Page 12 of Revenge

“He’s talented, handsome, and has a good heart. That’s more than I can say about some of the men around here.” I dodged a falling cigarette butt thrown by someone out of an open window.

Edward acted as though I hadn’t replied. “I’m concerned you’re jumping into a relationship before you’re ready.”

“Really,” I drawled. “You said the same thing last term, and look where that got me.”

I could have sworn he snorted a laugh, but the sound was over so quickly, I missed it. Not that it mattered. Edward and Blake were both full of shit and just wanted to break up my fake relationship, toy with me for a few weeks, before getting me expelled again and thrown out in disgrace.

At last, we reached Elder House, and I climbed the stone steps leading to its double doors. As soon as I stepped into the reception hall, the warm scent of burning pine engulfed my senses, making me inhale the sweet air. I turned to Edward. “Thanks for the unsolicited escort. While I enjoy a good stalking as much as the next girl, I can handle the rest of the journey from here.”

“Actually, I have something to show you.” He swept his arm toward the common room at the end of the corridor. “It’s this way.”

My heart pounded hard against my ribcage. Had he found the cameras I’d hidden in my bag of sanitary pads? A shuddering breath escaped my lungs. Blake hadn’t mentioned catching me with recording devices, but he wasn’t the type to broadcast his schemes. My gaze darted to the staircase, but running away would only postpone the problem. I followed him down the hallway and swallowed hard. But instead of going straight on when we passed Mr. Jenkins’ office, he turned right and opened a door.

“What’s this?”

The door led to a study with burgundy, Chesterfield sofas and a huge, mahogany desk topped with leather. Logs burned and crackled in the fireplace, filling the room with heat. Blake and Henry strode toward us from different sides of the room, each wearing lightweight shirts, open at the neck. My throat dried. Was this an ambush?

Edward placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me through the threshold of the study, letting the door click shut behind him.

I scowled. “What are you doing?”

Henry strode toward me and placed both hands on my shoulders. “I’m sorry for what happened last term. You were only trying to help.”

“I told you to tell her everything.” Blake said without inflection. Perhaps this was the expression he used when rehearsing a line.

“We’ve fought about this countless times,” added Edward with an exaggerated frown. “Let’s focus on making up with Emilia.”

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek. This sounded so scripted. They probably had a game plan for building up my trust and then shattering my spirits with a betrayal even greater than the one they had dished out in the previous term.

“We shouldn’t keep arguing,” Henry said to Edward. He turned to me, green eyes shining with earnestness. “Nothing has been right between the three of us since the headmaster locked you up.”

“Right…” I would have laughed at his pathetic attempt to blame someone else for his actions if this new attempt to double-cross me again wasn’t so transparent.

Blake stepped forward, his gaze lingering on my breasts. “Is there anything we can say… Anything we can do to convince you we’re sorry?”

“Anything.” Edward stepped closer, meeting my eyes.

Henry advanced on me, his gaze locked on my lips. “Anything.”

The atmosphere in the room took on a charge that made the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge and made the pulse between my legs twitch. I knew an indecent proposal when I heard one, and the triumvirate seemed willing to perform any act to prove their sincerity.

Squeezing together my trembling legs, I pointed at the Persian rug. “The three of you can go down on your knees.”

When Edward turned away and walked to the window, I asked, “What are you doing?”

“Securing a level of privacy.” He flashed me a smile over his shoulder. “If you want us to grovel, we will. But first, I’ll shut the curtains.”

Henry got down on his knees in front of me, and Blake knelt beside him. The pair stared up at me with wide-eyed, furrowed brows, and pleading expressions designed to melt a girl’s heart. Blake shuffled forward, making me back into an armchair. “Would you like to sit and make yourself comfortable?”

I lowered myself into the leather seat and pointed out my loafer. “Kiss my feet.”

Blake grinned and cradled my right ankle in his hands. The movement sent a jolt of pleasure up my leg. He slipped off my loafer and stared down at my stockinged foot. “How can I carry out my penance when you’re all covered up?”

A tingle meandered up my spine. “Y-you don’t have to.”

“I insist,” he said, voice husky.

Henry took my other leg, slipped off my shoe, placed my foot on his thigh, and swiped both hands from my toes to my ankles. His strong fingers caressed my flesh, making my insides squirm pleasantly, and memories of the night he had massaged my belly resurfaced. “You’re stiff,” he murmured. “Allow us to ease your tension.”