Deviant King (Royal Elite 1)

Okay. He’s still salty about that.

His fingers brush a strand of my hair back. My skin tingles and I want to lean into his hand so bad, but the audience stops me.

“Meet me in the car park,” he says.

“Why?”

He pinches my cheek. “Stop with the questions and meet me there.”

I nod.

“King,” Coach Larson calls from behind Aiden. “Locker room meeting. Now.”

“Yes, Coach,” Aiden calls back but he never takes his eyes off me. The pull between us is crazy and addictive. Despite the audience surrounding us, I’m lost in his smoky eyes. It’s like he’s able to erase the world just like I can.

He’s a compelling type of madness.

Ronan clasps Aiden’s shoulder from behind, shattering the moment. “Yo, King! Let’s go to the meeting or Coach will make us do push-ups.”

Aiden throws him a glare. “Push-ups are better than the grave I’ve been digging for you.”

“I’m hurt. You better pay for the psychological damage.” Ronan’s eyes flick in my direction. “Tame the beast, Ellie.”

I smile. “I don’t think I can.”

&n

bsp; “Sure you can.” Ronan waggles his eyebrows. Aiden elbows him and he howls in pain.

“Our friendship just gained an expiration date, King. The only way to save it is by letting me drive your car.”

“Friendship over.”

I burst into laughter as Ronan’s eyes widen comically. “How about just an hour?”

“Over, Astor.”

“Okay, a loop?” He nods at me and clasps his arm around Aiden’s shoulder, guiding him away.

“Outside.” Aiden mouths to me as Ronan drags him, spouting a monologue about friendship before whore cars.

I’m still smiling when I feel someone watching me — or glaring at me. I turn sideways, but the track team girls seem to have dreamy eyes more than anything.

After searching my surroundings, I spot Adam. He leans against the railing leading to the football team’s locker room, staring at me.

Silver stands beside him. While Adam’s gaze is unreadable, hers is full of contempt.

“Nevermind Silver.” Tara, a member of the track team, interlaces her arm with mine. “She’s just bitter that King will never look at her the way he looks at you.”

Tara and I walk into the locker room. Like Kim, Tara has been an elite since she was a child. I think her father is a Knight, too. I often forget about her aristocratic title because Tara is the modest type.

“Silver wishes she was you,” Tara continues.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s been gunning after King since Royal Elite Junior, but he never really showed interest in her. Then you come along and he openly shows you off. She feels threatened.”

“She’s been gunning after him how?” So much for swearing to never get into this drama.