Vexatious Queen (The Kings of Wayward Academy #7)

Chapter 1

Ren

“Ugh, do you know how much I hate you?” I growled, shooting a glare over my shoulder as I fought with the buttons on my blouse.

Nash looked like a sexy cat, all proud of himself. He was lying on his side, head in his hand, and a smirk firmly on his lips.

“About as much as I hate you,” he said with a casual arrogance that made me want to hit him, mostly because he was right.

Tearing my eyes away, I looked down and then in the mirror that hung on the back of his bathroom door.

My shirt was bunched up, showing more skin than was school-appropriate.

I groaned as I once again tried to rebutton my blouse.

Movement caught my attention, and I backed up as Nash stood and walked toward me.

“No, stay over there. I’m already late. It’s my first day, and I’m late. That has never happened before.”

In typical Nash fashion, my protest was ignored, and my back thudded against the wall as he invaded my personal space. He reached for me, and I smacked his hand.

“Don’t, I’m serious. I need to get to class.”

“I’m only trying to help,” Nash said, smiling as he undid the button I had lined up wrong.

“Liar. Your brand of help is…not what I need right now.”

I kept my eyes firmly on his hands and not his arms flexing, or hard abs, or…

“Would that be so terrible? To break the Ren mold and do something outrageous like miss a class.”

He sucked in a deep breath and made a shocked face. My eyes narrowed.

“You…mocking me, Collier?”

The words didn’t come out as firmly as I intended when Nash pulled the last button free and slipped his hands into the open gap of my shirt. I trembled at his touch despite being kept up most of the night. Nash was voracious, and the passion he aroused in me led to my alarm being ineffectual.

“Just asking a question, Princess.”

Licking my lips, I knew that I had to put space between us. I tried to slip away, but he pressed his body up against mine. My brain ceased to function along with my breathing when Nash dropped his head to my throat.

“Would it really be so terrible to spend the day in here with your husband?”

“Easy with that husband stuff,” I said, but tilted my head for him to kiss a line up the side of my neck.

“Not a chance. I’m going to get on the PA later and tell the whole school. That way, if anyone so much as looks at you, I can kill them,” he said, cupping my face.

“You’re insane,” I murmured, and my heart hammered as he lowered his mouth to mine.

“I thought we had already established that,” he said with a smirk and then nipped at my bottom lip.

“Nash…I really need to go. I’ve already missed so much time.”

I placed my hands on his forearms, and his eyes immediately dropped to my naked finger.

“Where is your ring?”

With a sigh, I wiggled out of his hold and went over to his nightstand. Pulling the drawer open, I retrieved the box he’d given me and opened it to show my ring nestled in the satin.

“Okay. But why aren’t you wearing it?”

He crossed his arms as he walked toward me.

I quickly put the box back in the drawer and closed it.

“Because I don’t want it to get damaged or lost. I may even get mugged for it,” I said, though the last one would never happen inside the school.

“Are you sure that’s all it is? You aren’t second-guessing your decision,” Nash asked as he sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes were guarded, and I shook my head.

“No, I’m not.” Stupidly, I stepped between his legs and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I just hate being the center of gossip. Can we just try and get through these last few months like normal people?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in what had become his signature, devilish look.

“We’re never going to be normal people, wife. But…fine, as long as you put it on right after school every day.”

“And what if I don’t?”

I let out a small scream as he took advantage of our position and yanked me down onto the bed. Nash rolled so that I was under him, and my hands were trapped above my head in his grip.

“Then I really will get on the PA. I’ll even take the glare of the office staff while I do it.”

“You rebel,” I teased.

“And then…I’m going to have my name tattooed on your finger…no…all your fingers.”

My mouth dropped open.

“You wouldn’t.”

Flexing his hips, he rubbed against me. My body turned hot all over like he had flipped a switch.

“Try me, Princess. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that I won’t do to make sure the world knows you’re mine,” he growled.

“You’re a pain in my ass,” I panted out.

Nash stared down at my lace bra while his hips rocked, driving me insane.

“Which brings us full circle to you hating me.”

Before I could come up with a good response, he kissed me hard. His tongue invaded my mouth and set me completely on fire.

“Stay…just first period,” he murmured against my lips, his free hand deviously pulling my kilt up around my waist.

“I…”

The rest of the sentence died on my lips as Nash ran his finger down the center of my panties, proving to both of us just how much I wanted him.

My hips pushed up into his touch of their own accord.

Nash moved the thin material out of his way, and I moaned when he broke through the last of my resolve, slipping his finger inside me.

“Say it. Say you’ll stay with me,” Nash whispered like a snake charmer.

“First period. That’s it.”

He smiled wide, and I knew that I would be lucky to ever make it out of this room again. But right now…I didn’t care.

12:01 PM

NASH

Grabbing a tray, I held it out to Betty. I didn’t care what she put on it. Fried chicken and waffles? That sounded good. Meatloaf with green beans? That was also appealing. Maybe it was the lasagna with garlic bread. That shit was delicious. It really didn’t matter when I was this hungry.

