Hateful Games: (An arranged marriage billionaire romance) (Arranged Games Book 2)
Chapter 4

Nathan stood when the girls approached, while I didn’t bother.

I’m realizing my little Rose brings out my asshole tendencies. I give everyone a wide berth, minding my own business. Yet she evokes the need to create chaos just by her mere presence. Her existence.

I don’t know whether it’s trouble for her or me that she’s now on my radar.

Schooling my features, I lean back in my chair, purposely ignoring Rosalie and paying attention to Jasmine. However, it is a mistake because I can feel her heated stare—burning from hatred—lingering on my body, incinerating me with its intensity.

When I flick my gaze to her, she looks away and it’s my turn to admire her lithe and toned figure. I have to remind myself she’s sixteen and to not leer at her like a pervert, even though I’m only three years older than her.

The sunlight casts a beautiful glint in her dark red hair, making it appear lighter than it is. The length almost grazing the top of her ass. While the rest of her is dressed in yet another black ensemble—this time leggings that look painted on and a crop top, showing a glimpse of her naked midriff.

And is that a… navel piercing? Fuck.

It’s the sight of her siren red lips, though, that has a foreign sensation unfurling inside me. And the fact we’re coincidently matching. I didn’t think much when I wore black faded denim pants paired with a black shirt, leaving the sleeves rolled.

I assumed by now she would have grown out of her obsession with black.

When she squirms under my perusal, it pleases me.

The urge to peer inside her head and read her thoughts is so visceral that it makes me uncomfortable. Every emotion and every urge with her rise tenfold. I almost stand to bolt the hell out of here when Nathan’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Hey, Jasmine, long time no see,” says Nathan jovially.

“You’re the one who disappeared into thin air,” she jokes. “Working to take over the world?”

“Something like that.”

Jasmine is two years older than me and unlike her sister, blessed with a sunny disposition. The girl has always been kind, compassionate, and cheerful. Somehow, she made it likable, instead of annoying like most people. As if secretly making up for her sister’s lack of people skills.

“So, Rosa tells me,” Jasmine says, glaring at me, “you are a dick, Nova. I thought she was joking but I guess she was right.”

My bad. I spoke too soon.

“You tattled to your big sister?” I focus on Rosalie, whose cheeks are tinged red in anger. “How mature.”

“Jas!” hisses Rosalie. “I can fight my own battles.”

“Can you?” I taunt with a smirk.

“Okay… whoa,” mumbles Nathan, stepping in Rosalie’s path when she steps forward. I wink, making her fume. “No need to come to blows. Save some for the wedding day.”

“Why are you even here if you’re only going to antagonize her?” accuses Jasmine sharply. “Hell, why did you agree to marry Rosa?”

“I give your sister an out. She’s the one who didn’t take it.”

“Oh please, you and I both know that’s bullshit. Like our fathers would ever listen to her wishes.”

“Not my problem.”

“Say no to the marriage, Nova.”

I direct my gaze to my reluctant bride. “Rosalie knows what to do.”

“Let it go, Jas,” Rosalie speaks, a taunt underlying her words. “My fiancé isn’t man enough to fight his own battles.”

“Then why don’t you go replace someone who is?”

“Maybe I will.”

At the blatant insinuation, I glare at her. Even though it will solve all my problems for her to be some other man’s trouble. “Do it fast before you’re tied to me.”

The words taste sour as soon as they’re out.

Nathan and Jasmine watch us as we stare each other down. Their worry about us not getting along quite obvious.

“This was a waste of time, I’m going back to my room,” Rosa informs us in annoyance before flicking her hair behind her ear when one strand blows in her face. Giving me a sneer full of attitude, she taunts, “I’m sure you can bribe someone to show you the way out.”

Before she can scramble away, her mother’s voice sounds from behind as she approaches the group. “Kids.”

I stand when she joins our little circle, servers trailing behind her. The server quietly places a tray loaded with snacks while another sets down an assortment of drinks. If Lily senses the tension in the air, she chooses to ignore it.

“Why are you all standing?” she asks, frowning in confusion.

“Nova and Nathan were just leaving,” replies Rosalie.

“Why? They just got here, Rosa.”

