I quickly opened them. “No reason, just doing… math.”
“You’re not in math.” His lips pressed together in an amused smile. “Try again.”
“I was thinking.”
“Extremely hard,” he pointed out as he grabbed the orange juice and handed it to me.
I took it and then frowned as I looked down into the cup. “You’re sure it’s not poisoned?”
He took the glass with a curse, downed half the juice, and then handed it back to me. “Happy?”
“No.” I took a few sips of juice and set it on the counter by the plate. “Because now your germs are all over my OJ.”
“Germs?” Both eyebrows shot up. “That ship has fucking sailed, little girl… or have you forgotten that night in the pool? My tongue was so far down your throat it was almost between your thighs.”
“Ewwwwww.” Izzy’s voice sounded in the kitchen. “Why do I have the worst timing ever?”
“Oh please.” Ash flipped her off. “It’s not like you and Maksim were playing solitaire all those times he stayed over—he’s lucky he isn’t walking with a limp and only half his dick.”
Her eyes flickered with anger and then sadness as she stared him down and then went over to the fridge, pulling out the milk.
I almost asked her if she was okay.
Or if she wanted to talk.
But last time I even mentioned him, she threatened me, so maybe she just needed time?
God knows I needed at least a year to recover from Ash, and now I felt like I was back at square one. I half expected him to nudge me in the arm and then mess up my hair.
What was with him?
I quickly glanced back at him.
His smile was gone.
Expression blank. “What?”
“I don’t trust you.”
His smirk was drop-dead gorgeous spreading across his face like a cruel promise. “Good. You probably shouldn’t.”
Frowning, I walked past him only to have him grab my arm again and drag me toward the door.
“Bye, Iz!”
“See ya!”
I dug my heels in the ground, but it was no use. “What are you doing? Let me go!”
“You have class, I have class, we’re saving the environment, get in.” He gave me a little shove toward his BMW i8; I nearly got taken out by the suicide door as it stretched vertically dangerously close to my head.
I was too busy gaping at the door to realize that he was already in the car waiting for me to get in with an annoyed look. “You need to eye fuck the car any longer, or can we go?”
I shot him a nasty look and ducked inside the car, careful not to flash him. My skirt was a bit too short for a sports car.
When I thought it was safe enough to plop down on the leather seat, I did just that, causing my skirt to fly up and my butt to kiss the leather. So basically, it felt like I was almost naked against the seat.
Hopefully, Ash didn’t notice.
It wasn’t like he paid attention to me much anyway, and I was just waiting for this cease-fire to end—I mean, it was Ash; he’d fight the wind if he could. Any reason to yell, to draw his sword, the King of Eagle Elite was grumpy and mean. Trusting him would be my own stupid fault.
It would be the final nail in my coffin.
Utter obliteration of what was left of my heart.
He cranked up the music so loud it would be impossible to have a normal conversation—not that I was complaining—and he weaved in and out of traffic so fast my stomach started to roll.
I hated it.
Hated him.
This was a game, wasn’t it?
He was nice.
And then, aloof.
What was he going to be like at University?
Would he give me a ride back home?
All the things that stressed me out as we finally pulled up to the black iron gate that led to Eagle Elite. It slowly creaked open, and Ash finally turned down whatever heavy metal music he’d been listening to and slowed the car to the twenty-five mile an hour speed limit as we crept closer to campus.
“Rules,” he said without looking at me.
I frowned but kept my eyes straight ahead. “I’m listening…”
“I’ll take you to and from class every day. I’m going to need to search your bag morning, noon, and night.”
I clenched my teeth. “What? Now I’m a spy?”
“This is how I protect you and everyone else, Annie, so pay attention.” He turned the car into one of the front spots near the registration building and cut the engine. “Rule number two, or is it three?”
I sighed in agitation. “Three.”
“Just making sure you’re paying attention.” His voice held no humor, only a cold detachment that hadn’t been there this morning when he made me breakfast. Why had he been so nice? And why was he mean now? “No guys that haven’t been vetted, I don’t really care who you let see you naked as long as I have a background check on them, but if I find out that you’ve been with Tank in any way romantically, you’ll be punished.”
“Punished,” I repeated. “Who says you get any say in who I date? You’re not my dad, you’re not even family—”
He held up his hand.
I hated that I immediately responded to it like I’d been trained to submit to the jackass just like all the other associates.
“Fine, if you want something with Tank, then it’s your heart that’s going to be broken. In fact…” He chuckled under his breath. “Wow, right on time.”
“What?” I stole a glance at Ash, but he was looking straight ahead.
Frowning, I followed the direction of his gaze and nearly threw up.
It was Tank, and he was making out with some random girl with long red hair, her hands clung to the lapels of his jacket, and he looked ready to swallow her whole.
“Wasn’t he just flirting with you last night?” Ash just had to ask.
“We’re friends.” I ignored the swell of emotion and betrayal in my throat as I forced a smile at Ash. “Any more rules, or can I go to class now?”
“Last rule.” His grin was cruel. “At home, I’ll tolerate you—but here? You don’t look at me in the eyes, you don’t approach me, you don’t hang out with me. Here we’re enemies. Got it?”
“Fine.” My voice was shaky.
“Oh, and Annie?” Ash unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned over the console. “I need you to understand one thing…” His fingers trailed my jawline delicately; I was too pissed and terrified to pull away. “Break any of my rules… and I will fucking destroy you.”
How could a man so beautiful be so cruel?
“I hate you,” I whispered.
“Finally, something we can agree on.” He pulled back. “Now get the hell out of my car.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice as I opened the stupid fancy door and attempted to get out without flashing anyone. I stomped through the parking lot past Tank, who probably wouldn’t notice anyway since he was too busy swallowing some random girl’s face, and made my way to the Science building.
And that was how it started.
My first semester back at Eagle Elite, I was already trying to keep the tears in as I ducked my head and tried to do anything not to be noticed.