The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (82)

“Who says I don’t try?” He eyed my hair before giving me a pointed look. “You can’t help but be a jerk, can you?”

He laughed, and I enjoyed the sound with my pout firmly in place.

“I guess there’s only room for one of us to be pretty in this relationship.”

His laughter died immediately, and I felt as if I’d swallowed my tongue. “Relationship?”

“Uh…I meant—”

“I don’t mind being your boyfriend,” he said all too seriously. The need in his honey-rich eyes made me want to be his girlfriend, but that could never happen.

“Sorry, but you’re taken, remember? And I don’t date within the peerage.”

“And I never thought I would want an uncouth grease monkey.”

My only answer was a purse of my lips, which caught his attention and lit a fire in his eyes.

“Will it help if I said you were the most sexiest girl I’ve ever seen?”

“Only if you mean it,” I teased.

“I do mean it. You’re the most beautiful nuisance.”

“Ever?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s getting cheesy.”

He tucked his bottom lip between his teeth, and he must have pressed down hard because it became red and swollen and begged to be kissed. Reading my mind, he said, “If you want something from me, you only have to ask.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

“And what is it that you think I want from you?”

He leaned in, and I was mortified at the satisfied sigh I released after the soft press of his lips against mine.

“I guess we’ll see.” He stared down at me with what seemed like hope but also uncertainty. I wasn’t sure how much time passed before he spoke again. “Tell me more.”

I took a deep breath, and he waited with eagle focus for my exhale. The volatility of his emotions surprised me the most as I told him more about my childhood: anger, pity, sadness. Yet he never spoke a word. Dusk had darkened into night when he finally did.

“Baby?”

“Hmm?” My voice was barely a mumble, and I was pretty sure my eyes were closed.

“You’re falling asleep.”

“I’m not,” I denied with a yawn. “And don’t call me baby. Now, where was I?”

His chuckle was the last thing I remembered before I drifted off with his chest as my pillow and his heartbeat my goodnight lullaby.

Sometime during the night, I awoke with a start. The air was much cooler than I remembered. Tentatively, my hand slid to the spot where he had been, and I was surprised and nervous at finding it warm but empty. Tonight really happened. My gaze moved around the moonlit room searching for his shadow when I heard his sleepy growl.

“Is that my iPod?”

“What do you want, Jameson?”

I tensed at the sound of Jamie’s pissed-off chuckle. “Don’t call me Jameson as if you’re my father. I’m older than you.”

“What do you want,” Ever repeated slowly.

“Are you done playing with her?”

My teeth gnashed. Jamie spoke as if I was nothing more than a house pet. However, it was the bite in his tone that kept me still and my mouth shut.

“What does it matter to you?”

I’d like to know that, too.

“She’s a friend,” he said almost shyly. My ire instantly cooled.

“You have a funny way of showing it. You’ve been using her to get back at me.”

“Yeah, well, she grew on me.”

Silence fell between them, and I worried they’d hear the added weight in my breathing.

“I’m done playing games,” Ever admitted almost reluctantly.

“Does she know that?”

“She will.”

“And Barbie?”

“She’s all yours…if she can trust you again.”

“She was never not mine, motherfucker.”

I’d heard enough. With a huff, I sat up in bed, drawing their attention from the hall. “If you two are done treating girls like Pokémon cards, I’d like to go to bed.” When an eager glint entered Ever’s eyes, I added, “Alone.” I needed time to think without this newfound charm of his interfering.

“Are you sure about that?”

I was thankful for the covers as anticipation shook my body at his husky tone. I clutched them for dear life when he padded over to the bed.

“I’m sure.”

He was still shirtless, and when he stepped into the moonlight, I noticed how his jeans hung on his hips accentuating the twin lines of muscle that disappeared under his waistline. Dropping his tall frame into a crouch, he stared at me for a moment as if mesmerized or simply waiting for me to change my mind.

“This is goodnight then?”

“This is goodnight.”

I prided myself for sounding firm when all I felt was the need to wrap myself around him and never let go. He seemed to see right through me though with his secret smile, and when he leaned forward, I found myself meeting him halfway. Our lips met too briefly, so when he pulled away, I chased, earning a chuckle and a lingering kiss.

He stood to his full height and headed for the door toward a wide-eyed Jamie. “I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast. Don’t make me wait.”