“I have a headache, Ma,” Rosalie lies smoothly. “We’ll do a rain check.”

Lily looks between us, not believing her. However, my little fiancée quickly scurries away. Her sashaying hips taunting me all the way until she disappears around the corner. I avert my eyes and smooth my features into one of boredom when I notice Jasmine watching me carefully, having caught me checking out her little sister’s ass.

“I’m so sorry about Rosa, Nova,” mutters Lily apologetically. “I wish she’d told me so I would’ve canceled.”

“It’s okay.”

“Still no need to let all this food go to waste.” Nodding toward Jasmine, she says, “Jasmine can keep you company. It’s been a while since you all spent time together.”

“Sure.” At my answer, Nathan squints suspiciously. His gaze conveying that he hasn’t forgotten my complaining as we rode here to suddenly switching to desire to stay. I ignore him and ask Lily with a polite smile, “Excuse me, where’s the restroom?”

“Just go straight down the hallway and to your left.”

“Thanks.”

Jasmine opens her mouth as if to follow me, but Nathan steals her attention. “So, Jasmine, what have you been studying?”

Their voices fade into the background as I go in search of my little Rose. She’s in for a rude awakening if thinks she can walk away with the last word. The hallway leading to her bedroom upstairs is deserted, which is shocking considering I saw a dozen staff members roaming when Nathan and I were being led to the garden.

It is eerily quiet here, even more so upstairs.

Almost as if no one is allowed in this wing without permission.

Her door is ajar when I reach it. Pushing it open, I replace it empty. Nevertheless, a chuckle slips out of me when I notice she installed glass sliding doors with a lock for her bookshelves.

Adrenaline thrums in my veins as I slip out of the room and go in search of her. Besides knowing she’s a bookworm, there’s not really much I know about my fiancée. It irritates the side of me that hates being at a disadvantage.

Where are you hiding, little Rose?

I can’t win against my enemies if I don’t know their weaknesses, what makes them tick, and down to their deepest, darkest sins.

Pausing, I scoff at myself. Rosalie has barely lived her life to be possibly hiding something tragic. But I also know better than anyone how deceiving appearances can be.

Before I can dwell further, I hear soft footfalls climbing up the stairs at the very end of the hallway. I almost missed them last time but realized it led to the back of the garage downstairs.

I lurk in the corner, catching a glimpse of flaming red curls as they enter my line of sight. Unbeknownst to the danger, Rosalie bounces down the hallway looking a bit disheveled.

Her breathing is kicked up as if she did some physical labor, or it could be from traveling the flight of stairs. Who fucking knows? However, it’s the sly smirk playing on her lips that puts me on edge.

I curse inwardly when my gaze involuntarily drifts to her belly piercing.

I swear, that tiny jewel is going to torment me for the rest of my life.

The second she’s close, I grab her elbow and pull her against my chest. A frightened yelp leaves her mouth, echoing around us. I cover her lips on instinct, even though we’re alone and no one comes hurrying to check.

For some unknown reason, I don’t like the possibility of her being alone and defenseless, where no one can hear her. The protectiveness dissolves when she bites my palm and I yank my hand back, glaring down at her.

“Quit stalking me in my own house, you perv.”

“You don’t dismiss me,” I taunt, trapping her against the wall in the hallway without touching her. “That’s not how this works, little Rose.”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Can’t a man check on his fiancée when she’s having a headache?”

“Any other man on the planet, sure. Not you, though,” she retorts. “Your presence alone will give any woman a perpetual headache.”

Instead of responding, I study her and she stills nervously. There’s a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, the bridge of her perfect nose, while her cheeks are sunburnt, as if she stood in the sun too long. My gaze narrows suspiciously.

“Where were you, Rose?”

“Do you suffer from memory loss?” she quips. “My name is Rosalie. Not little Rose or Rose.”

“That’s not what I asked, little Rose.”

“My whereabouts are none of your business.”

I press closer, making her gulp when I invade her personal space completely. Her head tilts to maintain my gaze. She tries hard to keep the annoyed façade in place but I can feel her rising heartbeat. The unsteady rise and fall of her pert breasts.

