Chapter 92

Jane absolutely adored everything Ryder had done, and she knew it made her bad boy feel good he’d outmaneuvered his clever brother. “What were you going to tell Kingston?”

“It no longer matters,” he said quietly. “The new arrangement is one you’ve agreed to. I’m sure you will enjoy dating my little brother while the rest of us sit here.”

“Oh, don’t be a baby.” She couldn’t contain her laughter now. “I love him. I’m going to be happy to see him. You have no idea how rough it was at this new school. But that doesn’t mean I forget about any of you.”

“No, I know you won’t forget,” he said quietly. “Though you are easily intoxicated by us, especially Ryder. He gave himself the advantage, and I am certain David wishes he were suddenly the one failing.”

“I don’t get drunk on Ryder. You’re more the drug than any of you.”

His eyes flashed on her. “Elaborate.”

She freaking loved his way of speaking. “I mean your touch, presence, is like a drug. I feel numb, almost. I could forget everyone if you really worked your charm on me, but I’d fight to remember them. But you’d suppress his magic.” A flutter of tingles blossomed at Ryder’s spot. “I know to keep my guard up around you.”

“Yet, you are foolish enough to expose your weakness and give me power.” He smirked as his gray eyes darkened like the pits of hell.

Jane sighed and snuggled under her blanket. “You wouldn’t use your power against me.” “Foolish girl.” There was a fondness in the way he said it, and she smiled.

“Damon told me he works for you, that he’d switch his loyalty to me.”

“He has a weakness for bright souls.” He chuckled. “It’s not something to brag about.”

She childishly stuck her tongue out at him, noting how he followed the movement. “For an old guy, you’re pretty immature.”

“Says the young woman poking her tongue at me.” He undid the top button of his shirt and pulled off his tie.

Hormones was all Jane could think as she spotted the inked flesh on his neck.

Piercing gray eyes appraised her quietly. “I still expect you to be my queen, Jane.”

“I know,” she responded like an obedient servant, then she scowled at him. “How do you do that?”

“It’s standard for one to answer a question when asked, my queen. Hardly a magical feat to get aroused over.” He smirked with a hint of his real smile at the end. “You were meant to laugh, Jane.” Now she smiled at him, her cheeks hurting when he seemed in awe of her.

“One day,” he said softly. “One day it won’t work on me.” “Not today, my king.”

“I hate this,” David said, running a hand through his freshly showered hair. She’d barely ended the call with Luc when David texted: Baby, I’m trying to be patient, but I need to see your pretty face. “I know it’s stalkerish, but I miss getting to see you before I go to sleep.” “Perv,” she said groggily.

Those blue eyes narrowed on her. “Baby, you’re falling asleep on me. And it’s only a little bit perverted. I never stared at you when you didn’t have a shirt on. You’re the worst at hiding your reactions to a naked guy.”

“You wore only towels on purpose.” She closed her eyes, giggling. “Did you wait for me to leave my room, just so we’d bump into each other?”

“No, but I’m certain you had my showers timed so that you would leave your room the exact moment you knew I’d be getting out.”

She peeked at him in shock. Fourteen minutes.

“Busted.” That panty-dropping smile stretched wide. “You’re a silly girl about me, Jane. I’m always going to cherish that about you.” Her heart warmed.

“What am I going to do without my Jane?”

Some of the warmth surrounding her heart cooled, and though she tried to sound playful, her lips quivered, “Hopefully not go balls deep in Diane.”

His smile fell in an instant. “Baby, no.” He searched her face. “Don’t do this. I told you I was all in with you. That’s never going to change. It’s just going to take some time before I can be with you.”

She nodded, rubbing her eyes hard so she wouldn’t cry. “I’m sorry. I’m just emotional.”

He smiled adoringly, like he was trying to be right there with her. “Don’t apologize—I love my emotional girl. Just please don’t go to sleep thinking the worst of me. I’m here, sleeping on your boyfriend’s fucking couch because I chose you.”

“I know.” She tried so hard to suck up her fears, but she suddenly couldn’t erase the images of every kiss she’d seen David give Diane. He’d lost his virginity to a girl who had made fun of her. “Fuck, I have to go.” She ended the call as he called out her name. Then she cried.

Through the phone, emerald eyes appraised her the way an apex predator analyzed its prey. “What the fuck did he say to you?”

“Nothing.” She blew out a breath, trying to appear calm, but she’d cried for the last twenty minutes, imaging David getting fed up with her. He’d tried to call her and sent several texts, begging her to talk to him, then Ryder had called.

“Don’t lie to me.” His gaze narrowed. “Nothing is going to piss me off more than you trying to lie.

Now tell me what he did, or I’m going downstairs to beat his ass.”

“Don’t.” She glared at him. “He didn’t even do anything. It’s me.”

“Of course, it’s you,” he fired back, shocking her. “Don’t give me that look. I know you more than you think. And I know you do this shit about him.”

“Do what?” she fought yelling. Fighting with Ryder was not how she wanted to end her night.

“Make yourself unworthy of him,” he said before he shook his head. “Baby girl, you are our goddess. But you have this thing where you put David on a fucking pedestal above all of us, and you compare yourself to the bitches he has let on his nuts. You’re panicking because you can’t march around and say you’re his girl, and instead of yelling at his ass for fucking around the way he did— because that’s what the fuck he did, Jane; he fucked around to get over you and to do stupid shit to make it easier on himself—but you twist it around and beat up yourself. Fucking let it out on him. He deserves it.”

“He did it for me,” she argued.

“He loves you, angel, but he’s not a saint.” He let out a deep breath, and she could tell he’d gone to his bed and was lying down, holding his phone above him. “Don’t be sad. I’m hating myself for talking to you like this, but I want you to get it through your beautiful mind and heart; David loves you. He fucked up. Bad. But he made a commitment to you. He’s not going to fuck this up. He’s not going back to Diane. If he could switch places with me right now, he would. He would’ve been a virgin who didn’t give a damn about anyone but you. That’s not David, though. And that’s not what you love about him.”