by Ruby Vincent
I nodded. What he was saying was making sense. “Ace has chosen to paint me as a liar and LeBlanc as the random person I accused. A video of her ripping my hair out and dragging me toward the edge of a cliff wouldn’t support that theory.”
“Yes.” He moved in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. “We may not have to worry about the video, but we’re not in the clear. There is plenty more the Spades can do.”
“I know.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe they would pull that crap with Mr. Garret. At least I know why Ace went silent on me. They were working overtime on how they would discredit me.”
“Whoever is leading the Spades is twisted like I’ve never seen. You’d think it would be easy to spot someone like that.”
I grasped his forearms. “We’re getting close, Jaxson. I can feel it. Somehow all of this fits together. I just need to make the connection.” I looked over my shoulder at the castle-like structure that was Evergreen Academy. “I’m going to expose the darkness that has been hiding beneath this school.”
“I’M GLAD FOR A BREAK.” Sofia folded a pair of jeans and placed them in her bag. “It’s great we have more people on our side now, but it’s been feeling like a powder keg that is moments away from exploding.”
“Can’t disagree with you there,” I muttered.
The ban had continued for the marked and those on their side. We were barred from the cafeteria, library, and everywhere the remaining Knights—and the Spades who acted through them—could control. The difference now was that it was friend against friend, teammate against teammate, or even family against family. The sides had been chosen and anger and bitterness were brewing against those they felt had chosen wrong.
“You heard Airi today,” Sofia continued. “Saying that she was a Knight too and she’s not going to stand for being kicked out of the cafeteria.”
“I heard all the people agreeing with her too, but if we roll in there demanding a place, I doubt the other side will sit by quietly.”
“They say this is what Walter did.” Her hands still in the middle of folding a blouse. “He turned people against the Spades. What if they try to hurt us? We can’t go everywhere as a group all the time.”
“Yes, we can.” I crawled across her bed until she was looking me in the eye. “We’ll always watch out for each other. We’re a team.”
She smiled. It was a tiny one and gone as quickly as it came, but it was there. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. So you focus on your weekend with Zane. I think pretty much everyone got a pass. We’re all taking a break from this place.”
“Zane and I are going to have my house to ourselves. There is a problem with one of the overseas deals and Mom went to meet Dad.” Sofia lowered her voice. “But that’s not the interesting part. Tomorrow night, Zane and I are going to double-date with Kai... and Paisley.”
“Are you serious? He asked her out?”
“Yep. About time, am I right? They don’t want anyone to make a big deal of it while they’re figuring it out so we’ve been sworn to secrecy.” She shrugged. “But I tell you everything so now you know.”
I laughed. “You do tell me everything. You gave me graphic details about that thing Zane did on the night of your anniversary. I couldn’t look at him for a week without blushing.”
“I couldn’t look at him for a week without tearing his clothes off. Hopefully there will be more of that tonight.” She winked. “For you too.”
I flopped back onto the sheets. “I can’t wait to see Ezra. It’s weird being at school without him.”
“What about Maverick? How is he doing?”
“We’ve talked every night since Tuesday. He’s sure he’ll be back next week, but doesn’t know what day.”
“It’s crazy they both got food poisoning.”
“Yeah,” I replied, averting my eyes. “Crazy.”
Sofia packed up the rest of her things and we went down to the front room. Sofia wasn’t lying about everyone getting away. Bags littered the floor and people were running around getting last-minute things and pulling on their jackets.
“Zane!” Kai shouted down the hall. “Get your ass out there. The car’s waiting in front of the gates.”
“So is mine.” Paisley gave Sofia and me a hug. “Have a good weekend, Val.” She let go and dashed for the door. I saw her throw Kai a secret smile on the way.
A hand snaked around my waist as Jaxson kissed my temple. “Dad wants me home so I’m heading out too. I’ll call you.”
I twisted around to give him a proper kiss on the lips. He left after we broke apart and I spotted Ryder coming down the hall.
“You’re going home too?”
He nodded. Ryder walked up to me and pressed his mouth to my ear. “I’ve been thinking I need to have a talk with Mom.”
“You mean...?”
He didn’t go on. He just brushed his lips against my cheek. He was gone before the tingling sensation went away.
“Let’s go, Val,” said Sofia. “I’m more than ready to get out of here.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. The last ones out, I locked the door behind us and we headed down the hill to the wrought-iron gates. Sofia and I split up at the sidewalk, waving goodbye as she made for her driver and I went up to Ezra.
I broke into a run when that grin crossed his handsome face. I jumped into his arms and he caught me and swung me around.
“I guess you missed me.”
“So much.” I squeezed him tight. “I can’t wait to start our weekend.”
“It starts now.”
I squealed when he suddenly snagged me under the legs. Bridal-style, he carried me into the car and placed me on the seat. The driver took off the second he closed the door.
“What are we going to do?” I asked as I snuggled into his side.
“I owe you two more labors.”
“What?” I drew back and looked him in the face. “Ezra, I love that you guys wanted to do that for me, but trust me, I know you’re sorry and you know that I’ve forgiven you. You don’t have to do them anymore.”
