Savage Prince: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Royal Falls Elite Book 1)

by Kristin Buoni

  She might be a crazy, manipulative bitch, but she wasn’t a complete sociopath like I initially assumed when I first met her. I knew that because I’d witnessed her displaying real, raw emotions over the last few weeks while the bullying went on. As far as I knew, sociopaths weren’t capable of feeling and showing emotions, unless they faked it, and Laney really didn’t seem like she was faking any of it when I saw it.

  Despite her depraved nature and wicked ways, that ability to feel and express emotion meant she was capable of love like everyone else. Foolish, all-consuming, life-ruining love. It was the one thing that could tear her apart and finally force her to admit the truth to me… as long as I played my cards right.

  And I would. I knew exactly what I had to do now.

  I had to make her fall for me. For real. But the only way I could do that was to pretend to fall for her first. Gain her trust, get her on my side, make her believe there could actually be something between us.

  I let out a sigh and rubbed my face. “Fuck,” I muttered, feigning a combination of nerves and anguish. “You’re right.”

  She blinked. “I am?”

  I nodded slowly, scratching my jaw. “Yeah. I feel it too.”

  “Oh,” she said in a small voice. “Wow.”

  “Look,” I went on. “I don’t want to, okay? So whatever this shit is between us, we need to get it the fuck out of our systems. Just like you said.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled deeply. “This one-night thing… I guess it could be worth a shot.”

  Laney looked shocked. Almost horrified.

  “Did you not want me to agree?” I asked, arching a brow.

  “I did. I’m just surprised,” she replied breathlessly. “I really wasn’t sure if you’d say yes or not. But I… um… I’m glad you did.”

  Her face was scarlet now, and her legs were trembling.

  I smiled inwardly. It was beginning already. Even if this little plan of hers had started out as an obvious, inelegant attempt at manipulation, she couldn’t resist me once I turned the charm on. It was only a matter of time until I had her eating out of the palm of my hand.

  “So, Friday at eight?” I said.

  She nodded. “Yes. That works for me.”

  I smiled. “Good.”

  She awkwardly shifted her weight again, hands trembling by her side. “Okay, well… I’ll see you then.”

  “Yeah.” My smile grew wider. “I can’t wait.”

  18

  Laney

  Trina: Good luck for tonight. Whatever happens, do NOT sleep with him! I know he’s hot but remember who he is!

  Me: Uhh… duh? Why would I sleep with him??

  Trina: I’m kidding!! :p Seriously, though, I can’t stop picturing his face when he finally realizes it’s not happening. You’ll probably be the first girl to ever turn him down, hahaha.

  Me: Meanwhile I can’t stop picturing myself vomiting in my mouth at the thought of touching him….

  That wasn’t entirely true, but Trina didn’t need to know that. No one did.

  I typed out another message.

  Me: I better finish getting ready. He’s due here in 30 mins, and I need to put my makeup on and order the pizza so the timing is right.

  Trina: Ok. Btw, Trinity Pizza downtown always takes exactly 20 mins to deliver anywhere around Royal Falls. I know Adam suggested RF Pizzas because that’s Hunter’s favorite place, and they’re usually on time, but I’d go with Trinity to be safe.

  Me: Ok. Thanks!

  Trina: No problem. Let me know how it goes as soon as he’s gone, ok? PS: I still can’t believe he actually fell for it. So pathetic!

  I couldn’t believe Hunter had fallen for my horrifyingly awkward pickup attempt either. While Trina and Adam gave me pointers on what to say and what not to say when I approached him earlier this week, I was mostly on my own.

  Everything went wrong from the second I stepped up to him—he looked a little too perfect, as usual, and that made me falter and forget almost everything I planned on saying. Because of that, I thought our little plan was screwed from the start, so when Hunter actually agreed to come and hang out with me, I was shocked.

  Adam wasn’t. He told me from the very start that no matter how awkward I was, and no matter how much I stumbled over my words, there was no way in hell a horny eighteen-year-old guy could resist a girl approaching him and alluding to no-strings-attached sex for an evening.

