The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (43)

“And you’re out of your league, little troublemaker. So, write the fucking words.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll have some fun.”

The room and everything outside it faded as we glared back at one another, silently trying to break the other’s will. His minty fresh breath was a cool but inept balm against the heat radiating from his bare chest, and suddenly, I realized just how close he was and how much it was affecting me. With a sneer that made him smile, I picked up the pen.

Anything to get him to move to the other side of that room before…nothing.

Absolutely fucking nothing.

Ever retreated to his bed, and I watched as he grabbed a sketchbook from the nightstand and plucked a pencil from the cup shelved above his bed. He seemed engrossed as he stared at the pad for a few seconds, but then he suddenly looked up and caught me staring. I felt my teeth bite into my bottom lip, and almost like a reflex, his gaze dropped, and he licked his own.

Yeah, nothing’s going to happen like pigs are going to fly.

I turned away and put pen to paper while trying to ignore the fact that we were alone in his room with the door shut and our parents oblivious. When both sides of the page were full, I smiled down at my handy work.

“Oh, teach?”

I listened as he stopped mid-pencil stroke and stood from the bed. I worked hard not to give myself away when he lifted my atonement from the desk.

A moment later he sighed.

“I bet you don’t know just how predictable you are.”

The smile I didn’t know I wore dropped.

Predictable?

What the hell did he mean predictable?

I schooled my features so I wouldn’t let on that I was bothered by yet another one of his unsolicited opinions of me. In lieu of writing what he wanted, I’d listed the components and specifications of a 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa. Gruff certainly would have been proud.

“If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll get some breakfast.” I pushed away from the desk, forcing him back. This time, Ever let me stand, but with one quick move, he was sitting at the foot of his bed with me on his lap.

“I’m going to give you one chance to apologize.” My lips parted so I could tell him I wouldn’t be doing that now or ever. “But, Four”—his arms wrapped tighter around my middle while his lips brushed my ear—“only one.”

“Why should I when you never do?”

“I don’t regret what I’ve done.”

“Neither do I.”

He sighed, and seconds later, my shorts were around my ankles, and he had me bent over his lap.

“What are you doing?” I squealed. I might as well have been wrestling a tree. My panty-clad bottom was exposed, and I was sure my face resembled a tomato.

“My father believed sparing the rod, spoiled the child. Now he thinks mistakes can be a necessary evil…I’m not my father, Four. Putting yourself at risk, tarnishing my family’s name, and pissing me the fuck off? Huge mistake.”

It could have been anger or fear that made my body tremble in his lap. I couldn’t tell. I was experiencing them both in equal volume. “So, what? You hurt me a little, and I’ll be brought to heel?” I scoffed. “Imagine that.”

“Oh, I do. More than you know.”

“I didn’t take you for the kinky type.” I pushed and pulled but couldn’t get free.

He snorted, not at all bothered by my struggles. “I’m not…but I like seeing you like this.”

The fight left my body as I peeked over my shoulder. For once, his eyes weren’t cold or taunting. “Like what?” I sounded much too eager for the answer.

“Pliant.” He ran a hand over my butt. “I like you tame, and I like you wild. Maybe I’ll keep you both.”

“You don’t get a say.”

His eyebrow rose in response. “Is this your first day?”

“So, spank me,” I huffed and wiggled to get free. “I can take it.”

“You think so?”

“Or maybe I’ll just scream.” Seriously, why hadn’t that occurred to me before?

“And when our parents find you bent over my lap with your ass cherry red, I want you to tell them exactly why I made it so.”

Oh…right.

Seeing no other way out of this, I sunk my teeth into his calf.

He grunted, and I had only a second when he released me to escape. I rolled off his lap, but when I made for the door, I tripped over the shorts at my ankles. Damn it! Ever was hauling me up before I could untangle myself. Somehow, our struggle ensued without either of us making much sound beyond a grunt or growl. I wasn’t sure how long we’d been wrestling before Ever lost his footing, dodging the elbow aimed for his nose, and sent us both crashing onto his bed. There, we both seemed to surrender, our heavy breathing the only sound. With my head resting on his chest, I closed my eyes, and his out-of-control heartbeat became my anchor. It occurred to me, however, that one of us would need to claim victory, so I angled my head and found him watching me.

“Still like me wild?” I winked.

If his control was a tightrope, it just snapped.

Suddenly, flat on my back, thick lips crashed into mine. If ever I were to think back to this moment, it would be for one thing. Bliss. Not even with Michelangelo’s imagination could I have painted it better. My first kiss.