Resting my curled fists above her head, I darkly warn, “There better not be someone in this house you go sneaking off to meet.”

“Like you’d be able to do anything to stop it,” she taunts, challengingly. “I don’t listen to you, fiancé or not.”

The word fiancé pours cold water over the possessive haze that aroused within me a second ago. She’s twisting the wires in my head with every fucking encounter.

I’m chasing her.

I’m threatening her.

I’m terrifying her.

All of which I’ve never done with a single woman in my life till now.

“Then why am I still engaged to you?” I demand in a low voice, putting our mouths inches apart. The defiant little thing isn’t intimidated. Instead, she’s drawing me in, almost daring me to take a bite.

“Is that what you desire?” she murmurs accusatorily. “A meek and naïve wife, who will obey your every command?”

“I don’t sit around daydreaming about playing house in the future, least of all a wife. But I do know what I don’t desire. And it’s you.”

“And yet you keep chasing me.”

“Only because you aren’t giving me what I asked.” My voice is harsh in the tight space. “I gave you a week. I don’t have time for your childish games.”

“Then end it.” Her soft breath teases my lips. “If you want me gone that bad, walk away.”

“Are you a masochist? Is that it, little Rose? Because pain is all I’ll deliver to you. And a tiny lock isn’t going to stop me from destroying your precious belongings.”

A mix of panic and fear flares. Though she tries to mask it.

She doesn’t realize she’s a small fish in a pool of sharks.

“I already tried, Nova,” she admits, shocking me momentarily. “My father isn’t someone who tolerates defiance, especially from his daughters. You saw it yourself. Why can’t you say no? Trust me, no one would bat an eye if you did.”

“Because this is one obligation I can’t refuse,” I confess half truthfully. “I’m afraid my hands are tied.”

“Well, so are mine.”

We stare-off.

Equally stubborn.

Neither of us willing to back down.

“It looks like we’re at a stalemate then,” I whisper, after a few heartbeats of staring into her eyes. They drop to my lips while her chest grazes mine as her breathing deepens. She doesn’t seem to realize one of her hands is resting dangerously low on my abs.

Yet I make no move to dislodge it.

Or pull away.

Her long eyelashes flutter, teasing the top of her rosy cheeks as I admire every contour of her face. Every time I’m this close, she sheaths her claws. Meanwhile, she has no clue what having that small power over her does to me.

How crazed it makes me feel.

Possessed.

And then once I’m overwrought with these feelings, I ache to push her limits. Test how far she’ll let me go. The scary part—I have no control over my own limits. She has me forgetting when to stop, when I’ve crossed them.

The push and pull that shouldn’t exist.

Not just after a single meet.

It’s hazardous.

Yet despite all the warnings circling in my head, I can’t resist the urge as I use the heel of my boots to nudge hers. A silent command to spread her legs. The moment she does as though she has no control over her senses any more than I do, I dip my head and ghost my lips over hers.

Once.

Twice.

She sways when I graze them a third time, kissing her but not kissing her. Her already rosy cheeks deepen with her blush, so temptingly dark as though she’s never been touched. Or felt another’s lips on hers.

I know she’s a virgin. And no—I’m not being a presumptuous dick.

I just know.

From her subtle reactions. Her soft gasps. The nerves dancing in her gaze. I didn’t realize the depths of her innocence. My little Rose hasn’t even bloomed yet. Not even with a kiss.

Such a shame.

Her red lips beckon me to steal it, to claim what another man hasn’t.

Uncurling my fingers, I lower my arms. She senses but doesn’t stray her gaze from mine. I slowly bring my hand and skim the column of her throat, feeling her swallow. Then following the soft, delicate skin to her pounding pulse.

Her mouth parts when I travel back and circle her neck, letting my fingers rest without tightening them. She fucking trembles. Unafraid. Shocked. Curious.

I allow myself one tiny lick of her bottom lip.

Her eyes close.

But it displeases me.

Before I know it, I bite down on the same spot and tug until she whimpers. Her eyes flash open as she trembles again and moans when I lick the sting away with my tongue.

Keeping her pinned, I lift my free hand and grab her naked waist, digging my fingers in her vulnerable flesh. Those black eyes become hooded, drunk on desire no man has seen or felt.

