Page 250 of The Villain We Tempt

“Well, what would you call it?” I laugh.

“I'm going to tell everyone I see that you’re my girlfriend and future wife, and that I love you, and if anyone fucks with you or looks at you the wrong way, I’m going to get violent.”

“Ooo,” I giggle. “Veryred flag.”

“Which obviously means you’re wet now?”

Guiiiil-ttyyy…

“Wanna check?” I say huskily.

I bite back a moan when I feel him harden against my ass. His hand slips down my front, and I watch wide-eyed in the mirror as he bunches up the front of my skirt over my panties and then slips his hand into the lace.

Oh shit…

I whimper softly, clinging to his forearm as he slowly drags a fingertip up my lips, letting it roll over my swollen clit.

Then the motherfucker slips his hand free and flashes a smug grin.

“Youass,” I groan in frustration.

He just keeps grinning as he brings his finger to his mouth and licks it clean.

I sigh and shake my head. “You'd better be ready to finish the job later.”

“Thenyou'dbetter be ready to get pulled into a bathroom or empty classroom before you've even had lunch.”

A grin spreads over my face. “You know, telling everyone that you’re a taken man with agirlfriendnow might really fuck with your cool-guy image.”

“The thing is,” he shrugs. “I’m not actually that cool.”

I sigh dramatically as I reach up to pat his cheek. “Oh, I know.”

Lochlan laughs and grabs me, crushing his lips to mine and kissing me like he’s conquering me.

“Well…” I breathe, my face tingling with heat as we slowly pull apart. “Are we ready for this?”

“I’ve been ready since the second I laid eyes on you, little villain.”

My pulse is galloping as we leave Kingsward Hall together.

Lochlan takes my hand and squeezes it in his, and I squeeze back.

The double takes and open-mouthed stares start as we near the quad. Then come the whispers. The camera clicks. The hushed “Are they together?!”.

I squeeze his hand harder.

My friends are right where I told them to meet me this morning. It’s not really going to be a surprise. At this point, they’ve all either been told about Lochlan and me, or have put two and two together.

Still, when Arianna, Yelena, Lucia, and Wren see us walking toward them, hand in hand, we’re hit with a wall of squeals, exclamations, and tight hugs. Bella, who I also asked to be here this morning, asks me if I’m being held under duress and if I need her to stab her cousin for me.

I politely decline.

We're interrupted when Achilles walks up behind Yelena and wraps his arms around her before nodding and grinning at Lochlan. Ronan and Drago appear next, both of whom waste no time in telling me I’m “a real trooper” for “taking one for the team” when it comes to Lochlan.

I tell them sweetly I’m that kind of charitable girl.

I called Zane earlier this morning to tell him about Lochlan. It felt better than just letting him hear about it from the rumor mill on campus. But even though it's no surprise, he still marches over with a real tough-guy chip on his shoulder and squares up with Lochlan, promising all sorts of repercussions if he ever hurts me.