Page 13 of Damaged Prince
“I can go.” Elijah straightens up. “I’ll just–”
“Sit,” Kai commands, his voice low and husky. It sends a shiver down my spine.
I bite my lip as I watch Eli pause, his eyes flicking over to Kai. Curiosity sparks inside me.Oh, that look. I know that look. Is that attraction I see?
It’s so damn obvious by the way Eli’s cheeks pinken, looking flustered as he does exactly what my sexy professor told him to do.
“Only if you're sure,” Elijah says softly as he takes a seat across from us.
The poor guy looks awkward. I don’t know the past between these two, but something is telling me it’s more than just the two of them being stepcousins.
The way Elijah keeps sneaking glances at Kai as he tells us about his plans for Christmas break is not how cousins should look at one another.
It’s the same way I look at the guys. Not in any way, how stepsiblings should be looking at one another.
“I’ve always wanted to go to the mountains,” I sigh wistfully. “Especially in winter, with all of them covered in snow. I’ve always wanted to build a snowman or have a snowball fight.”
“Come with me.” Kai surprises me with the invitation.
“Really?” Excitement flickers within me.
“Why not?” He shrugs. “Break just started, and we have two weeks before we have to go back to school. We can go for a weekend, maybe longer if you want. Then we can be back in time for Christmas.” Kai wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. I don’t miss the flash of jealousy in Elijah’s eyes. I’m just not sure if it’s because he wants to be me or Kai. “I’m not your professor anymore,” he whispers in my ear, causing my skin to break out into goosebumps as a shiver runs down my spine. “And I think I’ve waited long enough. You’re mine, Delaney Jones. And it’s about time I take what’s mine. Come, spend time with me. Let me steal you away for a much-needed vacation.”
I forgot that a new semester meant new classes. And none of the ones I’m signed up for are taught by Kai. That means we can be together without having to worry about his job or my place in the school.
My eyes find his, and my stomach heats. He’s watching me with this pleading look, and I don’t think I can say no.
How can I? So much has happened, I deserve this, damn it.
“Okay.” A smile breaks out across my lips.
“Yeah?” He grins back.
My eyes flick over to Eil, who’s playing with the napkin on the table, and my smile falls.
Biting my lip, I look between the two of them. I don’t want to leave Elijah right now. Not after last night. We’re supposed to be building our relationship, too.
And Logan? After everything with him and Benny, can I really just up and leave the two of them for that long?
I can’t leave Owen either. We talked about this and decided that we were going to all make this work. Now that my life isn’t consumed by Stacy’s controlling ways, I finally have time to spend with all of them. And I want to take advantage of that. I’ve already missed so much time, denied myself what my heart wants for far too long.
No more.
New year. New start. New loves.
I have a good feeling about what's to come. So why can’t it start now?
As if Kai can read my mind, he looks to Elijah. “You should come too.”
Elijah’s eyes snap up, shocked and surprised. “What?”
Kai leans back in his seat, the hand around my shoulder rubbing against my arm. “Come to the mountains with us. You deserve some time with Laney, too. I’m going to assume you two haven't really gotten the chance to spend much time with one another with everything regarding Stacy.”
I told Kai everything after the party. I was so distraught over what happened, I needed someone to talk to. He held me, comforted me, and listened to everything I had to say. He was exactly what I needed in that moment. With Logan being in so much pain, I didn’t want to break down in front of him. I needed to be strong enough to stand by his side.
“Well...” He licks his lips, eyes flicking over to mine. “No, not really.”
It’s not just Stacy, though. Between baseball camp and work, Elijah was a ghost within his own house more times than not.
