Chapter 22 His Lust Returns

Chapter 22 His Lust Returns

ARDEN

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The sensation bwas /bstrange–like déjà vuced with dread. Both familiarity and unfamiliarity crashed over me, rooting me in ce. His oldb, /bempty promises echoed in my head, and my body refused to move.

“You’re the prettiest woman I’ve everid eyes on,” Jazon said gently, tucking a bloose /bstrand of hair behind my ear. Iughed, not out of Mattery, but disbelief. It was easier tough than to ept.

He caught my tone. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me into his chest, his toned biceps forming a wall around me.

“I’m serious,” he murmured into the crook of my neck, his breath ghosting across my skin. I felt his gaze dip to my scent nd, lingering on the mark. Then, he kissed it. A shiver ran down my spine, and before I realized it, iI /ileaned into him, surrendering to his warmth.

“Happy one–year anniversary,” he whispered, slipping out a ring that looked like it bcould /bbuy all three of my brothers‘ cars.

I turned to him, stunned. “Jax, I can’t ept this

“Why not?” he asked, brow furrowed.

“Your familyb, /b“I said quietly. “Do they know about thisb?/bb” /b

i“/iiDo /ithey have to?” he replied just as sofily. “I bought it with my own money. Just take iit/i, Arden. It would look beautiful on you.‘

iMy /iheart mmed against my chest. Was this love? I wasn’t sure–I’d never really known it. But if love felt like this… I wanted to hold on.

My arms found their way around his neck, his locked around my waist once more. We held each other like that, clinging to the illusion.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He tightened his bhold /bbefore bstepping /bback, carefully sliding the ring onto my index finger.

“Next time, I’m putting one here,” he bsaid/b, lightly tapping my ring finger. Our eyes met. Weughed, nervous and giddy.

“Arden? You okay?” bTessa’s /bvoice sliced through my memory. 1–blinked, and the illusion vanished. But Jaxon was still bstanding /b

there.

I turned to her. “Can you give me a bsecond/b… please?”

She must’ve bheard /bthe edge in bmy /bbvoice /bbecause she nodded immediately. V’ll be in the garden. Call if you need me.”

I watched her retreat, worry still bseen /bon her face. And then, I turned around to face the bghost /bof my past.

Jaxon stood there, a familiar smug smirk curling his lips as he drank me in from head to btoe/b, a glint of appreciation bflickering /bin his eyes.

“Su, you’re really here, he said, bhis /beyes not once leaving the outline of my figure. Under his gaze, I suddenly felt bexposed/b. I folded my arms across my bwaist/b, and something in his expression faltered.

“bWhy /bbdidn’t /bbyou /btell me byou /bgot in?” bhe /basked, bstepping /bcloser.

I scoffed. “bMaybe /bI would’ve, if I hadn’t caught you bscrewing /bSienna behind my back.”

Then bagain/b, thank goodness I did. Otherwise, I might’ve stayed blind for another few byears/b.”

bAbitter /bugh escaped me

“I forgot bhow /bfeisty you can get,” he said, twirling a strand of my hair between bhis /bfingers.

bI /bbpped /bhis hand away. He didn’t tinch–if anything, it only amused him more.

10:43 bAM /b

Chapter 22 His Lust Returns

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“I kind of miss it.”

I don’t.” I said tly. I could lie and say my heart didit ille in this presence. But the love I had for Jaxon? That was long gone–burned to ash the day he threw bme /baway.

“Now bthat /bwe know we’ll be seeing beach /bother here I continued. “let’s agresyou bof /beach other’s bpaths/b. You’re obviousl bdoing /bwell with Sienna. I’m here to graduate. Nothing else matters

“bBut /bhow are you nning to do that without me?” he asked, voice dipped im something sickeningly sweet and seductive.

My brow twitched. “bWhat’s /bbthat /bbsupposed /bto mean?”

“Sooner orter, you’ll need my help,” he said, shing a grin. “I don’t bsee /byour mume anywhere near the top students list. An with the Silver Quill? That circle is ruthless. You won’t survive without badlup”

He leaned in. “With me by your side, you won’t just survive–you’ll thrive. Youll game with honors. I can even get you a room here in the Elite bMansions/b, make things easy.”

He tilted his head, bstudying /bme. “I heard what happened. Kieran told me everything. Why’d you away like that? Face n. you probably don’t even have anything left to go back to. No money. No ce to stay. No sutin

He smirked. “I could fix all that for you!”

I looked him straight in the eyes, and whatever remnants of warmth once felt for him dissolved.

There was only one thing he wanted.

My virginity.

He reached up and cupped my cheek, thumb stroking the skin. “You’re still so soft,” he murmured, eyes darkening with liuxi.

Before he could do more, I shoved my palm against his chest. He didn’t move much–but it was enough to make my puut

“Arden,” he warned.

“I don’t need your help,” I said coldly. “bYou /bmade it clear. You rejected me. Let’s leave it at that.”

His jaw tensed, and he bit his lip in frustrationb. /b“Why are you bmaking /bthis so difficult?” he growled. “This–this right here–is ecactly bwhy /bwe didn’t bwork /bout. You’re so bdamn /bstubborn.”

stepped back, neries prickling at the base of my neck. bBut /bhe closed the distance faster bthan /bbI /bcould react. He grabbed a bfustful /bof my hair, and panic bsurged /bbthrough /bme. My bfingers /bwed at bhis /bchest.

“What thar birill are you doing?” I yelled.

“Let mat thaim you, he bhissed/b. “We’ll rule this ce together. No one would dare touch byou/b. Isn’t that what you want, huh?”

“Dacurandb, /bbstill /bstruggling against his bgrip/b. “I’m not a virgin anymore!”

nd: “Lug We both know you’d never let banyone /btouch you. You didn’t let me btwo /bdamn years, bArden/bb. /bbAnd /bnow I’m supposed to theve you just gave it away?”

“Lat. Ir van

y wont bnd/bb, /bwisting in her hold. bBut /bhe was too strong. In one quick bmotion/b, he yanked my hair aside and pond the a

His eyes darkened with womantiline deeper

The mark” he whipend

2//

10:43 AM D

Chapter 22 His Lust Returns.

With every ounce of strength I bhad /bleft, I shoved him backward.

“I told you,” I said, breathing hard. “I don’t have it anymore.

b+5 /bFree Coins