Page 89 of Disobedient Pawn

Nash grabbed my arm before I managed to make it down one step.

“Hold up there, Princess.”

If looks could kill, he would’ve been dead when I looked over my shoulder.

“I should’ve known you were Count Dick’s son. This makes so much sense now.”

The corner of Nash’s mouth pulled up into the closest thing I’d seen for a genuine smile from him.

“Did you just call my father Count Dick?”

“What if I did?”

He let go of my arm and lifted a shoulder in a shrug.

“I like it, it’s fitting, and I wish I’d thought of it.”

That made me turn and look him up and down. I hated that he actually looked sexy away from school without his normal glower and threats. His eyes seemed sorta happy as he stared at me. Was he just as miserable as I was? Maybe he lashed out to cope. Nope, I wasn’t going there. We had nothing in common. That was dangerous thinking. They’d made a freaking bet about who could sleep with me first. Laughter echoed outside and Nash turned to look at the door and I took the moment to let my eyes travel up and down his body, when wanted to hit myself.

I could still be the better person here.

“You look nice,” I said, as he turned to face me and his eyes widened in shock like I’d told him to fuck a duck.

He wore tight black dress pants—that hugged his ass far more than dress pants should— with a black button-down shirt open at the top. A steel grey vest, black shoes, and the thick silver rings he always wore finished his look. His blue eyes seemed brighter today, and I swiftly looked away to stare out at the yard suited for a palace.

“You look beautiful, Princess,” he said softly, and despite the cool air, I wanted to fan myself.

“Don’t let your girlfriend hear you say that. I already get enough of her, ‘Stay away from my man rants’…oh shit…Vicky. Is she here too?” My shoulders slumped.

Nash laughed this time, a rich sound that matched everything surrounding him.

“No, she’s with her own family.”

“Thank the sweet baby Jesus. I can only take so much of the Chaos Queen.”

Nash laughed again, and I found myself smiling. I shouldn’t be smiling at him. He’d been a jerk to me from the first day I arrived and then had the nerve to spank me. Can we say humiliated? My smile fell as I glared at him.

“Myles is right, you do have an adorable glare,” Nash said, and I stopped glaring like I’d been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, making him chuckle. “So tell me, do you have a nickname for everyone?”

“Almost everyone.”

He stepped in dangerously close and dropped his head to my ear like at the party.

“What do you call me, Princess?”

I swallowed down the sudden nervousness conjuring all sorts of images I shouldn’t be having for this jerk.

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

Nash slowly straightened up, and even though he hadn’t touched me, it felt like his hands were caressing my entire body.

“Hey man, what’s takin’ ya so…long? Snowflake?”

Myles stepped outside, and Nash turned so I could see him. I hadn’t spoken a single word to any of them in over a week, but it looked like I would be forced to tonight.

“Ya wore the skirt,” he said, and smiled. “Yer fuckin’ stunning.” Myles eyes locked with mine.

I quickly looked away. I couldn’t let myself go there again, and the butterflies had already taken flight.