Her face turned red, and she opened her mouth as if to speak, but I cut her off. “The last girl who called me a bitch, I broke her nose.”
That was in high school, back when I had to defend myself against wealthy, filthy rich princesses who thought everyone had to bow down to them. Ha, right.
Bianca’s throat bobbed with a hard swallow. Once I was sure she got my message, my lips widened with a smile. “Apology accepted. Have a good day,” I dismissed her.
Maddox raised his head, gave her a final stare – his eyes darkened, and his face flashed with an unreadable expression. Like he wanted to say something, but he was too angry to. He was so confusing!
As soon as she stepped away from our little corner, my nerves eased up, but I was still strung tight with… strong, vivid emotions. Jealousy.
God, I loathed that word.
It made me feel insecure.
And… small.
Like, I wasn’t good enough or… I didn’t think I was good enough.
I hated, hated feeling like that. Especially after the way Maddox had been acting lately.
“She texted you?” I blurted out, but then winced. My annoyance had been so evident in my tone that I flushed. I was acting unreasonable, I told myself.
“She did, a few times. I didn’t reply,” Maddox responded.
A few times? But why… why now? He and Bianca were long over, and she had moved on to the next available man.
My chest squeezed. “Oh.”
Maddox made a sound at the back of his throat, a deep rumble coming from his chest. My head snapped up, as he pushed his chair backward and leaned back. His eyes explored me lazily, and his lips twitched with a cocky grin. His whole demeanor changed. Gone was brooding Maddox.
I was about to get a whiplash with all his mood changes.
“You’re jealous,” he deadpanned.
“Excuse… me?” I sputtered.
He grinned harder. “You were practically spitting fire.”
Even though that might have been true, I was outraged he brought it up like this. Especially after acting so shitty the last few days. “I wasn’t… jealous. I just don’t like the fact that your ex is texting you.”
“She’s not my ex.”
“Right, she was just a fuck buddy.” As if that made it any better.
“So, that was you pissing all over your territory?” Maddox smiled crookedly, and my cheeks heated up.
God, did he have to be so blunt…?
“Don’t be an asshole,” I hissed.
“You look cute when you’re pissed, Garcia.” My teeth rattled at his teasing tone, but I chose to ignore the bait. Looking back down at my textbook, I thumbed through the pages.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Maddox moving. He dragged his chair closer and next to me. Great, now he wanted to talk.
First, he acted so strangely the last couple of days, making me question everything. Then, here he was… teasing and being cocky like nothing else mattered. Maddox Coulter was complicated, and I accepted that fact a long time ago.
I belatedly noticed that the subject had changed. He still hadn’t told me what was wrong… I didn’t know if he was going to admit to anything, before Bianca interrupted us. And now the moment was gone… and Maddox was in the mood to play.
I wanted to fall for it… his teasing, his charms, his dorky side. But I couldn’t stop the nagging feeling in my chest. The prick of unease and creeping worry burrowed itself under my skin.
I asked him not to keep secrets, but I knew he was hiding something. I just knew.
Maddox settled beside me, and my body twitched at how close he was. His scent and warmth wrapped around me, like a safe cocoon.
His leg pressed against mine, and my back straightened when his hand landed on my thigh. His hot breath skated on my neck, as he leaned close, putting his mouth right next to my ear. “Why are you so mad, little dragon?”
“Why are you lying to me?” I retorted.
Maddox tensed for a brief second, before his fingers started to inch upward, toward the apex of my thighs. “Why do you think I’m lying?”
“Something is wrong, I can tell.” My eyes dared him to deny it, to lie to my face again.
Maddox didn’t reply. He leaned in, and his lips skimmed over the column of my throat, his intention clear. His hand cupped my sex through my jeans. A breathy hiss escaped past my clenched teeth. “We’re… in the library. Someone could see, Maddox!”
“Being in a public place never stopped you before,” he grunted against my skin. His teeth scraped across my flesh, and I let out an involuntary shudder. “Spread your legs for me, Lila.”
I really shouldn’t; I really, really shouldn’t have.
But I did. Because I needed him, because I wanted to feel like he was mine.
“That’s a good girl,” he praised. His lips and teeth dragged along my neck, suckling and biting on the soft, tender flesh. I let out a little whimper, as he unbuttoned my jeans and shoved his hand inside. I shivered almost violently, as my gaze swept around the quiet library.