Page 57 of Heartless Sinner

I yanked the jacket closed again. “Maybe you should’ve jumped your lazy, throwing-a-girl-overboard ass in and saved me.”

“You know how to swim. I used to watch you do it in my family’s pool, wearing one of your skimpy bikinis.” He dragged his tongue across his lower lip.

“You’re unbelievable—you know that?”

“Unbelievable in all the good ways.”

“In all the evil ways.”

I turned my back to him and opened the armoire, staring at rows of formal dresses. Not a pair of pajamas in sight.

Every comfortable outfit I owned was in the dresser across the room. To reach it, I’d have to pass Brooks. I knew he’d demand some form of payment before letting me pass, like an evil troll guarding a bridge.

I looked at the dresses again.

Sleeping in a ball gown can’t be that uncomfortable, right?

I twisted around. “Fine. Next time I end up in the ocean by your hands, I won’t accept help. I’ll just let the sharks eat me.”

“That’s my good girl.”

Heat rushed through me at those four stupid words, and I begged every turned-on cell in my body not to fall into his trap.

“Excuse me?” I snapped when he shrugged out of his blazer. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting ready for bed.” He draped the blazer over the ottoman at the foot of my bed and started unbuttoning his shirt. He worked the buttons open one by one.

Long fingers. Big hands.

Hands I knew way too well.

I snapped my stare back to his face. “No, you’re freaking not.” I pointed at the door. “Get out.”

The bastard smiled before faking a yawn. “I’m too exhausted to do that.” With his next sham of a yawn, he stretched his arms over his head.

“I’ll scream.”

“Scream away.” He popped another button free, knowing I wouldn’t.

How would I explain how Brooks got into my room?

I’d either have to rat out Vittoria or let everyone assume I’d snuck the president’s son into my bedroom for a late-night sleepover.

By breakfast, the entire castle would know.

I could only imagine how much of a field day Oriana would have with the story.

While Vittoria wasn’t exactly my favorite person at the moment, I wouldn’t do that to her. Brooks had humiliated her enough.

He reached for his waistband.

Oh no.

I sucked in a ragged breath, waiting for him to drop his pants, but he only unzipped them and gave me an unhinged look.

His pants hung low on his waist as he walked over, nudged me aside, and started looking through my dresses. After a few seconds, he let out an irritating sigh.

“None of these come off easily.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “I suppose you’ll have to sleep naked.”