He bent and pecked me on the lips. “Yes, I do.”
I sighed. “I had to choose the most stubborn men on the planet.”
“You chose men who would do anything to show how much they care about you.” He grabbed my chin beneath my fingers and held me fast. “Damn, you’re lucky.”
“Am I?” My tongue darted out and tasted his finger. I had been away from him for too long and my body was feeling the loss. The combination of his touch, sweet scent, and those dark eyes drinking me in was undoing me. “Show me how lucky I am.”
“Oh, I will.” He glanced to the side. “When we’re alone.”
Get yourself under control, Moon. You’re not jumping his bones in the back of a car, but just in case...
I scooted away and put some distance between us. He was too tempting. “Can I know what you have planned?”
“We’re not staying at the house.”
“We’re not?”
“No. Things with Mom are still— Well, I figured it would be better if we had time to ourselves.” I couldn’t resist reaching across to take his hand. “We’ll be staying in a hotel in Chesterfield.”
“Chesterfield? Why there?”
Chesterfield was a town about an hour east of Evergreen. I had never been there, but it was where a couple of my classmates grew up.
“Because it’s where I found it.”
“Found what?”
“My second gift to you.”
“I’m intrigued. Am I going to get this gift today?”
“Yep.” He raised his arm to look at his watch. “We’re going to make it just in time. You’ll get that gift and then tonight”—a wicked grin curled his lips—“you’ll get a few more.”
“You’re so naughty, Ezra Lennox.”
“You have no idea.”
Oh, but I did. The sexual encounters we’ve had have been hot. I could imagine what tonight woul
d be like and my imaginings were driving me wild.
We started the ride on opposite ends of the car, but as we drove through the forest-lined streets, we drifted closer. Soon, I was back where I belonged, resting my head on his shoulder while he threaded his fingers through my hair. I was so content, I ended up jerking awake when the car came to a stop.
“Oops,” I said as I stretched. “I fell asleep.”
“That’s alright. It’s better you do that now, because you’re not sleeping tonight.”
Laughing, I nudged his shoulder. “So are we here?”
He nodded. A pleased grin took over his face as he pointed out the tinted windows. “We’re here. I’ve been looking for months and finally found it.”
Excitement building, I grinned too as I threw open the car door and rushed out to see...
...a movie theater.
I tried to hold on to the grin while Ezra climbed out behind me. It must not have worked because he burst out laughing when he saw my face. “You look disappointed.”
“No, I’m not. I’m happy to be anywhere with you, but... you’ve been looking for months for a movie theater? You know there’s one in Evergreen Promenade, right?”
He laughed again. He was enjoying himself too much and I was starting to think I missed something. “I wasn’t looking for just any movie theater. It had to have something in particular.”
“Reclining seats?”
Grinning, Ezra put his arm around my waist and walked us up to the ticket booth. “Two for Dawn’s Majesty, please.”
I was brimming with confusion, but I swallowed my questions. Whatever it is, I would find out soon enough.
“Are you hungry?” he asked as we stepped inside. “I have dinner reservations but we could get some popcorn or nachos.”
“Nachos would be great.”
He held me securely against his side as we stepped up to the concession stand. A few people lingering in the lobby glanced our way. Appreciative eyes looked Ezra up and down, taking in those piercing dark eyes, tousled hair, fit body, and the fine, expensive clothes that covered that body up. I didn’t see myself as a possessive person, but at that moment, I was glad that he was all mine.
“Large nachos and two large sodas, please.”
“Coming right up.”
“I’ve been wanting to see this movie,” I said as we moved to the side to await our food. “How did you know?”
“A movie about a strong, but dangerous woman plotting to retake the throne from the monarchs who unseated her family.” He gave me a look. “That was all you, baby.”
I swatted his shoulder even while I laughed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I love and fear you.”
A pleasant thrill flooded me at hearing that he loved me. It was stronger than my eye roll. “You’re so ridiculous.”
“Here you are.” The worker returned and set the nachos and two empty cups in front of us. Then he walked off.
“Wait,” I called. “You haven’t poured our drinks.”
“It’s okay, Val. We get them ourselves here.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I grabbed one cup while Ezra picked up the other and the nachos. We headed for the theaters. “I read the reviews the other day,” I said, picking up our conversation. “They said it was great. There’s supposed to be an incredible plot twist.”
“I heard that too.”
“If there’s a sequel we have to... come back... and...” Words deserted me as Ezra stopped in front of the machine. With one look, I knew why we were here.
Suddenly, he appeared nervous. He rocked from foot to foot as he looked from me to the machine. “I’ve been looking for months,” he whispered. “I’ve called a dozen theaters and even phoned the manufacturers until I found out only one theater in our area had these. My next step would have been to fly you out of the state.”
I chuckled, eyes filling with tears as I looked at the customize-your-soda machine. It was the same model as those that used to take up the Evergreen halls.
“Why did you go through all of that trouble? I would have been happy seeing any movie with you while we drank plain sodas.”
