Page 44 of Deviant Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 5)

I have no idea why I’m protecting him, his secrets—our secrets—but I am.

Fuck. I’m just as bad as him and his dad, keeping all this covered up.

“He jumped me when I was getting ready to go out this morning.” I wiggle my brows just to emphasise my point.

Thankfully, whatever she can see in my eyes works because she seems to buy my bullshit.

I’m the worst friend in the world.

“I can’t believe you’re fucking,” she says, falling down on the end of the bed.

“Really? I’m pretty sure you were the one trying to convince us to do it.”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t think it would ever actually happen. I thought he was too fucking stubborn to admit how he really feels.”

“Well, here we are,” I say, dropping down beside her.

“In his guest room.”

Okay, so maybe she didn’t buy any of it.

“Stel, I can—”

“Em,” she says, cutting off my words and reaching for my hand. “I know you’re lying to me. I know something is going on. But I need you to know that I trust you. Whatever is going on here, that’s your business. I have no right to be digging for details if you don’t want to give them. I just…” She pauses and stares into my eyes. “If he’s in any way treating you badly and you’re hiding it, I will not hold back when I find out.”

A sad laugh falls from my lips. “He’s not… he’s not hurting me.” I blow out a breath as images of the time we’ve spent together over the past week or so come back to me.

Any physical pain he’s caused me was more than welcome.

My skin heats as I think about us being together, of his kiss out in the kitchen.

“Damn, is he really that good?” Stella asks, recognising the look on my face.

“Oh yeah.”

“Damn, girl.”

My laugh quickly dies off as something heavier presses down on me.

“Mum’s in hospital. She tried to kill herself,” I blurt out.

“Holy shit, Em. Fuck. Why didn’t you say anything?”

I shrug. “Because… Because I don’t really know how I feel about it all. My head is so fucked up with everything to do with her.”

“Understandable.”

“I should feel relieved. I mean, I am relieved. I dunno, I just—”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Stella says softly, reaching for me and pulling me into her arms.

“My dad and Piper are in Las Vegas enjoying themselves and I just…” I trail off, feeling ridiculous that I can’t be without my parents.

I try to come across all hard and brave, but deep down, I’m about as soft as Calli.

“You’re missing them.”

“It’s the holidays, it’s meant to be about family and…” Mine’s all fucked up, I finish silently.