Twisted Palace

  A disbelieving laugh pops out. “I’m not lending you my boyfriend for a night!”

  Frustration darkens her eyes. “He’s a trophy, dumbass. Don’t you get that?”

  Reed’s not a trophy! I want to shout. He’s a human being. He’s smart and gorgeous and sweet when he allows himself to drop his tough-guy act. And he’s mine. This girl is insane if she thinks I’m going to say yes to this.

  Jordan sighs when she sees my immovable expression. “I’ll tell you what—how about I throw in a spot on the dance team?”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means I’m letting you rejoin the team,” she answers in exasperation. “God, are you fucking dense? We both know you didn’t want to quit—you were just being a bitch for no reason. So you can come back if you want.”

  I falter. I did really enjoy my time on that stupid team.

  “And I won’t even ask for another favor,” she says with an overly bright smile. “All I want is Reed on my arm at Winter Formal.”

  That’s all she wants? Gee, she’s asking for so little. Not.

  I plant my hands on my hips. “And then what?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What happens after the dance? Do you think he’s going to be your boyfriend or something? Because he won’t.”

  Jordan snorts. “Who wants a boyfriend who’s going to be in jail for the rest of his life? I want Snowflake Queen. That’s it.”

  “Snowflake Queen?” I echo blankly.

  “Everyone at Winter Formal votes for a king and queen. Like homecoming.” She flips her hair over her shoulder. “I want to be queen.”

  Of course she does.

  “I mean, I’m already a lock for it, but going with Reed will seal the deal. A bunch of people are talking about voting for him because they feel sorry for him.”

  Astor Prep kids are weird as hell. I study her face. “If I agree to this, we’ll be even?”

  “Even Steven,” she chirps.

  Swallowing my irritation, I fling open the car door and flop onto the driver’s seat.

  “Well?” Jordan hovers at the side of the convertible, her expression expectant.

  “I’ll think about it,” I spit out. Then I start the engine so I can drown out the sound of her laughter.

  * * *

  Reed

  When I get home from practice, I find Ella curled up on her bed, wearing what looks like a pair of my old sweatpants and a tiny, tiny tank top. I’m surprised to see her.

  “Steve know you’re here?” I ask warily.

  She nods. “I told him I needed to study for a chem test with Easton.” Her chemistry book is beside her, but Easton is nowhere to be found.

  I grin. “Do you actually need to study or was that an excuse?”

  “No, I really do have to study,” she answers glumly. “But we both know your dumb brother isn’t going to help me. I figured if I studied here, at least I could see you. Steve’s downstairs, though, so we need to be quiet.”

  I walk over to the bed to give her a quick kiss. “Let me change into sweats and then I’ll help you. I took Chem last year, so I remember all the work.”

  Before I can duck into the bathroom, she sits up and says, “Wait. I need to tell you something.”

  My gaze sweeps over her barely there tank top. Knowing I’m only going to have a few more weeks with Ella makes the fire burn hotter every time I lay eyes on her. “Can you tell me while your shirt is off?”

  She grins. “No.”

  “Fine. Be that way.” I hop up on the bed and roll onto my back, folding my fingers across my abdomen. “What is it?”

  She clears her throat. “You need to take Jordan to Winter Formal.”

  I bolt upright. “Are you nuts?” I stare at her in astonishment. “I didn’t know we were even going. I thought we’d do something else. Just the two of us.” I freaking hate Winter Formal.

  “I thought everyone went.” Ella tosses her phone toward me. “See?”

  I pick it up and see Astor Park’s Instagram feed, which is full of pictures of the Winter Formal preparations. The school’s obsessed with this dance, and I’ve been grateful for that, because it’s taken some of the heat off of Ella and my brothers over my case.

  “The girls go because it’s the social event of the semester. The guys go so that they can get laid afterward,” I say bluntly.

  “Nice. Well, you don’t have to sleep with Jordan after the dance. The bargain was for you to take her to the party and nothing else.”

