Dirty Little Secrets (Kings of Bolten 1)

He froze for a split second before he pushed me away without kissing me back.

“I can’t fucking believe I’m going to say this, but no. We can’t do that. Believe me, I want to. But you’re in trouble. Maybe when you’re not, we can.”

“You let Dominic run everything, don’t you?”

“He’s the boss most of the time, but we make a lot of decisions together because we’re a team.”

“But he’s in charge.”

He sighed. “Yeah. I guess he is.”

Damn. I thought he’d continue to deny it so I could tear at the seam of the group hierarchy. How the hell was I supposed to get through to tear them apart?

“But just so you know,” he said softly, reaching out to tilt my chin up. “I can fuck you whenever I want, just not when you’re in trouble. So be a good girl, and I’ll give you what you want next time.” His dark eyes flared with need, making my breath catch, as he leaned in, his lips a fraction of space from my own.

I swallowed hard. A knock sounded on my door. Vincent stilled over me for just a moment before he was on his feet, his serious face back on.

“Fix yourself,” he grunted.

I had no idea what he was talking about. Sure, I was flushed and flustered, but I was fine past that.

Another knock.

I fluffed my hair and looked wide-eyed to Vincent whose hand was on the doorknob. His dark-eyed gaze skirted over me, a tiny smirk on his face, before he spun and opened the door.

“Hey,” Aubrey called. “S-Sorry. I was just checking on Bianca. I haven’t seen her today. I-I didn’t know she had company.”

“B, your little friend is at the door.” Vincent opened the door wider, allowing Aubrey to step in.

She did so, casting him a quick, nervous look over her shoulder.

“Hey,” I said, shifting awkwardly on the bed and running my fingers through my hair.

“I heard you come into your room. I’ve been worried about you,” she said, glancing at Vincent who stood by the now closed door, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

“Oh. Yeah.” I swallowed and stared at Vincent who lifted his eyebrows at me. “Just been busy.”

Aubrey studied us for a moment before she nodded. “What’s got you so busy? How are you with. . . everything?”

“Not good,” I muttered.

“B,” Vincent warned.

I ground my teeth and forced a smile on my face. “But better now that Hail is a thing of the past.”

“I’m happy you got away from him.” Her eyes widened, and she cast a quick flick of her eyes to Vincent who couldn’t see her movements.

I nodded at her, and she reached out and squeezed my hand.

“I’m just across the hall if you want to talk. I’d like to hang out more at school.”

“Me too,” I said, really meaning it. I liked Aubrey. As far as Bolten students went, she was one of the kinder ones, and I thought of her as my closest friend.

“I was really pissed the other day when they made you eat off the floor. I thought you might be mad at me that I couldn’t stick up for you—”

“That’s enough. Aubrey, I’m sure you’ll be at the party tonight over at the dip?” Vincent took her by the arm and led her back to the door.

“Yeah, I’m going with Lyssa and Emy—