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“It suits you.” With a shrug, I started down the stairs, not looking back as I made my way to the study. I slid her skeleton key into my pocket, guessing she’d come looking for me later just to get the key back. Eli was right. She was up to something. I glanced up to see River leaning against the wall near the study. He met my gaze, and there was no hint of his usual grin.
“If you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you,” he threatened, pushing off the wall and getting in my face. “She’s dealt with enough.”
I shoved him away. “I have no plans to hurt her. Unless she asks for it. I guess I’ll find out when I see her later tonight.”
River’s hands turned into fists when he realized what my words meant. Unlike Eli and me, Kat’s hate for River was a one-way street. He still cared for her. And it was eating him up that she wanted nothing to do with him.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” he hissed, shoving his shoulder into me as he opened the study.
I didn’t answer him as we walked into the room. We both acted like there was no bad blood between us as my dad handed us each a glass of whiskey. We’d deal with it later when we were back at school. My mind wasn’t on River anyway. It was on Kat. I tried not to look at my watch every thirty seconds.
I really hoped I’d find her in my room after this.
* * *
I crossed the front lawn, my pulse thudding like crazy. The second I’d stepped into the study, I’d realized how fucking stupid it was to hand Kat my keys. She didn’t hide the fact that she wanted to get even with us for what we did to Noah. And I’d given her the keys to my parents’ house and the team house on campus. If she wasn’t in my room, I was going to have to spend the rest of the night looking for her.
All four of our families’ houses were on the same street. The Estate was larger, and more wealthy families lived behind the gates, but no one else lived on our street. Picking up my speed, I raced up the steep steps to the front door. Taking a deep breath, I twisted the doorknob and paused when I pushed it open. My parents had already left, which meant she was here.
The foyer was empty, and my steps echoed as I made my way to the stairs. My mom loved white. The floor was white marble, and the stairs were the same bright white. Family portraits hung on the walls, helping it feel more like a home instead of a museum.
“I shouldn’t do this,” I muttered under my breath as I climbed the stairs. If she was in my room, there was no doubt I was going to touch her again. Eli was going to chew me the fuck out when he found out. But this time, I’d tell him right after. I wouldn’t give her time to shock him with the news. And when he got mad, I’d use the old defense. Keep my friends close, and my enemies closer.
The carpet softened my footsteps once I reached the second floor, and I slowed down when light poked out from under the door, which was cracked open a couple of inches. Pushing it open farther, I stayed in the doorway and watched as she closed one of my desk drawers before digging into another one.
“Find anything interesting?” My question had her jumping away from the desk in a hurry.
“I thought you’d be gone longer,” she said with a shrug. “The last couple of weeks, you all stayed in the study for hours doing whatever it is you big men do.”
“Tonight I had more than enough motivation to make an excuse so I could leave early.”
My eyes trailed over her, and I could feel my dick getting excited, even though she was still fully fucking dressed. Her purple hair was pulled into a high bun, unlike how she usually wore it. I was guessing she’d pulled it back to try and get William off her back about dying it. Her black cocktail dress was tight and just long enough to be considered conservative enough for family dinner. She had taken her heels off, and they were on the floor next to my desk.
“Do you spend a lot of time here?” she asked, glancing around my childhood room.
“No. Not unless I have to.”
I followed her gaze around the large room. The bed was on the back wall, full of decorative pillows that my mom had added after I moved out. Other than that, it was all the same as when I was in high school. Basketball trophies and sports memorabilia covered the walls. The desk was a family heirloom and took up half a wall. The thing was huge, and my father expected me to move it into my office when I graduated from college. There was an en suite bathroom that had been completely redone a year ago.
“I came because I want my key back.” She folded her arms. “You had no right to take that. It’s mine.”
I chuckled, closing the door behind me and locking it. “That’s the only reason?”
“Give it to me, West.”
“What were you doing with it?”
“I wanted to find something to hold over William’s head so he wouldn’t try to drug me again.”
I studied her, debating about whether I should keep questioning her. Her answer had come too quickly for it to be completely true. She wouldn’t be honest with me for no reason. No, she was giving me a bullshit answer so I wouldn’t hunt for the real one. Lucky for her, I had other things on my mind at the moment.
“I’m not giving you the key back.” She scowled at my words. “If that’s the only reason you’re here, then you can leave now.”
She stayed rooted behind the desk, the smallest amount of nerves flashing through her eyes. Keeping her arms folded across her chest, she took a deep breath. Before she could talk herself out of it, I strode across the room until I was standing in front of her.
“Say the word, Kat,” I murmured, running my fingers down her cheek. “And I’ll give you the other thing you came here for.”
“I won’t have sex with you,” she rushed out, still not moving away from me.
