Page 85 of Coveted

Her eyes roll. “You say that like you haven’t been monitoring my every move.”

“I do that for your safety.” And to feed my addiction. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

She crosses her arms, which pushes her breasts together in the most jaw-dropping way. Tendrils of hair brush her neck and her pulse flickers against her skin.

“Because I’m embarrassed,” she says.

“Of?” I ask.

“Of what you did!” She gestures at me like I’m a wild, dangerous creature. “Of what I did.”

I speak low, so no one else can hear. “What we did.”

Her cheeks redden. “Yeah.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You were so fucking great.”

“Stop saying that.” She presses her palms to her face like she wants to disappear.

I bite back a smirk. “Because you enjoy my praise?”

I’m still in total control. I don’t know what I was worried about earlier.

“No,” she says emphatically. “I enjoy nothing about you. I meant it when I said we were done.”

“And I meant it when I said we’re not.”

Her teeth grit together. “Why won’t you listen to me?”

“Because you’re still lying to yourself.”

“I’m not.”

But she’s stuttering and can’t meet my eyes. She’s flustered as fuck, and it makes me physically ache to take her in my arms.

“You don’t get it, Lucan.” Her sweet voice is braided with frustration. “You’re guaranteed a good life no matter what you do. But I’m not. I didn’t come to Darkbloom to be your plaything. I came here for an education.”

Something stabs low in my chest. “I’m making sure you can do that. You can’t get an education if you’re killed.”

She shakes her head and looks away, like she doesn’t want to waste any more breath on me.

Her dress strap slips to the edge of her shoulder. Before she can object, I slide my finger under the fabric and drag it into place, feeling the warm softness of her body.

That might’ve been a mistake though, because she shoves me in the chest. A rawness enters her eyes, as though she’s genuinely torn and confused.

My protective instincts come to life, tinged with regret. Making her blush is fun, but I didn’t mean to upset her in a real way.

Can I reach for her? Will she let me?

Juliette steps between Sadie and me, jabbing me with her elbow. “Your minute’s up!”

“Come on,” I say. “Another minute.”

“Nope. That was the deal.” Juliette takes Sadie’s hand. “Time for champagne.”

Without another glance at me, which sharpens the blade lodged low in my chest, Sadie goes with her friends. The three of them clink flutes, sip, and chat. It’s like I don’t exist, except for the tightness in Sadie’s shoulders.

Fine, so she’s deep in denial.