Page 56 of Merciless

It’s ten shades of fucked up and frustrating that I want to know what she thinks. Not that any of it matters.

“I wouldn’t know since I’ve never paid attention,” she says with a sniff. “I had other things to worry about, as you may well know.”

I walk ahead of her to catch the door and hold it open for her. She ducks past me, and I follow her through the courtyard.

“You paid enough attention to hear about my reputation,” I say. “Enough that you can form your own opinion about me.”

Eden turns her head toward me, her mouth opening and then closing.

I wink at her. “If you’re going to lie, please don’t box yourself in. And be sure to make it believable, too.”

Eden casts a glare at me before widening her strides to walk ahead of me. I follow, admiring her body and lingering on her ass.

I can understand why my brother wants to fuck her.

We’re already late for our classes, and I’m in no rush to attend any of them. I catch Eden’s wrist and guide her toward a shaded bench sitting beneath a tree.

“I want us to enjoy our breakfast before doing anything else,” I say when she gives me a confused look.

She checks the area for any onlookers.

“No one is looking. Even if they are, that’s the whole point of me hanging out with you. Now, sit.”

She scans the area one last time before giving in and sitting beside me on the bench, leaving a sliver of space. She inches to the right to put more distance between us.

I catch her by the thigh at the hem of her skirt. Her head whips toward me, her eyes wide and doe-like, much how they were earlier this morning while I kissed her.

“You act like I have cooties.” I squeeze her thigh once.

“I haven’t heard that word since middle school.” She shudders as I stroke my thumb on the outside of her leg.

I tilt my head and watch her reaction as I continue touching her. “Do you dislike being touched?”

She peeks at me from her lashes and turns her focus to the banana bread. “I don’t dislike it. But shouldn’t you not be touching me there?”

“Do you hate it?”

“I think it’s inappropriate.” She swallows hard before taking another bite.

The corner of my lip twitches as I fight back a smile. “Not as inappropriate as what we did earlier.”

She sucks in a quiet breath and stops chewing.

Got her.

I take a bite of my banana bread as she forces herself to eat. Even watching her do something mundane is addicting.

“Why don’t you drive your car?” I say.

She blinks. “I’m not sure why that matters.”

“My father—” I shake my head. “Our father gifts you a car, and you don’t use it. I’m curious about why.”

She takes another bite, choosing silence.

I sigh. “Fine, sensitive topic. Why do you like birds so much?”

Eden peeks at me from the corner of her eye, then down at her breakfast. “Because they’re ignored and looked down on.”