“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.”

My face heats as I search my surroundings with frantic eyes in case someone else has heard. “Aiden!”

“What?” He feigns innocence. “You asked what I’ve been dreaming about.”

“You didn’t have to go into details.”

“You think those were details?” His lips quirk into a smirk. “Here are the actual details: You kneeled in front of me and opened your mouth like the other night. You were looking up at me with these blue eyes and begged me to fuck your mouth. Being a gentleman, I did just that. I thrust in and out of your little mouth as you begged for more.” He lowers his head to whisper in my ear. “This time, you swallowed like a good girl.”

My thighs clench together and tingles erupt all over my skin.

God.

His dirty talk will never grow old. It’ll never stop getting to me, and making me wish the images he paints are true.

“You liked it by the way.” He pulls back with a smirk as if knowing that he got me.

I scowl. “You’re a dickhead.”

“I’ll let you give my dick head, sweetheart.” He winks.

Ugh. I can never win with him.

“Are you done making babies over there?” Ronan calls. “Because the math teacher is coming.”

I blush and push away from Aiden to sit next to Kim. Aiden strides to his seat, too, flipping Ronan off on the way.

“Yo, King. I’m hurt.” Ronan launches into his usual dramatic monologue about abandonment issues.

I’m really starting to wonder if they’re a joke or real.

While Ronan goes on and on, Aiden doesn’t even acknowledge him. He glares down his nose at Cole. Elites’ captain spares him a glance over his psychology book and smiles.

There’s been this weird tension between the two of them lately. From the outside looking in, Xander might appear like Aiden’s best friend, but since I got into their circle, it seems that Aiden is closest to Cole.

I heard that Aiden’s best assists came from Cole during their football games. They’re also silent and mysterious in their own ways.

Besides, aside from Levi, Cole is the only one I’ve witnessed Aiden play chess against.

That can only mean that Aiden recognises Cole as a worthy opponent, and Aiden doesn’t recognise a lot of people as worthy opponents.

Their friendship made sense. They’re both highly intelligent and move in unpredictable ways.

It doesn’t sit right to witness the tension between them.

“Morning,” Knox taps at my desk.

I smile up at him. “Morning.”

Mr Huntington, the math teacher, comes inside next.

I feel a glare directed at me. Aiden tilts his head to the side, his left eye twitching.

“What?” I mouth.

He focuses ahead.

“Miss Queens.”

“Yes,” Silver answers with a small voice.