Page 16
Tillie turns and storms away with a huff, her clicking heels fading with each step she takes. Sienna runs to keep up with her, pulling Ryan along with her.
Before I can stop myself, a sob escapes my lips, “Ryan?”
I fix my gaze on the man who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. I might not be hopelessly in love with him, but I’d pictured every part of the future we were going to have together. Our wedding, our children…everything.
Ryan meets my gaze for just a fraction of a second before he turns his back on me. My stomach drops when he laces his fingers with Sienna’s and walks away from me, from us, from our future.
Another sob escapes me as my legs give way, and I crash to the floor as the weight of everything that just happened threatens to drown me. I’m not just crying for Ryan or my future, but for my dad and the uncertainty of it all.
Lawson clears his throat as he steps closer to me, and when I look up at him, he’s holding his hand out to help me up. I hesitate at first, my gaze flicking between his hand and his face.
Over the past two years, with the exception of that night, Lawson has had nothing even remotely nice to say to me. He either speaks cruelly or makes repulsive propositions. Nothing that would ever be considered nice, kind, or helpful, which makes me question his current motives.
Then I remember I’m not in a position to turn down any kind of help, and he did protect me, even though he denies it. Without giving it any more thought, I reach out and take his hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet.
I pointedly ignore the way my hand tingles from his touch, or how my heart beats faster—and don’t get me started on the butterflies.
“Why are you helping me? You’re never nice to me.” The words slip out before I can stop them. I should be thanking him, but I have to know.
His lips tip into a smile, but it’s more dangerous than kind. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m not helping you. I’m just a possessive arsehole, and I want to be the only one who makes you cry.”
He reaches over and uses his thumb to wipe away the tears from my cheek, and my breath stutters at the softness of his touch. My head is spinning with confusion. “What?” I splutter, unable to form any other words.
Lawson lets out a harsh laugh as he steps towards me. His body is so close to mine, the heat he’s emanating warms me in ways I never expected.
He grabs hold of a strand of my strawberry-blonde hair and tucks it behind my ear, his fingertips leaving a trail of fire against my skin wherever he touches. He leans in until his lips are beside my ear, his breath fluttering over my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I suggest you spend the summer developing a thick skin, sweetheart. Life is about to get really fucking tough for you, and only the strongest will survive. It’s no fun for me unless you put up a fight.”
I know he’s referring to all the times in the past when I’ve shot him down. All the times I’ve told him to go away when he’s made an inappropriate comment, or I’ve dismissed him when he said something rude about me.
My lack of a foul mouth has been a source of his amusement for a while, and he claims to be eagerly awaiting a time when my words turn dirty. But my upbringing as a good, polite Order girl definitely discourages the use of profanities.
I lift my chin defiantly. “I will always fight.” Hating the way my voice shakes slightly when I say it, I now know exactly what he means. If people are going to believe me, I have to make sure there’s no doubt in my tone.
Lawson gives me a smile—a genuine smile that almost makes him seem younger—as he reaches out to grab my hip. His body slams against mine, a firm, unyielding wall that steals the air from my lungs in a sharp gasp. The rough texture of his shirt grates against my skin, as the heat radiating from him leaves me tingling.
He reaches out with his other hand and runs the pad of his thumb over my lip, ignoring the way I wince when he reaches the cut in the corner. When he pulls his thumb back, there’s a small drop of my blood there from my split lip, and my eyes grow wide when he slips his thumb into his mouth.
He licks my blood from his thumb, keeping eye contact with me the whole time, and all I can do is stand there while my heart gallops away.
This time, when he leans in close to my ear, my whole body tingles from his proximity, and I hold my breath in anticipation. His tone is deep and raspy, making him sound sexier than ever before.
“I want you to fight, but the outcome will always be the same. I made you a promise when we first met, and I still stand by it. You will end up on your knees for me, begging me to show you pleasure that no one else is capable of giving you. I’ll bend you and break you, until you’re my perfect whore. And the best part is…you’ll fucking love it.”
Before I can even think about responding, he presses a soft kiss to my cheek that literally makes my knees weak. The brush of his impossibly soft lips against my skin sends a bolt of electricity down my spine, stealing my breath in a desperate gasp. Yet, as quickly as the sensation blooms, he is gone, leaving behind a faint, lingering warmth.
As Lawson turns and walks away, leaving my head spinning, he lets out a soft chuckle. A couple of steps in, he looks over his shoulder, his smug features once again contorted into his characteristic cocky expression.
“See you next year, sweetheart.” Then he actually winks at me before turning back around and walking away.
As the world burns down around me, the only thing I see is Lawson walking through the ashes, somehow making sure I escape without being burnt.
START OF THIRD YEAR AT SHADOWMERE UNIVERSITY
It’s been fifty-nine days since I was last on Shadowmere Campus, and the summer holiday seems to have dragged longer than ever before. It’s the only time of the year when it’s mandatory for students to leave campus, so they can prepare for the new students arriving in September.
I never cared about going back home before, but after what happened with Harper on the last day of term, she’s occupied my thoughts more than ever—and that’s saying something.
