Page 42 of Tainted Love
He hands me a bottle and I chug it down. “Better?” he asks when I finish it, his concerned gaze washing over me.
I nod. “Better.”
“Do you need a lift home?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine, my car is here.”
“Are you sure? I can get my mate to follow in my car. Your dad wouldn’t want me leaving you to fend for yourself.”
“I’ll be okay,” I assure him. “Thanks.”
“Beatrice—”
“Bea,” I correct him. “And I appreciate the offer, Kingston, but I really am okay. I just overdid it a little.”
He doesn’t look convinced. “I don’t really want you going home to an empty house if you’re feeling faint.”
“I’m not home alone,” I tell him. “My, uh, stepbrother is there too. I’ll be fine.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “I didn’t realise Elena’s son was living with you. Okay, well, if you’re sure. Let me at least walk you out to your car.”
“Okay.”
I grab my things from my locker and follow Kingston out to the car park.
“Which one is yours?” he asks, scanning the parking lot.
I point to my Audi, and we walk over in silence. When we reach it, I unlock it, but before I can open the door, Kingston clears his throat.
“Listen, let me give you my phone number, and if you need anything while your dad is gone, you can call me.”
“Uh, sure.” I unlock my phone and hand it to him in a daze, still unsure whether he’s flirting with me or just being nice. Either way, it does nothing to appease my guilty conscience. If anything, it only makes it worse. My stepbrother and my dad’s colleague. Both should be off limits. I’m seriously going to hell.
“You got a message.”
I accept my phone when he hands it back, glancing down at the screen.
Elias: We need to talk, Duchess.
Kingston leans in to open the door for me. It distracts me from my conflicted emotions towards my stepbrother and I shiver from his proximity as I breathe in his manly scent. I don’t know what aftershave he uses, but gosh it smells delicious.
“Bea, I meant what I said. Call me if you need anything at all, okay?”
Unable to speak, I simply nod before climbing into my car. He closes the door and stands there watching me, his arms crossed over his chest, while I back out of the parking spot and head back home to face my stepbrother. How did my life become so freaking complicated?
Chapter 24
Elias
BARELY AN HOUR passes before I hear the front door open and close. I’m chilling in the living room, flicking through the different movie channels subscribed to by Bea’s dad. Asher and Kill have only just left after giving me a lecture about doing whatever it takes to convince Bea to take me to the fundraising event on Tuesday night.
“This could be huge for us,” Asher implored me before climbing into the van. “Don’t be your usual dickish self. Give her whatever she wants.”
“Even if she wants your dick,” Kill added. “Just take one for the team.”
If only he knew.
Asher narrowed his eyes at me. “Whatever is going on between you two, think of the band. There will be huge music execs at this event. It’s a chance to get on their radar. This could be our big break.”
