Page 101 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

“It sounds interesting.”

“I don’t think I want to defend the guilty.”

I reach for his hand and lace our fingers. “You could prosecute.”

He rolls his eyes. “Not an option. Not if I want to keep my parents happy.”

I don’t reply. I understand how he feels, which is exactly why he’s telling me.

Instead, I inch forward until we’re nose to nose.

My parents are just down the hall. They probably never dreamed that I’d be sneaking a boy in to my room. Their fears were more along the lines of me sneaking out.

Ha.

“How’s your brother?”

I lift my chin. Noah just started college, and things haven’t exactly been smooth sailing. He’s been partying a lot, and I’ve been getting some drunk phone calls. Mom’s convinced he’s just letting off steam. It’s his first semester away from us—he’ll settle down.

That’s been her mantra.

It set me apart from the other cheerleaders. They’re more than happy to party and drink, and all I can think about is losing control.

How disappointed my parents would be.

How many nights over the summer did Noah come back absolutely trashed, stumbling in three hours after curfew?

More often than not, his friend, Kaiden, was the one helping him stay upright.

Eli brushes my hair back. “Riley? Where’d you go?”

I blink. “Sorry. Um, he’s okay. Enjoying college, you know?”

I close my eyes as his fingernails scrape my scalp. It’s soothing, but more than that. He’s quickly becoming someone safe in my eyes. We don’t say anything else. Just our hands clasped between us and his fingers in my hair.

I fall asleep like that.

25

Riley

Skylar and I pile into my car, breathless with excitement. The meet went well—definitely better than I expected it to. I came in second place, and Skylar was right behind me. She gave me a run for my money at the end.

“Where were you last night?” she asks.

I think she’s been holding on to that question for a while, since the doors have barely closed on us when it comes out of her mouth.

“You didn’t show at the dinner,” she adds.

Like I forgot.

I almost had sex with him last night.

That’s the gossip I won’t be sharing with Skylar or anyone else.

Well, except maybe Margo.

“Um…”