“Sorry Thirty-Four, I haven’t got a clue what you mean,” he arches a brow and I’m thrown.
He is so convincing he almost has me believing I imagined what happened in his room. I say almost because I don’t think even my mind could have dreamed that up.
“Get dressed, I haven’t got all day,” he smirks and I can’t help but walk off with a little more attitude than necessary. Better than slapping his pompous ass, does he have to be so infuriating?
I pull out a romper and tie my hair back into a braid, before slipping on my sandals and I make my way back to him. He barely even looks at me before opening the door and walking off. I wish I could slam the door closed behind him and in my mind I am. Unfortunately in reality, I follow close behind until we leave the Academy and climb into a limousine with tinted windows, a mini fridge and a driver in the front with the Mountain sitting beside him.
“Can’t we just walk there?” I ask as I stare straight ahead, watching as the divider slides into place.
“I said we were going to town, not which one. Now sit back and let me relax,” he says dismissively as he pulls out his phone and ignores me for the rest of the car ride.
It feels beyond awkward and I’m riding so much tension that I practically fall out the door, the moment we come to a stop. I’m even contemplating kissing the ground in relief. Thankfully I’m not going to, I’m not that crazy... yet.
Tucker strolls to me, grips my elbow and leads me down the sidewalk until we come to a boutique that houses gowns so beautiful I don’t even want to try one on. I can’t pull them off, but I know my opinion doesn’t mean a damn thing.
“What do you think?” He asks and I can’t keep the surprise off my face and he shoots me a smirk.
“This is far from the kind of place I would choose, honestly I don’t think there is a single gown in there that I will feel comfortable in,” my eyes flick repeatedly across his eyes as he strokes his hand across his chin.
“I’ll make you a deal, try on the three dresses that we’ve selected for you and if you don’t find a winner,” he steps closer, his smirk growing in width. “Well, I’ll let you pick the store and the outfit for the ball and I won’t veto at all. What do you say Tiny One, are you game?”
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” I say as his hand envelopes mine and I don’t miss the electricity that shoots up my arm. Although I will pretend that it hasn’t affected me or my psyche on any level. Nope, I’m utterly immune to the Harkwright charm…
He leads me into the boutique and I don’t miss the way the assistants are practically drooling over him. I may as well be invisible right now, they’re certainly making me feel that way.
“Mr. Harkwright, what a pleasure it is to have you in our store,” says the pretty little bleach blonde-haired girl. Yeah definitely not a natural shade, I can see the brown coming through already. When did I become so catty?
“Good morning, could you please show us to your dressing room, ensure the dresses are ready to be tried on and the closed sign is showing on the door. Your store will be open for us only, until I leave.” He barks out and she nearly falls over herself getting everything done.
She leads us to a room with three changing rooms within it and an open area surrounded by mirrors and a comfy sofa for Tucker to relax on.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” She asks as she trails her hand across his shoulder and his eyes flick to it.
“My friend here is the jealous sort, I’d keep your hands to yourselves if you want to keep them.”
He says it so coldly that even I believe him and her eyes shoot to me as I give her a smile, and she slowly backs away before pulling the curtain on us and leaving me and Tucker well and truly alone.
“Your dresses are waiting,” he says, turning to face me head on and I have to fight the urge to take a step back.
“O-okay, I’ll t-take them into the n-nearest room,” damn my stammering, it always happens when I can’t afford it to. Like in the presence of a Harkwright for instance.
“No, you’ll get changed out here. I’m not missing a single second of it,” he replies as he snatches hold of my wrist within his hand and my blood thrums beneath the surface.
“P-please,” I don’t know what I’m begging for, but I’m hoping he will and he’ll acquiescence all the same.
“I’ll let you keep your back to me,” my breathing settles out until he pulls me closer and grips my chin with his free hand, “but only for the first one, if I have to go clothes shopping, I’m going to get something good out of it for myself. That or I’ll take the fake blonde up on her offer of hospitality,” I don’t know if he means it but it irks me, nonetheless.
I pull out of his grip and he lets me go without a fight as I pick up the first dress and slide the straps of my romper down my arms until I’m free and it’s gathered around my hips. His eyes are burning into my skin as I turn around, release the clasp and let the material fall down to my ankles. Maybe I’m imagining the hiss I hear from him as he takes in the thong, but I hope I’m not and that hope scares me. I shouldn’t want these men to want me, so why do I? Why do I hate that Aeron is getting his thrills elsewhere or how Tucker can bring me to the brink before dismissing me in an instant? What the fuck is wrong with me?
Self destruction? Fuck I think that could be the reason why. I’ve wanted Cole for so long and now that I have the chance, I’m biting at the quick to tell him no and practically throw myself to the mercy of the Harkwright devils. All of them deserve that title, not just Emmet, all except from Maddox but he’s still a Harkwright and I can’t allow myself to feel anything but animosity for them all.
The problem is I can’t control my body’s reaction to these men or the way my panties end up soaked whenever Aeron or Tucker are close to me, but I can stop myself from dreaming or hoping for anything more. If that’s what I want, a relationship, someone to love and to be loved by then Cole is the only person I need. Although, I need to find out why he was ever in the Academy. Because if he’s a Harkwright, then I may have to say goodbye to him after all.
Ridding myself of these thoughts, I slide the gown over my head and unceremoniously pull it down and over my frame before it kisses the floor. I iron out the creases with the side of my hand before looking in the mirror and I fucking hate it. I turn around to show Tucker and his face scrunches up, I can’t contain my laughter and his death glare only makes it worse.
“What is so funny?” he barks out at me and I have tears streaming down my face, it really doesn’t deserve this reaction but now it’s started, I can’t seem to stop.
He’s in front of me in moments and gripping my shoulders, he spins me around until I’m facing the mirror once more and I take in deep breaths to put an end to my laughing fit once and for all.