Page 42 of Cruel Hearts

Kendrick scowled. “Girls of your caliber are beneath me.”

I stepped back. “Ah yes, you like them cold and twisted like Elizabeth.”

“I don’t—”

“The whole school saw you fawning over her. Everyone knew you desperately wanted to become the next Lord Liddell.”

“It was to please my parents.”

“If she apologized to Maxwell and crooked her finger, you’d run to her feet like a salivating dog.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No,” I snapped. “You’re lying to yourself. And it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re not sitting here gathering information for her.”

His face dropped. “You think I would spy for her after what she did to my brother?”

“Some guys are so desperate for a girl that they would betray their own—”

Kendrick grabbed me by the back of the head and pressed his lips onto mine. Sparks exploded where our flesh touched, and my heartbeat skyrocketed. I leaned against his body, and his erection ground into my belly. I’d never in my life had hate-sex, but if he continued at this intensity, we’d soon be fucking against the wall.

His tongue delved into my mouth, the kiss more like a battle than an exchange of lust. Desire rippled through my core. I clung to his muscular shoulders and moaned.

“I was right about you.” Kendrick pressed hot kisses along my jawline, down my neck, making my skin itch against the wool of my dress. Too many barriers lay between us. I needed to be naked. Needed to strip him of those clothes and taste his flesh.

“What are you talking about now?” I whispered.

He drew back, panting as though he’d just run across a paddock. A triumphant smirk crossed his features. “You’ll take whatever you can get, even from someone who shares the face of your betrayer.”

The sting in his words made me flinch, and I swung at his smug face.

Kendrick caught my wrist in a tight grip. “You were the hot commodity last term.” His warm breath fanned over my face. “Now, you’re just a means of getting at Elizabeth.”

My insides quaked with impotent rage. I should have walked away and ordered him out of the house. But I’d let Kendrick take advantage of my weakness for that face and body. Baring my teeth, I snarled, “You’re as sick as her.”

He stepped back. “Stay away from my brother.”

“Hey.” I cleared my throat to smooth the tremble from my voice. “You’ve practiced your mind game for the day, now go home and polish your axe like a good little psychopath.”

His nostrils flared. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Fuck off before I stick a poker up your ass.”

Raising his nose in the air, Kendrick headed for the door. “I’ll let myself out.”

I followed him out, glowering past his broad back at Orlando, who stood by the door. “Feel free to break your neck on the way down the stairs.”

Orlando opened the door. This time, the cold, juniper air that blew down the hallway was a welcome relief from the heat and tension of my encounter with Kendrick. The two boys stepped out into the night.

Before either of them could get the last word, I slammed the door shut and rested my head against the wood. “How the fuck did I let that wanker get the better of me?”

If I didn’t keep my libido under control and focus on revenge, I’d face even more humiliation than that blasted police raid.

Chapter 16

Mr. Burgh returned and apologized for losing control with Father Neapolitan. There was nothing to be sorry about. If I had a man’s strength, I would have kicked his ass already.

Over the next week, I pushed out thoughts of that frustrating encounter with Kendrick and threw myself into practicing the techniques in Miss Martin’s manual. Elizabeth’s betting slip lay under my mattress, where it would remain until she gave me what I wanted: a confession, a groveling apology, and an opportunity to rub some humiliation in her smug face.