  Of course there wouldn’t actually be any sex, but Hunter didn’t know that.

  The red lipstick was Adam’s idea too. He said Hunter had always liked that on girls, so it couldn’t hurt to add it just in case, along with the extra-short skirt and sheer stockings. I felt exposed as hell in the switched-up uniform, and I felt like a total try-hard with the lipstick, but Adam was right. Not only did Hunter go for it, he was enthusiastic about it.

  I was happy when I realized Stage 1 of the plan had gone off without a hitch despite my painful awkwardness, but I was still a little suspicious. The way I saw it, Hunter agreed a little too fast, considering how much he clearly despised me.

  And what was up with him saying he felt something for me?

  I had a sneaking suspicion that he was up to something shady, but it didn’t matter. My part of the plan shouldn’t take too long to complete once he was in my room, and then I could make my excuses and throw him out.

  I closed my laptop, ordered a pizza, got dressed, and went into my bathroom to apply some lipstick—red, of course. Then I hurried out to the main part of the dorm, heart racing as a series of sharp raps echoed from the door.

  Time to play.

  The next stages of the plan would require much better acting, improvisation, and smooth-talking skills than I managed to employ on Monday, but I wasn’t concerned. I’d had five whole days to practice and go over everything in my head, so I felt ready.

  I pasted a shy smile on my face and opened my door to see Hunter standing in the hall. He’d dressed for the occasion in black pants and a button-down shirt with a jacket hanging over one shoulder. His pale blue shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his tanned forearms.

  He gave me a smile that lit up his face and made his chiseled features look a lot less dangerous. Heat immediately surged through me.

  Hi,” I said breathlessly.

  I didn’t need to fake the breathless part.

  It felt strangely good to see him. Despite my hatred for him, along with the fact that this whole evening was one big setup, having Hunter right here in front of me—all to myself—felt oddly familiar. Like we’d been dating for months, and he was just here to pick me up for yet another date to the movies.

  I wasn’t expecting to have that sort of reaction. For the last few days, I’d attempted to train myself out of the feelings of lust that overtook me whenever I saw him in order to inoculate myself against any temptation, and I thought I was doing well. I thought I’d take one look at him and feel nothing but anger for everything he’d done, and then I’d be able to carry out tonight’s task like a mafia hitman—get it done and get the hell out.

  Now it seemed like things were going to be a lot harder than that, considering the heat flooding through my veins.

  Just breathe, I told myself. It’ll be okay.

  “Hey,” Hunter replied. “Can I come in?”

  His deep voice reverberated in my core, and something in his gaze made me forget to breathe normally.

  “Sure,” I said, wishing my voice didn’t sound so squeaky.

  As he stepped inside, I noticed he was holding a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

  “What’s that for?” I asked, pointing to the stuff. “Irony?”

  His lips curved into a smirk. “Yeah. Saw it at the gas station and thought it would be funny. You might as well take it, though.”

  As he held the stuff out toward me, the chocolate box slid from his hand and onto the floor. I thought it was an accident, bu
t then I saw Hunter’s smirk widen, and he raised a questioning eyebrow. Clearly, he wanted to see if I’d be willing to bend down and pick it up in front of him.

  Usually I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, but this was a fake seduction, so everything ‘usual’ was out the window.

  I turned and bent over to retrieve the box, making sure I angled myself so that he’d get a perfect view of my ass in the tight black skirt that Trina picked out for me earlier.

  “Got it,” I said, snapping back up. I pretended I didn’t notice Hunter staring at my body, eyes dark and slightly glazed. “I’ll put it over here,” I went on, motioning toward my desk.

  Hunter threw his jacket over the back of a chair and followed me across the room. To my utter chagrin, I slipped on the gray rug, not used to the high heels that Adam and Trina suggested I wear this evening.

  I let out a little yelp as I fell, and Hunter dropped the flowers and caught me midair, capturing me around the waist. My hands instinctively shot out to grab his broad shoulders as my eyes locked right onto his, and my heart began to hammer like crazy.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” Hunter murmured, holding me like I weighed nothing.

