Deceit (Gallows Hill #1)

8. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Ronan

Y ou will not touch her thigh. You will not touch her thigh. You will not touch her thigh.

My grip on the steering wheel is practically punishing as we make our way back to campus. This was a bad idea. I didn’t like the thought of leaving her there stranded, but I’m reconsidering my decision now.

The fresh smell of oranges, vanilla and something uniquely her practically fills my car and makes it fucking impossible to focus on anything other than the girl next to me. She’s wearing a plaid skirt and a ribbed sweater. Though her thighs are covered with a pair of black tights, it doesn’t make me want to grab her soft flesh any less.

I don’t know what the fuck is going on with me, and I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t flirt with students, I don’t even entertain the idea, ever. She is not even close to the first student to try to gain my attention, but she sure as shit is the first that’s succeeded. Fuck, she has more than just my attention.

From the moment I saw her step through my doors, I was frozen in place. I watched her for ten minutes at least, peacefully swinging her legs in the water, mesmerized by the patterns her skin cut through the pool. My pool. Okay, it’s not my pool but I’m the one that paid for the school to put it in during my sophomore year, so it’s basically mine.

When I finally decided I needed to stop being a fucking creep and abandon the cameras, I had a million scenarios flickering through my mind. I was hopeful that she was a new teacher, an employee of some kind, fucking anything. Obviously I knew none of those could be possible. She was very clearly a student, and I did my best to come off abrasive and rough. A feat that is normally just my personality. It was hard to stay that way with her, though.

Before I knew it, she was leaving and I was desperate to keep her there for as long as I could. I couldn’t even remember the last time I felt so…calm.

The next time that I saw her, I promised myself I’d put some distance between us, maintain a professional boundary with her. I couldn’t be caught lusting after a student, especially not one from Gallows Hill. All the women are spoken for, either now or will be soon. Inserting myself would not only create problems now, but it could be the end of my life if I wasn’t careful enough.

Well, that plan was shot to hell when I watched her body glide through the water as if that was where she truly belonged. She moved like the water brought her peace and a little sense in this world. I never related to someone more than in that moment.

I was tempted to say to hell with all the rights and wrongs in the world, lay her down right there and bury myself inside her. We could talk later. We could worry later. All I knew was there was something about this woman that I needed, that I craved.

Unfortunately for me, the worst word that could possibly spill from her lips did in the next moment– Parris. She’s my nephews fucking fiancée. How about that coincidence.

I struggled to push her from my mind over the last few days. It drove me even crazier when I’d get to the pool extra early each morning and she wasn’t there. I decided I wasn’t going to wait around today and went to my favorite bar in town. The beer is cold, people leave me alone and my brother doesn’t have any spies in there that are too loyal to him.

Then, she just had to show up.

Out of all the restaurants in Salem, she had to come into mine.

I can’t fucking believe Asher. No, I can, but fuck I’m pissed. I’m going to tear his ass apart and then, his father no doubt, will do the same. I actually hope for his sake that my brother doesn’t find out about this. A disrespect like this, against his own betrothed? Christ, I don’t think he realizes how badly he’s just fucked up.

“What dorm are you in?” I ask.

“Parris,” she says softly, her meek voice practically crooning into my ear.

Goddamn, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sound as sweet as her voice before. I want nothing more than to listen to her pant and shout my name from now until the end of time. As slyly as I’m able, I adjust myself so that she doesn’t see the way she affects me. I’m fucking gross. If you take a step back and look at the situation before us, I’m a gross predatory man and I fucking hate it.

The way she looks up at me with those big green eyes though, it doesn’t make this thing feel gross. She looks at me like she wants me more than I want her, which I know is impossible. Fuck. This girl has been in the states for less than a week and she’s already consuming practically every thought of mine. This is bad, bad, fucking bad.

I pull up to the entrance near her dorm, braking with a harsh stop before I throw the car into park. I have to physically bite my tongue so I don’t do something stupid, like offer to walk her to her room. That’s a temptation I know I couldn’t resist, her bed only fifteen-feet from me…fuck that. I’d cave in a heartbeat and not only would I burn in hell for it, I’d be signing my own death certificate in the process.

“Thank you,” she says softly as she shifts in the seat, her sweet voice begging me to look at her. I can’t, though. I keep my eyes forward and my hands firmly on the steering wheel as I give her a jerky nod.

I can feel her eyes on me for several seconds, but I know better than to look. It doesn’t make it feel any better when a soft sigh of disappointment escapes her, and she pushes open the car door before slipping out of it.

My car stays parked as I watch each graceful step she takes through those wrought iron gates. It’s an odd thing, seeing such a light soul walk into such a dark place. She won’t be that way for long, not here. A part of me is actually saddened by that fact. That someone will taint her innocence, her fire. If Asher has it his way, I’m sure he’ll stomp it right out before their wedding day can even come, and I really fucking hate that.

A buzzing comes from the center console and I groan to myself, wiping my hand down my face before answering.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Ronan,” my brother greets curtly. “Where are you?”

“At the university, about to head home.”

“Perfect. Annie Williams will be meeting you there at seven o’clock sharp.”

Fucking hell. I’m so sick of this. Ever since everything happened years ago, he’s been hell bent on marrying me off, like I’m his prized pig or something. I’ve repeatedly expressed my disinterest, but he’s not really a man that you say no to.

Then again, Annie Williams is a beautiful woman, an appropriate woman. Maybe all I need is a night full of debauchery, with anyone that isn’t Skyla Parris. Who knows, if I like Annie enough, maybe I’ll marry her to get my brother off my back. And have something to distract me from the fact that my nephew will be marrying the first woman, in a very long time, who has captured my attention.

“Fine,” I agree, as I put the car in drive and take off.

“Really?” he asks, a heavy tone of surprise in his voice.

“Well, I don’t have a choice, do I?” I ask.

“No, no you don’t. I just expected you to put up more of a fight.”

“Not today, big brother. I’m not in the mood.”

I hang up without a word, not giving a fuck if it pisses him off. He has bigger things to concern himself with, and the fact that I’m submitting to his wishes means I’m as good as off the hook. For now.