Page 9 of Sinful Storms

The space between the bell tower floor and the ceiling below wasn’t empty.

INTERLUDE

The student slumped back in the rowing boat, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’m not like you. They’ll never accept me.”

Determined blue eyes met defeated honey-brown ones as the coxswain shook his head. “You underestimate my position here at Hatherley Hall. As my closest friend, you deserve to rise through the ranks, no matter?—”

“My status? My lower class? The fact I am here as a scholarship student while my twin sister works herself to the bone on the switchboards instead of completing her education?”

The coxswain leaned forwards, tapping the student’s oars. “Back to the boat shed. You’re here, are you not? Don’t be ungrateful. It doesn’t become you.”

With a sigh, the student began to row back across the lake in the direction of the boat shed. There was silence except for the gentle drag of oars through the water until the student spoke again. “I apologise. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.”

“I know. I have a plan to make you untouchable. Revered.” A slow smile spread across the coxswain’s face. “When all the pieces are in place, you will hear from me.”

6

ARIA

The music echoed around me as I descended the stairs, bouncing off the thick stone walls of the ancient crypts that lay beneath Hatherley Hall’s cellars. Another night, another “exclusive” party for the elite and their hangers-on. Quinn had guilt-tripped me into coming, but I wasn’t planning to stay for long.

My mind was on the tower. Tonight, I’d go back and discover what was inside that locked box.

“Aww, little scorpion. Couldn’t stay away from me, could you?”

I sighed, spinning around to face my godbrother. Raising a brow, I tapped my fingernail on his chest. “You can’t stay away from me, you mean. You’re the one who came to me. I get it, I’m irresistible, but I’m sure there are plenty of willing girls with low standards for you to try it on with instead.”

“Sounds a lot like jealousy,” he mused, dipping his head to my ear. His breath was warm against my skin. “Just say the word, Aria, and I’ll blow your mind.”

I splayed my fingers across his chest, feeling his slightly elevated heartbeat beneath my palm. “Oh, Tristan. I’m sure youcould—in your little fantasies when you’re wanking your average cock and wishing you were lucky enough to fuck me. Sadly for you, that’s all it’ll ever be. A fantasy. Bye, now.”

Stepping back from him, I blew him a kiss with my middle finger. But before I could leave, he struck, lightning fast, yanking me into him, his mouth going straight back to my ear.

“By the way, sweetheart. My dick is way, way above average, and I knowexactlywhat I’m doing with it. Too bad you’ll never get to experience it for yourself.”

Then he released me, blowing me a kiss, followed by an obscene gesture with his tongue in his cheek. I pulled a face, and he laughed.

I fucking hated him.

Stalking away in my spiked heels, which unfortunately weren’t even high enough to allow me to look Tristan dead in the eye without lifting my chin, I grabbed the first guy I reached, wrapping my fingers around his and tugging him over to the makeshift dance floor area. When I glanced back at Tristan, I saw him staring at me with an unreadable expression, his humour gone and his jaw set.

“We’re dancing,” I told Tyrell, who was one of the lacrosse defensemen. Okay, maybe I’d purposely made a beeline for one of Tristan’s teammates, just because I knew it would piss him off even more. If you looked up manwhore in a dictionary, you’d find a picture of Tristan, so he was in no position to judge. Yet he judged. Frequently.

“Feisty,” Tyrell murmured, shooting me a grin.

“I can’t be bothered to play games. Cut to the chase, then we can get to the good part sooner,” I told him, winding my arms around his shoulders. His hands slid onto my hips, a willing participant as we began to dance.

“The good part. Mmm, maybe I should see if Tristan’s feeling generous and will let us go to the lower levels.”

The lower levels of the crypts? No, thanks. Never, ever. “Ugh, no. I’m staying well away from the gods’ fuck dungeon. I don’t know what I might catch.”

He doubled over laughing, even though I was being completely serious. When he’d recovered, he stared down at me, a smile still tugging at his lips.

“Sexy and a good sense of humour. I like it.”

“You’ll like it even more when you’re making me see stars.”

“The only stars you’ll be seeing are the ones in the night sky,” a new voice growled from behind me. “Ty, she’s vicious. Believe me, it’s not worth your time.”

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