  He helped me right myself on the floor, and then his hands left my waist. I hated how cold my body felt without the warmth of his fingertips seeping through my clothes, and I hated myself for even thinking about it.

  This time Hunter leaned down to pick up the fallen flowers, instead of expecting me to do it so he could enjoy the view. He tossed them on my desk next to the chocolates, and then he turned back to me, dark eyebrows lifting quizzically.

  “So,” he began. “How’s this going to work tonight?”

  I took a deep breath and raised my chin. “We’ll hang out. Talk. Eat. Do… whatever we want,” I said, adding a teasing pause on the last part. “If I can’t convince you to like me, and vice versa, then everything can go back to normal on Monday. Deal?”

  He smirked and held out a hand. “Deal.”

  “Good.” I took his hand and shook it, savoring his warmth again. “Thanks for agreeing to give it a shot.”

  “No problem.” His smug smile faded slightly, and he rubbed the stubble on his jaw as he went on. “You know, I have to say… I was pretty surprised when you walked right up to me like that and said all that stuff.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Maybe I’m braver than you think.”

  “Yeah. And maybe I’m not as bad as you think,” he said, leaning down and brushing his lips over the very top of my left ear.

  A tingle shot through me. “Yeah. Maybe,” I said with a slight smile.

  I took a few small steps back, pretending to look at the different flavors on the side of the chocolate box. In reality, I was quickly checking out of the corner of my eye to make sure Hunter was standing close enough to the main chandelier in my room for Stage 2 of tonight’s scheme.

  “Yum. Hazelnut is my favorite,” I said. I set the box down again and glanced over at Hunter, affecting a casual air. “Hey, could you put some music on while I figure out where to put the flowers? They’ll die if I don’t put them in water.”

  Hunter frowned. “Why do you want music?”

  “I just thought it would help loosen things up,” I said. “Plus I really want to hear the new Moonsorrow album.”

  His eyes widened slightly. “You like Moonsorrow?”

  No, but you do. Adam told me, I thought to myself as I nodded. “Yeah, who doesn’t?”

  “Well, why don’t you put it on then?” he asked, tilting his chin to one side. “It’s your room.”

  I feigned embarrassment, chewing on the inside of my cheek as I looked down at the floor. “I don’t have Spotify or any other streaming services. I know they’re not that expensive, but it all adds up, and I’m trying to save as much—”

  He held up a palm to cut me off. “I get it. I’ll use mine.”

  He pulled out his phone and typed in his unlock code. My heart hammered in my chest as I glanced up at the tiny wireless button cam Adam had stuck on the bottom of the chandelier earlier today.

  While it was on and transmitting a bird’s eye view of my room to his computer at home, a tiny yellow light flashed on the side of it. It wasn’t obvious at all, but the sooner Adam got what we needed and switched it off, the less anxious I’d feel. Hunter could look up at any moment for any reason, and if he happened to spot the tiny light amongst the chandelier globes, he’d instantly know what I was up to.

  My phone vibrated on my bed a second later, and I went over and picked it up. It was Adam. Got it, he said. 9483. You’re on your own now. Good luck ;)

  I glanced up at the chandelier again, breathing a sigh of relief as I saw that the little light had gone off. Now there was no way Hunter would ever know it was there.

  I deleted Adam’s message and switched over to the local food delivery app on my cell. “Oh, I forgot to tell you,” I said, looking over at Hunter. “I thought we might get hungry, so I ordered some pizza.”

  “You should’ve let me order,” he said. “The places around here aren’t exactly cheap.”

  My smile tightened. “It’s okay. I can afford takeout once in a while.”

  Hunter’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant…” He trailed off and hesitated, slightly shaking his head. “Never mind. You said you wanted the new Moonsorrow album?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Deep, rhythmic music filled the air, and Hunter grinned and set his phone down on my nightstand. “There you go.”

