I tugged, fighting a growing panic. “Seriously, Rob. This has been a real treat. But I’m leaving. ” I made another move to scurry around him—I refused to run away—but with another sidestep, he remained in my face.
“Not till I tell you it’s time to leave. ” He traced a brazen finger down my cheek. “I liked what I saw that day,” he said, referring to the Guidons stripping me down to my underwear. “I think I’d like to see it again. ”
If he was trying to scare me, it backfired. I’d been messed with by far worse, far older,
far scarier creatures than this d-bag. All my recent stress, all the uncertainty, it all fueled me. I snatched his finger, wrenching it hard till it cracked. “So not going to happen. ”
He howled and shook out his hand.
I smiled. “Don’t hurt yourself, Rob. ”
“We vampires heal fast. ” He was glaring at me with pure hatred in his eyes, prowling back toward me with hands poised like he might attack.
I snatched a throwing star from my gym shorts. “You’re not a vamp yet. ”
He smirked at my shuriken. “What do you think happens to girls who mess with Trainees?”
Now, there was something I’d never considered. “I’m all too happy to find out,” I lied.
He laughed. “You’d risk your life just to keep the ice queen status?” Seeing my flat stare, he said, “Yeah, that’s right. Your life. As in, I don’t think the vamps will let you mess with one of their own. ”
“Get over yourself. ” My scorn was thick, despite my creeping doubts. “You’re just a Trainee. ”
“Sure. And a Trainee is far more precious a commodity than you bitches. ”
I had to laugh at that gem. “Oh, really?” Was the guy actually trying to make me angrier?
“Yes, really. ” Rob didn’t like being laughed at. He adjusted his pants suggestively. “Time for you to take one for the team, Acari. ”
I almost snorted a laugh. Maybe he thought he was menacing, but I wasn’t taking anything for anyone. I had an idea, though, so instead I gave him a pretty smile, playing along. “You think you’re that cute, do you?”
A smile flickered on the edge of his lips. “I know I am. ”
I shot a glance to a grassier spot away from the ridge. “Let’s at least move away from the ledge. ”
He headed toward it, saying, “I knew you’d see the light. ” The idiot sure had bought my line quickly.
“You guys always know best. ” I knelt, like I was ready to get comfortable.
He chuckled, and it was a perverted little satisfied sound, like he was about to get lucky. “That’s right. You relax. ”
He began to unzip. It marked the second time in my life I’d seen Rob’s hand on his zipper.
I was sick of it. “Let me help you. ” I sprang up and around him, gripping my star between fingertip and thumb, and in one swift flick, I slashed his pants front to back.
“What the—?” His voice was a high-pitched squeak.
I backed away, watching in amusement. “By the way, you touch your pants one more time in front of me, I swear to you, it’ll be your last. ”
He patted at his crotch, making sure everything was intact. “What the fuck?”
I let myself laugh. “You seemed so anxious to air it out. I thought I’d give you a hand. ”
He reached around, and I saw the moment he realized there was a giant gap where the seat of his pants should’ve been. “You little bitch. ”
“Relax,” I told him, mimicking his earlier instruction to me. “You said I shouldn’t mess with Trainees. ” I gave him an innocent shrug. “You’re not hurt. I’m better with my shuriken than that. Besides, you helped. ” I flicked my eyes toward the seat of his pants. “Small target and all. ”
“You’ll pay. ”