Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy)
“I mean my choice of clothing, not what’s assigned to me day by day. I have to get written permission from one of the men.”
“Really? Well yeah of course. Do you want me to wait at the library for you while you get changed?”
“Sure or you can wait in my sitting area if you’d like, I can get changed in my bedroom,” his cheeks get even redder as he nods his head and we change course.
“Fuck me, is that Maddox with the Zero?” I hear one girl ask as we walk up the staircase.
“Yep, don’t worry we’ll get our chance at him soon enough. He’ll be the easiest one to bag,” someone replies and my hand clenches into a fist as he ducks his head.
“Ignore them,” I say loud enough for the petty bitches to hear as I lead him to my room and get the door unlocked.
I shoulder my way inside, dropping my bag down by the floor and disappearing into my room to raid my walk-in wardrobe for my clothes. Yes, this day is making my favorites list. At least the ones that have occurred since I made the cut.
I find a pair of shorts, the only ones that aren’t booty shorts, a cami top and my trusty sweater. Teamed with my Doc Martens I finally feel comfortable.
I walk out and head over to where he’s perched in my chair, his head raises and his eyes take me in. But they don’t leave me feeling naked and bare and I love that about him. Like, I like that about him, definitely not love. Damn, where did that come from?
“I prefer you in your clothes,” he whispers as he gets to his feet, and I can’t help but grin at his words before walking back over to the door.
I pull it open and come face to face with Liam, who’s glaring at Maddox and he looks almost as pale as me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude,” he says and I think I can hear jealousy in his voice. I know I must be imagining it, but still.
“Hey, you okay?” I ask, drawing his attention back to me.
“Yeah, just came to clean,” he says, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Okay, well I’ll see you later then. Come on Maddox, let’s go study,” I look back at him and he shakes his head before following me.
Can this day get any stranger?
I wake up and stretch my arms over my head, lazy Saturday morning for me I think. My bare feet pad across the floor as I walk into my sitting area, and a scream leaves me when I see someone sitting on my sofa.
Tucker’s head turns to look at me and I watch as his nostrils flare and I really wish I had grabbed my dressing gown. My satin nightie only just falls past my ass and the top dips low with a lace border brushing over the swell of my breasts. I know I was supposed to wear this for the guys but it’s surprisingly comfy.
“Remind me to stop by in the morning more often,” he says and I bite my tongue to stop myself from retorting.
Tucker is a wild card and it’s hard to predict what could offend him, besides his bio is non existent. All I know is what I’ve learnt in our few interactions, which isn’t a hell of a lot.
“What are you doing here?” I ask politely, walking over to my coffee pot and inhaling the scent. I might have refrained from drinking it too often before, but I have a cup most mornings nowadays.
“We drew straws and I got you seeing as I’m one of the few without a few regulars,” his words make me pause, are they supposed to make sense to me?
“Drew straws for what?”
“Taking you into town to pick out a dress, you’re going to a party Thirty-Four,” my eyes search his face but he isn’t giving anything away.
“I have an entire closet full of dresses, you’re safe to bow out,” I hate shopping yet I can imagine this will be worse than anything I’ve experienced before.
“No, you have to pick a new dress to match your mask, it’s a masquerade ball after all,” his voice drops another octave and I c
an’t help but imagine what he and the rest of the Harkwrights will look like in a suit.
“Why did you draw straws?”
“The Prince only trusts a few of us not to touch you, we had to decide which unlucky bastard will have to do it. Guess I lost.”
“He trusts you, I guess he…” I take a deep breath to steady my nerves. “He doesn’t know what you did with me and that ice?”