The Saint: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Haven Grace Prep Book 2)

by Kelsey Clayton

  I clean the spot right beneath her collarbone and place the stencil. She stays perfectly still on my bed as she looks at it in the mirror. Once she nods, I get everything ready to permanently mark her flawless skin.

  “Is it going to hurt?”

  I attach the needle and pour the ink into the ink-cap. “Well, it doesn’t tickle.” Ready to start, I turn toward her and stop. “Do you trust me?”

  The corners of her mouth raise, despite her nervousness. “For the most part.”

  I smirk, and the buzzing of the gun fills the air as I start the machine. Delaney braces for impact, flinching only slightly when the needle touches her for the first time. She hisses in pain, but I keep my attention solely focused on what I’m doing. The last thing I want is for her first tattoo to come out looking like shit.

  “So, this may be the wrong time to bring this up, but there’s this gala my parents throw every year. It benefits a bunch of different charities, though it’s really just a way for my dad to make himself look good. My older sister will be coming for it, and my whole family is going to be there, and I totally understand if you say no. I know it’s not your scene. It’s not even really my scene, but—”

  Pausing for only a second, I kiss her quickly to cut her off. “You’re rambling, babe.”

  She sighs. “Will you come with me?”

  Admittedly, the last thing I want to do is spend a perfectly good night sucking up to a bunch of assholes who think they’re better than everyone else simply because they have money. However, the fact that Delaney wants to introduce me to the rest of her family is not lost on me. And besides, it could be another way to piss off her dad—which is something I have come to truly enjoy.

  “When is it?”

  “Next weekend,” she answers shyly.

  I can’t help but laugh. “Damn, Bambi. Way to give me notice.”

  “Shit, you’re right. Forget I asked.”

  Shaking my head, I force her gaze to meet my own. “Of course, I’ll be there.”

  I finish up the tattoo, adding a little white ink to highlight it in all the right places. By the time that I’m done and turn off the machine, she sighs in relief. I help her up and she goes over to the full-length mirror on my door. In a way that I didn’t know was possible, she looks even hotter with ink embedded into her skin. Her face lights up as she checks it out and then turns to me.

  “What do you think?”

  Pulling off the gloves and chucking them into the garbage can, I pin her against the wall. “I think you’re the best thing in my life, and you’re fucking gorgeous.”

  THE NEXT DAY, I’M just stepping out of the shower when Delaney comes back from her run to the store. I had insisted on going with her, but she refused. Something about not wanting me to stop her from whatever she was planning on doing. It didn’t sound very safe, and her words did nothing to put me at ease, but I let it go. Hearing her walk back through the door, however, all the tension leaves my body.

  “Have fun?” I ask.

  She looks me up and down, noticing I’m only in a towel. “I’m having much more fun now.”

  I chuckle softly. There’s no secret that I’ve turned her into a sex-addicted little monster. She’s completely insatiable, not that I’m complaining. I’d spend every second of my life inside of her if I could. Unfortunately, she swears that having a life that only ever consists of each other is unhealthy. I disagree.

  Delaney pulls a pill bottle from her pocket and hands it to me. “They’re sleeping pills. My doctor said to take one every night, but to make sure you have a full eight hours to sleep. After about two weeks, your body should get back into the routine of sleeping on a normal schedule.”

  “How did you get these?”

  She shrugs. “I may have lied and told him I have insomnia. He did a couple tests but there’s really no way for him to tell. He just has to take my word for it.”

  “You…” I look down at the pills in disbelief. “You did all that, for me?”

  She rolls her eyes, coming closer and wrapping her arms around my waist. “When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours? I’d do anything for you."

  20

  DELANEY

  Walking into the boutique with Tessa, I’ve never been more excited, yet more nervous, for one of these galas. I had hoped Knox would agree to come with me, but I honestly thought he was going to tell me no. A high-class soiree like that is the bane of his existence. While I know it’s nothing like his usual scene, I’m so glad he’ll be by my side.

  “I still can’t believe you got him to agree,” Tess says in disbelief.

  I chuckle softly. “What can I say? I can be quite persuasive.”

  “Okay, there are just some things in this world that I don’t need to know.”

  Smacking her arm lightly, we walk up to the counter. Annabel, the sales rep who has been working here for years now, is too focused on her phone to notice we’re here. My sister fakes a cough to get her attention and laughs as the poor girl jumps.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  I give her a sweet smile. “It’s okay. We’re here for—”

  “Dress fittings for the annual gala, of course,” she cuts me off. “Right this way.”

  As we step into the room, the two dresses hanging on the wall are breathtaking. Every year, our parents have the stylist pick out what we’re going to wear, and she never disappoints. Unsurprisingly, it’s the exact same dress for both of us, only in different colors. Hers is a sparkly black while mine is more of a silky, pale pink. It’s an accurate play on our personalities, that’s for sure.

  We both get changed and stand on the platforms, allowing the two seamstresses take their measurements and pin the places that need to be adjusted. As she has me turn, Tess glances over at me and her eyes widen.

  “Is that a tattoo?” she balks.

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe nothing. You got a fucking tattoo! When?”

