The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Do you?" I ask, grinning up at him, sort of surprised to see Jackson wanting to go to a social occasion.

"Oh, I'm happy to stay in here," he says, giving me a broad grin. "Alone with you. We can turn the water back on, or get in the tub..."

I grin up at him, shaking my head. "Don't tempt me, McClintock. Next time I get you naked in the shower and I'm not all traumatized from falling into an alternate realm ruled by darkness, I am going to take advantage of the situation."

"That's my girl," he growls, dipping his head to give me a fierce kiss that he breaks far too soon. "But come on - we should go out there," he says, giving me a smart smack on the ass that makes me yelp in surprise and then laugh. "The others are going to want to see that you're okay, and then they're going to want to celebrate you."

"Celebrate me?" I ask, standing a little straighter, liking this idea very much.

"Yeah, Ariel," Jackson says, smiling at me and looking...far too gorgeous as he does it, all damp and half-naked and kind. "I don't know the final tallies but...I think you may have won today."

"But we all won," I say, turning my head to the side, not understanding.

"Our team won," he says, giving me a wink and reaching for his pile of clean clothes. "But there were individual tallies too. Don't you want to know how your performance stood up to everyone else?"

My competitive streak flares in me and I immediately dart for my clothes. "Hell yes I want to know!"

I get dressed faster than I ever have in my life, Jackson laughing warm beside me.

it?" I gasp, stumbling out of the bathroom and still buttoning

couch with Daphne at his side. Her own face breaks into a smile when she sees me, her hands anxiously clasped in her lap. "Results aren't in yet," Jesse says, the relief to see that I'm back

to us, blocking Jesse's sightline and taking me by the shoulders. "Are you fucking all

smiling up into his face. "I promise, I'm sorry

worried, Ariel," he murmurs, rocking me back and forth. "You were like, shell-shocked the

later." I pull back a bit, sending a glance towards the door, not wanting to bring more attention to

and nods to me before shifting his gaze to Jackson. "Seriously, she's

his

that I am but before he can I give Rafe a hearty smack on the chest. "I just told you I was," I growl. "You don't need to confirm

away from him, wanting to go say hello to Daphne. Behind me, I hear Jackson murmur something to Rafe about strawberry ice cream being the right medicine, but troll my eyes and ignore them, plopping down next to my friend and giving her a

a laugh. "I heard you played a big role in the victory

letting her go and leaning across her to give Jesse a hug too. "Hello, I missed you! How

that a

my seat again. "By the time I got to Wright's camp it was a wasteland - everyone was gone."

baffled. "What

opens and three people stumble in, laughing, just as the dumbwaiter