Filthy English

My jaw clenched, and I felt my face redden.

A wrinkle grew on her forehead, a confused expression on her face. “Wait. Are—are you angry with me?”

“Have you fucked him?”

Her face paled. “Don’t ask me that.”

“You did.” I gritted my teeth, rage simmering.

“Your question makes no sense . . .” She stopped, her lips compressing. “I don’t have to explain anything to you. Not like this. You’re acting weird when you’re the one who never showed up. You got what you wanted and left. It was a total redo of my freshman year, only this time, you were the one walking away . . .” Her voice hitched. “As far as I know, you planned the entire thing. Did you?” Luminous blue eyes searched mine.

“You don’t think much of me, do you?” I shook my head.

“I did.”

I glanced at her left hand. “You’re wearing his ring.”

“He wants to work things out—”

“Can’t you make up your own mind?” I sneered.

“Don’t . . .”

“Don’t what?” I took a step toward her. “Am I supposed to wipe you from my memory now?”

Fuck. I wanted to.

“Why do you care?” she asked, her voice rising. “I’m just like all the rest. Easy come, easy go. Right?”

I glared at her.

She gripped the doorknob, her knuckles white. “I—this is a mistake. You obviously have a problem with me, and we won’t be able to get along—”

“Too bad you already signed the lease agreement.” No way was I letting her walk out my door.

Her eyes glittered as she angled her chin at me. “Sue me.”

Flattening my hand against the door behind her, I leaned down to her neck, my nose sliding up her throat. She smelled like that fucking scent I’d been dying for. Sugar. I wanted to lick her from head to foot. Instead I sucked in a shuddering breath, steeling myself against her.

“You don’t intimidate me,” she whispered.

“Oh yeah? You’re shaking, Remi,” I breathed into her ear. “Are you thinking about us in that hotel room? Are you thinking about how much better I am than Hartford?”

She pressed herself even further against the door, her chest rising rapidly. “What . . .”

“I am, aren’t I?”

She gnawed on her lip.

I wanted to kiss it.

She covered her face. “Stop—”

“You know how I know I’m better? Because any guy who’d leave you at the altar—any guy who’d let you live with me—isn’t a fucking man. He’s a goddamn pussy.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed. “Please . . .”

My mouth kicked up in a wicked grin. “Better yet, let’s have a repeat of the hotel room. Why don’t you get down on your knees right now and wrap those tight, wet lips around my—”

She slapped me, and I stumbled backward, my arse landing square on the toilet. God, I deserved it, but I couldn’t stop.

I smirked. “Damn. If you wanted me to sit down, all you had to do was ask, angel.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped. “You call everyone that and I hate it.”

Shaking it off, I shrugged and stood back up and faced the mirror, checking my appearance as her eyes spit fire at me. I pretended to be bored as my fingers fixed my hair. My hand trembled and I dropped it to my side.

My reflection looked like shit.

I had bags and shadows under my eyes.

My head hurt.

I needed a fucking lobotomy.

My gut was all twisted.

Confused.

Angry.

“I don’t even know you anymore,” she mumbled, shaking her head.

Welcome to my world. I didn’t know who I was since London either.

She made to open the door, and the voice of sanity permeated my thick skull. “Remi . . .” I grabbed her arm, but immediately dropped it at the scathing look she sent me.

“What?” She crossed her arms.

I rubbed my forehead. Exhaled. “Stay—please. I know you need a place for you and Malcolm. I promise, I’ll barely be here. I’ll spend a few nights at the Tau house and maybe Declan’s. Classes start Monday, and I want this settled. I know you do too. If—if it doesn’t work out, I’ll refund your rent and you can find somewhere else.”

“Don’t you have someone else coming to look at it tomorrow?”

I closed my eyes. “I lied.”

“Why?”

“You know why,” I said.

A knock came at the door, Hartford’s voice behind it. “Remington? Everything okay?”

DAX WALKED OUT ahead of me, his voice blasé. “Had to put some things on the high shelf in the closet for Remington.”

He paused and glanced from me to Hartford. “I’m headed downstairs for a drink. Either of you want anything?”

Hartford sent me a questioning look, and I shook my head.

“No, I’m going to finish up my bedroom now,” I said. It was decided. I was staying.

“Whatever.” Dax sent us a backwards wave and bounded down the stairs two at a time. Axel had already gone downstairs since we’d been in the bathroom, and over the railing, I watched them fist-bump as two giggling girls came down the hall from the kitchen. I recognized them as Tau little sisters although I didn’t know their names. Dax threw an arm around each of their shoulders.