Page 19 of Wicked Lord

Battenberg definitely had a nice ass. What would it be like to sink my teeth?—

“Do you know what happened to the pledge picture?”

I jumped and turned to Killian, feeling like I’d been caught doing something naughty.

“What?” It took a moment for his words to settle in, and I shook my head, averting my gaze to my boots. “Oh, uh, nope. No clue.”

He gave a skeptical sigh, knowing damn good and well I was lying through my teeth, but he wouldn’t call me on it. If anyone understood the darkness that occasionally gripped me, it was Killian Davenport.

“What’s the deal with you and Lorelei?” he asked. “Please tell me you’re not hooking up with her.”

I chugged my beer, savoring the bitter flavor. Battenberg didn’t know what she was talking about. It didn’t taste like ass. “We were just talking. Besides, why do you care? She’s not chasing after you anymore, and you and Lexi are so in love you walk around with little hearts in your eyes.”

Killian folded his arms over his chest and broadened his stance, attempting to intimidate me. “I donothave hearts in my eyes.”

But he couldn’t even resist peeking across the room at Lexi sitting on the couch, listening to Slate babble, probably about a recent prank he pulled.

Jealousy spilled through my veins for my best friend and his girl. Why couldn’t I have that with Cordelia? We’d have a great life together, and I’d let her do whatever the fuck she wanted. If she wanted to travel the world, I’d follow her. If she wanted to get married and have a small army of kids, I’d do it.

“I see you didn’t heed my warning to stay away from Lorelei out of respect for my brother’s friend.” Vaughn sauntered toward us with that smarmy smile, twirling an unlit cigar between his fingers.

Was he trying to become Bass?

I groaned and stared at the coffered ceiling. Since when did talking to a girl translate to fucking her? “Why are you two on my ass about Battenberg? People talk at parties.”

“Someone told me they saw you two coming out of the Zeta house the other day.” Vaughn slipped the cigar into the breast pocket of his navy blazer and cocked his head, waiting for my explanation.

The atmosphere around Killian darkened as he stepped closer to our frat brother and newly crowned Lords’ leader. “Are you having us followed?”

Vaughn shrugged and smoothed his hand over his gelled brown hair. “As your Domnus, I can have all of you followed day and night if I want.”

“Things didn’t turn out so great for the last Domnus who thought he owned us.” More shadows crawled over Killian’s face, and his hands curled into fists.

“Let’s all calm down.” I used my wide frame to force them apart before a fight broke out. “Nothing is going on with Lorelei. I came here with Cordi.”

Vaughn scoffed. “Cordelia Chesson? She and Kyle Hammond just snuck off to the gathering room.”

My stomach dropped, and it took all my control to maintain a blank expression. “She’s just having fun.”

I excused myself and bulldozed through the crowd. Somehow, I could feel Killian’s stare glued to my back. He knew I had feelings for Cordi even though I pretended to be cool when she hung out with other guys.

I wasn’t. And she used to hook up with Kyle before I started monopolizing all her time.

As I stormed down the hall and turned the corner, Lorelei emerged from the bathroom, her gaze flicking to the gathering room where we held informal meetings.

“Don’t go in there.” She moved incredibly fast for someone in towering heels, throwing herself in front of the door to block me. “Trust me. You don’t want to see this.”

CHAPTER 9

DO WE HAVE A DEAL?

Lorelei

Axel glared down at me, his massive, imposing form blocking everything else out. If I didn’t know the guy was a big teddy bear, I might have been scared. “Get out of my way, Lorelei.” His voice was lethal, sharp enough to cut the glass crystals of the shimmering chandelier overhead.

Damn, I’d never seen him this worked up before.

I pressed my palms against his chest and shoved him back. “I’m just trying to help you, Ax. Whatever the hell you and Cordi are or aren’t, you don’t need to see this.”