Page 7 of Sinful Storms

Hate you, too, I mouthed back as Roman flipped the first card in the central pile so it landed face up. An eight of diamonds.

I focused on the card game, giving Aria shit every now and then, until Leah announced that she was moving so she didn’t have to sit next to a supposed cheat anymore. That earned me a savage glare from Aria and an unexpected lapful of Leah, landing on me so suddenly that my cards scattered across the floor—thankfully, facedown—and I inhaled a mouthful of her hair. That was not a fun experience in any way. Choking on what felt like an entire forest of herbal-scented strands? I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone. Ignoring Roman’s laughter next to me, I quickly downed the rest of my water, shifting Leah off my lap when I could finally breathe again.

Aria’s glare had turned from savage to incinerating. What was her problem now? I could’ve sworn the girl lived to get under my skin. Blowing her a discreet kiss, just to piss her off even further, I scooped up my cards in one hand and wrapped the other around Leah’s waist.

“Ready to win?” I murmured into her ear, my gaze still fixed on Aria.

She melted into me, as I expected. “I don’t even know how to play.”

“It’s okay. I can teach you.”

Predictably, Aria rolled her eyes again, proving she was paying far too much attention to me and not enough to her surroundings.You do the same, my brain unhelpfully reminded me, and yeah, that was enough. Enough time spent in her presence before I drove myself fucking crazy.

“Take my cards,” I muttered to Roman, rising to my feet and tuning out Leah’s voice calling me back. I headed for the common room door, then out into the corridor, only stopping when I reached the top of the wide stone stairs that led down tothe ground floor. Leaning back against the wall and closing my eyes, I blew out a heavy breath.

“What exactly is your problem?”

My eyes flew open to find Aria standing a few feet away from me with the same savage glare on her face and her hands on her hips as she stared me down.

“What the fuck? Are you following me?”

“Following you? Why would I do that?” she shot back, and I snorted, jerking my head towards the corridor.

“I came out here, and now you’re here, too, less than five minutes after me. You’re not fooling anyone, little scorpion.”

“What was that in there?”

My brows rose. “What was what?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Can’t you manage one evening without pissing me off?”

“Honestly? Probably not,” I said truthfully.

“Great. So glad we had this conversation,” she bit out.

“So glad you decided to come out here and give me shit for no fucking reason.” I pointed towards the common room. “Go back inside and play your little card game, Aria.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

I found myself right in front of her, although I wasn’t even aware that I’d moved. Pressing her against the wall and ignoring how her body felt against mine, I lowered my head to her ear.

“I’ll say and do whatever the fuck I want. I’m the king here. Don’t forget it.”

“What you are is an arrogant, entitled, fucking bellend,” she bit out, shoving me away. Whirling on her heel, she stalked down the corridor, lifting her middle finger as she went.

When she was out of sight, I slumped against the wall with a groan, rubbing my hand over my face.

Why did I let her have this effect on me?

5

ARIA

Nudging open the false cupboard back that marked the secret entrance to the bell tower, I inhaled deeply, the night air from above filling the stairwell.

Making sure to close the cupboard door behind me, I picked my way up the ancient, worn stone stairs and entered the circular room. The night was still, stars dotting the clear, inky skies, with the moon casting a soft glow through the remains of the wall to my left. The entire top of the tower was a ruin, with crumbling walls and wind whistling through the empty spaces that had once been filled with solid stone.

I lowered myself onto the blanket I’d left here a long time ago, settling into place with my back against the wall and my legs stretched out in front of me. Lighting the joint I’d prepared earlier, I inhaled deeply, sighing with relief.

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