Cruel Prince(Royal Hearts Academy #1) - A. Jade Page 0,122
my ass.”
I look up. “Everything okay?”
“Sorry, sweetheart,” he says. “This damn car has been riding my bumper since I left the parking lot.”
Well, shit.
I look out the windshield behind me, and sure enough, a royal blue Lexus is tailgating us.
The driver slams on his horn. “What the fuck!”
My heart jumps to my throat when Jace’s car swerves into the next lane, narrowly dodging a vehicle driving the opposite way, before cutting us off.
A moment later, his Lexus is nothing but a blue speck in the sunset.
The driver snorts. “Can you believe that asshole? Some people are so—what the hell? He’s blocking the road!”
My mouth drops open as we skid to a stop.
He’s out of his goddamn mind.
Irritation races over my skin as I open the door and step out onto the shoulder. “What the hell are you doing?”
My heart stops and then picks up, pounding as Jace stalks toward me.
His lip is curled, his jaw is tight, and his dark eyes are shining with so much vehemence he looks like a predator.
“You fucking left me,” he seethes.
He’s got to be kidding. Considering all the times he’s left me, he has no right to be so hostile.
“We’re not good for each other.”
His eyes flash. “Bullshit.”
I’m trying to do the right thing. “Ja—”
“Tell me what it will take to get through to you?” he roars. “Name it and I’ll fucking do it.”
No. He doesn’t get to fight for me this hard…not now.
Not when he’s just going to push me away again.
“You can’t.” Frustration rises in my chest when he opens his mouth to argue. “Jesus, don’t you get it? Every time we touch, you look at me like I’m a mistake. I’m hurting you and you’re hurting me.”
He faulters. “I’m sorry.”
Never in a million years did I think I’d ever hear Jace Covington apologize.
But for once, this isn’t his fault. “For what? You can’t help…” I pause because I don’t want to say the wrong thing. “Neither of us can change what happened.”
His breath leaves him in a rush. “No…we can’t.”
At least that much we can agree on.
I stroke his cheek. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Jace Covington.” Tears prickle the back of my throat as I drop my hand. “I’m so sorry I ended up being the worst for you.”
I can physically feel my heart breaking as I turn around.
Tragedy brought Jace and me together…and, in the end, it’s what tore us apart.
“That’s not true.” He grabs my wrist and spins me around. “I love you, Dylan.” The veins in his forearm bulge as he pounds on his chest. “I can’t change the past, but I can change the future…and mine includes you.”
Shock roots me to the spot. “I—”
“No. Goddammit.” My heart beats wildly as his hand slides to my nape. “You can try to fight this thing between us as hard as you want…but I promise you won’t fucking win.” His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath. “I lost you once…and I’ll burn the whole fucking world to the ground before I ever make that mistake again.”
Tears blur my vision and my lungs seize. Every word he says cracks me wide open. “Jace—”
His teeth graze the shell of my ear. “Go ahead, try to run from me again, baby. I fucking dare you.”
I have no desire to anymore. Not after he just laid his heart out for me like that.
Emotion clogs my throat. “I can’t. I love you too much.”
“Good.” In one fell swoop, he hauls me into his arms. “Because no way in hell was I leaving without you.”
I lock my legs around his waist and he pulls me into a kiss so sizzling I forget how to breathe.
Tingles dance up and down my spine as I fall deeper into his abyss, needing more, more, mo…
“Move your vehicle or I’m calling the cops,” the driver barks while honking his horn. “You’re causing a traffic jam.”
Oh, shit. When I tilt my head, I see the string of bumper to bumper cars.
Jace flips him the middle finger. “Fuck off, old man.”
“God, you’re such an asshole,” I mutter as he walks us toward his car.
His lips curve into a cocky smirk. “Yeah, but I’m your asshole.”
Yes, he is.
Chapter 48
Dylan
Six months later….
A jolt of excitement flows through me as I stare at the cap and gown hanging on my closet door.
In just two more hours, I’ll officially be a high school graduate.
My heart sinks. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Oakley.