Malia’s POV
In one swift movement, he was on top of me. One of his large hands encircled my wrists and pinned my hands above my head on top of my bed. His hard body was pressed flush against mine.
I glared at him.
“You seem to enjoy provoking me,” he observed.
“You seem to enjoy making me provoke you,” I retorted.
He gave a deep chuckle and I felt the sound reverberate through my body. I felt wide awake.
“Since you’d be staying indoors for the rest of the day, what are your plans?” He asked.
His weight on top of me felt oddly comfortable.
“Certainly nothing that involves you,” I replied.
“What am I to do with you, Malia?” He asked.
“I’m guessing that’s a rhetorical question,” I answered and he chuckled again.
This time my toes did curl and I hoped he didn’t notice. My body was starting to respond to his nearness even though I willed it not to.
I wriggled my body in an attempt to escape from beneath him.
“I wouldn’t do that again if I were you,” he growled.
His green eyes had darkened and there was a smoldering heat of desire just beneath their surface.
“Do what?” I asked feigning ignorance. I wiggled my body again. What the hell was wrong with me?
“You asked for it,” he ground out and placed his other hand underneath my butt, drawing me impossibly closer. I felt his hard-on and a small gasp escaped my lips.
His eyes zeroed in on my lips and I swallowed hard. I tried so hard not to grind my hips against his erection.
“Didn’t you get enough sex last night?” I blurted out.
He arched an eyebrow at my question. “What do you mean?”
“Not that it concerns me or bothers me in any way. I saw Lila come out of your room in the wee hours of the morning. It’s not that I’m against you two having sex. I mean, she’s your mistress so it’s bound to happen. But you two should at least avoid breaking stuff and disturbing my sleep,” I answered.
He looked at me for a while and then his face split into a wide grin. “Malia, are you by any chance jealous right now?” He asked.
I scoffed. “Why on earth would I be jealous?”
“Beats me,” he murmured, still looking at me like I was some interesting specimen.
I decided to take a leaf from his book. “You can take a picture. It’s going to last longer.”
His lips curved into a smile. “Well for what it’s worth to you, Lila and I didn’t have sex last night.”
I snorted in disbelief. “Yeah right.”
“You do not have to believe me. I could care less,” he said and I felt a flash of irritation.
“Get off me, Ryder,” I ground out.
To my annoyance, he burst out laughing. “You must think you look so intimidating when you scowl like that. What you look like is one cute angry kitten,” he teased.
“Let me go,” I said with my eyes closed this time.
“I think you heard the lady,” a familiar voice said and my eyes snapped open in surprise. How come I hadn’t hear his entrance?
I felt Ryder stiffen in annoyance at his brother’s interruption. He released me and got off the bed.
“She can’t be seen outside for the rest of this week. No training or going out on dates,” Ryder said to his brother.
“I know. But training and dates can happen within this building, right?” Ronan asked with a smirk.
“She’s having breakfast with me,” Ryder announced rather childishly before walking out of my room.
I scoffed in irritation and gave Ronan a “Can you believe him?” look.
He walked towards me and settled his frame on my bed.
“Why are there dark circles under your eyes?” He asked.
“I didn’t get enough sleep,” I replied.
He arched an eyebrow. “Please explain because you went to bed quite early last night.”
“Well, I woke up in the middle of the night dumbass. I was hungry so I had to go to the kitchen to get something to eat,” I said.
“And don’t say I told you so,” I added when he gave me a knowing look.
He shrugged. “But I did try to tell you to eat”
“Whatever,” I said, pouting.
He chuckled. “So cute,” he said, ruffling my hair.
I tried not to smile but failed.
“Do you think that the hallways are haunted?” I asked.
“Why? Did you see my mother?” He asked and I could see the barest hint of a smile flicker across his features.
I rolled my eyes. “There was this sudden chill I felt when I was going to the kitchen. I also thought I heard someone whisper.”
Ronan gave me a look. “You have quite the imagination, Malia.”
“Whatever. But I’m sure of what I felt.”
His eyes suddenly lit up. “I have an idea. We could go ghost hunting at night. Or pretend to be ghosts and give the occupants of this palace something to be scared about. It’s going to be so much fun,” he said with childish glee.
I gave him a you-can’t-be-serious look and rolled out of bed. There was no point trying to go back to sleep.
“What else can a girl do here to occupy herself? I fear I’m going to get bored to death,” I said to him.
“Well, I could show you around this maze of a palace. If you like to read, I think you’d be interested in the library,” he answered.
My eyes widened in surprise. “There’s a library here? Why am I just learning about this?”
“Why didn’t you ask?” Besides I thought you were only interested in food,” he teased.
I playfully scowled at him. “I’ll freshen up now. You just stay put.”
“Yes ma’am,” he drawled.
I was almost at the bathroom door when I suddenly realized something. I walked back to meet him.
He arched an eyebrow. “That was fast.”
“Why aren’t you on the training field?” I asked.
“I’ll let you know when you’re done cleaning up. You stink and it’s affecting my ability to breathe properly,” he replied with a straight face.
I lunged at him.