EMMA
“You’re scaring ’em, girl,” Shay says as we walk to Civics.
I snort, perusing the hallway, and once again, my classmates don’t know what to make of me. They’ve looked on in a combination of fear, awe, and contempt over the last few days since word spread about Miss Taylor not only being fired but having to leave Calloway. Sam and what’s left of her clones are the only ones daring enough to taunt me. I wonder if they’d continue to do that if they knew I was also the reason Vivian was killed.
“Earth to Riri,” Shay says, tapping my shoulder.
“Huh?” I reply, knowing I missed everything she’s just said.
She sighs, her brows furrowing. “Lawd gal, you’re always in your head. I said are you ready for your date with Rowan tonight?”
Ready is subjective. I have possible outfits selected, but am I ready? I’m not sure.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
We stop at her locker. “What is it? Do you still hate him?”
I think over the last few months, our text conversations, the many times he’s stopped by just to watch TV or play with the twins. He’s done nothing but try. “No,” I say confidently. “I don’t honestly believe I ever hated him, but even my annoyance and anger toward him has simmered.”
Shay nods, not voicing an opinion, just encouraging me to continue.
“Rowan has spent the last few months apologizing without pushing. And after the New Year’s Eve party, he’s worked even harder to show that he made a mistake, but he’s more than his past behaviors,” I explain.
Shay closes her locker before she finally speaks. “So, what has you feeling hesitant? I can see apprehension all over your face.”
Of course she’d see that, but can I tell her what has me the most in knots? I look at my best friend. She’s never judged me. Clearing my throat, I shake off my nerves and blurt, “I want him to treat me like a slut. I fucking loved when he did it that night, and I spend a shit ton of time thinking about it.”
The smile that grows on Shay’s face has me turning fifty shades of red. “Bitch, so let him do it. Be his dirty slut. Liking to be degraded in the bedroom isn’t a bad thing. Shit, when Brendan.” She pauses. “Nope, never mind, this isn’t about me. Just let him do all the things. Fucking embrace the dirty, nasty freak in you. None of it is wrong. You’re both consenting.”
Inhaling, I joke, “So I won’t lose my progressive woman card?”
She rolls her eyes, “Progressive women respect a woman’s right to choose. That means if you choose to be dominated in and out of the bedroom, that’s your motherfucking right.”
“Agreed,” I state, grabbing her hand and dragging her to class. “Oh, don’t think I didn’t notice how you glazed over you and Brendan. We’ll discuss later.”
“Whatever bitch. Just remember we’re going shopping this weekend to find something for the party at LWU.”
I mutter my protests, and Shay laughs as we take our seats.
* * *
“What is it with you guys and freaking blindfolds?” I quip, holding Rowan’s hand as we travel down the hallway of his house.
When he asked if I wanted to eat first or get my surprise, I obviously went with surprise. Hence the walking sightless down a wing of his massive mansion.
“Hmmm, a group of extremely dominant men, and the girl they’re enthralled with at their mercy? I can’t imagine what the appeal could be,” he whispers, his breath tickling my nape.
I’d elbow him, but I won’t chance it in these heels. “Oh, shut it. How much longer?”
His arm grasps my waist, halting my steps. “We’re here,” he says, pulling the blindfold from my eyes.
It takes me a second to register where we are and what’s happening.
“Miss Bradford, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I look to Rowan and back to the world-renowned fashion instructor standing only feet away. “Is…is she really here? Pinch me so I know I’m not dreaming,” I plea.
“Ouch,” I hiss when Rowan’s teeth nip my neck. He quickly soothes the sting with smattering kisses. I lean into his touch but then remember we aren’t alone.
Straightening, I cover my obvious embarrassment with a cough. “I guess I’m not dreaming,” I joke, trying not to freak out that Chlo? Ren? is in the same room as me.
“I’m definitely here. Why don’t you come in? Rowan had this studio set up with everything we’ll need for today,” she instructs.
Looking around the room, I see a designer’s dream: fabrics, mannequins, accessories, and sewing and embroidery machines. Everything’s here. My feet carry me to the Brother Entrepreneur Pro X 10-Needle embroidery machine, and I get a lady boner.
“It’s a beauty, isn’t it?” Chlo? hums. “The things you can do with all the designs in your portfolio,” she muses, and my attention snaps in her direction.
“How’d you know about-,” my question dying on my tongue when I see my sketch pad on the table.
I turn an accusing glare on Rowan. His hands are up in surrender. “I got a little help from Jams,” he admits.
Jams. Right, I forgot they’re two peas in a pod now. They game together at least once a week with Liam. She’s still a traitor.
“Uh-huh, you can explain how you got my sister to betray me later,” I tease before returning my attention to my instructor.
For the next three hours, I get an introductory course in design from the top instructor at Parson’s School of Design while Rowan plays assistant, getting me anything I need. It’s the hottest thing ever, especially when he volunteers to be my model, and he has to strip down to his navy-blue boxer briefs.
We finally end our lesson, and Chlo? informs me that she will be giving me private lessons for the remainder of the school year.
I nearly bulldoze Rowan after she leaves. “Thank you so much,” I squeak when he catches me, his bare chest pressing against mine.
“Anything for you, Emma,” he mumbles, staring down into my eyes. Rowan lowers his head until our lips connect, our mouths drawn together like magnets.
My hands fist his hair, and I feel the minute our need grows when his dick presses into me through the material of his briefs.
He pulls his mouth back, and I whimper. “I should feed you,” he groans, almost as if he regrets having to say the words.
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.