Sinful

He shakes his head, hooded eyes roaming over every inch of me. “No problem. Just come straight back here afterward. I said tonight, and I meant it.”

I nod, knowing I’m doomed.

Because the way he looks at me makes my entire body feel alive. Why can’t I just tell him everything?

I can’t because he will hate me when I do.

And I don’t think I can survive that.

Helen’s placeis also on campus, which makes it easy to walk to, but I can’t be late. I extract myself from Romain so I can find something appropriate to wear to dinner, picking out a black linen shirt with a white skirt and some heels. As I quickly get changed, Romain watches. His languid gaze on me while I strip feels indecent, but I don’t hate it. It’s like the choker. He looks at me like he owns me, causing hot flutters to slide right through me like butter. It’s crazy how quickly we’ve gone back to that time in the hotel.

I keep the choker on for the only reason being that I don’t think Romain would let me out of the room without it. He looks me up and down approvingly.

“I’ll be back soon,” I say to him, allowing the warmth of his gaze to spread over my body.

“You’d better,” he says gruffly, pulling my lips onto his. “Or I’ll be coming down there to make sure you don’t fall for my fucking father.”

I give him an incredulous look and then leave, trusting him with all the things in my room while I’m gone. While Romain was in the bathroom, I did hide my journal inside my coat pocket. The last thing I need is him reading every thought I’ve ever had about him. And every secret. I should really burn that thing since it’s evidence of our relationship there and black and white, but I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s all I have. I need to tell someone or something, even if it’s only a green leather-bound notebook.

“Ah, Arabella, come in,” Helen says as I greet her at her door.

“I’m so sorry. I should have brought a bottle of something,” I say, suddenly aware I’m empty handed.

“No need.” She shakes her head. The founders have brought enough to cater for fifty, never mind five of us.”

Five of us?

Helen ushers me into her dining room, where three attractive men are already sitting. “Arabella, this is Danny Blackwood, Marshall Holland, and Hayden Montford. You already know their sons.” She looks at me. “This is Arabella Ferrious, Darren’s step-daughter.”

I shoot a sharp look at her. We’re having dinner with the founders? Just the two of us? And why is she introducing me as the headmaster’s daughter?

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ferrious,” Hayden Montford says, taking my hand and placing his lips on the back of it. “What a beautiful necklace.” His blue eyes never leave mine, words sending panic coursing through my veins.

“Thank you,” I say in response, a tight smile on my lips.

Like his son, he has the same angelic-shaped face and innocent-looking baby blues, but there’s nothing else similar about them. Romain runs hot with emotion. He’s full of it, wearing his heart on his sleeve, even when he’s trying not to. But his father’s gaze is cold and empty as soon as it settles on me, spreading a chill across my bones.

The other men make their acquaintance, but only Hayden has me all a fluster. I’ve no idea if it’s because he pointed out the choker or because he’s just unnerving to be around.

After dinner, when Helen disappears into the kitchen, I make an excuse to follow her.

“Helen, what is this?”

“What do you mean?” She’s not looking at me as she tries to shove all the plates into the dishwasher single-handed.

I grab a stack of plates and help her. “You know what I mean,” I hiss. “Why am I the only one here? You said this was a bunch of teachers and founders. The only teacher here is me.”

Helen lets out a breath. “Okay, you got me. Your father asked me to set this up.”

“I knew it. He’s trying to marry me off, isn’t he?”

Helen sighs. “I don’t ask my boss questions like that. He asked me to arrange it, so I did.”

“You could have warned me. Do they know?”

She frowns. “I have no idea. Though honestly, I can’t see Darren trying to marry you off to one of them. They’re all nearly twice your age. Marshal is married, although not happily. Danny is too. He’s also a perv like his son. Hayden’s wife is filing for divorce, so I guess that makes him the most eligible, and that’s saying a lot. He’s certainly taken an interest in you, though.”

“You told me Romain’s father was a prick,” I say.