Prince of Hearts Page 4

  “Too dark and broody for me.” Nora broke the strange stand-off between us and the stranger.

  I blinked at her. “Yeah, he’s a whole other level. Anyway, it’s not like I can actually date,” I grumbled. Letting me come to MU was one thing but if my father found out I was dating, I shuddered to think.

  “You can do anything now,” Nora said around a mischievous smirk. “You just have to get creative.”

  “Like the party tonight?”

  “Exactly. Now, you keep out of trouble while I go to this meeting. I'll catch you later, and then we can let loose.” Her smirk morphed into a grin, and I couldn’t help but wonder what I was getting myself into.

  “IT’S LOUD,” I YELLED over the music. The beat pulsed through me, making me feel a little dizzy. Or maybe it was the drink Nora had insisted we have. Clutching the red cup like it was an anchor, I followed her through the sea of bodies.

  “Of course it’s loud, it’s a party.” Nora swayed her hips. My best friend was amped, looking every bit the college freshman out for a good time. I’d raised a brow earlier, when she’d stepped out of our shared bathroom wearing the skin-tight dress that dipped low in the back and sculpted to her ample curves. But then I’d checked myself, remembering this wasn’t only my college experience, it was Nora’s too. One she never thought she’d get to have. It didn’t stop me reaching for something more modest though. After my altercation with Scott last night, the idea of wearing anything less than jeans and a sheer blouse was simply not an option. I’d let Nora curl my hair though. It hung around my face in soft waves, barely touching the nape of my neck.

  I loved it.

  “Oh, I love this song.” Nora grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the makeshift dance floor. Downing the rest of her drink, she discarded the cup and began shaking and rolling her hips, hands weaving patterns in the air. “Come on,” she mouthed, as I stood there. A fish out of water.

  It was a just a party.

  I’d been to them before. But then Tristan had kept us in his sights. He hadn’t let us drink, or dance with guys.

  But Tristan wasn’t here now.

  “Come on, please.” My best friend crooked her finger.

  “Fine,” I mouthed, looking for a place to dispose of my drink. Spotting a table, I made a beeline for it only to be cut off by two guys. They didn’t see me, too busy looking at something on one of their cell phones.

  “Hmm, excuse me...” I croaked, trying to move around them.

  “Hold up, pretty thing,” a gravelly voice said, and I looked up to find two vaguely familiar eyes pinning me to the spot.

  “Leave it, Enzo,” the other one said, pocketing his phone and finally giving me his attention. “Lina?” A strange expression passed over his face.

  It was him.

  The guy from last night.

  “Hello, Nicco.” I smiled, a strange sensation taking root in my chest.

  “You two know each other?” Disbelief dripped from the other guy’s words.

  “We, uh... we have a mutual friend.”

  We did?

  I gave him a questioning look, but Nicco averted his eyes. “Come on, man,” he grumbled, “this party sucks. Let’s go hang out at L’Anello’s.”

  “Fuck yeah, the pussy is better there anyway.”

  My lips parted on a gasp as my hand drifted to my neck. Nicco lifted his eyes to mine, and I was ensnared. A beat passed, the air crackling between us.

  “It’s nice to—” I started, but Enzo roped an arm around Nicco’s shoulder and led him away.

  No goodbye.

  No, how are you.

  Nothing.

  Dejection pulsed through me.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Nora nudged my shoulder. “Was that the guy from the coffee shop earlier?” She flicked her head to where Nicco and his friend had disappeared into the stream of people coming and going.

  “I... was it?”

  “It looked like him. Hard to forget that face. Mind, his friend wasn’t too bad either.”

  “Hussy,” I replied, trying to deflect her question, and give myself chance to catch my breath.

  To try to understand what the hell had just happened.

  “Hey, it’s college and I am more than ready to experiment.”

  “Weren’t you the one telling me earlier dark and broody wasn’t your thing?”

  “It’s not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to sample the goods before I make a final decision.”

  “Who are you and what have you done with Nora Abato?”

