Page 28 of Stolen to Forever
“One of them isn't hanging out in here with your naked ass running around.”
“I can wear clothes.”
He leans up against the counter to stare at me and his eyes roam over my body.I slid on shorts and now I’m thinking I should have gone with sweatpants.I don’t know how he does it but when he looks at me like that my whole body tingles.
“I’ll get food.”He points toward the living room.“Study.”I glance over to my coffee table where all my books are scattered.“You’re almost there, sweet thing.I’m going to make sure you cross the finish line.”
“I can cross it on my own.”I fold my arms over my chest, and it’s then I realize I didn't put on a bra.To keep the bottom floor of the complex warm, it means cranking up the heat, so us upstairs tenants bake and I’m used to wearing as little as possible to stay cool.
“Fair point.I don't doubt that you can, but what’s wrong with a little help?Isn't that what families are for?”He gives me a soft smile and I guess he is kind of family now.
“You’re worried about me?”
My eyes flick toward the door and I’m still not sure what’s going on.My sister’s new husband Kade is a good man from what I saw, and though I was apprehensive at first, I saw how he treated her and I know he loves her the way she should be loved.I also know he can keep her safe from whatever it is that is going down.
We haven't been given many details but some very bad men are after Kade and will use anyone to get at him.They went for my sister before and that’s how she ended up in the hospital and also the reason I couldn't find her.She was married with a new name and whisked off to their private island paradise where no one could touch a hair on her head.Kade still thinks I could be a target, but I don’t agree.I’m in London and these people likely don't even know about me.But the feeling of being followed before Vaughn showed up at my door had me agreeing to the security Kade wanted to send with me.My sister pushed, too, and I caved.
“Yeah, I’m worried about you.”
I bite my lip because I want to ask if he’s worried for his brother’s sanity and my sister’s peace of mind or if he’s worried about me personally.I know he always teases and flirts with me because it’s in his nature.
“Besides, you can’t kick me out.I’m family now.”He shrugs and truthfully I don’t think I could move his giant ass if I wanted to.The man is a solid block of muscle.
“You sure you can slum it?”I raise an eyebrow at him.
I wouldn't be opposed to Vaughn staying here while I finish my last few tests for school and I know I’d feel safer.Vaughn and I might bicker but he’s a good guy and he has this habit of taking care of me.He’s always cooking and cleaning up after me, so what girl in their right mind would turn that down?Oh right.One who knew he could break her heart because Vaughn has heartbreak written all over him.I think it’s why I’m so prickly with him—I’m trying to keep some space between us.
“Trust me, sweet thing.This is far from slumming it.”
CHAPTERTHREE
VAUGHN
“Shh.”
The librarian makes the sound a little too aggressively if you ask me, but I press my lips together and try to be good.
“I told you this wasn’t a good idea,” Berkley whispers without looking up from her textbook.
I’m sitting across from her because sitting beside her felt like too much of a temptation.How could I let her work while staring down at her bare legs and thinking about all the ways I want to defile her?
The campus library is big and old, but Berkley says she likes the way it smells.I don’t understand it, but seeing a calm come over her as she inhaled made me keep my judgments to myself.
Berkley walked in like she knew this place up one side and down the other.She beelined for a back staircase and we walked up three flights to a nook in the far corner.This part of the library has no windows and is insulated by rows and rows of old textbooks.But it’s peaceful and I understood why she likes this spot so much.
“I can’t sit at your place all day.”I lean back in my chair and give her a cocky smile.“Besides, who would bring you food?”
“There’s no food allowed in here.”This time she looks up in time to see me tuck my candy bar back in my jacket.
“Okay then.”I roll my eyes as she tries to hide her smile and goes back to scribbling.
We’ve been up here for hours and she hasn’t taken a break yet.I admire her work ethic and the way she focuses.I went to college but took easy courses and partied my way through it.I had the luck of not really studying and coasting through with enough of a passing grade to get my diploma.I should’ve been like Berkley.She’s so smart and part of me wonders if she thinks I’m not.I run our company’s marketing and social media and I’m really good at it.I’ve put us on the map digitally but now I wonder if all that seems vapid to Berkley.Suddenly I wish I had better credentials to impress her with, but maybe she wouldn’t even want to hear them.Most of the time she seems utterly annoyed with me, but then again, I like that too.
There’s not much about her I don’t like.
The librarian walks by us again and I know it has to be intentional.It’s not like there’s anything to do up here for her other than glare at me and make sure I’m being quiet.I guess she’s the snack police too, but I try to ignore my stomach as it complains.
“You’re taking a break in twenty minutes,” I whisper to Berkley and she doesn’t look up.“No negotiating.”