Page 6 of His Vicious Desire
“Oh my god, that reminds me.Kitty told me last night.She didn’t get into ANY of the schools she applied to—except UNLV.Her dad is pissed.He had no idea her grades were so bad.Not even their money is going to be able to get her into one of the schools she wanted to go to.He's threatening to cut her off if she fails a single class between now and the end of the year.”Joanna giggles.
“Are you serious?Didn’t she apply to Michigan State for law?”Bianca is clearly surprised.It drags her eyes from the mirror where she’s watching me.
“Yep, so you have to wonder how bad her grades had to be for her not to get into a state school.He paid for a new freaking clinic for Columbia Med school for her brother to get in.”Joanna sighs.“Damn, you’re going to be stuck with her for another four years.”
“Please, no.I’m starting the spring semester in another two weeks.She’ll still be finishing her last semester.A lot of things can happen between now and when she starts in the fall.Maybe she’ll get her grades up.I’m still pissed at you for going to Stanford.”
I remember how proud Sandro was of her for not only graduating early but also starting at UNLV right away.She wanted her degree as soon as possible.
Joanna lays her head on Bianca’s shoulder.“I’m sorry.I’ll miss you.But I can’t turn it down.A full ride that includes housing at one of the best schools there is—don’t hate me.My mom was in tears.She’s never forgiven herself for getting into my college fund to pay a shit ton of cash for us to escape Ivan.”
“I guess I can forgive you.I’m sorry, I forgot not everyone is as lucky as I am.”
At least she acknowledges it and apologizes.Sandro sold the house they grew up in and put the money in a trust for Bianca’s education.It wasn’t millions, but it was enough for her to go to almost any school she wanted, and if she needed more, Sandro was more than prepared to cover the difference.Especially since when his father died, he left nothing for her and everything to Sandro.
“You could have come with me to Stanford.Your grades were good enough to get in.”Joanna says what I had wondered.
Why was she going to UNLV when her test scores and her grades were so good?It would be safer for the both of us if she were several hundred miles away from me.
“Maybe, there’s no guarantee.I don’t want to leave Vegas.It’s my home.”I hear the thunk of the heels hitting the floorboard at the same time she sighs in relief.“I’m never wearing these things again.Don’t tell Sandro.”
A small giggle comes from Joanna.“I won’t.It’s so sweet of him, though.I can’t believe all he did for your birthday.”
There’s no response other than Bianca shrugging.Her sadness is clear in the lines on her face.She hadn’t wanted a party.She’d wanted Sandro.Anger boils in my blood that he couldn’t see what I, a stranger, could with one glance.
We’re at the casino and hotel on Fremont Street in old Vegas sooner than I would like.I’ve driven us around back since Fremont Street was closed to cars.This is where all hotel and casino staff enter.
I’m out and opening the door for Joanna.She gets out with a wary smile.Rounding the car to Bianca, I find her with the door already open and the heels in one hand as she eyes the ground beneath the door.
She isn’t really going to walk around outside without shoes, is she?It’s not awful back here, although staff might step out for a smoke break, and it’s kept clean.Still, she shouldn’t be walking around without shoes.
“What are you doing?”I dare her to try it.I’m aware the heels hurt her, but she can’t wear them for five more minutes?
“I can’t wear them.It’s fine.”The brat actually stands up, answering the dare with a frown on her beautiful face.
She winces, and her in pain is a hard fucking no—it twists my chest up in a way I’ve never felt before.I do it without thinking, scooping her up into my arms.
That crazy fucking electricity I felt is back, and I wonder if I touched a livewire instead of a beautiful woman.Stupid, this is the biggest mistake of my life.If I hadn’t known what it felt like to hold her, then I would have been able to tell myself that I was wrong about what happened in the club.I wasn’t wrong.
Her little whimper yanks me out of my head.It’s not well-lit back here, but I can see her eyes are wide with fear…and longing.The longing is the same as what’s thrumming through my body.A car door closes too damn close, reminding me of exactly where I am.
Christ, anyone could see us.No doubt this is getting caught on the cameras.Cameras I have to hope Sandro has no need to check.I catch the car door with my foot and turn toward the hotel’s employee entrance.
Joanna is waiting for me at the door.She needs a key card to scan into the building.I pretend I don’t see how wide her eyes are on me as they dart between me and Bianca.
“My badge is in my inner pocket.Give it to her.”I order Bianca.
She doesn’t argue with me and slips her hand beneath the jacket.Her fingers are brushing up against me.Through the fine silk of the shirt, my whole body goes hard at her touch.The first touch is an accident then the brat’s fingers linger.I want more.I want her hands everywhere on me.
Joanna sneezes and reminds us both that she’s less than four feet away.Bianca snatches the badge out of the inner pocket and hands it to Joanna, who jumps to take it.She presses it to the reader.It goes green, and the lock clicks.She opens the door wide without being told.
She tries to offer it back to me when we’re inside.I shake my head.“Keep it so you can keep badging us through to the elevator and the suite upstairs.”
Her nod is jerky as she keeps it tight in her grip.
“You can set me down.Your back is probably breaking carrying me.”Bianca’s eyes are down as she mutters the words.
I shake my head.“Bullshit.I bench two of you on a weekly basis.You’re a stunner.Don’t hunt for compliments you don’t need.”