  “I’m young, free, and single, and ready to mingle.” Her laughter was infectious, her mood like sunshine on a summer’s day. I wanted to bask in it. To let her happiness blot out the dark corners of my mind.

  I wanted to forget.

  About Scott.

  About my father’s expectations and the future that awaited me.

  About the weird connection I felt between me and Nicco.

  Who was I kidding? There was nothing between me and Nicco. He was just in the right place at the right time.

  So why had he lied to his friend about me?

  And why every time I closed my eyes, did I see his face?

  Chapter 4

  Nicco

  She was there.

  Lina.

  I had been so surprised to see her at the party, I’d totally froze. Well, that and I didn’t want Enzo to figure out she was the girl from last night.

  “Hey, what’s gotten into you? You seem jumpy?”

  I glanced back at the house. “Maybe we should stick around. Just in case trouble blows up.”

  What the fuck was I saying?

  “Trouble? It’s a college party. Those guys couldn’t find trouble if it yanked down their pants and attached itself to their dicks.”

  My eyes narrowed.

  She was still in there.

  Why the fuck was she in there after what happened last night?

  “You sure you’re okay? You’re acting weird.”

  “Just restless.”

  “Still? I would have thought taking it out on Domenico last night would have loosened you up. He was a mess.”

  I inspected my knuckles, relishing the sting of pain as I clenched and unclenched them, watching the tender skin stretch and contract over bruised bone. Enzo was right. I had gone to town on Dom, and it had helped. Until I’d found myself staring into dark honey eyes again.

  The bleep of Enzo’s cell phone cut through my thoughts. “It’s Matteo,” he said. “He’s going to meet us at L’Anello’s.”

  My expression fell and Enzo scoffed. “You’re not coming to L’Anello’s, are you?” His icy glare burned through me.

  “You go. Tell Matt I said hey. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”

  “You’re going back in there?” He flicked his head to the house.

  “Nah, man.” I gave him an easy smile, playing down my strange mood. “I’m going to ride, clear my head.”

  “Yeah, okay, whatever.” Enzo shrugged, letting out an exasperated breath. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” were his parting words as he cut across the street to his car.

  He never parked his car with the rest of the cars. It was his most prized possession, that and an 1886 original Saw Handle Derringer. Enzo had three great loves in his life: restored cars, hot women, and collector’s edition weapons.

  I headed for my bike and waited. When the taillights of his GTO disappeared in the distance, I circled back to the house, pulled up the hood on my jacket, and slipped inside. The place was crammed full of drunken students looking to let loose and get it on. Bodies writhed together in the middle of the room, touching and kissing. The air was thick with lust and longing.

  It didn’t take me long to find her.

  Lina and her friend were right where I’d left her only minutes earlier. Only now, they had a group of guys circling, like a pack of wolves moving in for the kill. I lingered near the wall, in the shadows, watching as Lina tried to evade some asshole with bad taste in clothes and even worse taste in hairstyles. Her friend wasn’t playing so hard to get, letting one of the guys pull her in for a dance. Next thing you know, he had his tongue down her throat. Lina’s eyes went wide as she stood there completely out of her depth. Douchebag attempted to move in on her again, crowding her into a darkened corner of the room.

  Before I could stop myself, I stalked over to them, roughly fisting the back of his shirt. “You need to leave, now,” I growled.

  He swung around, indignation burning in his eyes. “Who the fuck do you...” he choked over the words, the blood draining from his face as I cut him with a deadly look. “Yeah, I... uh... sorry, man.” He almost tripped over himself trying to get out of there, not sparing Lina a backward glance.

  “What was that?” Lina was in my face, glaring at me.

  “That was me saving your ass, again.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I had it handled.”

  “Looks like you did, Bambolina,” the word spilled from my lips without warning.

  “Doll?” Her eyes flashed with irritation. “You can’t call me that.”

  “Just did.” I shrugged. It wasn’t a word I’d ever really used before, but it fitted her to perfection. She was small and dainty, with perfect skin and lips, and eyes that were too big for her face.

