Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“I’M SO SORRY FOR WHAT happened back there,” MJ apologized as she and Jack headed to the line of students who were waiting to inspect the dorm’s sole vacant room.
“It’s fine. Kat warned me beforehand about how jealous your R.A. can be.”
MJ flushed. “He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
Jack grinned. “You’re sweet, you know that?” When MJ looked at him in confusion, he continued, “Did you really think I wouldn’t be aware you and Helios Andreadis were a couple?” At her wide-eyed look, he exclaimed, “Seriously? Have you been living under a rock or something? He’s a famous biker, babe. Not just here in school, but all around the freaking world. Of course people know who he was dating.”
When he put it like that, she realized how silly she was not to have realized that people would be interested in Helios’ love life. “I didn’t really know...or notice. I was...part of their club the first day of school and after that, my life got really busy with my chores as a volunteer, then I also had my grades to maintain for my scholarship...I didn’t really have any time to do anything else.”
“You don’t have Facebook? Or Instagram or Twitter?”
She shook her head. Avoiding social media had been another way for her to avoid being connected in any way to her past life, but now she realized how doing so had also left her out of touch with what was going on around her.
Jack was typing something on his iPhone. “Here. Maybe you should see for yourself what’s happened.”
Taking his phone, she saw on the screen a Facebook page for Helios. Her eyes widened at the numerous candid photos it had – she didn’t think Helios was the type to take these himself, which meant he had a lot of fans.
Looking at the photos, something about it seemed awfully familiar. After a moment, she realized that the photos taken in the past week had all been from the same location - the street behind the building where her classes were held. Did it mean Helios had been following her all this time?
“It’s your turn now.”
MJ’s head snapped up, stunned to find Helios suddenly standing in front of her, a still-hostile look on his face when he glanced at Jack. “Are you still interested in checking out the room?”
“Of course. Anything to keep me close to MJ,” Jack said, smiling charmingly.
The realization of how close Helios had been all this time made her feel awkward and self-conscious. Returning Jack’s phone to him, she muttered “thanks” while pleading at him with her eyes not to mention anything in front of Helios.
“If you want me to keep a secret,” Jack said wickedly, “you can seal my lips with yours—”
His lips were sealed with Helios’ fist instead.
“Jack!” MJ screamed as her companion fell to the ground. Kneeling down, she demanded worriedly, “Are you all right?” She tried helping him up but Jack waved her away, choosing to push himself up on his own. He shook his head, touching his jaw gingerly. “He took me by surprise, that’s all.” He looked up at Helios. “Care to do it again now that I’m aware you’re dying to beat me up?”
Helios’ rage and jealousy were fast reaching its boiling point at the way MJ was still clinging to the other man. “Any time.”
MJ gasped at Helios’ answer. “Are you—oh my God, why did you even hit him in the first place? He hasn’t done anything wro—” The resentful glare Helios threw at her shocked MJ so much she found herself trailing off.
“I need to talk to you for a moment,” Helios bit out.
She shook her head. “No. I have to take care of Jack—”
Hearing another man’s name on her lips was the last straw. “Now.” Helios pulled her up and dragged her with him back into the dorm.
MJ swallowed the urge to resist, not wanting to create an even greater scandal. After what Jack had revealed to her, she knew now that what had happened would be all over the Internet in minutes. She looked at Jack over her shoulder. “I’ll be right back—”
Helios yanked her to his side, and she fell against him as they disappeared into the corner of the hallway of Helios’ room. “Not while I’m fucking here, you won’t,” he snarled. When he opened the door, he pulled her inside and kicked the door shut, locking it right after.
When Helios turned to face her, she demanded, “What’s wrong with you? Why did you hit him?”
He roared back, “He’s flirting with you in front of me. Did you truly think I would not react?”
She couldn’t be further surprised. In the past, she had tried getting Helios to admit in private that he was jealous about the time she spent cleaning the officers’ bedrooms, and he had almost bitten her head off for it. And yet here he was now, saying something that he would once rather choke on a mouthful of thorns for.