Page 91 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

“Margo.”

I shake my head. “I can’t—”

He slams his lips to mine, cutting off my words. My body automatically relaxes into him. His tongue forces my lips apart, taking ownership of my mouth.

I shudder against him, finally sucking in a deep breath through my nose. Then another. He’s not kissing me—he’s resuscitating me.

He finally takes a step back, and his eyes search mine.

He’s still holding my wrists.

“Wow,” Riley mutters, a few feet away. “That was hot.”

“I’ll find out who sent it,” he says. A mask slips over his features.

“Mr. Asher!” The principal comes toward us. “Mr. Asher you are suspended!”

He drops my wrists and faces her. “I know.”

“So what on earth are you doing here?”

He shrugs, keeping me mostly behind him. Maybe he thinks she’ll turn her wrath on me, next. Or maybe…

Oh my god. Did she get the picture, too?

“Don’t worry, I’m on my way out,” he says. “See you Wednesday.”

She sniffs, turning on her heel and marching into the school.

Caleb turns to me, tapping under my chin until I meet his gaze. “You’ll be fine. Ignore them.”

I nod. “Right.”

“I’ll see you later.”

He heads to his car, and I slowly rotate toward Riley.

“That bodes well,” she says.

“Why is he suspended?”

She heaves a sigh, linking her arm with mine. The bell rings, which means we’ve successfully avoided the courtyard.

We walk in, and she says in a low voice, “Ian’s parents complained. Threatened to sue if they didn’t do something to curb Caleb’s reaction.”

“He’s been getting in a lot of fights,” I mumble. “Did Ian—”

“He’s around here somewhere,” Riley pulls me closer.

All eyes are on me.

I try to do what Caleb says—to ignore them—but it’s hard when the hallway gets quiet again. Riley stays with me until we get to my homeroom, and she throws me a sympathetic look.

“I’ll be okay,” I tell her.

She nods once.

I slide into my seat and keep my head down.