The server nods and winks at him before heading off to get more drinks.
“So, how the fuck did you lot sneak off campus?” Byrne asks.
“I’m afraid if we told you that, professor, we’d have to kill you,” I say, smirking at him. If he thinks we’re going to divulge the best kept secret at the SA, he can think again. I keep my arm draped over Natalya’s shoulder, holding her close to me. Ever since the teachers joined us, she’s been as stiff as a fucking board.
“I’d like to see you try, Elias,” Byrne says, holding my gaze. “A few have tried, none have succeeded.”
I snort. “Yeah right, old man.” I move my arm off of Natalya’s shoulder and slide it to her thigh, squeezing as I lean toward her. “Don’t worry, I’m still going to have fun with you tonight, bonita.”
Her chest hitches as she breathes more unevenly and I love seeing the way I affect her.
“Dimitry,” Byrne barks, drawing everyone’s attention to him.
Dim’s eyes go wide. “What?”
“Did you forget what happened the last time you whispered something inappropriate to Miss Carmichael?”
“I haven’t said anything that Eva doesn’t want to hear,” Dimitry says, glancing at Eva. “Have I Eva?”
The tension seems to ramp up again, as Eva gets uncomfortable and then stands suddenly. “I need to get some air.”
Dim makes a move to stand. “Do you want me to—”
Eva shakes her head. “No, I’ll be back in a minute.”
Byrne watches Eva walk away, looking irritated. I glance at Nitkin, wishing I hadn’t when his soulless hazel eyes meet mine and there’s delight in them. He’s loving this. The anticipation of getting to discipline us all. A shudder races down my spine as I tighten my grasp on Natalya’s thigh.
“You are hurting me,” she hisses.
When I glance back, Byrne is gone.
Coach Daniels speaks next. “Relax, all of you. We’re just here to have a good time, too.” His eyes are still fixed on Adrianna. “How are you doing, Miss Vasquez?”
“Fine,” she grits out, her nostrils flaring. “At least I was fine until you arrived.”
His brow arches. “That’s not a very nice thing to say to your coach, is it?”
I clap my hands and glance at Nitkin. “I assume we’re going to get our asses whooped once we’re back at school, but why don’t you have a drink, sir?” I ask.
Nitkin’s eyes narrow. “Bad idea,” he says, jaw clenching. “You don’t want me to dole out your punishment on a hangover. It will be far worse.”
I swallow hard, as it’s difficult to believe that his punishments could get any worse. My first year at SA was challenging, to say the least, and this man punished me so many fucking times. The worse was when he whipped me in the basement until it flayed my skin from my back, because I’d set fire to the science lab.
After that year, I learned that acting out only led to pain and punishment. I learned my lesson and kept out of his bad books, even if now and then I ended up punished by him.
“Hard to believe,” I say.
Nitkin tilts his head slightly and then grabs a stool nearby, setting it down next to Camilla Morrone. “It’s your funeral,” he says, sliding his glass over to me.
I swallow hard and pour him a large glass of vodka.
He tips it back in one, and then I notice his eyes dart toward Camilla. “Aren’t you drinking, Miss Morrone?”
Although we’ve been caught red-handed, tension eases as chatter continues amongst the students at the table. And then the server returns with a round of drinks on Byrne. My brow furrows as I scan the bar for our principal, but I can’t see any sign of him.
I lean toward Natalya. “Are you having fun, Gurin?”
“Not particularly. Getting caught sucks all the fun out of it.” Her gaze darts to Camilla, who seems to be enthralled in a conversation with the sadist that is Nitkin. At least she’s keeping the psycho distracted. “They’re tormenting us by sitting with us.”