Lie. I like him very much. At least in a ‘I find him very attractive and want to jump his bones’ kind of way. As for his attitude and what comes out of his mouth, I don’t like that so much.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
I gape at him. The man has lost his mind. “Me? Stubborn? Look in a mirror, bud—or wait, maybe you can’t see your reflection. Vampire and all.” I give a shrug. “But we’re not friends.” I wag my finger between the two of us. “Me going home with you makes zero sense. I am fine alone.”
“Just because you’re okay alone doesn’t mean you should be.” His lips soften. “It’s Thanksgiving, Rory. Do you really want to be by yourself?”
I square my shoulders, my chin rising slightly. “My roommate Kenna invited me to go back home with her and I said no.”
“You don’t know her family, but you know mine,” he counter-argues. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his school sweatshirt, he leans closer to me, like he hopes his laser-hypnotic gaze can convince me. “Surely you haven’t forgotten my mom and dad. Or Willow. Or Lylah.”
I look away. Of course I haven’t forgotten them. His family was a part of some of my best memories, but that was a long time ago. “I doubt they remember me.”
“Sure they do. Do you really want to disappoint my mom, Princess? I already told her you were coming.”
His mom was always kind to my sister and me. She was the real motherly type, baking with her kids, teaching them to garden, all kinds of things, and she always let Hazel and I pitch in.
I exhale a lungful of air, looking away from him. I can’t think straight when I’m staring at his annoyingly smug face. “I’m fine by myself.”
He lets out a gruff laugh. “Look, I’m not doubting your ability to be fine on your own, but it’s a family holiday and you shouldn’t be alone when you don’t have to be. I’m loaning you my family. Just say thank you and that you’ll come.”
I look back at him. “I’m scheduled to work. I need the money.”
His smirk intensifies. “I already spoke with your boss letting her know I was surprising you with an unexpected trip back home. She told me I was a wonderful boyfriend.”
He’s so fucking pleased with himself, meanwhile I’m stuck on him saying back home, because I haven’t been back to Virginia since we left and now that I’m reminded of that fact I do want to go.
“Don’t ever talk to my boss again.” I try to sound as stern as I possibly can. “But…” His annoying smile grows further, knowing he’s about to win. “I’ll go.”
“I knew you’d see things my way, Princess.” He finally moves away from my truck, walking backwards toward his SUV. “Pack your shit. We leave tomorrow after your last class. Psychology, right?”
My mouth pops open. I don’t even have to give him a reply. How does he know what class I have tomorrow afternoon? I laugh to myself as he gets in his car. This is Mascen Wade I’m talking about. All he’d have to do is bat his eyes and any number of people would let him know my schedule—my roommates included.
I watch him pull out before I get in my truck, already wondering if there’s any way I can get out of what I’ve just agreed to.
* * *
Sitting down in my psychology class the following afternoon, I feel confident in my resolution not to go with Mascen today. I didn’t bother packing my bags, because going home with him would be the worst idea ever. I was conned by the potent power that is him last night, but as soon as I got away from him it faded. I’m sure he’ll be waiting for me after class and I’ll tell him no. As simple as that. He won’t argue with me in such a public place.
Pulling out my computer, notebook, and pen, I set up the small workspace in front of me so I’m ready for class.
Someone slides into the seat beside me and I bend down, moving my backpack out of his foot space.
“Brought you a coffee, Princess. Black just like your stained soul. I hope that’s how you take it, but if it’s not complain to someone else.”
My body shoots up quickly from my bent position. I nearly knock over my laptop as I straighten but his large hand grabs it before it can wobble off.
“Mascen,” I hiss, glaring at him. “What are you doing?”
He releases my computer, sitting back. Crossing one foot over his knee he waits to answer me. After he’s pulled out a notebook and pen, the pen pressed against the side of his lips, he finally puts me out of my misery and replies. “I would think that would be quite clear but you’ve proven to be ridiculously oblivious. I’m here for Psych one-oh-one.” His lips exaggerate the word one.
“You’re not in this class,” I state the obvious as the seats fill in around us for the two o’clock lecture.
He mock gasps, throwing a hand to his chest in a fit of dramatics. “You mean I’ve been in the wrong class all this time?”
“We both know you don’t belong here. Leave.”
“No can do.” He scoots his long legs forward, scrunching down in the seat. “I’m sure you’re a flight risk, so I’m here to make sure you don’t take off on me.”
I square my shoulders, looking straight ahead at the podium standing empty in wait for the professor, willing him to hurry up.
“I wouldn’t take off on you.”
I would.
“Don’t lie Princess or you’ll end up as Pinocchio.”
I glare at him. “Do you live to irritate the shit out of me?”
He leans back, the cocky grin on his lips too fucking hot for someone so infuriating. “I am beginning to think it’s my sole purpose in life.”
“This is my class, can you go now?”
“Did you pack your bags?” Silence is my only response. “Mhmm,” he hums, balancing his pen on his top lip. “You didn’t did you? Which is exactly why I’m here. Try to tell me to leave again, Aurora.” He moves suddenly, leaning in so his mouth is right by the side of my face. “I. Dare. You.” I desperately want to look at him but I know better than to move my head. “You think there are certain things I won’t do, but believe me, I won’t have a problem throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you out of here kicking and screaming. You agreed to go, you’re going. No takebacks.”