  “Bargain?” I’m losing my train of thought because Ella’s shirt is riding up and I can see a sliver of skin above her waist.

  “For me being on the dance team and going to the away game.”

  I swallow a groan. “So this is what you promised her? That I’d take her to Winter Formal?”

  “No, it was just a debt to be called in later.”

  “Why does she want to go with me? I thought she hated me.”

  “I don’t think she hates you. I think it’s some kind of weird notoriety thing. You go with her and she gets to parade you around like a dog on her leash. The beauty and the beast sort of thing.”

  “She’s the beast, right?”

  Ella responds by tweaking one of my nipples. Which hurts, dammit.

  “Oh, and she wants to be crowned Snowflake Queen or some shit,” Ella adds. “She thinks going with you will up her chances.”

  I grab her fingers and drag them to my mouth. “I don’t want to go to a dance with Jordan. If I go, you’re holding the leash.”

  “I’m not a leash holder.”

  I place her hand at the base of my neck. “I belong to you. Everyone at Astor knows that.”

  She turns an adorable shade of pink. “I belong to you, too. But I made a deal.”

  “Why are you even paying off this debt? No one’s holding you to it.”

  Her fingers trace my collarbone, sending a buzzing sensation down my spine. “Because a deal’s a deal. I always keep my word.”

  “Deals with the devil don’t count.”

  “If you don’t do it, then she’s going to tell Steve I lied about the away game,” Ella admits, pulling her hand away. “And she said she’ll try to convince him to send me to another school. Maybe even out of state.”

  The school thing, I could handle, especially since I won’t even be around after January. But another state? No way. That means Ella wouldn’t be able to visit me. Plus, my brothers need her and she needs them. This is her family. She doesn’t deserve to be separated from them.

  Still, I can totally see Steve doing something drastic like that. Ever since my dad told him about the plea deal, Steve’s been better about letting Ella spend time here, but he doesn’t want us dating. He’s made that more than clear. If he finds out I took her virginity at the away game? He’ll freaking kill me.

  Ella sits up and swings a leg over my waist. “You have to do it, Reed. Please?”

  One thing I’ve learned about Ella is that if she sets her mind to something, there’s no moving her. She’s that stubborn. She’s going to fulfill her end of the deal with Jordan no matter what the cost, and this cost isn’t that terrible, I guess.

  I grab her hips and hold her still. “Are there any details to this deal? What does she expect from me?”

  Ella picks up her phone and checks her text messages. “She said you have to wear something. Can’t remember what it is.”

  “Did you already agree to this before you even asked me?” I demand.

  “No, I swear. I just told her I’m okay with it if you are.” Ella’s hands drop to my chest. Her hips start moving.

  My eyes flutter shut, but I hear myself respond, “We always wear tuxes. What the hell else would she want me to wear?” Another thought pops into my head. I snap my eyes open. “Are you planning to go, too, or are you leaving me at Jordan’s mercy?”

  “Aw, I’d never abandon you like that. I thought I’d go with Wade. Val’s not going, so I can keep an e
ye on him.”

  Oh hell, no. I don’t like this plan at all. “Wade can’t keep his dick in his pants,” I growl.

  “I know. Why do you think Val’s not going?”

  “So I’m supposed to go with the she-demon, and you’re going to hang out with a guy whose mission is to bang every available chick along the Atlantic coast?”

  “Give your friend more credit,” Ella chides. “Wade knows better than to hit on me.”

  “He better,” I say sullenly.

  She leans down to kiss me, but pulls back before I can slip her some tongue. “So you’ll do it?”

  “Yeah, I’ll do it,” I grumble. “Even though I still can’t believe you’d be okay with me going to a dance with Jordan.”

  “Hey, at least it’s not with Abby,” she grumbles back. “I can handle you going with Jordan because I know you hate her, but Abby would bother me a lot.”

  “Because she’s my ex?”

  “Because she’s your ex.”