  I shrug. “Knox did it over the weekend.”

  Her jaw drops. “You let that boy come near you with a needle?”

  “Well, yeah.” My eyes roll. “I got him the whole set-up for his birthday, and I was the first person he used it on. You know, before he started doing touchups on himself.”

  I can’t help but laugh at the memory. I had come back into the room to see him adding ink to the spots on his arm that faded a little too much for his liking. His bottom lip was pulled between his teeth and his brows furrowed as he concentrated on what he was doing. It was hot as hell.

  “Who are you and what have you done with my sister?” She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you let him do that.”

  “Let who do what?” A voice I never expected to see here sounds from the door, and I turn my head to find our older sister, Ainsley.

  Her long, blonde hair is a stark difference to mine and Tessa’s. As usual, her makeup is done perfectly, and her outfit is stylish yet modern. Ainsley has always been the one to take full advantage of our parents’ money, especially after leaving for college and being given her trust fund early—a present for never doing anything wrong in her life.

  “Oh my God, you’re home early!”

  She smiles brightly and comes over to give me a hug. “Look at you two, all grown up and gorgeous.” Turning to Tess, she gives her a teasing grin. “I hear you’ve been giving Dad a hard time.”

  Tessa giggles. “Don’t I always?”

  “One day you’re going to realize it pays off to be on his good side.”

  “No, it pays off for you to be on his good side. Me? Well, I was doomed from the start. And besides, what’s the fun in that?”

  Ainsley masks her disapproval, knowing getting through to Tessa has always been a lost cause. “And what about you?” she asks me. “Are you at least staying out of trouble?”

  I go to open my mouth when Tess snorts. “No. She’s dating the worst of them all.”

  “Tess!”

  “What? It
’s true. Easton could beat Knox out for Dad’s approval any day of the week.”

  Ainsley’s brows raise. “You’re dating someone?”

  “Not just someone,” Tessa continues to overshare. “A tattooed, drug-doing delinquent with a criminal record.”

  I narrow my eyes at my twin. “Seriously? Must you?”

  She laughs. “I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.”

  Shaking my head, I focus back on Ainsley. “His name is Knox, and he’s good to me—despite all the things Tess just mentioned. He’s coming to the gala this weekend. You’ll get to meet him.”

  “Do I get to give him that cliché you hurt my sister and I’ll kill you speech, too?”

  I try to ignore the face Tessa makes at even the idea of Ainsley threatening Knox. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know how that one will go, but hopefully, for the sake of appeasing my sister, I can get him to at least act intimidated.

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

  We get done and take off the dresses, careful not to get pricked by any of the pins. Once we’re finished putting our clothes back on, we wave goodbye to Annabel and head out the door. I pull my sunglasses from my head and put them over my eyes.

  “So, are you two heading back to school, or do you want to go get lunch?”

  It only takes one look for Tessa and me to answer in unison. “Lunch.”

  As we’re walking down the street and toward one of my favorite Italian places, Tess smirks.

  “Hey Ains, did you hear Delaney got a tattoo?”

  THE NEXT DAY, I’M going through what seems like boyfriend withdrawals. Since it was Ainsley’s first night home, Dad insisted on all of us spending the night together as a family. Thankfully, both my sisters kept their mouth shut about my new tattoo. If I don’t cover it with some kind of heavy make up for Saturday, however, he’s going to see it. The black ink sticks out against my pale skin.

  Knox and I texted all yesterday evening, but he took his sleeping pill at nine, and I haven’t heard from him since.

  “Going over to see Easton?” I ask Tessa as we get out of the car at school, and she nods. “I’ll come with you.”

  “Aw, look at you. Missing your boyfriend and what not.”

  “Shut up.”

  The two of us walk across the street, ignoring the looks we get from our fellow students. They should be used to this by now. I’ve been doing it for over a month now, and Tessa has been doing it all year. This stupid rivalry between the two schools is a little out of hand.

  As we walk up to the guys, Knox and Zayn are noticeably absent. Easton, Gage, and Stone all seem to be in some intense conversation. Tessa and I glance at each other before approaching them.

  “Okay, what’s got you three gossiping like teenage girls?”

  Easton pulls Tessa close and kisses her. “Knox is at school.”

  Tess’s brows furrow. “Babe, Knox is always at school.”

  He shakes his head. “No, like he’s actually participating in school. He’s been going to class and doing his homework. Stone asked him to skip first this morning, and he said no. He never says no.”

  I can’t help but smile as I drop my gaze to the ground. Still, I can feel my sister’s eyes on me.

  “Is that so? Well, good for him. Maybe he’s not such a lost cause after all.”

  They change the subject, but my mind stays on Knox. After our conversation, the night he woke up screaming, it hasn’t been brought up again. I thought he had just brushed it from his mind, but apparently, I was wrong. Very wrong.

  The warning bell rings, making Tessa and I say goodbye and head back to Haven Grace Prep. As we’re crossing the street, she nudges me with her elbow.

  “Look at you, taming the monster.”

  21

  KNOX

  They say getting anything distinctive about a significant other is bad luck. A name. A portrait. A date. It’s all practically a guarantee that your relationship is fucking doomed. And still, when Delaney came to me with an idea, I couldn’t resist. Permanently branding this girl has become my new favorite hobby.