My breath catches with the last two words and when I look at him his eyes have widened. I’d forgotten it until he said, but no takebacks was something we said to each other a lot growing up.
“No takebacks,” I find myself whispering to him as the professor finally enters the room.
Sadly, I don’t remember a word of the lesson.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mascen
“Do you really need to come into my dorm?” Rory hesitates outside her door. A few girls linger in the hall and I wave, earning a few giggles and flirtatious grins tossed my way. “You could’ve stayed in the car.”
“So you can hole up in here and not come out?” I guffaw. “I think not.”
She must really think I’m dumb if she thinks I’d let that happen. I don’t know why I’m so insistent on her coming, it shouldn’t matter, but when I heard that she was staying on campus for the holiday break it didn’t seem right for that to happen when I can do something about it.
Sure, my parents are crazy and eccentric, my little sister will probably give me hell, and my older sister will torture me when she’s around, but it’s family. It’s home. And I want Rory to have that. We have the extra room, so it’s not like her presence will be disrupting anything.
Rory inhales a deep sigh, finally unlocking the door.
“Oh, hey,” a brown-haired girl greets her. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you before I leave. Oh, who is this?” Her smirk tells me she knows exactly who I am, but she wants Rory to acknowledge it.
As I follow Rory inside, I recognize the girl from Harvey’s. I’ve seen them there together.
“Kenna, hey. Hi. Um. You know Mascen.”
“We haven’t met,” I interject.
The girl laughs. “Yes, but everyone on campus knows who you are.”
&
nbsp; I lean against the kitchen counter, my eyes scanning the small pieces of décor, trying to figure out if any of the trinkets are Rory’s. Any insight I can get into the person she is today I’ll take.
“So, why are you here with Rory? In our dorm?”
Rory looks at me over her shoulder, her eyes desperate and begging for me not to tell the truth.
“Just picking up something of Cole’s he left here.”
Kenna grins like the cat that ate the canary and I know I’m in trouble. Rory’s shoulders droop and she visibly cringes.
“Cole only came here once and definitely didn’t leave anything behind, just like he apparently never took a trip down Rory’s love canal either.”
“Oh my God.” Rory covers her face with her hands.
I don’t have a response. Normally I would, but I’m too taken aback by the fact that apparently Cole and Rory never slept together.
“Interesting,” I finally say.
“So, why are you really here?”
“Kenna,” Rory pleads. “Drop it.”
Her friend grins, her hand braced on a suitcase. “I have questions and I want answers.”
“Rory and I grew up in the same area.” I can tell Kenna is the type of person to not let this go. “I told her I’d give her a ride home. Save gas.”
“But you weren’t going home?” She frames it as a question, eyeing Rory with suspicion.
“I … uh … changed my mind.”
Kenna sighs, her gaze swinging between the two of us. “I don’t believe either of you. But I have to go. You, missy,” she points at Rory like a mother scolding her unruly toddler, “will have explaining to do when we get back. But I have a flight to catch.”
Her smile softens and she hugs Rory, brushing past me to leave.
“Treat my girl, right,” she calls over her shoulder, closing the door behind her.
Silence entreats on the small living space and Rory keeps her back to me. After a minute she slowly turns. “You never slept with Cole, huh?”
She narrows her eyes. “Of course that’s the first thing you say, but no, I didn’t. Not that first night, not ever. But it’s not your business who I do and don’t sleep with.”
I’m on her in an instant, pushing her back against the wall. The breath leaves her in a gasp, her eyes wide with surprise and lips parted.
“We both know that’s not true.” I skim my nose along the smooth column of her throat. She smells like something floral with a hint of crisp apples and vanilla. It’s delicious and I can’t help but want a taste. My tongue threatens to take a lick, but I know if I do it’ll be even more difficult to get her to come with me. “Deny it all you want, but there’s a mutual attraction here.” She shakes her head. “When you lie so blatantly it makes me want to punish you.”
She writhes against me trying to break free of my hold but then a moan escapes her and she sinks further into me.
“It’s okay to hate me and want to fuck me.”
“I do hate you, but I don’t want to fuck you.”
I grin like a wolf about to devour a tasty morsel, and I know Rory would be oh-so-sweet. “I love it when you lie to me. Do it again, and again, and again, because Princess, all those lies are adding up into favors you’re going to owe me.”
“I owe you nothing.”
I chuckle, gliding my lips along her jaw. “Wrong, you owe me everything.”
* * *
“I still don’t understand why you insisted on me coming with you.”
Rory sits in the passenger side of the Rover, arms crossed over her chest, and dare I say pouting.
“I told you, no one should be alone on the holidays when there are people they can be with.”
“I don’t know your family anymore,” she argues, looking out the window at the blur of trees in the growing darkness.
I’m quiet for a moment, feeling uncomfortable. “You know me.”
I can feel her penetrating gaze, but for once she says nothing.
