The Lies We Tell (The Four #1) - Becca Steele Page 0,4

out a small whimper as his thumb caressed my chin, the touch at odds with his hostile posture.

“Fuck,” he gritted out, and I felt his lips hover over mine, his hot breath skating over my skin, before he tore himself away, gone, as if he’d never been there.

Dazed, I staggered back against the hallway wall, my legs weak, my breath coming in shuddering gasps. What was that? And why did I have such an extreme reaction to someone I’d never met before? Someone who hated me on sight?

Concentrating on breathing slowly in and out, I willed my racing heart to slow. What could I have done to offend him? And how could I have offended someone I’d never laid eyes on in person, before tonight?

So many questions, and no answers.

Straightening up, I hardened my resolve. Fuck him, whoever he thought he was. Nothing was going to detract me from my reason for being here. If I made a few enemies along the way, it would be worth the price. I needed answers, and I wasn’t about to let anyone get in the way of that.

I strode through the house and out of the door before I could change my mind. James was there, leaning against the wall, his dimples popping out as he caught sight of me and smiled.

“Ready?”

I nodded. “Let’s go.”

He took my hand, and we began walking across the grass and out onto the quiet street. As we walked, he peppered me with questions.

“I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you a first year?”

“No. I just transferred here; I’m going into my second year.”

He grinned, steering me down a pathway towards a large mansion house, Regency style with white columns and large windows. “Same as me. What’s your degree in? I’m doing Accounting and Business Management.”

“Business and Marketing Management.”

“We’ll probably have some lectures together. If you need a study partner, I’m your man.” He gave me another huge grin, and I couldn’t help smiling back.

“Somehow I don’t think there would be much studying involved.”

“True.” He laughed, leading me up the mansion steps and inserting a key into the lock. “This way. I’m on the next floor. Where are you living?”

I trailed behind him up the wide staircase to a landing area, where he stopped in front of a door and inserted another key. “I’m in the apartments next to the campus. Hardwicke House?”

“Oh, yeah. Great location. I was in Hawling House last year. Decent apartments, if a bit small.”

We entered his apartment, all high ceilings and classic, clearly expensive furnishings. Kinslee had been right. This college really was exclusive—from everything I’d seen so far, the whole place practically dripped money.

I tugged my hand out of James’ grip and reached down to slip my shoes off. When I straightened up, he was staring at me hungrily.

He leaned forwards and pressed his lips to mine. I wound my arms around his neck, kissing him back. His kisses didn’t set me alight, but it felt good. Good to be wrapped in someone’s arms, forgetting everything, filling the emptiness inside me.

He broke the kiss but kept hold of me, walking us backwards into his bedroom. “Is this okay for you?”

“Yes.” I shut off my brain, allowing myself only to think about now, this moment, and how good it felt. I’d become an expert in compartmentalising my thoughts and feelings since my dad had passed away, and I locked everything away to be dealt with another time.

We fell onto the bed, losing our clothes along the way. He kissed me with more urgency, until we were both breathless and he was rolling a condom over his hardness, then thrusting inside me.

All too soon, it was over.

“Was that good for you?” He rolled off me, panting.

“Yeah.” I wasn’t lying—well…not really. I hadn’t orgasmed, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t had fun.

“Stay as long as you like, babe.” He swung himself out of the bed and disappeared out of the door.

Thanks, but no thanks. I’d slept with him, it had filled the void for a short time, but I had no interest in taking things any further. I climbed out of the bed and gathered up my discarded clothes, pulling them back on as quickly as I could.

He re-entered the room, bare-chested, a pair of pyjama bottoms slung low on his hips. “Leaving already?”

“Uh, yeah. I don’t sleep well in new places.”

He nodded. “Okay, let me call you a cab.” Before I could say anything else, he’d swiped his phone from the table next