I’m spending far too much time there lately.
“Yup, what did I miss?”
“Nothing, you were just five million miles away. You didn’t even see when Rowan dismissed Sam from their table,” Shay says.
My head turns, confirming. A very pissed off Samantha stands with her hands fists at her side.
“You can’t keep doing this shit and thinking it’s okay, Rowaniel. You fucking selected me. You’re supposed to treat me with respect. All of you are supposed to be,” Samantha shrieks.
Shifting my focus, I close my eyes as I roll them. Doesn’t she ever get tired of being the fucking drama?
“I’d laugh, but it’s ridiculous at this point.”
“You’d think she’d have some sense of self-respect,” Shay snickers
Arching my brow, I retort, “Her and self-respect are like oil and water.”
“Enough about them. Now that you have your implant, which dick will you be riding first?”
I choke on my soda, spluttering a cough as I try to clear my airway.
“Way to catch a bitch off guard,” I say once my nose stops burning.
“Whatever, answer my question. When are you letting your ho fly?” she probes again.
Heat blooms, creeping up my neck to my cheeks. I’m sure my usually hidden freckles appear more prominent.
“Don’t go getting bashful on me now. Which buddy are you quinting on first? My vote is for Karl. He looks like a crazy fuck in the bed. The choke you while he rearranges your insides type,” she finishes. Her brown eyes darken.
My head tilts at her expression. “Are we speaking from personal experience?” I tease.
She shakes her, clearing the smoldered look from her eyes. Her gaze is now present. “Bitch, we aren’t talking about me. We’re talking about you. Stop trying to divert the conversation.”
It’s not like I haven’t given this any thought. Shit, I’ve given it A LOT of thought, more than a few nights with my fingers between my legs. August, then Karl, and then the both of them at the same time. That image makes me bite my lip, preventing the moan rising in my chest from escaping.
Shay’s mouth spreads into a beaming gapped-tooth smile, her gloss making her rose-pink lips pop. “You’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you? You dirty bitch,” she jests. “Who? Which one has your face turning twenty shades of red?”
A hand glides up my spine. “What has you flushed, Angel?” Karl’s heated breath caresses my ear before he plants a kiss on the thrumming pulse of my throat.
His hand strokes lightly against the base of my neck. I’ll need to change my panties if he keeps this up.
“N-nothing,” I finally stumble out, tipping my chin up to meet his stare.
The amusement lighting his eyes says he heard at least part of this conversation.
My heart rate skitters, skipping a beat as he leans down until his mouth captures mine, engulfing me in his spiced scent.
A low gasp escapes me, and he uses that opportunity to gain entry. His tongue tangles with mine. His hand moves from my neck, gripping my hair and groaning into our kiss. And for a moment, nothing else exists.
I whimper when our connection is severed.
“I’d keep going, but I don’t want to give the cafeteria a show,” he grumbles, pressing his lips to my forehead before he returns to his full height.
His words sober me. My head whips from side to side, taking in the shocked reactions and murmured words of the lunch room.
Fuck. How did I forget I was at school?
“Yes, Bitch. You forgot you were at school,” Shay mocks, cackling at my bewildered expression. My face is absolutely twisted in a combination of horror and embarrassment until I remember I honestly don’t give a fuck who saw.
Relaxing my scrunched up face, I pull my shoulders back, arching a brow in challenge at anyone who’d have some fuck shit to say.
“There’s my Riah. Fuck these people,” Shay cheers, and we both stand. I grab Karl’s hand as we walk out of the cafe.
* * *
“I need you to meet in your groups and prepare for your midterm presentations,” Miss Taylor instructs now that she’s finished with the lesson for today.
Everyone moves to their assigned groups. August, Liam, and I turn our chairs to face each other.
I feel the weight of Liam’s penetrating hazel-green eyes boring down on me.
“What topic should we present on?” I ask, ignoring the feel of his perusal.
Ever since they rescued me, his indifference towards me has vanished, replaced by a pensive look that I swear sometimes is lustful, but that can’t be.
I sneak a peek at his silhouette. He’s gorgeous. Liam’s stubbled chin accentuates his pronounced cheekbones and Grecian nose. Sculpted eyebrows and clear, moisturized skin depict his propensity for self-care. The muscles in his jaw flex, and I know he feels me studying him.
“Maybe we should do something on the suffrage movement,” Liam suggests.
I still refuse to meet his eye, and August saves me from having to respond.
“That’s an excellent idea. There is a lot of history for the fight for voting rights in this country. Shit… across the world.”
A shadow appears to the side of me.
“What will your group’s topic be?” Miss Taylor asks, her tone short and sharp.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.