  “But she’s my ex. Meaning, I no longer want to go out with her, haven’t wanted to go out with her for a long time, and do not intend to go out with her in the future. That kind of ex.”

  Ella makes a growly sound. “She better stay that way.”

  A chuckle escapes. “I like jealous Ella.” Something else occurs to me. Winter Formal is in two days and this is the first time Ella’s even brought it up. “Do you have a dress?”

  “Can’t I buy one at the mall?”

  “Oh, babe. You still haven’t learned, huh?” I lift her off my aching dick and set her on the side of the bed. I stalk over to the dresser and fish out a sweatshirt for her. “Put this on. We’ll talk to my dad.”

  “Right now? The stores are all closed.”

  She stands there without moving, so I shove the sweatshirt over her head. “Winter Formal is like a prom on steroids. These chicks spend more money on their dresses than some folks spend on a car.” I shove her arms into the sleeves and roll them up. “I don’t want you to have a hard time that night.”

  “Jeez, Val was right. You guys really do have a special dress for everything. Where should I get the dress, then, if not the mall? You know, where many, many dresses are on sale?”

  “I don’t know where you buy it, but Dad probably will.”

  Downstairs, we find Dad and Steve in the study. The two men are bent over some papers that look like a flight plan.

  “Got a minute?” I ask, knocking on the door.

  Steve glowers at the sight of Ella in my clothes.

  “Nothing happened,” I feel compelled to mutter. “We were talking about Winter Formal and Ella said she doesn’t have a dress.”

  “So the two of you are attending Winter Formal together?” Dad asks, peering over the papers at the two of us.

  “Like hell they are,” Steve says stiffly.

  Ella glowers at her father. “We’re not going together. Reed’s taking Jordan Carrington, and I’m going with Wade.”

  Steve instantly relaxes. “All right.”

  I hide my displeasure at his obvious relief. “Anyway, Ella needs a dress,” I mutter.

  “Is this really a big deal?” she says in irritation. “I’ve got dresses.”

  “I don’t know,” Dad says slowly, “but I chaperoned the formal a few years back and I remember seeing a lot of designer dresses. If Reed is telling me you need a dress, then I suppose you do.” He rubs his chin and then turns to Steve. “You dated that one woman…Patty, Peggy—”

  “Perri Mendez?” Steve supplies. “Yes, she owned the Bayview Boutique.”

  “She still does. I saw her at the Chamber of Commerce dinner a few weeks ago. Let’s see if she can make something happen.” Dad gestures for Ella to come to the desk. “Sit down and look at Perri’s website. Find a dress you like, and we’ll get it for you.”

  Ella takes a seat. “What am I looking for?”

  “As fancy as you can find,” I recommend. “This is pageant country.”

  She clicks through a series of photos, then stops on a page. “I like this one.”

  I can’t see which one she’s talking about, because her hand is blocking the screen.

  “Save the picture and I’ll send it to Perri,” Dad tells her.

  “Thanks.”

  “Told you Dad would handle it,” I say with a grin.

  She rises from the chair, and the two of us edge back toward the door, only to halt when Steve’s sharp voice pierces the air.

  “Where are you two going?”

  “Just up to my room. Don’t worry, Easton is already there,” Ella says, her feet already across the threshold.

  Steve frowns. “Keep the door open. Your new boyfriend wouldn’t like it if he knew you were hanging around Reed so much.”

  Dad gets a frustrated look on his face while I glance at Ella in confusion. New boyfriend? What in the world is she telling Steve?

  Ella drags me upstairs, explaining as we go. “Steve thinks Wade is my new boyfriend because he took me out on the fake date. And I guess now that we’re going to the dance together, we’re an official couple.”

  “You’re not a couple,” I remind her.

  “Duh.”

  Once we’re alone, I waste no time ridding her of her sweatshirt and kissing her, reminding her with my mouth exactly who she’s going out with.

  “We didn’t leave the door open,” she murmurs.

  “I know,” I say into her breasts. “Want me to stop?”

  “Hell, no.”

