Chapter 4: Why didn't you tell me you are hitting that

Walking back home naked looks mightily tempting considering the alternative. Draven has a bit of a reputation and I don't want my name to be another notch in his bed.

But what choice do I have?

“Fine,” I snap. “But I get to choose what I wear.”

He relaxes back against his head post, an artistically carved frame with the head of a wolf in between.

The victory smirk pulling at the corners of his lips annoyed the fuck out of me.

God! What an egotist.

I was infuriated inside, so I stormed over to his closet like a three-year-old. I expected chaos, but his wardrobe was disgustingly perfect — everything folded, color-coded, almost military neat.

“Of course it is perfect,” I sneer inwardly. You never get what you expect with Draven.

I yanked out a pair of boy shorts and an oversized T-shirt, all in navy blue. Now shoes…

I can’t wear what I have in my hand with the heels I had on last night.

Before I could ask, he left the room and returned with white sneakers as if he had read my mind.

I had taken advantage of his brief absence to change into his clothes.

He stops before me, running his eyes up and down my body. My clothes look good on you, he says with a sly smirk that causes my blood to boil.

I glare furiously at him and he laughs like I am his early morning entertainment. Which I am absolutely not.

He drops the shoes down. “These are Jules. I believe you two to be about the same size,” he glances at my feet, briefly before making his way back to the bed.

He threw himself back on it, face down, and got on his phone, practically ignoring me.

Jules is his twelve-year-old sister, and just like every Knight is tall for her age.

I muttered a thanks and slipped them on. Then stood there, awkwardly, with no idea what came next. It felt slightly weird to just walk out.

He noticed. “Anything else?” One brow lifted, mocking.

I bristled. “No.”

“If you’re looking for the door, it’s straight ahead, he drawled, his tone slightly mocking.

His teasing burned, but I ignored it. I wasn’t looking for the door. I just… wasn’t used to being in his space like this.

Swallowing my pride, I whispered, “Thank you.”

His phone stilled. He looked at me, his expression warm. “You’re welcome.”

I hated the feeling of owing anyone, least of all Draven Knight. “Dinner, later?”

His eyes flashed. “Is Soraya King asking me out on a date?” he drawled, lips curving into that infuriating smirk.

“Don’t get excited,” I shot back. “I’m paying back a favor. That’s it.”

The smirk dropped. “Don’t think so highly of yourself. I would’ve done the same for anyone,” he says, his voice sharp.

The sting in his words scraped something raw inside me, but I forced myself to remain calm. I know I am nothing special, especially to him. He doesn’t need to say it out loud. Whenever he speaks he reminds me why I will never date someone like him.

Before we go back to being oil and water, but after I have thanked him. I don’t like to owe anyone, least of all him.

“I know. But let me thank you anyway.”

He sits up and focuses his eyes on me, and believe you me it feels as if being pointed at by a laser beam.

“I will go to dinner with you,” he pauses dramatically before adding. “On one condition.”

My pulse jumps. “What condition?” I ask with a brow raised.

“It won’t be a repayment. It will be a date.”

My heart slams hard against my chest, and despite my heart’s odd reaction to his suggestion I threw back my head and laughed.

A scowl appeared between his brows. “What is funny?” His snaps.

“Nothing. Just the ridiculous idea of you believing that I would ever go on a date with you.” I chuckle again, believing the boy before me to be insane.

We have put each other through a lot to ever date and let’s not forget how much we argue with each other.

Even if we put our differences aside, Draven is too commitment-phobic for me to date him. Him and his brother are known all over town for their womanizing ways.

Like I said, I am not looking to be another notch.

“You can leave, I am not talking to you anymore,” he turns around, with his back towards me, his shoulders stiff.

“Sulking doesn’t suit you, Knight,” I muttered, heading for the door. “I’ll text you the time.”

He didn’t answer.

I pulled the door open and almost smacked into Tarren. He flashes me a knowing smirk, his eyes flicking between me and Draven’s room.

Heat flushed up my neck.

Fuck!

“Hi, Tarren,” I mumble and hurried off.

DRAVEN’S POV

“I don’t sulk!” I shouted after her retreating, hurling a pillow at the door as if it were her smug face.

God, that blonde drives me insane. Half the time I want to strangle her; the other half I can’t stop watching her mouth when she argues with me.

And her damn pride — higher than the Berlin Wall. She never lets anyone in. Never accepts help. Always fighting the world on her own.

But that same fire… that same independence… it’s why I—

The thought slammed into me like a freight train. My chest seized.

Love?

No. Hell no. I don’t love Soraya King. That’s insane.

“You sly! Dog!”

I snapped my head toward the door where Tarren leaned, grinning like the devil himself. His shirt was wrinkled, his jeans from yesterday, and his hair smelled faintly of perfume. Typical.

“What the fuck are you on about?” I muttered, dragging myself upright.

Tarren strolled in, casual as ever, and smacked my leg. “Don’t play dumb. I just saw Soraya walk out of here wearing your clothes. Why didn’t you tell me you were hitting that?”

My stomach twisted. I wished I could say yes. I wished last night had been what my brother thought it was.

Instead, I flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I wish,” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” I snapped, grabbing my phone and looking at it like it held all the answers.

Tarren laughed, shaking his head. “Bro, if you’re not tapping that, you’d better make a move fast. Girls like her? They don’t stay single long. Some other guy’s gonna swoop in and—”

He didn’t finish because my fist clenched so tight my knuckles cracked. The image of Soraya with anyone else burned through me like fire. Her laughing at someone else’s jokes. Her lips—

No.

“She’s mine,” I growled, the words ripping out of me before I could stop them.

The room went still.

Tarren froze for half a second, then smirked wider. “Oh… ohhh. So it’s like that.”

I turned away, jaw tight, hating how raw the confession had sounded. Hating more that it was the truth.