Page 4 of Coveted

A chunky metal watch wraps around his wrist, the brand too far out of my tax bracket to recognize. His onyx hair is slick, a few strands skimming his heavy, jet eyebrows.

He looks the picture of respectability and perfection. Yet the knot in my stomach becomes a pit when I lock eyes with him, as if his gaze carries unspoken threats.

The blue of his eyes is cold, arrogant, and remote. He stands a head taller than me, even in my heeled shoes. His broad shoulders and chiseled face make me think of a male model, but the ice in that gaze freezes me in apprehension.

He tilts his head, like he’s trying to decide whether to acknowledge me as human or shunt me from his path.

When I imagined meeting new people at Darkbloom, those people were smiling. This guy’s giving me a death glare like I’m made of dirt.

But I’m determined to conceal the destabilizing effect he’s having on me. If I let some tycoon’s spoiled son intimidate me on the first day, I’m doomed.

Straightening my spine, I raise my brows at him. “What do you want? Your shoeshine boy make a break for it?”

His nostrils subtly twitch. I’m reminded of a hunting dog sensing prey.

Though he speaks at a low volume, the deep rumble of his voice is distinct from the multitude of sounds around us. “I don’t have a shoeshine boy.”

My eyes narrow. “You don’t?”

A trace of something skitters across his face. Derision, maybe.

“I have two,” he says. “One for each foot.”

I fold my arms, as if that’ll protect me from a terrifying stranger who’s standing over me for no reason. “Thank god. Or someone might think you’d fallen on hard times.”

He pauses, not taking his eyes off me for a second. “I want to carry your bags for you.”

A series of unbidden emotions riddle me. Suspicion, surprise, confusion, followed by suspicion again.

What’s up with this guy?

“Excuse me?” I glance around for a clue about what’s going on and find none.

But I’m sure there’s a catch or trick. He has to be messing with me.

“You asked what I want,” he says. “That’s what I want.”

As if that’s enough explanation.

“To carry my bags?” My folded arms slowly unwind. “But why? You don’t even know me.”

An unsettling darkness plays in the cold waters of his eyes, like he’s plotting a move or he’s amused at my expense. Maybe both.

Whatever the darkness is about, he’s wholly focused on me and I don’t like it one bit. There must be a hundred new students moving in today. Why come to me?

My goal is to study hard, graduate, and begin a new life. Attracting unwanted attention isn’t part of the plan. While I’m here at Darkbloom, I want to fly under the radar.

So far, I’m failing miserably.

He drags his gaze up my body, from my scuffed shoes to my flushed face. “You’re Sadie Marlowe, are you not?”

CHAPTER 2

Sadie

“How do you know who I am?” I ask with a jolt of unease.

The stranger’s poisonous blue eyes dart to the luggage tag on my suitcase, which shows my full name in block letters.