Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
He grips my cheeks and makes me look at him. “Say that again.”
“I hate—”
He smashes his lips onto mine, stealing my breath, even if just for a second.
“Now say it again,” he mutters.
“I ha—”
Another kiss has me moaning in response.
“You’re not even trying,” he whispers.
“I—”
“Now say what you really mean,” he says.
“I … love you,” I mutter, and I almost hate that I have to admit that, but I know it’s the truth. “All of you.”
Kai rewards me with another kiss, placing them all over the corners of my mouth so gently I almost melt away right then and there. He steps aside for a moment, only so Nathan and Milo can kiss me too, their mouths setting my heart ablaze.
“I’ve never not wanted to bow beneath your feet,” Milo hums, lowering himself so he can kiss my hands.
“Love,” Nathan groans. “Do you understand what you’ve done when you said those words out loud, kitty?”
When I nod, he lifts me from the floor and sets me in the shower, all three boys joining me.
“You belong to us. And not even the devil himself will take you from us.” Kai grips my chin while Milo turns on the shower. “You’re ours from now until forever. Yes?”
I nod as the water rushes over our bodies, and I’m overtaken by their commanding smiles, forcing me to submit my heart.
I used to be so goddamn angry they’d attempt to take it.
But now all I feel is a rush of fear … fear for the excitement my future holds.
“You’re not scared of soap like an actual kitty, are you?” Nathan muses.
When I shake my head, Milo grabs a loofah and empties a bottle of soap onto it. “Lean back and relax while we clean, your royal highness.”
LANA
A few days later
“You called?” I close the door to my father’s office.
His eyes immediately home in on the wound on my arm, so I rub it with my hand to try to hide it.
“You’re hurt,” he says.
“It was just a fall. No biggie.”
He steps away from his desk. “How are you doing?”
I frown, not knowing how to answer. “Good, I guess.”
“I saw the picture.”
Oh God.
“It was an accident,” I say, mortified. “I—”
“If those three boys hurt you, tell me now, and I will end them.” He grips my face tightly. “No expulsion. No trial. Death.”
His words resonate in my soul. I’ve never heard him say he’d actually murder someone out loud, and it makes me admire him even more.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “They didn’t. It was a private picture that accidentally got shared.”
“Who else has seen it?”
“Probably the entire school,” I say, biting my lip.
He closes his eyes and rubs them. “It’s okay. We’ll fix this.”
“The boys are already telling everyone it was a staged scene at an escape room and that none of it was real.”
“Clever.” He frowns. “Wait. The boys?” His eyes flash with concern. “So it was real? You are having sex with these boys?”
My cheeks heat as I blush. Admitting this to my father is a big deal to me.
“But what about Jason?”
“He wasn’t there for me when I needed him, so I ended it, and then he tried to hurt me,” I explain.
His nostrils flare. “I will have him expelled.”
I shake my head. “That’ll only anger his parents, and I don’t want anyone else coming for Spine Ridge or the Rivera family. Let him stay, and I’ll ignore him as best as I can. He’s out of the Skull & Serpents anyway.”
My father caresses my cheek with his thumb. “I just want to protect my little girl.”
Tears well up in my eyes. “I know.”
“That picture was not easy to see,” he says.
I’m embarrassed, but maybe I’ll survive this.
“I’m sorry.” I avert my eyes. “I didn’t want it to end up in the wrong hands, let alone yours. I never wanted you to see me like that.”
“What about that body? Is that—”
I inhale sharply. “That was a guy who hurt young girls. Consistently. And I couldn’t let it slide.”
My father’s eyes twitch with curiosity.
“Maria?”
An assistant steps in.
“Bring in Nathan, Kai, and Milo.”
My eyes widen. “You already brought them here?”
“You think I haven’t watched you while you were here on these campus grounds?” He smiles. “You underestimate your own father’s obsessive need to keep track of the dangers his kids put themselves in.”
I snort and hide my laughter behind my hand.
Of course, he’d be just as deranged as me.
A knock on the door follows, and in step all three boys … along with my brother.
The assistant peers over their shoulders and says, “Your son is here too.”
“Felix?” I mutter as they all step inside. “What are you doing here?”
“Dad asked me to come.” He closes the door behind him. “What’s this about? Why are they here too?”
“I’d wanted to ask if you knew anything about that picture.” He eyes all of the boys as his hands dive into his pockets. “I don’t want any of you hiding things from me.”