Arrogant Bastard(48)

I climb off her, and we throw our clothes on in record time, me wrapping the used condom in a handful of peach Kleenex and burying it in the bottom of my trashcan. I’ll take out the trash first thing in the morning. Her hair is messy, spilling down her shoulders in tangled curls. Sex hair looks good as hell on her.

“You okay?” I ask.

She spins to face me, her lips pull into a Cheshire grin. “What do you think?”

“Did you think when you walked in here tonight, you wouldn’t be walking out a virgin?”

“I didn’t think, Jensen. I knew.”





CHAPTER 22





I leave Jensen’s room with a delicious soreness between my legs, ripe with satisfaction and void of an ounce of regret. I’m taking back my life and finding my dignity one brave, bold, uncharacteristic decision at a time.

I refuse to be married off or have my body given to a man chosen for me.

I swear my soul glows, radiating clear through to my fingertips—though it could easily be the last remnants of the soul-shattering orgasm working its way out of my system.

Either way, I’m basking in it. I want to remember this feeling the rest of my days.

I tiptoe into my room and peer out the window just in time to see Bruce climbing into his car and pulling away. Perfect timing. I have no idea how long I’ve been up here, but I can’t imagine it’s been more than an hour.

Heavy footsteps trudge up the stairs, sounding closer with each thump. My door swings open wide, my father standing in the doorway. His jaw is set, and he’s peering down at me with a fevered stare.

Does he know?!

I pull in a long, cool breath and force a smile on my face. “Hi, Dad.”

He shuts the door behind him and charges at me, his fits clenched and his face reddening with each heavy second. “What you did tonight was unacceptable.”

My heart whooshes in my ears as I attempt to steady my breathing. “Can you be more specific?”

His lips pinch together into a menacing smile, his eyes dart around the room. He lifts his hand to his jaw, raking the side of his face in slow, hard strokes. I don’t recognize this man. This man is not my father. I don’t know who he is.

“You do understand Bruce Waterman is a member of the quorum, right?” His penetrating gaze holds mine. “He came here to meet my daughters, whom I boast about on a regular basis. My pride and joy. My shining examples…” He shakes his head, gathering his thoughts some more. “You’re an embarrassment to me, your mothers, and the rest of the family. You have disgraced us. Who do you think you are, running off like that?”

My father has never spoken to me with words so harsh before. My lip trembles, and I feel myself falling from the highest high to the lowest low. I sink into my mattress, burying my head in my hands.

“I was uncomfortable,” I sob. “The way he looked at me. The whole thing. And Bellamy said—”

“You have too much free will. That’s the problem.” His voice cuts through mine, muting my opinions. “Something has changed in you, Waverly. You’re not the young woman I raised you to be.”

“You’re wrong. I am a good woman.” I stand up for myself knowing my words fall upon deaf ears. Once my father’s mind is made up, there’s no convincing him otherwise. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked me to do.”

“You’re lying.” His hands dig into his hips. “You’re looking me in the eye and lying.”

I shake my head, wiping away tears that stain my cheeks and make my hair stick to my skin. He knows. He probably knows everything. Or he’s bluffing. Either way, I’m fighting a losing battle.

“You’re not going to college this fall, Waverly,” his voice is a low sneer. “I clearly haven’t done my part raising you into a respectable young woman who can make proper choices for herself. You demonstrated that tonight by the way you treated Mr. Waterman. I fear for your soul if I send you out on your own. The modern world is wicked, filled with temptations and sin.”

“You don’t need to fear for my soul, Dad.” I wipe away heavy tears, but they continue falling, landing on the tops of my thighs. I glance up at him, pleading with my eyes because I know my words are merely lightweight. “You promised. You promised I could go to college if I got my scholarship and demonstrated that I’m responsible and dependable and—”

“Some things are more important than college.” His words set fire to my future.

“Bellamy went to college.”

“She attended the local community college, living at home. You will be granted the same opportunity.”