“We’re going to stop around nine and get a hotel.”
“What?” she scoffs. “I’m not sharing a hotel room with you.”
“Relax, Princess, I’ll get you your own room.”
She makes a noise that I can’t quite decide is in relief or general irritation.
At least twenty minutes pass in silence between us before she breaks it. “I hate your music.”
“Don’t diss my man Jason Aldean.” I purposely draw out my southern twang more than usual. I didn’t grow up in the deep south, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t pick up a slight drawl. “What do you want to listen to? Disney musicals? One Direction?”
“Don’t drag One Direction like that. Their music is good.”
I keep my eyes on the road despite my desperation to look at her. “I feel like I don’t even know you.”
It’s meant to be a joke, but she replies, “You don’t.”
I wince. It’s sad, but true. I don’t know her, but she doesn’t know me either. Sure, she thinks she does, but people tend to not dig beneath the surface.
Clearing my throat, I wiggle a bit in the seat, uncomfortable from the sudden tension between us. “Take my phone.” I nod at where it rests. “Make a playlist for us. My country … your … tween bops.”
She hesitates, her hand hovering over the sleek device. “Are you sure?”
“We have two more hours before we stop tonight. We might as well compromise on the music before we rip each other’s throats out, though if you want to rip clothes off I’m all for it.”
She groans. “Nice try, Bundy.”
I glance at her with an arched brow. “In to choking? Kinky, I like it.”
She rolls her eyes, finally picking up my phone. I rattle off my password before she can ask.
Drawing her legs up onto the car seat she leans her left elbow on the middle console which brings her closer to me. “Murder is illegal you know.”
“Huh?”
“Bundy. Choking.” She bites her bottom lip. I shouldn’t be staring at her, not while I’m driving, but I can’t help it.
Clearing my throat, I force my eyes back to the road. “A little choking in sex never hurt anyone. It heightens pleasure.”
“Have you ever been choked? Or are you always the one doing the choking?”
I decide to answer honestly, no point in lying. “Yes, I have been.”
A little gasp of surprise leaves her lips, making my honesty all the more worth it.
“Did you … like it?” Her voice becomes small, like a teeny tiny little mouse.
“Yes.”
“Hmm,” she hums.
“What?”
“You didn’t strike me as the submissive type.”
Her statement catches me off guard and I nearly choke on my own tongue. “I’m not.” My tone is definitive.
“Would you let me choke you if we had sex?”
Holy shit this girl keeps surprising me. “Depends, I guess.” I adjust my hold on the steering wheel for the sake of being able to do something with my hands when all I want to do is pull the car over and kiss her.
“On what?”
I give her a brief look before returning my eyes to the dark road ahead. “Are you choking me to give me pleasure … or to kill me?”
She busts out laughing, her eyes on the glowing phone screen as she adds song to the playlist. “I haven’t decided yet.”
She finishes the playlist and plugs my phone back in. The first song that comes on is a poppy tune that’s definitely not my taste. The lyrics keep saying something about making you glad you came and I don’t think they mean to a party.
“What’d you name it? The playlist?”
She smirks, bringing her feet back to the floor. “Princess and the Vampire Mash-Up.”
Laughter bursts out of me. “Catchy. I like it.”
I feel her smile rather than see it. “I do too.”
* * *
Pulling into a hotel lot after nine with a sack of greasy fast-fo
od in hand we grab our bags from the backseat, walking toward the entrance.
“Two rooms,” Rory reminds me, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. She was too stubborn to let me carry it.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
The hotel is one of those basic ones you can find off almost any exit of the interstate. The lobby outdated but clean. It’ll do for the night. Tomorrow we’ll have another four hours to drive to get to my house.
“I can give you money for my room.” She grabs her bag, pulling it around to her front to dig in a pocket.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t insult me, Princess. I insisted on you coming, I’m paying.”
She crinkles her nose, her teeth digging slightly into her bottom lip. “I hate handouts, but since you did practically force me to come I guess I’ll make a concession this time.”
I snort. “I’m honored.”
Heading up to the check-in desk I speak with the receptionist. She’s young, probably twenty-four or so. Her flirtatious words and smiles don’t go unnoticed by Rory who crosses her arms over her chest and glares.
When the receptionist tells me what time she’ll be getting off I say, “That’s enough, give me the room keys.”
Her eyes widen in shock and her lips shut. She grabs the keycards, activates them, and passes me the envelope.
“Let’s go,” I say to Rory, ushering her toward the elevator with a hand hovering at her waist. I don’t dare touch her for the fear of her biting my hand off or another appendage I’m overly fond of.
I push the button for the second floor and the heavy sigh that leaves me has my body leaning against the side of the elevator.
“Tired?” Rory arches a brow at my form.
“Extremely.”
“Hmm.”
“What? I can’t be tired?”
The doors slide open and we step out. Deep red carpeted floor with gold wallpaper greets us.
“Hotels choose dark carpets to hide bodily fluids,” Rory informs me, she too taking note of the hideous décor. “Blood, urine, semen,” she rattles off.
Bad Boys Break Hearts Page 17
