She waited.
I didn’t elaborate, just continued to stare her down with my arm caging her in. She could have stepped back to escape, but the feisty female remained steady before me, totally unfazed by my nearness.
So very different from the women at Midnight Fae Academy. Cornering one of them in this manner would have led to seduction and sensual fun—the benefits of being a royal.
But Isabella didn’t seem to notice my natural charms at all. If anything, she appeared completely uninterested.
Fascinating.
“And which day would that be?” she prompted, her patience thinning.
I smiled. “Saturday.”
Her brow furrowed. “I meant a weekday. After school. Unless you plan to attend class on Saturdays?”
“No, I plan to go to Homecoming. With you as my date.” I leaned into her, adoring the way her slender form seemed to fit against my much taller one. “Try to wear something nice, Ms. Cinder.” I picked one of the sticks from her bun and let it fall to the floor between us. “I’ll pick you up at six. We’ll interview each other over dinner before the dance.”
I pressed my lips to her cheek and stepped around her as she sputtered something unintelligible at my back.
“What?! You—”
I disappeared into the administrative office before she could finish. The delicious female could reject me all she wanted, but by Saturday, she’d accept. Because, by then, she’d know why I was here. At least part of the reason. And she’d be too intrigued to resist.
Welcome to my world, Isabella Cinder.
I do hope you want to stay and play for a while.
Because you’re mine now, sweetheart.
Chapter Three
Ella
Homecoming.
He had to be joking.
Messing with me.
He didn’t even know my name, for crying out loud. Well, he knew my last name. But taking me to a dance? Yeah, no, that wasn’t happening. I didn’t attend school functions, not since freshman year.
I shivered at the memory. Not happening. Nope. The joke was on the new guy. He could find someone else to toy with because I didn’t indulge in these games. Not with him. Not with anyone.
Oh, but he’d certainly made an impression on all the girls. He was the hot topic of the afternoon in the girls’ locker room, despite having missed lunch. Many speculated that he’d ditched the rest of the day after his date with the headmaster this morning, but his car was still in the lot. Some of the others thought he might be loitering on academy grounds.
My opinion? Good riddance.
Closing my locker, I picked up my cap and goggles from the bench and made my way through the doors that led to the natatorium. All students were required to enroll in one physical course every year. I chose swimming because my stepsisters didn’t know how, and it was fun to be able to do something they couldn’t.
Unfortunately, Charlie and Dash were both swimmers.
Which meant they were in this class.
I ignored them as I always did and knelt to dip my cap in the water. Heat blanketed my exposed back when I stood, causing me to sigh. Here we go, I thought, very familiar with this game.
Charlie didn’t even give me a chance to turn around before he nudged me hard in the hip, sending me into the water.
Or maybe it was Dash today.
Who the fuck knew?
I pushed off the bottom of the pool, but rather than shoot up in the lane I’d “fallen” into, I kicked to give myself some distance. I made the mistake once of trying to resurface in the same lane and found my hair trapped in a fist for far too long.
Never again.
I stole a breath and made for the next lane, just in case one of the idiots had tried to follow me, and started sprinting for one of the walls.
Fortunately, I beat them to the starting block and was able to hoist myself up onto the deck again.
Masculine laughs sounded from the edge. I ignored them in favor of putting on my cap, but as I slid my goggles on, I realized there were three guys, not two.
Trayton Nacht.
I narrowed my gaze. Was he the one who pushed me in? Because he appeared rather amused standing there in just a pair of swim trunks.
Several of the females were gaping openly at the rippled muscles lining his torso, as if they’d never seen an athletic male. Like, hello, Dash and Charlie maintained the same physique. All right, sure, Tray had the whole windswept-auburn-locks thing going for him, and those golden-flecked eyes. But he was built just like the other guys. It also seemed he was fitting in with their crowd already by the way they slapped him on the back as if congratulating him.
Why? Because he pushed me in? I wondered, pursing my lips. Yes, let’s all bond over picking on poor little Cindersoot.
Whatever.
I’d drown all their asses in a race soon. It drove Charlie crazy that he couldn’t catch me. Dash, however, frequently tied me. So how would Mr. Nacht do? He certainly had the body of a swimmer, with his broad shoulders, tapered waist, and long legs. A freestyler’s build, if my swimmer’s eye was right.
Hmm. This might get interesting because Dash also favored short-distance freestyle events.
“I see you finally took a shower, Cindersoot,” Charlie drawled as the trio approached.
My lips curled as I slid my goggles over my eyes. “And I see you found yourself a new boyfriend, Chuckie. That’s sweet.” I blew them both a kiss and dove into the water before anyone could retaliate. Looked like I was starting my warm-up early, and from the splashes behind me, so were the guys.
Great.
They would be delayed by their own caps and goggles, giving me the chance to get a head start in the fifty-meter pool. Of course, on the way back, I’d have a problem. Maybe I’d hop out of the water and walk around.
Or—
A hand gripped my ankle, yanking me backward into a hard body.
I squealed, my momentum no longer heading in the direction I desired.
Shit! I latched onto a pair of masculine shoulders, the water too deep for me to stand. This wasn’t good. I needed to fight, to scratch my offender and get the hell out of Dodge.
Only, he didn’t even flinch as my nails dug into his skin, instead grasping my hips and pulling me flush against him. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered against my ear.
I blinked, startled. “Tray?”
“Trust me,” he breathed, his lips brushing my cheek just like they did earlier.
My eyebrows drew down. “I don’t even know you.”
“You’re about to,” he replied as the water around us shifted.
Dash reached us first, his triumphant gaze making my stomach twist. But it was Charlie’s arrival and his vengeful glower that had me sweating, even in the water.
Three males, little old me, and a bunch of student spectators.
This could not end well.
Where’s Grayson? I wondered, my eyes dancing around the pool for the swim coach. He usually drew up sets on the board for practice. Of course, he was nowhere to be seen. Meaning I had absolutely no backup here.
Tray’s thumb brushed my hip bone, sending a shiver up my spine. Did he have to hold me so close? I could actually feel him through our swimsuits, his growing interest a brand against my lower belly. Not good. Not good at all.
And what business did he have being attracted to me?