Page 30 of A Devious Arrangement
Me: Love you too, boo.
Xander: …
I slide my phone into my pocket and enter the alley beside her studio to wait until she’s finished. I’m going to figure her out one way or another, and when I do, I’ll make her mine.
Chapter 14
Anastasia
I’m sweating from class.I spent another half hour running through my routine after the last girl left. I haven’t found anything that clears my mind the way ballet does. The technical skill requires all of my attention, erasing any thought that tries to creep in. Well, it normally does, but with every turn I made, thoughts of Bash filled my head. No matter how many times I think about it, it’s impossible for me to figure out why he didn’t turn me in, why he covered for me. Heat floods to my core, thinking about his mouth on mine. I can’t even lie to myself that I didn’t enjoy it. My body has never responded to anyone like that, and it kills me that it had to be him. Renowned playboy, known for his unseriousness, the absolute last person I should get involved with. So why do my thoughts keep turning to him?
I pull my hoodie over my head, hating the way it sticks to my skin, and wrap up the garbage. I might not be back here for a few days, so I need to make sure I leave it in pristine condition. The only reason I’ve been able to keep the studio is I rent it out to a few other instructors. They pay a monthly fee so they can run their own classes. There are also a few dancers who just want the space to themselves. Because I require the money, my prices are low, so I’m never short of people who want to rent.
Taking a last look around and deciding it’s good enough, I exit to the side alley where the large yellow garbage bin is located and toss my bag inside. Strong hands tighten on my arms, turning me until my back’s pressed against the brick wall and there’s a heavy chest against mine. I scream, but a hand descends over my mouth, muffling the sound. I thrash beneath them, clawing at their arms, but they don’t move. Fear lances through me. Who knows what the Salvatores are going to do to providemotivation.
“Easy there, Princess. I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself,” Bash purrs, his breaths tickling my ear, sending heat straight to my core.
He presses his hips against me, and the hard edge of his cock hits my clit perfectly. I gasp, mouth dropping open. His thick fingers grasp my chin, tilting my face up to look at him. His usually bright gray eyes are dark as he looks at me with hunger.
“Get off of me,” I grit, unable to pronounce properly with him holding my jaw.
“I’m not sure that’s what you actually want.”
“Listen to me, asshole. That’s exactly what I want. Let go of me, or I’ll call the police.”
“How exactly are you going to do that?” There’s amusement in his voice. “You can call the cops, Princess, but there’s nothing they can do for you. The Order controls them like they do everything else. Or did you forget who I am?”
“Fuck you,” I hiss, but he just laughs.
“Patience. I’ve got you.”
Bash lifts the corner of my sweater and grazes the exposed band of skin between my loose pants and top. I instinctively suck in a breath, and his rough fingers travel higher, sending heat to my core. My thighs squeeze together, desperate for friction. Anything to cure the ache building there. His thumb brushesthe side of my navel while his fingers curve around my waist, gripping it firmly.
I meet his eyes, and they’re already hot on mine, his breaths escaping in shallow pants. He lets go of my jaw and skims his knuckles down my chest. I gasp as his knuckles travel over my taut nipples, and my hips press into him, earning me a low groan. Dizziness takes over, and I have to grip his shirt to stop myself from swaying on my feet. Our breaths intertwine, each one coming out faster than the next. The air is stuck in my lungs when his lips come to meet mine, but a whine escapes me when he halts a paper’s width away. My body’s trembling with my growing need, and all thought escapes me as I lift on my toes to close the distance between our mouths.
Before I can taste him, he hauls my sweater up over my head.
I shiver as the cool air hits my heated skin, and my mouth drops open in shock. “What are you doing?”
“I knew you wanted me.” He leans in and kisses my forehead, and then the asshole turns on his heels and leaves.
My head drops back against the hard brick, and I struggle to fill my lungs. Blood rushes in my ears, blocking out all sound as I try to figure out what just happened.
It’s not until I calm down that I realize that he took the sweater with him.
Chapter 15
Bash
I followed Stasia home,hating every second of her being in that Uber, and vowed to fix it so it never happens again. I don’t know what’s changed to make her move around unprotected, but that’s stopping now.
Sweat coats the back of my neck, and my T-shirt sticks to my chest. When Matthias invited me over to his place, I didn’t realize it was to build a giant tree house. God knows he can afford to pay someone, but Scarlet, his wife, one of my favorite sisters, only tied with Misty, said that it wouldn’t mean as much if we didn’t build it ourselves.
I shake my head, my hair spraying everywhere.
“Gross, Bash.” Misty’s beside me, holding out a beer. Condensation coats the bottle as I pop the cap off.
“Okay, you just won the top spot for sisters.” I take a deep swig, using the crisp taste to help cool me down.
