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Rage coursed through me, but I knew that’s what she wanted. She wanted me to fly off the handle. They all did. They wanted to see me break.
Instead, I reminded myself I could scream and punch something later. For now…
I smiled. “Are you kidding?” I looked at the locker and down at all the money in my hand before looking back at her. “I just made like three hundred bucks for dealing with your bullshit. You and all your little dumbass shitholes literallypaidme to go to my locker and have this conversation. I’ve never quite seen this form of bullying before, but I have to say, I’m all for it. At this rate, I’ll be rich before I leave here.”
Her smile faded, and I could see the anger in her eyes. “You made that money because you’re a whore who touches things that don’t belong to you. I wonder how much you charged Asher for last night’s ride.” Her expression turned thoughtful just before that smile returned.
I popped the lock on my locker and put the money and envelopes inside before turning back to her. “You’ll have to ask him about that. I don’t reveal privileged client information.” Fuck her. There was nothing I could say to change her mind or make her stop slut shaming me, so I figured playing along and making her efforts pointless was a better tactic.
Damian seemed to materialize out of nothingness a few feet behind her, leaning against his locker and watching us with interest. The way his eyes slowly and carefully roamed over my body as he licked his lips didn’t escape my attention.
He must like the new look.
Ignoring him, I continued to egg her on. “Now I have enough money to buy that sexy red thing Damian thought I’d look so good in. Thanks!” She thought I was fucking him anyway, so I figured if there was no way around it, use it.
I slammed my locker and smiled before walking away. A loud,“Ugh!”echoed behind me followed by what sounded like a stomp. If nothing else, she was very predictable. Eye rolling and temper tantrums.
Just keep pretending it doesn’t get to you. It’ll get worse, but then it’ll get better.
“Well, that was… something,” Damian said from behind me.
I didn’t slow my pace. Shrugging, I said, “Well, she deserved it. Besides, everyone thinks I’m fucking you anyway. That or they just choose to believe it because they’re bored and love the gossip. Regardless, you can start rumors about me, so I can start them about you. I guess all is fair in war.”
“I think the saying is, ‘All is fair in love and war,’” he said.
Even though I couldn’t see him, I could hear the smile in his voice as he continued to follow me.
“Oh, there isnolove with you, Damian. Only war.”
He laughed. “I do believe that’s the smartest thing you’ve said yet. Have you had enough? You might be able to fool Harper, but you can’t fool me. I saw how pissed you were. That fifty in there was mine, by the way.”
I stopped in my tracks, Damian slamming into my back. To keep from falling over, I spun around, meeting him chest to chest.
“That was yours? ‘Meet me on the roof at lunch’was yours?”
He shrugged. “We might not like one another, and we might have this little game, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun. Besides, like you said, everyone already thinks we fucked on the roof anyway.”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last bastard on the planet. You’re a selfish asshole. I can guarantee you’re the type who thinks just because you have a big dick, that’s all you need to contribute in the bedroom. That the girl should be grateful for what you give her. You’re the type who finishes first and doesn’t give two fucks about her.”
Damian looked around, and I only had a moment to realize this probably meant something bad was about to happen just before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind the stairs across the hall. In that spot, we were completely hidden from view.
“Damian, leave me the fuck alone,” I said.
His eyes narrowed, and he smiled before he grabbed the straps of my backpack and dropped them. My body was on high alert, and I quickly realized that feeling wasn’t because of what I expected it would be from.
As my backpack fell from my arms—the arms I could have held firm instead of allowing to go limp and drop the bag—and as he pinned me to the wall, I knew my body wasn’t warning me of an incoming fight.
It warned me that I was being hunted. But worst of all…
That Iwantedto be hunted.
My breathing increased as his hand wrapped around my throat, the other reaching under my skirt to grab my ass and pull me tighter against him.
“What do you want, Damian?” I asked, my voice a little breathier than I meant for it to be.
His gaze wandered from my eyes to my lips. “First, I wanted to tell you how fucking delicious you look today. I assume this was Luna’s doing, helping you sort out your uniform. Asher told me what you normally look like, and I have to say, this matches you much better.Mmm.I approve.”
I rolled my eyes and turned on my best sarcastic voice. “Well, thank God for that. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if you didn’t approve of my clothing choices. Everyone knows all women everywhere dress solely for men’s pleasure and for no other reason.” I quirked a brow at him to let him know how stupid I found his comment, but deep down I was happy he liked it, and I hated myself for it. “Cut the shit. What do you want?”