Alize starts to walk away.
“I might need a little more time,” she says, pulling at her hair. “I need to detangle my hair since I didn’t wear my bonnet last night, so my shower’s going to be long.”
My cock twitches at her words. She is perplexed by her own thoughts, oblivious to the visual she’s planted in my mind. “Fine, but don’t keep me waiting for too long.”
She smiles.
I’ve got no clue what a bonnet is, but I plan to find out since it’s so important to her—it would make her life a little easier when she sleeps over.
I stand by the gate until she disappears inside the building.
One of the girls—Giselle Drake, I’ve seen her sneaking out of Kingmaker House a few times—holds the door open for her with a smile but turns to whisper to her friend as soon as Alize’s passed through it.
My rage is back. There’s little I can do about Giselle, but I can punish the dumbass who’s fucking her. It’s ridiculous, but I think it will make me feel better.
Outside of that, there’s little I can do about their gossip.
So, I’ll work on the things I can control, like ensuring that everyone knows Alize is mine. I’ve delayed for too long.
My walk back to Kingmaker House is punctuated by thoughts of her.
From the more mundane things, like the way her hair curls differently at her temples than at the back of neck, to the taste of her dripping, needy pussy that will probably keep me awake tonight.
I’ll need to rub one out in the shower if I’m to keep a clear head around her today.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I quicken my steps.
I’m so wrapped up in my thoughts that Ialmoststorm right past Cassidy, standing at the front gate of Kingmaker House.
She’s dressed in a trench coat and her hair is a bird’s nest. The bags under her eyes tell me I had a better night than she did. There’s a joke somewhere.
She set out to ruin Alize but ended up ruining herself.
“We don’t harbor the homeless here,” I bark at her. “Get lost, bitch”
She glares at me through slitted eyes. The terrified woman I threatened to kill last night is gone, replaced by a conniving wench who looks as though she’s here to issue me a challenge. I thought she had learned from her mistake.
Now, I regret not pulling the trigger when my gun was down her throat.
“I only need a minute of your time, Alexander,” she says. At least she’s stopped calling me that awful nickname. Progress, I guess.
“You’ve already wasted twenty seconds of that minute,” I say, folding my arms across my chest. “Make it quick.”
Cassidy gives me a humorless smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I just wanted to be sure you understand what you were doing, and everything that it involves.”
I cock an eyebrow. “You’re clearly fucked in the head if you think you have any moral authority to counsel me on what I choose to do,” I say through gritted teeth. “Need I remind you that if the school’s Executive Body gets wind of what you did last night, you’ll face disciplinary action, maybe even expulsion?”
My threat makes her bristle. I’d rather not start an investigation, because my hands aren’t exactly clean either—but I’ll do it if she forces my hand.
Cassidy pulls her mask back on quickly. When she finally responds, the surprise is gone from her eyes and her lips are twisted into a grim frown.
“I’m only looking out for you, Alexander.” She clasps her hands in front of her. “You’re making Allie a target by flaunting her like this, and she can’t take the scrutiny of being so closely connected to you.”
I raise an eyebrow, unsure of why she is making it seem like she cares about Alize’s wellbeing. Furthermore, who gives a fuck what Cassidy thinks about my choices? I know the truth of our situation—the safest place that Alize can be is with me.
I’m the only one who can protect her.
“Spare me the sanctimonious bullshit, Cassidy,” I spit. “Even if I were to stop pursuing Allie, which I will not, I would never want you. Wasn’t I clear enough last night.” I take a menacing step towards her, reaching for the gun tucked into my waistband. “Do you need me to make good on my promise?”