  We get about five minutes of fooling around before Easton bursts in.

  “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” he asks, completely unrepentant. “I heard I’m watching television with you.”

  Ella throws a pillow at his face, but moves over to make room for him. I flick the TV remote. As the screen flickers on, my girl tucks herself under my arm.

  I don’t have much time before I go to prison. Spending even one night with Jordan isn’t how I want to use that precious time, but I’ll just have to suck it up. For Ella’s sake.

  Because my goal for the weeks we have left is to make Ella Harper happy every second of every day.

  30

  Ella

  On Friday night, Steve drives me over to the Royals’, grumbling the entire time. “In my day, the boy drove to the girl’s house. He didn’t drive to his best friend’s house to pick up the girl.”

  “It was easier than Wade driving all the way to the city to get me,” I answer with a shrug. That, and I really wanted to get a sneak peek of Reed in his tux. But I keep that to myself.

  As we roll through the Royal gates, I can’t help but think about what my life is like now versus when I first arrived. A few months ago, I was stripping at a seedy club called Daddy G’s. Today, I’m sitting in some ridiculously expensive car, wearing a dress that Val told me must have cost more than one year of tuition at Astor Park and shoes that have brand name crystals glued all over them. Val pronounced the name of the crystal maker three times and I still can’t get the hang of it. I look like a real-life Cinderella complete with the ball gown and glass slippers. I’m not sure if the fairy godmother in this situation is Callum or Steve, though.

  Steve maneuvers the sports car around the fountain in the courtyard. I throw open the door as soon as we pull up to the front steps, but the car is so darn low that it’s hard for me to get out, what with the hundred layers of chiffon.

  Steve chuckles. “Hold on. I’ll come pull you out.”

  He lifts me up and sets me on my four-inch stilettos.

  “What do you think?” I ask, holding out my arms.

  “You look beautiful.”

  I find myself blushing at the compliment. It’s so surreal to think that this is actually my father staring at me with this awed kind of pride.

  He takes my arm and helps me up the wide steps. The moment we walk inside, I see Reed descending the staircase. He looks so good in his black tuxedo that I have to stop myself from drooling.

  “Hey, R
eed. You look nice,” I say blandly, because Steve is standing right beside me.

  “You look nice, too,” he answers in an equally indifferent voice. But his heated gaze says otherwise.

  “I’ll be in Callum’s study,” Steve tells us. “Ella, come get me when your date arrives.”

  He disappears down the hall, which surprises me since I know he doesn’t like it when I’m alone with Reed. And he has a reason not to like it. The moment he’s gone, Reed bends down and presses his mouth on my neck. He lays a searing kiss at my pulse point that has my knees buckling.

  Then he backs me up against the wall and continues his exploration of all the skin conveniently exposed by the strapless sweetheart neckline. My hands fall onto the crisp cotton of his dress shirt. The idea of stripping him out of his clothes grows more appealing by the second. Unfortunately, the sound of an engine roaring outside pops that balloon.

  At the honk of the horn, Reed lifts his head from my upper chest reluctantly. “Your date’s here.”

  “No kiss on the lips?” I smile, trying to catch my breath.

  His thumb presses at the corner of my mouth. “Didn’t want to mess up your lipstick.”

  “Mess away,” I invite.

  His lips curve up. “There’s so much more of your body I’d like to have my mouth on right now.” His hand falls to the top of my breast, still damp from his kisses. I gasp as one long finger slides under the tightly corseted bodice to swipe across my nipple.

  “Hey man, are you mauling my date?” Wade demands as he bursts through the front doors without knocking.

  Reed sighs, removes his hand and rocks back on his heels. “I’m expressing my appreciation for my girlfriend’s rocking bod.”

  I take a deep, calming breath before turning to face Wade. Thankfully, the bodice of my dress is thick enough that my excited state doesn’t show through the silk. “If you’re my date, you better have brought me an awesome floral arrangement. Someone told me you can tell the size of a guy’s dick based on the amount of flowers he buys.”