and instantly regretted it. Not only did I look like a stalker but I was also starting to sound like one, too. Some inherent part of me that Four had awakened wanted to find the nearest blunt object and drag her to my room. Instead, I watched her sassily stick out her hip and cross her arms over her perky tits. Moisture pooled in my mouth when I remembered how sweet her nipples tasted.

“I was getting into bed when I saw your shadow under the door.” I didn’t speak, and neither did she. “Well, I’m pretty tired,” she hinted when the silence became awkward.

“Goodnight.” I forced myself back into the hall and had only taken a couple of steps when she spoke.

“Hey, Ever?” The confidence in her voice was gone, and she was chewing on her lip when I turned around.

Don’t touch her.

“Yeah?”

“Should dates end with a goodnight kiss?”

I stopped breathing. Did she not realize what she gave away?

I ate the distance between us and enlightened her. I’d long lost count of how many kisses I’ve stolen, but what I did know was that I’d never gone this slowly with her. I wanted to savor every second.

Closer.

My hands followed the command and caressed down her sides, cupped her ass, and lifted until she was on the tip of her cute little toes, and every inch of her pressed against me. Needing to mark her everywhere, I kissed down her neck. When she shivered against me, my smirk pressed against her skin. That fucker will never be what she needs.