Deviant King (Royal Elite #1) by Rina Kent

My chest squeezes, but I manage to reply.

Elsa: It’s okay. I have to study anyway. You’ll miss me when I’m in Cambridge *fireworks emoji*

Uncle J: Don’t make me all emotional now. You’ll beat our records. Teamwork.

Elsa: Teamwork!

I’m not feeling the words as I type them.

Uncle J: Lock up tonight. We might come home late. There are vegetables in the fridge and your aunt says no ice cream.

Uncle J: We love you, Pumpkin.

Another lonely night.

Elsa: No problem! Take care of yourselves. I love you guys, too *heart emoji*

When I shove the phone back in my pocket, I feel eyes on me. I lift my head and Aiden is watching me intently with a tilted head. Did he read the texts?

Ronan is speculating about the next game’s line-up, but Aiden isn’t paying him the slightest attention. His thumb grazes the small of my back. A shiver blooms over my skin at the intimacy of the gesture.

Why do people say that physical contact doesn’t matter? Why do they assume that emotions grow in some alien place?

Physical touch always plays a part.

I know better because Aiden’s touch has been screwing me over since that day he broke the invisible ‘no-touching’ rule.

We head straight to the football team’s table — of course. Aiden removes his hand so he can sit me beside him.

Xander grins at me, both his dimples on display. It seems genuine enough, so I return a tentative smile.

Aiden cuts us a glare so harsh, I decide to focus on my backpack. Xander’s grin just widens. Aiden places both hands on my shoulders. “From today onwards, Elsa will be eating with us.”

Hell no.

I move to stand up, but he leans over to whisper, “Stay still or I’ll tell them how many times I took you last night.”

“You didn’t take me,” I hiss so only he can hear.

He raises an eyebrow. “They don’t know that.”

I bite my lower lip to stop myself from screaming.

Why does he have this ability to royally piss me off?

None of the team members says anything about the new eating arrangement. I don’t expect them to. He’s King after all. His word is a royal decree.

Ronan waggles his eyebrows. “Welcome aboard, Ellie.”

“I’m hurt, Frozen.” Xander scoots closer. “Aren’t we a couple?”

Aiden’s grip on my shoulders tightens, but I don’t have to look back to see his pissed off face.

I don’t know why Xander keeps provoking Aiden. He must know how much of a crazed devil he can be.

“Hey, Knight...” Aiden’s voice drifts in clear menace. “If you say things like that again, I’ll be saying things you won’t like.”

The dimples disappear from Xander’s face and he narrows his eyes before throwing his fork on his pasta plate. “Fuck you, King.”

“Wait. What things?” Ronan stares between them. “Seriously, I’m tired of being left in the dark. Why doesn’t anyone tell me anything around here?”

“Because you have a big mouth?” Cole says.

“No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, you do.” Everyone at the table agrees.

Ronan launches into a long argument about all the secrets he kept for them — by spilling them.

It’s amusing to watch him being a bit of a drama queen with Xander provoking him and Cole trying to shut him up.

With one last squeeze to my shoulder, Aiden strides to where they serve the food.

“Are you sure you want to be with a stage five-creeper like him?” Xander slides to my side, grinning, and appearing unaffected by Aiden’s threat. “I’m always here if you change your mind.”

He starts to inch closer, but Cole steps between us. He gives Xander a knowing look. Some sort of a secret conversation goes on between them. Xander rolls his eyes and focuses back on his food.

“Stop provoking King, Knight.” One of the football team’s players, the goalkeeper, says. “We’re going to screw up the championship if our ace strikers continue being at each other’s throats.”

A few of his teammates give me a condescending look as if I’m the source of this entire chaos.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” I square my shoulders. “I didn’t ask for either of their attention. If you can keep your ace striker the hell away from me, I’d appreciate it.”

Silence falls on the table except for Xander who grins, showcasing his dimples. “No wonder she’s the best friend.”

“You think anyone can tell King anything?” Ronan shakes his head with a sly smile. “I mean, you’re the one he called adorable.”

“He… did?” the goalkeeper asks.

“I swear to God, I’m not shitting you. I still have the creeps, for real!” Ronan says. “Come on, Ellie. Record it for us next time.”

I can’t help but suppress a smile.

The football players who used to give me harsh stares are now watching me with… awe?

Cole clears his throat. “Knock it off, Ro.”

“Naw, come on, Captain. Don’t kill the fun.” Ronan stands on his chair. “I’m opening the auction with five hundred. Who’ll add?”

They each start adding numbers like in a real auction.

Huh.

The rich kids sure do it differently.