Arden has been straining her neck trying to look at him, and every time she does, he smirks down at his book, chewing his gum with his legs spread with his hair under a cap. And then he meets her eyes and fucking winks just because he can.

Ugh. Arrogant, hot ass who surprisingly can be really, really sweet. Arden bites her lip, feeling her cheeks flush.

Kol cuddled with her every night and even bought her pads and food and rubbed her back.

He grumbled and tossed the pads to the floor, declaring, "Didn't know what the fuck you used so I bought everything, fucking hell," and he did it without her telling him to.

Also, he drove across town to get her the sugar cookies she said she wanted and threw them in her face and then cuddled with her, and she told him about cheerleading and her brother and her friends and he listened.

"Stab them," he said when she told him she almost tripped because of the freshmen staring at her. "Fucking stab them. Take out their eyes."

Arden widened her eyes. "You—that's not supposed to be your first reaction!"

He merely kissed her. "I'll stab them myself."

She must be insane, because: oh, heart. Be still.

Lecture ends, and when Arden turns to his row, Kol pushes her down on his lap when the room clears, turning the rim of his cap backward. "Seven?"

Arden grins, feeling her heart kick in her chest, hand in his cheek. "Yes. And please, please, please be nice and talk to my brother without saying the word 'fuck'."

Kol pops his gum and doesn't answer.

Arden rolls her eyes and strokes her hand down to his arm. "Tell me about your family since you're meeting my brother."

His mouth twitches. "Why, Bell. If you wanted to meet my parents, you could've just said so."

Arden's jaw drops. "I didn't—I'm not—"

"Asshole brother with a too good for him annoying girlfriend. Another asshole little brother. Filthy rich parents who still fuck each other. You're coming this Saturday for dinner—"

Arden covers his mouth, cheeks flushing. "I'm—no, not yet. I'm scared. And let's get through mine first, okay?"

Kol bites her finger and glares at her before he says, "Scared? Of fucking who? You won't die, I don't like you dead."

Wow. Some assurance.

Arden rolls her eyes and just kisses him quickly, patting his shoulder. She was already scared of him before she got to know him, but with Yvo Sandejas around? And another little brother? And his parents, two other Sandejases? She doubts they're as scary as the boys and that they say 'fuck' in every sentence, but still. Sandejas.

Arden will probably get along best with Blaise Finch, but...she shivers. Not yet.

Kol grunts in annoyance when she tries to move away and kisses her harder, gripping her neck.

Arden smiles in his mouth before pushing him back. "Seven. Later, baby."

She marvels at his frozen face and laughs before she leaves, patting his cheek.

FUCK YOU, he says in his text.

Arden laughs all the way to her next class, sending him a kiss emoji.

In the common room, the boys are waiting for her for one game before she comes up and gets ready for the wedding. They're still annoyed about her bailing on them several times this week, but the thing about her friends is that they don't hold grudges.

Except for Jackson, apparently, who's sulking annoyingly, not looking at her.

Arden finishes the game strong, whooping really loudly and tackling Patrick and Oliver while Elijah tickles her, but Jackson tosses his controller on the couch and leaves to the patio.

Arden sighs. "What's his problem?"

Elijah shrugs. "Sandejas, I think."

Patrick shivers at the name.

Arden rolls her eyes and leaves to find him. "Hey. Jack."

"Fuck off, Arden."

"Wanna repeat that?" she snaps, slamming the door closed.

Jackson turns away, jaw tight.

"Thought so." Arden faces him and says, "Whatever your problem is with Kol—"

"I said you deserve better," Jackson tells her. "And he didn't say shit. Like he doesn't give a shit."

A laugh escapes her lips. "God, Jackson."

What did he expect? Of course Kol doesn't care even if he thinks she deserves better than him. Kol is selfish and impatient and he won't leave her alone until she tells him to fuck off forever.

Even then, Arden thinks he's not going to back down easily and just...demand for her to like him again. He'll make every effort to make it happen.

It sounds completely wrong and nonsensical, but it makes her smile.

Goddamn it.

"I appreciate the concern, but stay out of my business, I can handle myself, okay?"

Jackson sighs and shakes his head. "Whatever."

Arden rolls her eyes and leaves. He'll get over it. There's nothing he can do now, anyway. She's stuck with Kol and she has no plans of changing that.

*

Kol slams his room door closed and loosens his tie angrily, clenching his jaw.

Arden can't stop laughing as she takes off her jewelry in front of his mirror. Thank God his roommate isn't here.

"You think it's fucking funny?" he demands quietly behind her, glaring at her reflection.

Arden grins. "As a matter of fact, I do."

The wedding was...God, Kol was...Arden laughs harder.

Arlo, her brother, took one look at him and said, "He looks like an asshole."

"He is," Arden said from the passenger seat when they picked him up in Kol's Audi. "Not to me, though."

Kol grit his teeth and turned around, held out his hand and said, "Hi. Nice to meet you."

It took everything in her not to roll on the fucking ground in laughter.

She held his hand going inside the venue and her friends said, "He's so cute, oh my God!"

Arden said, "Thanks. He's a rescue."

Kol sneered at her, vein popping, but he didn't say anything else. Arden laughed and intertwined their fingers together. "I'm kidding. Chill out."

And then she asked him to dance with her and he said, "Fuck you."

"Fine, I'll find someone who will tonight."

Kol nearly broke his wine glass and stumbled after her to the dance floor, looking so angry.

She turns around to face him with a smile. "I haven't seen you that well-behaved ever, not even saying 'fuck'. You even danced with me. Imagine that—Kol Sandejas dancing."

He only glares at her harder, jaw tight.

Arden grins. God, he looks so sexy in his tux and so handsome with his hair up. She steps closer to him. Time for his reward. "What do you want?"

"Blow me. Maybe having something in your mouth will fucking shut you up."

She laughs, hooks her fingers into his belt loops and pulls him to her, brushing her mouth over his, and then unbuttons his slacks. "Okay," Arden whispers, kissing him.

Kol pushes her down to her knees harshly. Holds her hair and pulls it harshly. Puts her thighs together on the bed and huskily rasps in her ear, "You have no idea how fucking long I've wanted to fuck your fucking thighs."

Does exactly that. Brushes her hair away from her face and pushes in slowly, gently until she gets used to it, and then pushes in hard. He pulls her hair, gripping her neck, and mutters, "I'll fucking kill anyone else who touches you."

"Shut up, Sandejas—fuck, please."

"What's that, Bell?"

Arden has half a mind to punch the shit out of him because he's enjoying this too much, but she doesn't.

Kol kisses her shoulder and lies down next to her after he cleans her up. Pulls her to him and kisses her forehead.