The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 18

I gulp as we approach Luca’s lower bunk because I am completely out of my element – I’ve never, ever been in a boy’s bed before except, obviously, a member of my family –

But Luca, to my relief, gestures me towards the head of his bed before sitting down on the other end, lounging back against the metal footboard with one leg bent at the knee, his arm wrapped casually around it. I grimace a little inwardly to see that his left boot is sole-down on his blankets. Slowly I lower myself onto the bed, perching on the edge, my eyes unblinking as I watch him.

“Make yourself comfortable, Shrimp,” he says, raising his chin and indicating that I should relax. “I’m not going to bite.”

My wolf gasps. Do you think we could get him to do that? He could give us his mark!

Mentally I smack her on the nose and she gives a little yelp, but it does nothing to defer her excitement.

Slowly I do as Luca bids, leaning back against his pillow a little and curling my bare feet beneath me. I don’t say anything though, letting him start the conversation.

He grins at me, lifting his other leg and stretching it out along the length of the mattress, effectively pinning me in on my left side. I glance down at his gigantic foot, which is just inches from me now, before raising my eyes back at him. Without intending to, I wrinkle my nose.

Luca bursts into laughter.

“Are you like, a clean freak or a germaphobe, Shrimp?” he asks, turning his foot so that he taps me with the dirty toe of his boot.

“No!” I protest, even as I flinch away from his boot – mostly because I don’t want any more tingles but, also, yes! Because it’s a dirty boot!

“You totally are,” he says, grinning at me from the other end of the bed but turning his foot away. “First you go take a secret bath in the middle of the night, then the only time I can get you alone is when you’re brushing your teeth, and now you’re scared of a dirty boot?” He raises an eyebrow at me, clearly entertained.

“Did you ever consider that you’re just dirty, Luca?” I ask, leaning forward and flicking my eyes deliberately to where his shoe is pressed into his clean blankets. “Because I think that wanting a hot bath and brushing my teeth just makes me normal.”

“So,” he says, leaning forward to peer at me, his smile deepening. “You know my name.”

I sit back, fast, blushing a little to have been caught out.

“Don’t worry,” he says, laughing again as he, too, leans back. “I know yours too, Shrimp.”

“It’s not Shrimp,” I say, renewing my glare.

“I know, Ari Clark,” he says, tilting his head at me. “I just think Shrimp suits you better.”

I don’t let my inner victory show, because of course he doesn’t know my real name.

Tell him! My wolf ridiculously prompts. Maybe he’ll say it! Maybe he’ll whisper it!

I swat at her again, but she dodges my blow and continues to run in excited circles. I sigh inwardly because she’s making it hard to concentrate.

But frankly, so is he.

Because, god damn it, but he is handsome. The way he’s sitting there, with his powerful body so relaxed – and how his scent is coming off of him in waves after his shower?

God, that shower – I’m suddenly hit with the memory of him running his fingers through his wet hair –

“So,” Luca snaps and I blink, gritting my teeth as I realize that I was just staring at him, thinking about what he looks like naked. No wonder he thinks I’m so weird. “What were you really doing out last night?”

“I was just taking a bath,” I reply, my voice cold. “Like I said. Now are you going to let me go back to my bunk?”