  I push the hair away from behind her ear, tracing over the K stencil in white ink. It’s small, and with the lightness of her skin tone, you can hardly notice it, but we’ll know it’s there.

  “You know this is a horrible omen, right?” I tell her. “Like it’s pretty much telling the universe to make us fail.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Says the guy choosing to put it on his ring finger.”

  I chuckle. As soon as she mentioned getting each other’s initials in white ink, I immediately knew where I wanted mine. I may not be able to exchange the sentiment she did the other night, but there’s one thing I’m sure of, and that’s her. Her initial will be the first claim she has on that finger, but certainly not the last.

  “And, done.” Holding up my phone, I take a picture so she can see it.

  A bright smile spreads across her face. “It’s perfect.”

  I switch out the needle and hand her a pair of gloves. She watches carefully as I explain to her how to use the machine. I place the stencil of the D she wrote in her handwriting on the inside of my finger. As she brings the tattoo gun toward me, I see it again—that fire in her eyes. I can’t look away as I watch her brand me for life.

  TUXEDOS HAVE NEVER BEEN my favorite thing. To be honest, I’d rather wear literally anything else. How it clings to my body. The way the tie feels like a noose around my neck. They didn’t get the name “penguin suit” for nothing. However, if this is what it takes to make Delaney happy, so be it.

  “Okay, hold still,” Grayson says, adjusting my tie.

  I stand in the middle of his bedroom, noticing it’s about half the size of my whole house. When I was trying to figure out what I’m supposed to wear to something like this, I figured what better person to ask than his rich boy ass? He told me anything less than a tuxedo wouldn’t even be allowed in the door. Thankfully for me, him and I are about the same size so he was able to lend me his.

  “Thanks again for this,” I tell him.

  “Don’t worry about it. What are friends for?”

  I snort. “I told you, Pretty Boy, w—”

  He waves me off dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. I know. We’re not friends. I have to be at least somewhat winning you over, though.”

  Side-eyeing him, I can’t hide my amusement. “You’re becoming easier to tolerate.”

  Once he’s done, I turn to check myself out in the mirror. It’s weird, looking like this. The last time I was anything close to this dressed up, I was twelve, and it was for my grandfather’s funeral. My nerves were a lot easier to control then.

  I’ve never really been afraid of much, except maybe the man who could put a bullet in my head without even flinching. However, knowing I’ll be meeting the rest of Delaney’s family tonight, I feel like I’m going to throw up. Her dad already hates me, and while his opinion isn’t one I’m too bothered about, the idea of the rest of her family feeling the same way doesn’t sit well. If enough people say it, Delaney may realize the truth—she’s way too good for me.

  “Wow,” Savannah says as she comes in the room. “Look at you! You clean up nice.”

  “Watch it,” Grayson growls, and she laughs in response.

  “Easy, caveman.” Looking me over again, she purses her lips. “Ah, I’ve got it.”

  She goes into the other room and comes back with a comb. I hold my hand up to stop her from coming near me.

  “No fucking way. I draw the line at screwing with my hair.”

  The two of them chuckle, and Savannah sighs in defeat as she tosses the comb onto the dresser. I take a deep breath, trying to get a hold of myself before going over to Delaney’s, but it’s no use. I must look as nervous as I feel, because Savannah can’t contain herself.

  “Oh my God. I never thought I’d see you this worked up over a girl.”

  I roll my eyes playfully. “That’s enough out of you. Hayworth, get a muzzle on her.”


  “Are you kidding? She’ll kick my ass.”

  Sav grins, and as she does, Grayson looks at her like she hung the damn moon. Even being around the two of them is like living in a goddamn chick flick. If I don’t get out of here, there’s no telling what sappy ass thing they’ll do next.

  “Alright, I better go.”

  “Good luck!” Savannah shouts as I head out the door and down the stairs, ignoring the squeal that leaves her mouth the second I’m gone.

  No part of me wants to know what Grayson did to cause that noise.

  Walking across the street to Delaney’s house, my heart is pounding inside of my chest. When she asked me to come with her, I never thought I’d feel like this. It’s a silent alarm, telling me just how much this girl truly means to me—something frightening enough all on its own.

  The second that my girlfriend opens the door, however, all thoughts and fears dissipate. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe her. She’s angelic. Perfect to a fault. If I could imagine my ideal woman, it wouldn’t even come close to her. She’s something else.

  The light pink dress hugs her body like a second skin, showing off all her flawless curves. Her hair is down and curled, with her makeup professionally done. The diamond necklace probably costs more than my house, but damn does it look good on her.

  “Wow,” I breathe, letting my eyes graze over her once more. “You look… Wow.”

  She giggles at my lack of the ability to speak right now. “Thanks. Let me get my clutch and we’ll go.”

  After disappearing into the house for a second, she comes back out with a small bag that matches the color of her dress. She hands me her keys, and the two of us walk toward her car. I know she mentioned her dad usually rents a limo for tonight, but there was no chance of him allowing me in it with her, so she opted to drive there instead.