  The fact she was pissed at my impromptu nickname only made it sweeter.

  “What do you want, Nicco?” She let out a heavy sigh, looking over my shoulder to check on her friend.

  “You need to be more careful,” I said, a strange sense of possessiveness snaking through me.

  “I need to be more... wow. So you think what happened last night was my fault?” Disappointment edged into her expression and my chest tightened.

  “That’s not what
I meant.” What the fuck did I mean? She wasn’t mine. I had no right to charge in here like a bull and tell her how to live her life.

  A couple of guys barreled past us, forcing me closer to Lina. Her breath caught as my hand shot out to the wall beside her head.

  “Why didn’t you tell your friend how we know each other?” she asked.

  “Did you tell your friend about me?”

  Lina’s lips pressed into a flat line as she gave me a little shake of her head.

  Yeah, Bambolina, didn’t think so.

  “So I’m your dirty little secret too?”

  “Don’t do that.” Disapproval clouded her eyes.

  “Do what?” I leaned in, unable to resist the way she smelled. Like cotton-candy with a hint of vanilla. “What am I doing, Bambolina?”

  She craned her neck to look at me. “Playing with me. I’m not a toy.”

  “No, you’re not.” You’re so much more than that.

  I felt it in my soul.

  Lina was trouble.

  A distraction I didn’t want... or need.

  Yet, here I was, in the middle of a college party, caging her against the wall, lecturing her on staying safe, as if it was my God given right to protect her.

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I inhaled a shaky breath, trying to get some clarity on the situation. Only to open them and find Lina staring back at me. Jesus, the way she looked at me... it completely disarmed me. Made me want things.

  Things I could never have.

  “I need to go,” I said.

  “Go?” she balked, looking at me like I’d lost my fucking mind.

  It occurred to me that maybe I had.

  “This, us, it’s a bad idea.”

  Her eyes grew to saucers. “There’s an us now?”

  “I... fuck, no... I just meant...”

  “Nicco.” She smiled, tucking a loose curl behind her ears. “It’s okay, I like you too.”

  “You shouldn’t.”

  Her expression fell. “I see.”

  “I’m not the good guy here, Lina, I’m...” I rubbed a hand over my face. “Complicated.”

  “Said every guy ever.” Her soft laughter was like a bolt of lightning straight to my hardened heart.

  “If I ask you to go back to your dorm, will you?”

  “And leave Nora?” She grimaced. “Not going to happen.”

  “Please?” The corner of my mouth lifted.

  “It’s just a party. I think I can handle it.”

  I let my gaze fall down her body. If her outfit was an attempt at demure, she’d failed. The denim molded to her hips like a second skin, and her blouse, while long-sleeved, was sheer enough to draw my eyes to the outline of her bra. When I finally finished my perusal, and lazily dragged my eyes back to her face, she was flushed and I was sporting a semi.

  “Do you have any idea how fucking good you look?”

  “I...” Lina swallowed. Something told me she didn’t. She wasn’t here to catch some guy’s attention. If I had to put my money on it, the only reason she was here was for her friend.

  “I’m taking you home,” I said.

  “W- what?”

  “You can go get your friend or I can pick you up and throw you over my shoulder. Your choice, Bambolina, but we are leaving.” I had no plans to make her leave with me, but it was impossible to resist playing with her. Earning me another one of her starry-eyed expressions.

  My brow rose. “I’m waiting.”

  She gave a little huff, rolling her eyes, before slipping around me and making a beeline for her friend. Lina didn’t mess around, yanking the girl’s arm, causing her to break the kiss. They had a heated conversation, both their gazes flicking to me on more than one occasion. Then Lina walked back to me.

  “She doesn’t want to leave; apparently Kaiden plans to show her a very good time later.” Her eyes rolled.

  I smirked. I couldn’t help it.

  “Is that so?” I scratched my jaw. “Okay, come on.” Grabbing Lina’s hand, ignoring the jolt of electricity, I went straight over to her friend.

