Page 39 of Revenge

He stood and pulled me up with him. “Let’s hope they haven’t passed out in their own fluids.”

I would have asked what he meant, but we stepped into the boudoir and found Blake’s head at Henry’s crotch. Henry threw his head back and groaned, while Blake pumped up and down on his friend’s erection. Warmth trickled between my legs. I’d never seen two guys together and I wanted more.

“Are they…” I struggled for words. “Usually like this?”

Edward smiled. “Only when drunk and horny.”

“Do you ever join them?”

“When we were much younger. These days, I prefer girls.” His arm curled around my waist, then he drew me close and murmured into my ear, “One in particular.”

Groans and moans and gasps filled the air, and wetness gathered between my folds. Edward’s lips skimmed over the shell of my ear, his hot, rapid breath adding to my excitement. He also found the two on the bed hot.

“Does it excite you to see them together?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered back.

He ran his hand down my back, over the fastenings of the corset. “We can join them. Neither would mind.”

Desire pulsed through my core, filling me with an aching heat. Then I remembered the camera attached to the frame of the four-poster. “Another time.”

“What’s wrong?”

“After everything you’ve said, I need some space.”

Edward wrapped both arms around my waist. “You can’t just leave. We haven’t finished talking.”

“Actually… I’m done.”

His arms dropped away. “I knew you’d overreact.”

I whirled on him, anger blazing through the vessels under my skin. “What did you expect from me? A declaration of love?”

“Understanding.”

“You ruined other peoples’ lives because your own life outside the Academy was chaotic, and you wanted to feel in control by manipulating others. I get it.”

“And?” His brows drew together.

“Now I need a little space to let everything sink in.”

Henry let out a deep, shuddering moan that made my nipples tighten. If Edward hadn’t left me in such a foul mood, I would have asked him to join the others, so I could watch. Instead, I headed for the door. “Give me time, alright?

Edward inclined his head. “As you wish.”

I turned the handle, stepped out into the hallway and closed the door. As soon as it clicked shut, the music of the party returned, reminding me of the outside world. I doubled over and steadied myself with my hands on my knees. What had I done to Henry and Blake? With all the recent scandals surrounding Blake, Jackie was bound to put stills of him and Henry on the front page of the Correspondent.

My breath came in shallow pants, ribs straining against my tight bodice. I blinked hard, trying not to collapse from a lack of oxygen. There was no need to panic until I’d discussed the footage with Jackie. I might be able to convince her that outing two boys under the age of eighteen was a step too far and might expose them to homophobic attacks, but I doubted that such a concern would bother Rudolph.

Chapter 13

I spent the rest of Saturday night crashing in a suite Jackie and her team had rented to observe the party. On Sunday, I went to the Correspondent office, where the whole team sifted through the footage. Her interns had identified each guest by name, so that if they found anything interesting, they could look the person up and see whether they were worth exposing in the paper.

Jackie and I sat behind her desk, watching my conversation with Edward on the balcony. She shook her head. “I’m not surprised you want to destroy this boy. What a selfish prick.”

“Is there enough on International House?” I asked.

“It’s a start.” Jackie let out a rasping cough. “We now know it’s the headmaster’s lucrative sideline, and from what Edward Mercia says, they seem to be splitting the proceeds. It’s a pity you didn’t think to ask the ratios—”