My urges become bold. Greedy. Possessive.

Why isn’t she stopping me? She should. Because I’m too far under her hypnotic spell. Just not the kind my best friend warned me about. But cataclysmic nonetheless.

Just as I’m about to trace a path down her naked stomach while tempted to play with her piercing that I can feel against my abs, my phone rings.

We break apart as if an electric current jolted us.

I dig out my phone, Nathan’s name flashing on the screen.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

My sanity returns and with it, all the lines I crossed. None of this should’ve happened. I’m supposed to get rid of her, not seduce her. When I look up, I can see her coming to the same realization because her features twist into hate.

Before she distracts me with her witchy spell, I stalk away from the walking, talking temptation. I must be gone too long if Nathan is calling.

“Where the fuck are you?” he grunts when I pick up. “Please tell me you didn’t kill her. I have goals for my future that do not involve being someone’s bitch in prison.”

“Shut up. I got lost,” I lie. “Meet me outside.”

It doesn’t take me long to replace the way out. When I reach it, Nathan and Jasmine are waiting near the entrance. My best friend looks about ready to bolt while Jasmine looks ready to murder me on her sister’s behalf. Her penetrating gaze saying I was up to no good. I scowl when I catch her staring behind me.

When I turn, my little fiancée is following me.

Guess she doesn’t trust me not to be gone without supervision.

“Got lost?” Jasmine huffs.

“Not my fault your house is built like a maze.”

“Ha. Like yours isn’t.” Jasmine goes to stand beside her sister, who is watching me raptly. I rip my gaze away before they mistakenly drift to her swollen bottom lip.

“Don’t be a stranger, Nathan.”

Of course, he gets the sunshine treatment.

“See you around, Jas,” replies Nathan, following behind me as I stalk to my car, halfway there. I was about ready to leave without him. Digging out my keys, I press on the key fob.

Boom.

My body flies through the air before landing on the harsh ground with a deafening thump. The ringing in my head so loud, I’m afraid I’ve gone deaf. While a cloud of dirt and smoke blinds me.

When my surroundings take shape, the sight a few feet ahead leave me stunned.

My favorite car—that I remodeled myself—is caught in flames, smoke billowing from the hood, darkening the sky. The shock keeping me rooted to the earth.

“Dude, you all right?” Nathan’s voice penetrates through my haze, right before hands pull me up to my feet.

I dust off my jeans and rub my mouth, mumbling hoarsely, “I’m fine.”

“Motherfucker,” he curses under his breath. “What just happened?”

The sounds of multiple footsteps rushing saves me from answering, not that I have one. I twist and Lily is running toward me, eyes wide in horror.

“Oh my god,” she says, grabbing my shoulders and looking me over. “Please tell me you’re not hurt, Nova?”

I gently push her hand away, hating a stranger’s touch. “I’m okay. Just some scratches.”

Behind us, the staff and bodyguards have gathered, staring at the catastrophe. Everyone has distressed and astounded expressions on their faces. Everyone except…

Little Rose.

“Come inside, both of you,” orders Lily in concern. “I’m calling our doctor to check you over.”

My attention is locked on my fiancée, which is why I mutely follow Lily toward the house. Her with the phone already connected to her ear, and Nathan walking ahead of me.

“What was it that you said?” Rosalie’s cocky voice halts me as I’m about to pass her. Her sultry tone low for only me to hear. “Ahh, yes… the element of surprise. Well, did you like mine?”

I step closer while hiding my shocked yet impressed expression.

This slip of a girl is a dangerous she-devil disguised in an innocent package.

“So that’s where you disappeared,” I drawl menacingly. “When I said end our engagement, I didn’t mean by killing me, little Rose. Even though you failed terribly.”

“No, this was a warning, Nova,” she retorts, lifting her chin daringly. “For everything of mine you ruin, I’ll wreck twice worse of yours. And the next time you dare to touch me, you’ll be waking up at the gates of hell.”

With a ferocious look full of venom, she gives me her back and saunters inside.

You’ve just sealed your fate, little Rose.

You are now mine to destroy.

Let the hateful games begin.