  “I’m taking her home,” I said. “You should come with us.”

  “But Kaiden wants to—”

  “Yeah,” I cut her off, glaring hard at the guy plastered to her side. “What does Kaiden want?”

  His eyes narrowed and then widened with realization. “Shit, man, I didn’t know you knew Nora.”

  “I don’t. But she’s my... she’s Lina’s friend, and I know Lina. So listen up and listen good. You get her home in one piece. If I hear you put so much as a finger wrong, I will—”

  “Whoa.” He threw his hands up. “I’m not a total dick. I’ll look out for her.”

  “You’d better.” My jaw clenched.

  “You’re going with him?” Nora asked Lina, who stood beside me, her eyes dancing between the three of us.

  “I think so. The party isn’t really my thing. But stay, have fun with Kaiden.” She settled her eyes on him. “Hurt her and I’ll kill you.”

  “Fuck,” he breathed through a strained smile. “The three of you are intense.”

  “Relax, I have a can of mace in my purse. We’re all good here. Go.” Nora wasn’t looking at me, she had her eyes fixed right on her friend and they said, ‘don’t do anything I wouldn’t’.

  “I’ll see you later.” Lina said, leaning over to give her friend a hug.

  “Tomorrow.” Nora chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t wait up.”

  Fuck, what the hell had I gotten myself into? Lina was hard to get a read on, but her friend was something else entirely.

  “I’m watching you, Kai.” I jabbed my finger in the guy’s face.

  “It’s Kaiden,” he stuttered.

  “Whatever, we’re out.” My hand tightened around Lina’s as I led her through the crush of bodies. I knew I’d just made a statement, at least in front of Nora and Kaiden. But the semester hadn’t officially started and everyone else was too wasted or high to pay us any real attention.

  I could take her home, make sure she was safe, and then move on with my life.

  “I can’t believe she’s staying with that guy,” Lina said as soon as we stepped outside.

  “Why did you come tonight?”

  “Nora wanted to. She wants us to have all these college experiences.”

  “Is it so surprising she’s in there with him then?”

  “I guess not, no.” Lina dropped her gaze. And something inside me twisted. She wasn’t supposed to cower, she was supposed to stand tall.

  I didn’t know her, not really. But I knew enough to know she wasn’t like most girls at the party. She had class. An alluring naïveté that was a rare find these days.

  Bottom line, Lina was special.

  I felt it.

  I didn’t want to, but I did.

  “What?” she asked, and I realized she was looking at me again and I was staring at her like a fucking idiot.

  “Nothing, come on.” Taking Lina’s hand again, I guided her to where my bike was parked. Releasing her, I grabbed the helmet and held it out.

  “You want me to ride on that death trap?”

  My mouth twisted. “I’ll go slow.”

  “No. No way.”

  “You want the full college experience, right? Well hop on, Bambolina.”

  “Nicco, I’m not sure—”

  “Look,” I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s almost a mile walk back to your dorm or we can ride my bike.”

  Her eyes drank it in, running over the polished frame up to the handlebars. I’d restored every inch of her in my uncle’s shop; she was my pride and joy.

  And I’d never had a girl on the back.

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath, a small twinkle in her eye. “But promise not to go too fast.”

  “I promise. Here.” I helped Lina get the helmet on. “It suits you.” A little too much, I swallowed the words.

  Swinging a leg over my bike, I got situated and glanced back at Lina. “Slide on behind me.”

  She looked so fucking adorable, standing there, gawking at me.

  “Any day now,” I teased, fighting a smirk.

  Gingerly, Lina climbed on, careful not to press too closely to me. But I hooked an arm behind me and snagged her hip, pulling her as close as possible. Her breath hitched, and my heart did a somersault. Okay, so maybe this was a bad idea. She felt too good; her thighs hugging me... her hands pressed flat against my stomach.

  Fuck.

  I hadn’t expected her to fist my t-shirt. To hold on as if she never intended to let go.