Page 33 of A Devious Arrangement
Why am I not surprised he’s programmed this into my phone? I’m not even going to try to figure this out.
Future Husband: I feel like it’s been forever since I saw you.
I resist responding and giving him exactly what he wants.
Future Husband: Ignoring me now, Princess? That’s not very nice.
Future Husband: You know I’ll just keep trying.
Future Husband: This is starting to hurt my feelings. I know you’ve read this.
A laugh slips from my lips. He can be ridiculously immature, and it somehow leaks into me.
Future Husband: I know you want to reply.
Me: I’m busy.
The phone rings, and I fumble it in my hand, barely catching it before it hits the floor.Future Husbandis clear at the top, and I let it ring until it hits voicemail. What is he thinking? It starts again, over and over, before his persistence has a bubblingsensation forming in my chest. How can he be like this? I’m perfectly aware of what the Lords do. How they rule over everyone and what that entails. So how is he so unserious?
Future Husband: We should really talk about yesterday.
Future Husband: Now that I know you want me too.
Goose bumps rise as I remember exactly how his rough fingers felt against my skin. Heat pools low in my stomach, and I press my thighs together. Whether I’m willing to admit it or not, my body responds to him.
Future Husband: Princess, come out and play with me. You know you want to.
Me: You are delusional.
I switch his name to “Psycho,” but it looks too cold for him, so I can’t resist adding a heart beside it. I’ve been acting out of character since I met him. Doing things I’d never dreamed of. I’ve been chalking it up to needing him to find the tiara and ignoring the voice in the back of my head whispering that I like the way he makes me feel.
Psycho <3: Stasia! I miss you.
I suck in a breath as warmth fills my chest. I let it out slowly. It’s been so long since someone other than Nikolai cared about me. Clearly, it’s making me desperate. I block his number before I can do anything stupid, like reply.
I down my water in three large gulps and drop it on the counter. The loud clunk fills the room, causing me to flinch. Ballet dancers are poised. Bash makes me feel anything but. Still, I can’t help but admit a tiny, traitorous part of me likes it.
Returning to the wooden bar, I try to resume my practice, but it’s pointless. The door to the alley keeps catching my attention, and exactly what happened out there threatens to suck me in. I would have kissed him, pressed my mouth against his. I wanted to feel his body against mine until he took my thoughts away.
Embarrassment took away my relief when he was the one to step back. His eyes were narrow, and his constant grin was pulling at the corner of his lip, but his usual mischievousness was missing, replaced by a longing I didn’t recognize but pulled me to him, nonetheless.
He’d given me a look like he was a wolf who’d finally cornered its prey.
Not daring to go into the alley, I leave the garbage full. I’ll empty it next time. When I’m not so caught up in that moment. I pull on jogging pants over my black leotard and button up my jacket. That bastard stole my favorite sweater, and I haven’t gotten the chance to replace it yet. Hopefully, Nikolai doesn’t notice it’s missing.
There’s no sign of my Uber when I lock the door behind me. Instead, there’s a black town car with tinted windows waiting on the road. There’s no mistaking the man standing with the back door open is a guard.
The hair stands up at the back of my neck. I still have time, so why are the Salvatores coming to collect me?
My phone buzzes in my hand, and an unknown number pops up.
Unknown: Get in the car, Princess.
My emotions alternate between relieved and pissed. Relieved that I’m not being swept away by mob bosses and pissed that Bash thinks he can order me around.
The guard gives me an apologetic smile. “Please get in the car before he kills me.”
I raise one brow.
