Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2) by Rina Kent

“He’s a player, Kim.” And he bullied you for years.

But I can’t tell her the last part. Not when I’m all tangled up with my own bully.

“Screw him and everyone he screws.” She scrunches her nose. “I just want him out of mine and Kir’s life.”

“One year and he’ll piss off to Harvard or something, right?” I ask.

“Yeah.” A sheen of sadness covers her features before she smiles. “I’ll be free.”

I interlace my arm with hers when movement catches my attention.

Silver walks down the hall with a scarf wrapped tightly around her face and hiding her hair. I recognise her from the hint of her piercing aqua blue eyes.

Her attention is zoned in on her phone with a glittery case. There’s also her signature dainty ring with more glitter on it.

I wouldn’t have known it’s her if it weren’t for those obvious tells.

Her gaze collides with mine. Her pace slows down for a second before she lowers her head and hurries into class.

“Did you just see that?” Kim whisper-yells. “Silver Queens just lowered her head! Man, I really should’ve seen the beating that turned her into this.”

My stomach twists. The more enthusiastic Kim is, the deeper and the more nauseous I feel.

This isn’t me.

I don’t take pleasure in hurting others.

Yes, Silver can be a bitch, but she did nothing yesterday. She just stood there and I attacked her out of nowhere.

When we step into class, my gaze immediately searches Silver.

She sits at the last table and scrolls through her phone, still wearing the scarf.

Two sets of eyes aside from mine bore into her.

The first is Adam, the rugby team’s captain. His thick brows draw over troubled eyes as he glimpses back at her. His bulging arms tighten against the uniform’s jacket with tension.

It’s like he can feel her pain.

The second is Cole. He stares back at her with a harsh gaze that makes me flinch — even though it’s not directed at me.

Ronan hops on his desk like a monkey, breaking his attention.

Kim leans in like she’s about to announce a conspiracy and nods in Silver’s direction. “Who is she and what have you done to our own bitch queen?”

I nudge her away. She giggles and flops down in her seat.

Ronan leaves Cole and hops on her desk. “Kimmy! I missed you last night. It’s no fun without you.”

“Sorry. I was babysitting my little brother.”

Ronan snatches a mint-coloured strand of her hair and plays with it. “Bring him over next time.”

“Fuck no,” Xander snaps at him.

I didn’t even realise he was in hearing distance. Wasn’t he chatting with that gymnasium girl just now?

“That’s none of your business,” Kim huffs at him and faces Ronan with a smile.

He goes on an endless monologue about last night’s game.

I’m about to take a seat beside Kim when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

A strong hand strokes my stomach and a hard chest glues to my back.

My heart flutters as his clean intoxicating scent fills my senses.

I wonder if there will ever be a day where I don’t have this baffling level of awareness of him.

“Morning, sweetheart. Did you dream of me?”

I glance back at him so I’m half facing him. I place a hand on his chest in a fruitless attempt to push him away.

Aiden doesn’t give a fuck that he’s so close to me in front of the entire class. Hell. Sometimes, I think he’s doing it on purpose.

I’m not him. I care.

What would it feel like if I were as free as he is?

Today, he’s dashing in his uniform. He even has his hair half-slicked back as if he wants to be presentable. For what, I don’t know.

Usually, Aiden would put in the effort to look presentable if he has some manipulation plot. Like the first time he barged into my house and introduced himself to Aunt and Uncle as my boyfriend.

“I told you I don’t remember my dreams.” I only remember my nightmares.

“Hmm.” He pinches my cheek. “One day you’ll dream of me as I dream of you.”

My lips part.

Damn him and these things he keeps telling me out of nowhere.

The harder I try to pull away from him, the more he lures me back in.

It’s like I don’t have a choice anymore.

Who am I kidding? I never had a choice when it comes to Aiden King.

Aiden crushes the distance between us as his lips hover an inch away from the shell of my ear. He whispers in a low seductive drawl, “You’re blushing, sweetheart.”

“No, I’m not.”

He laughs, and just like yesterday, I stare incredulously at how gorgeous he is. The low chilling range of his laughter hits my heartstrings.

It aches.

It burns.

Damn.

I’m all covered in goosebumps — and something else between my legs.

He drops his hand from my face to grip me by the waist. It’s like he can’t keep his hands off me.

I can’t stop touching you, so don’t ask me to.

His words from yesterday hit my heartstrings harder.

“What have you been dreaming about?” I ask in an attempt to dissipate the tension.

“I dreamt about…” His free hand swipes over my bottom lip. I don’t know why he does that. It’s like he’s wiping something off it. “These lips wrapped around my cock.”