Page 69 of Fractured Heart

My heart hammers in my chest as I break into a run. I leave my stuff behind and retrace my steps back to campus. It’s raining heavily now, and the cold seeps into my bones. I reach the dorms soaked and shivering. I don’t even care if Silas is inside or if my princes are convinced I betrayed them. All I can think about is getting warm again. It’s gotten to the point that by the time I reach the apartment, I’m barely able to lift my frozen hand long enough to knock.

“I bet it’s her.” JJ throws the door open. When he sees me, his eyes widen, and he scoops me up in his arms. Warmth envelops me and my shaking intensifies. “I’ve left a lot of girls wet and trembling, but this is definitely a first.” He winks, but I’m too cold to blush. I just snuggle into his warmth.

“Roonie?” Charles jumps to his feet. His massive frame pushes the couch back, and it squeaks across the hardwood floor.

“Is that her?” A door flies open at the other end of the apartment, and Tate runs out. When he sees me, he gasps. “You’re freezing!”

“Mmm f-f-fine.” I barely get the words past my trembling lips.

“We’re going to warm you up,” JJ says, his voice rough with worry. “Tate, get the water running.”

Tate rushes into the bathroom. He leaves the door open for JJ and me to follow and steps under the running shower with his clothes on. His t-shirt gets soaked and clings to his muscular chest. Watching him, I feel warm and cold at the same time.

“Not too warm,” Charles warns. I realize he’s talking about the water.

Tate adjust the temperature. “I got her.”

JJ hands me over and slides the shower door shut, leaving me alone with Tate. My Prince Charming holds me tightly against his chest and spins us around. Suddenly, I’m under a stream of water which feels scalding hot. It burns my freezing limbs and I let out a surprised cry.

Tate murmurs comforting words and holds me until my body adjusts. I even stop trembling long enough to string together a few words. “I c-can stand.”

“I don’t mind holding you.” Tate smiles down at me.

“Please?”

Tate nods and gently sets me down on my feet. Then he wraps his arms around me in a strong, warm hug. “Why were you out in the rain?”

“I…I went home.” I swallow the lump that forms in my throat.

Tate pulls back a little so he can watch me as he waits for me to elaborate.

“You live in town?” Charles’s voice echoes from outside the shower. When I don’t answer right away, he slides the shower door open so he can look at me.

“I…I don’t want to talk about it.” What if my princes think less of me once they find out about Father? What if they think I brought it onto myself? Or they think I should go back?

I’m terrified Charles will press for answers, but Tate shakes his head. Charles grunts and steps into the shower stall instead.

“Don’t! You’ll ruin your…” I squeak, but it’s too late. “…clothes.”

“It’s fine,” Charles grumbles. He moves behind me so that he’s standing under the heavy stream of water in his dress pants and white button-down shirt.

I’m suddenly sandwiched between him and Tate and my heart starts to pound in my chest.

“You’re shivering,” Tate whispers, oblivious to the fact that he and Charles are making me tremble.

He starts to rub his hands up and down my arms and Charles takes a step closer, until I’m plastered against my two princes. Until every single breath is a physical push against Tate’s hard chest.

“Any room for me in there?” JJ teases from outside the shower stall.

My face feels impossibly hot. I instinctively try to cover it with my hands, but my arms are pinned at my sides. Charles is plastered to my back and Tate is stuck to my front, making it impossible to move. My nipples tighten as they rub against Tate’s chest and I gasp.

“Are you getting warmer, Roonie?” JJ winks “If you’re not, I’m sure I can help.”

“Y-yes! I mean no. I’m fine.”

“I told you Roonie wouldn’t just leave,” Tate says. “No matter what Silas said.”

I tense. “W-what did he say?”