“Because.” Ezra slipped his hand into mine and drew me in. “I fell for you over a cup of strawberry root beer. You blew into that library and faced me down without caring that I was a Knight or who my mom was.
“You never cared about any of that stuff. You’ve always just seen me. Even when I didn’t want you to see what was underneath, you’ve opened me up, called me on my crap, and pushed me to be a better man.
“When I looked at you over that cup of soda, blushing even while you were annoyed with me, I saw that future. I saw our future. You were going to be the person who undid the perfect mask I was trying to create. I know that I don’t deserve you. You’ve given me everything I hoped while I’ve let you down, but we’re here now. We’ve made it to us, so it’s right that we go back to where it started.”
The tears were falling now—running hot down my cheeks as my heart filled with so much love, I thought it would burst. A thousand replies sprang to my lips. I wanted to tell him that he did deserve me. I wanted to say that he had given me so much over the years too. I wanted to say as beautifully as he did the future I saw for us. There were a thousand things I wanted to say, but I could only think of one that could say it all. “Ezra, I love you too.”
Ezra captured my lips in a kiss that wasn’t the wild battle of tongues, but sweet and slow like the night he first told me he loved me. I poured everything else I needed him to know in that kiss, and as he kissed me back, I knew he understood me.
“So,” he began when we broke apart. I loved that he struggled to catch his breath. “What flavor you in the mood for? Orange Sprite? Vanilla Coke? Crème brûlée Pepsi?” He stepped back. “I think I’ll try the—”
“No.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him up short. A strong feeling had overtaken me and I wasn’t pushing it aside any longer. “We need to go now.”
He blinked. “Now? But what about the movie?”
“Fuck the movie.” I spun and tugged him after me. “Is the driver still here? He needs to bring the car around.”
“But— But— I got us dinner reservations.”
“Your hotel better have room service.”
We escaped out onto the sidewalk. I immediately swung my head around looking for the car. I thought I spotted it when Ezra stepped in my view.
“Val.” He took my face in his hands. “Trust me, we want the same thing right now, but I want to do this right. I planned the whole night—the entire apology. The restaurant we’re going to has peanut butter brownies and a courtyard where we can eat and look at the stars. I also—”
I gently placed a finger on his lips. “Ezra, that is so sweet and romantic. It means a lot to me that you’ve done all of this to show me how you feel, but I need you to listen. You don’t have to apologize anymore, because I know how you feel. You love me and you don’t have to prove it to me anymore. You’ve shown me in every way except one.” I moved my hand and cupped his cheek. “So tonight, let’s be together like we’ve been waiting so long for. What do you say?”
He let out a breathy laugh as he gripped my hand. “I say the hotel better have room service.”
We found the car and the driver idling in a parking space and Ezra practically yelled “Chesterfield Grand Hotel” at him.
We made out furiously in the backseat as he hurried to the hotel. Our clothes stayed on and our hands above the waist, but the windows were nicely fogged up when the driver dropped us off in front of the sliding doors.
I thought I would burst out of my skin as Ezra checked us in. Months of waiting and now all that stood in our way was a chatty receptionist.
“Dinner is being served in the dining room now,” she said. “You can also have room service delivered up to eleven o’clock.”
“That’s great,” Ezra replied. He bounced on his heels as we tracked her movements. She was in
no hurry as she made our key.
“Breakfast is from six a.m. to ten. May I suggest you enjoy it on the terrace tomorrow morning? If you wake up early enough you can enjoy the sunrise.”
“Yep.”
Beaming away, she set the key down in front of her instead of handing it over. I almost screamed while she typed something into the computer. “Do you have bags that need to be brought up?”
“We’ve got them.” His hand inched toward the key. “What’s our room number?”
“You are in room 254,” she said brightly. “You’re all checked in. I hope you have a pleasant stay at the—”
“Thank you.” Ezra snagged the key and we ran for the elevator, not caring how it looked to people watching.
We attacked each other before the doors closed. Ours hand were everywhere—pulling, tugging, and caressing. I had his shirt half off when he put his mouth to my ear.
“The things I’m going to do to you tonight...”
I moaned as my core pulsed with heat. “Please, finish that sentence. Tell me what you’re going to do.”
He laughed and I shivered as his breath skated over me. “I’d rather show you.”
We fell out of the elevator when the doors opened and hurried to our room. Ezra got the door open. I shot past him, racing toward the bed, but he caught me in the living room.
I shrieked as he spun me around and grabbed the hem of my dress. He had it over my head and on the floor in seconds and the rest of our clothes soon followed.
Ezra lifted me up. His hands cupped my ass as he carried me to the bed.
I couldn’t stop myself from getting one last tease in. “You do have a condom this time, don’t you?”
“You’re very funny, Moon. I’ve got a box of condoms in that bag and no reason to leave this room. We’re finishing what we started in that sauna.”
I yelped when I suddenly found myself flying. Ezra threw me on the bed, and then jumped on top of me before I could recover. He kissed me mid-laugh. I was brimming with happiness. I loved him. I would finally show him how much.