Page 54 of Conquered

My mouth falls open. I am gobsmacked. Okay, so he mostly frowned when I first arrived, but he has been smiling at me a lot recently, especially since last night. He gives me this devilish grin that makes me squirm, and butterflies dance in my stomach. I hoped that it was something just for me, but I never imagined that the act of smiling was something he didn’t usually do, even with his close friends. Plus, he didn't let go of me all night, holding me close in those strong arms, letting me know that I'm all kinds of safe and protected there.

“Oh,” I say, my forehead furrowing and biting my lip. I’m at a loss as to what to think, or even feel.It's just sex with Jax and Loki, right?

“Oh, indeed, Pretty Girl,” Loki teases in a terrible British accent, breaking into my troubled thoughts, his emerald gaze sparkling. I hear a chair scrape back as Kai gets up, taking our empty bowls, and walking to the dishwasher.

“I was planning on heading into town, if you'd like to join me?” he enquires in that melodic voice of his as he straightens up, cheeks going pink as he speaks.

“I'd love to join you, Kai,” I say, beaming at him, his face going even redder.

As I get up, I hear Loki retort, “See, magic pussy.” And this time I playfully smack him on his shoulder when I walk past. He captures my wrist and pulls me into his lap, kissing me soundly on the lips, leaving me breathless and aching.

He looks into my eyes, his gaze heated, whispering against my lips in that sexy deep voice of his, “Go add to your harem, Pretty Girl. But tonight, you're in my bed.” Then he licks my bottom lip, releases my wrist, helping me off his lap as he stands up, and heads upstairs.

My brain feels fuzzy with lust, and it takes a moment for what he’s said to sink in.Harem? Now there’s an idea. If only Kai and Ash were on board...

“Ready?” Kai asks softly, waiting by the door and looking at me with his beautiful honey gaze, once again bringing me back to the present.

“Uh...yes. Sure. Absolutely.” I smile brightly as I try to shake myself out of my stupor, and head out the door with him by my side.

CHAPTER TWELVE

LILLY

Kai leads me down to the student car park—or parking lot as he calls it—which is on the edge of campus, just past the tennis courts. Ironic, keeping cars and all their fumes so close to where people exercise.

I haven't been this way before, not having a car of my own or my American driver’s licence, and as we come round the corner, I stop dead and gape in horror.

Jesus wept!

Before me lies millions of pounds, or dollars I suppose, worth of cars. I'm pretty much a car newb, but even I can tell that these are the best money can buy, what with all the black horse and gold bull logos.

“Bloody Nora!” I exclaim, causing Kai to turn and look back at me, his brows raised and a look of bemusement on his face.

“Bloody who?” he asks with a small chuckle.

“Oh, never mind!” I say back, flapping my hands in the air. “Are these...studentcars?” I ask, a little aghast at the displayed wealth.

“Uh, yeah. Why?” Kai asks back, clearly having no idea how most students, or even people, live.

Like, the cars here cost more than many people’s houses. Certainly more than most people’s yearly salaries. It's insane, and I start to truly realise the world that I've become a part of since Mum...My mind shies away from the word.

“They're so…” I’m actually at a loss as to how to describe it to Kai, who's lived with privilege his whole life, why this is so wrong. He's never had to go without, or not put the heating on because it costs too much. It's not his fault, I guess, it's just the world he grew up in. Doesn't make it any less fucked.

“Never mind, Kai. It doesn't matter.” I sigh and start to catch up with him. He puts a slender hand on my arm, stopping me once I reach him.

“No, Lilly. It does matter,” he urges seriously, locking his honey brown gaze with mine. I take a deep breath, trying to figure out a way to explain what I know inherently.

“These cars...they're…” I bite my lip then think,fuck it!“They're everything that's wrong with this world,” I rush out, causing his eyebrows to raise.

He remains silent, waiting for me to explain further. I've noticed that about him in my short time here. He’s the quiet one of the group and I bet he gets overlooked for it, but he's always watching. Observing and taking in all the minute details round him.

“Growing up with Mum,” my voice hitches, the pain of losing her still raw, like an open wound that just won't heal. It’s as if thinking about her, talking about her reopens it, like her death has only just happened, even though it was almost nine months ago now.

I take a deep, steadying breath, letting the birdsong and other sounds filter in until my mind stills and I’m able to talk again.

“She did everything she could for me, to provide for us. She worked long hours at the club, late at night to put food on the table and clothes on my back. We were okay moneywise, we could afford nice things and shopping sprees. The odd spa day too.” I remember, smiling fondly at the memory. “But I had friends who weren't as comfortable as us. Who thought we were well off. And this,” I say, gesturing round us at all the shiny metal. “This is obscene! These cars are worth more than most people earn in a year. And they're owned by, what, eighteen year olds?!” My voice is a little raised with anger threaded through it as I think about how unfair it all is. “Tell me how it's right, how it's okay for some people to work so fucking hard all for a pittance when you lot don't have to lift a finger, yet can own a car worth the cost of an expensive house?” I stare straight into his eyes, pleading with him to give me answers. His hand drops from my arm, and I instantly miss the small comfort it gave.

“I...I...I don't know. I'm sorry, Lilly,” he stutters, his gaze dropping and head bowing as if in shame. “I guess...it's not fair. And this world is...hard for most of us, just in different ways,” he says, turning away, but not before I can see genuine pain in his eyes.