“Girl, he’s hot. Go for it.”
“Not interested.” There’s only one guy I want, and it’s not Michael.
“Speaking of guys you’re not interested in… so yesterday I was in the kitchen with my mom, and Sin walked in. My mother told him he should take you out.”
I drop the lipstick in the sink I’m leaning over, red streaks now covering the marble. “What? Why would she say that?”
“She loves you. Duh. Plus, I think she’s tired of him fucking her friends. Gross.” She shudders at the thought, then makes a gagging noise. “Well, he was. He’s in initiation now.” Laughing, she adds, “He can’t fuck anything at the moment, and it’s made him an even bigger dick to be around.”
“What did he say?” I shrug as if I don’t care. But I do. He’s the one I want.
“He laughed, like it was a joke, grabbed his water, and then walked out.”
My heart sinks. The words hurt more than they should. I know we have no future. He wouldn’t want me. Not after what I’ve been through. Plus, he’ll be a Lord. He’s probably got an arranged marriage in place to a pretty virgin who has been saving herself for only him. That’s what they care about. Innocence. No man wants a whore.
“She really does love you, though.” She throws me a bright smile.
“I love her too,” I say, opening the top drawer next to the sink. Reaching up underneath it, I feel around for the little baggie I taped in place. I pull it down and wiggle it in front of her. “Want one?”
“Yes.” She claps her hands before taking the ecstasy I offer her.
We both pop one in and then grab the bottle of vodka, each taking a gulp. “Let’s go get the night going.”
Turning off the light, we exit my bathroom and bedroom. We make our way downstairs and are headed toward the front doors when we pass his office.
“Elli,” I hear him call out, and I release a sigh. I thought he was gone for the night. My mother left this morning for a girls’ trip with Kira’s mom. We’ve had a night out planned for three weeks now. Our first week as freshmen at Barrington University starts next week. We wanted to get out to celebrate our last week of freedom.
We enter his study to see him at his desk. Another man sits on the black leather couch. I’ve never seen him before. A younger guy, around our age, sits across from him in a chair. All eyes are on us. Mine go to my stepdad. He’s looking at Kira with disgust,. his fatherly instincts ashamed of her for wearing a tight miniskirt, heels, and a black bralette.
Then his eyes are on mine, and they darken even more. I learned at a young age that lust makes men primal. They’re fucking animals when they see something they want.
“Where are you two going?” he asks.
“Blackout,” Kira answers, and I fist my hands.
I was going to lie. He doesn’t like me going there. Bad things always happen at Blackout. But what do you expect when a Lord owns a nightclub? Tyson Crawford is what they consider an outcast in their society. He doesn’t give a fuck about anything or anyone. I like that about him. He’s also hot as fuck. I’d let him fuck me. Too bad I’m not allowed to fuck anyone else other than the man looking at me right now.
“Well,” he stands and buttons his suit jacket. “Go along, Kira. She’ll meet you there.”
Her blue eyes meet mine, and I can see her wanting to argue, but I give her a soft smile. “I’ll be right behind you.” Lie. I already know I won’t be leaving this house tonight. Not since my mother is gone. He’ll have all night to do whatever the fuck he wants with me.
“Okay. See you later, Mr. Roland.”
She turns from me, and he walks out from behind his desk. The only reason I let her go is because I know Sin will be at Blackout tonight. Otherwise, I wouldn’t let her go there alone. But she’s safer anywhere else in the world other than this room. That, I do know.
“Come here,” he commands. No longer putting on a show for my friend that is now gone.
Like a dog trained to obey its owner’s command, I walk toward him. My feet are heavy. I stop, and he grips my cheeks painfully, making me whimper. His eyes search mine and then fall to my lips. “Did you take anything?”
I close my eyes, my heart racing. “Yes,” I whisper honestly, unable to lie about the drugs. I learned my lesson that he always finds out when I do.
“Pills or powder?” he demands.
“Pills.”
He pushes me away, and I rub my face. “It was only o—”
He slaps me across the face before I can finish. Then I feel his fingers in my mouth. Shoving them down my throat, and I begin to gag. Instinct has me fighting, and I slap at his chest, pushing him away while I step back.