Betty handed the loaded tray back to me that had some of everything, and I reached for a banana and apple before grabbing a slice of chocolate cake.

“Are you okay,” Liam asked.

I looked up, wondering when the fuck Liam got here.

“I’m fucking great,” I said, smiling. “Why?”

He looked at my food and then back at my face.

“No reason. Where were you this morning? You missed a riveting AP Statistics class.”

“I was busy. But I’m sorry I missed it if it was that good,” I said, moving toward the long table we had been sitting at since freshman year. It was amazing how so much had changed and yet some things never did.

“Busy? With what,” the prying bastard asked as we sat down.

I just looked at him and smirked.

“Fucker, I wondered where she was. I should’ve known,” Liam said. I snorted and chugged my orange juice. “You do know you have to share, right?”

I lifted my shoulder and let it drop.

“If you want her…come get her. Otherwise, I’m not letting Ren out of my room ever again.”

Liam shook his head at me, but I focused on the insane portions on my plate.

“Well, at least that explains your lunch. There are more carbs in that meal than you’ve eaten in a whole year.”

“Yeah, I think I could eat the entire cafeteria and still be hungry. She has…stamina,” I said, cutting into the golden waffle topped with a piece of chicken and maple syrup.

“Sure, rub it in,” Liam grumbled.

“Did you ever see this coming,” I asked, stuffing the food into my mouth like I hadn’t eaten in weeks.

“All of us with one girl? Fuck no,” Liam said, picking up his chicken burger and taking a bite.

“Me either.”

For whatever reason, I was feeling nostalgic today.

There were so many memories here of us all together.

At this table, we had laughed, argued, and talked strategy for taking Lawrence down.

Now that was all over. I was glad the son of a bitch was dead, but planning his demise had taken up so much of my time and brain power.

It had been all-consuming, and I was left feeling directionless.

“Dude, you’re starting to freak me out,” Liam said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“What now?”

“I’ve been talking to you this whole time, and you’ve been staring off into space and eating like a robot. I know the sex is good, but come on, snap out of it.”

“I wasn’t thinking about that, asshole,” I said, glaring at Liam. “I just can’t believe it’s over…my father, the house, everything. It just doesn’t seem real. I know this is going to sound fucked up, but…I don’t know what to do next.”

“No, I get it. But now the sky is the limit. You have the backing of the richest and most powerful don in the world. Lawrence is gone. Ren has agreed to stay married to you. What do you want to do? How will Nash Collier make his mark?”

“That’s just it, I don’t know.”

I tried to take another bite of my chicken and waffles before I realized it was gone. Jesus, talk about zoned out.

“Well, put some thought into it. Edmundo doesn’t strike me as the type of father who will be content with you screwing his daughter, living off his money, and putting your feet up on his coffee table.”

And now that image was in my head, taunting me. I nodded to the door as Blake, Myles, and Ren walked in. It shouldn’t annoy me that she was holding Myles’s hand, but it did. Sharing was bad enough, but sharing with four other guys was enough to kick my jealousy into overdrive.

Instead of going feral caveman, I stood and pointed to the spot beside me. Myles grumbled as they slipped in and sat down. At least I wasn’t the only one feeling the green streak.

I linked my hand with Ren’s, and she was restrained between us. She glared at me, then at Myles.

“Boys…hands,” she said, tugging free.

“That’s fine, I prefer this,” I said, gripping her thigh instead.

Ren practically leaped off her seat as she turned her blazing gaze on me.

“Keep looking at me like that, and we’re going to have a much bigger issue,” I whispered.

“You’re impossible.”

I would’ve continued the entertaining banter, but then Ivy arrived with Sabastian. Lifting my hand into the air, I waved them over. They stood at the doors for a moment, wearing a nearly identical skeptical expression.

“Have a seat,” I offered. “We have plenty of room. Unless, of course, you don’t want to sit with us.” I watched Sabastian, daring him to refuse.

“Okay, thanks,” he finally said.

Sabastian sat and pulled Ivy down onto his lap before his eyes shifted to Ren.

“I haven’t seen any of you since the funeral. I just want to say that I’m sorry for what happened, and if you need anything, let me know.”

“Oh, now you want to offer your help?” Blake exploded from his seat, which was totally out of character. “Now that my mother and Neil are dead, you suddenly want to be useful. How the fuck can you help now?”

We all sat perfectly still as Blake released his rage.

“Naw, fuck you and your help. Maybe my mother would still be here if you had done the right thing when it mattered.”

Blake stormed off, and Ren nudged my shoulder for me to move so she could go after him. I stood up to let her out.

“I didn’t…I mean…shit,” Sabastian said.

“He’ll come around,” I said, calmly and entirely out of character. I didn’t reassure people. It wasn’t in my nature. Other than Princess, she was the only exception.

Liam shot me a look, and I knew he was concerned about my mental health. He had asked me what was next, and I never answered.

But I had a new goal…at least for now.