  “Awesome. Thanks,” I said, taking a step closer. “Hey, do you think you could do me another favor?”

  “Sure. What do you need?”

  I bit my bottom lip, trying to look as nervous and helpless as possible. “Well, the app says the pizza will be here in six minutes, but the delivery guy can’t come into Blair Hall and drop it at my door because he hasn’t got an RFA keycard to get into the building. So I have to meet him outside,” I said. “The thing is… I’m kinda nervous about going out at night right now, because some really creepy things have happened to me lately.”

  Hunter lifted his brows. “Really?”

  “Yeah. It sucks,” I went on, sighing deeply. “You know, someone even managed to get into my room while I was asleep one night,” I added, as if I genuinely had no idea it was him. I lowered my eyes to the floor. “I think it was just a prank, because it was the same night as the Friday the 13th party, but still… it was really scary.”

  “That’s horrible,” Hunter said softly, taking the opportunity to rub my arm in a comforting manner. “I’m so sorry.”

  Fucking asshole. Good actor, though. For a second I almost believed he wasn’t involved in the whole thing.

  “Anyway, could you go outside and wait for the pizza?” I said, holding my phone out toward him. I figured if I did that, giving him my full trust, he’d be more likely to trust me in return. “While you do that, I can go and freshen up.”

  Everyone knew what ‘freshen up’ was code for.

  Hunter took the bait and grabbed my phone. “Sure. I’ll get it.”

  I gave him a winning smile. “Thanks. I’ll leave the door open for you to get back in.”

  He stepped out of the dorm with my phone, and just as I expected, he left his own phone on my nightstand, still playing the new Moonsorrow album. As far as he knew, I had no idea what his unlock code was, so he was perfectly safe leaving it here for a few minutes.

  He also had my phone on him, completely unlocked, so if he wanted, he could spend the next five minutes going through it while he waited for the delivery guy to show up. It didn’t matter, because I’d deleted anything suspicious, so he wouldn’t find anything.

  I wedged a shoe in my door to leave it open for him when he finally returned with the food—I knew he still had a keycard for the lock, but he didn’t know that I knew that, so he couldn’t exactly use it—and then I hurried over to his phone and used the code Adam sent me to unlock it.

&n
bsp; I turned off the music, set the call volume to silent, and hurried into the bathroom to hide it in one of the vents. Then I raced back into my bedroom and grabbed the decoy phone Adam had procured for me earlier this week. It was the exact same model as Hunter’s, only it didn’t work. It wouldn’t turn on, wouldn’t charge, wouldn’t do anything.

  When Hunter returned with the pizza in a few minutes, he’d think his phone had stopped working for some reason, but it would be too late to do anything about it, because there weren’t any tech places open at night in Royal Falls. Besides, he was on a special date with me; one he thought was going to lead to sex. That meant there was no way he’d leave until I wanted him to.

  By the time he woke up at home tomorrow morning, he wouldn’t need to take it into the shop to get it fixed, because Adam was going to sneak into his room and replace the non-functional decoy phone with the real one after retrieving it from me in the middle of the night. Hunter would think his phone had simply fixed itself after a few hours, as phones tended to do sometimes, and then he’d forget about the whole thing.

  I set the decoy phone down on the nightstand, and then I went back into the bathroom to change into a cute but sexy nightdress Trina bought me from a local boutique. It was pale pink satin trimmed with lace, and it was so short that it barely skimmed my ass.

  I heard Hunter step back into my dorm a couple of minutes later, and I called out to him. “Just a minute! I’m looking for some sort of vase for the flowers.”

  “Fuck the flowers and get out here,” he called back. “This pizza smells amazing. I—”

  He stopped in his tracks and went silent when he saw me emerge from the bathroom.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, innocently widening my eyes as I tipped my head to one side.

  He cleared his throat. “Nothing,” he said, throwing the pizza down on a nearby chair along with my phone. “I’m just not that hungry anymore.”

  “That’s all right. We can eat later.” I smiled invitingly and stepped closer.