Empire of Hate (Empire #3) by Rina Kent

“Yes, the fruit.”

“One moment, miss.”

He disappears into another door and I stand there like an Alice in Wonderland character, trying to ignore all the crazy that’s going on at the party around me.

Did that guy just hug a pillar?

“If you’re in the mood to swallow, all you have to do is ask, sweets.”

I shudder, but it’s the bad kind. The creepy kind.

Chris needs to seriously stop sliding up from behind me out of nowhere. He grins at me, and I subconsciously step back.

His eyes are bloodshot red as if his blood vessels murdered each other in an epic battle.

“Heard you wanted to swallow for Captain?”

“No, I didn’t.” I wouldn’t have finished the blowjob even if my life depended on it. I only wanted the rumors and to get either Daniel or Astrid so they could have a front-row seat.

“No need to be shy about it.” Chris reaches for me. “I can satisfy you.”

“Eww, gross.” I slap his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

His face hardens and before he can come near me, the butler returns with a whole bowl of peaches and hands it to me.

“This is…a lot,” I say.

“In case you need them,” he says, all serious.

I smile, then take my peaches and sneak to a small gazebo at the back of the garden, overlooking a fountain.

It has a devil and an angel.

Ha. Ronan’s parents are as poetic as my two sides. Everyone knows the devil always wins. We’re designed to be bad. Goodness comes with so much headache, stomachache, and most importantly, heartache.

Opening my small bag, I take out a lollipop and suck on it. Peach-flavored, of course. It’s synthetic, so I’m safe with it.

This is how I’ve survived my craving for peaches all this time. But I have to do it in secret ever since Mum called it juvenile.

I place the bowl beside me and grab a peach, then hold it beneath the moon. It’s crazy how a small fruit could send me to an early death.

Still, my mouth waters with the desire to have a bite.

One taste.

I’m kidding myself, though; one taste is never enough. Not even hours of that taste.

Not even multiple orgasms because of it.

“Killed by a Peach would look so fucking depressing on your tombstone.”

I startle as a shadow falls over me.

Daniel.

Breathe, Nicole. You have to breathe.

I slowly stare up at him.

He has both his hands in his jean pockets and that causes his shoulders to stretch his Elites jacket.

Daniel always looked beautiful, but he’s equally scary right now.

Like a volcano that’s about to erupt. An allergic reaction slowly building in the background.

Ignoring his demeanor, I focus on his words, still clutching the forbidden fruit and sucking my lollipop. I feel defiant enough to do it in front of him.

I’m so badass that I’m sucking a lollipop.

“I’d still look pretty and unique and I would die doing something I love.”

“What are other things you love doing, aside from sucking cock, I mean. Didn’t know you were a whore.”

My chest aches. I expected him to hear about the Levi fiasco and predicted his reaction. Didn’t think it’d hurt like being stabbed with a peach-flavored knife.

“That’s funny coming from a manwhore.” I pull out the lollipop, then pop it in again, letting it snuggle in the side of my cheek.

A dark smirk tilts his lips as he watches the motion. “If you want dick, all you have to do is ask.”

“That’s the second time someone told me that tonight. You guys must be so desperate for these forbidden lips.”

His eyes narrow. “Who asked you?”

“Don’t remember. Don’t care. As for your invitation, I’m going to have to decline. I’m still testing for STDs after that one time. You know, after you forgot about me.”

A muscle works in his jaw, disturbing his otherwise calm face. “Astrid had an accident.”

“Cool.” I stand up, ready to nurse my bleeding heart with a dozen lollipops. “Why aren’t you nursing her wounded heart about Levi, then? Oh, were you looking for her and found me, instead? It’s a bit dark out here, so you might have mistaken us.”

He grabs me by the shoulders and I yelp as he pins me against the bench. I’m on my back and the peaches are scattered around us like murdered shooting stars.

Daniel hovers over me, knees on either side of me, and glares down at me with the fury of a warrior. “You think I would mistake you for anyone when you’re driving me fucking nuts?”

My heart starts to soar for the sky and have those misconceptions that left him with multiple plasters. So I clamp my feelings on its misplaced hopes and adopt my angry tone. “I’m driving you nuts? Who abandoned the other after fucking them senseless without a condom?”

“Astrid got into that accident because she was high on the drug I gave her.” He speaks so low, I feel the hiss of it against my skin. “Do you think I was in the mood to shag the evil stepsister who was behind the whole fucking drug idea?”

“Who told you I would let you touch me again? It was a one-time thing, so don’t flatter yourself.” My voice drips with cool venom, but it must be as cutting as his words, because his jaw clenches.