Charity Case (Kings of Knightswood Academy Book 1)

by Ivy Clyde

  “We should meet up sometime during the vacation,” said Lucas. He seemed more awake and relaxed than me and Zoya. “How about we go shopping for the New Years Eve party together? I’ll have a date this year to the event.”

  “A date?” Zoya and I asked at once. “Who?”

  Lucas smiled cheekily. “I’m not telling yet.”

  “Is he from Knightswood?” asked Zoya.

  Lucas shook his head. “No way! Lucien would scare him away just to get back at me.” He shuddered unconsciously at the thought of his vindictive cousin. “My boyfriend studies at Kensington High.”

  “What? We might know him!” said Zoya at once.

  “He does know Paris,” he said, dropping another hint.

  “How did you guys meet?” I asked, leaning across the table. Lucas’s news about a new boyfriend was like caffeine, drawing me out of my daydreams of long naps.

  “I met him at a café,” said Lucas. “He works as a barista and makes amazing cappuccino art. It was like love at first sight.” A dreamy look came over him and a soft sigh escaped him. “It’s been the best two months of my life.”

  “When do we get to meet him?” I asked, excited for him. Lucas was such a loner at the academy because his cousin made sure to keep people away from him. It was good Lucas met his new boyfriend from a different school and kept it a secret. Otherwise, Lucien would surely do his best to hurt them and break them apart.

  “At the ball,” said Lucas. “It’s a masquerade theme this year.”

  “Oh wow!” Zoya looked excited now. “I have never been to a masquerade before. Oh my god! I can’t wait to look for a dress and matching masks.” She cast a glance at me. “I am asking Jonathan to be my date.”

  I nodded. “Sure.”

  I could see the relief spreading on her face. She still believed I had a thing for him, but in all the years I’d known Jonathan, things between us had always been platonic.

  A waiter came to clear away my plate. I used the spot to place my laptop so that I could submit one last assignment for the day through the academy portal. A groan escaped me just as I opened it and a beep alerted me to low battery.

  “This sucks!” I looked over to both Zoya and Lucas. Neither of them had a laptop on them. Exhaling a long sigh, I got to my feet. “I’ll just go to the library and submit the assignment.”

  “Will you do me a favor, Paris?” asked Zoya.

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “Could you get a book checked out for me? I need it for some reading over the holidays. I would have bought it but the print versions aren’t available on the market anymore.”

  “Text me the name and author. I’ll find it for you.”

  “Thank you!” she chimed, pulling her phone out.

  I waved at Lucas and Zoya. The next hour was free for me with two more classes. Feeling much better than before, I headed to the library on the far side of campus. A few flurries gently floated in the breeze. If we were lucky, we would have a snowy Christmas this year.

  The area around the library was deserted. Being the last day before the holidays, no one bothered to come there. Taking it as a good sign, I headed inside through the open doorway, making my way to the section which housed the computers. Being empty, I had no trouble finding a place to sit down.

  It didn’t take more than ten minutes for me to upload my assignment onto the portal. A satisfied sigh escaped me with the submission of the last assignment. I was free until school reopened after winter break. Rebellious thoughts of skipping the rest of the classes crossed my mind. Squashing them, I logged out and went looking for the book Zoya asked me to get for her.

  It was a book on psychology. Heading to the section that contained books on the topic, I looked around, hoping and praying all the books hadn’t been checked out already. If the print versions were no longer available, it had to be in demand.

  My eyes scanned the rows of books, falling on the author name.

  “Yes!” An excited sound escaped me as I made to grab it. Before my fingers could wrap around the spine, a different hand pulled it out of the shelf and away from my grasp.

  Looking up, I saw Nikolai towering over me with the book in his hand.

  “Why do you need this book?” he asked with a frown. “You don’t even take psychology.”

  “Zoya wanted it. I was getting it for her,” I said, lunging forward to snatch it from him.

  “Whoa!” His silvery eyes shone with mischief as he stepped away. I stumbled forward, losing my balance as he moved sideways. My feet were unsteady when he suddenly grabbed me around the waist and brought me crashing against him.

  “Nik,” I gasped, breathing hard.

  “I’ve got you, love,” he whispered, leaning into me.

  “Let me go,” I said with a pout. “I can stand on my own.”

  He shook his head. “Not a chance. You’ve been avoiding me for days now. I’m not letting go until you satisfy me completely.”

  “Satisfy you?”

  He nodded. “Both Liam Davenport and Gabrielle Romano hang around you all the time. Have they made you forget about me?”

  I wish. My thoughts about the three guys always brought nothing but chaos and conflict. Even now, my heart pounded in my chest, liking the closeness between us. My body warmed up and it was a struggle not to press up against Nikolai’s hard chest.

  “Such innocence,” he whispered, caressing my cheek. A trail of heat followed the path of his fingers as my heart throbbed in my chest. His gaze noted every change in my expression. “I was hoping to run into you before the term ended.”

  “Really? Why?” I whispered.

  “I had to make sure you didn’t forget about me while I was away from you for two weeks. Davenport and Romano will make a meal out of you between them soon enough. I just want my portion too.” Leaning down, he lightly grazed my cheek with his teeth.

  A delicious shiver ran through me.

  His gaze dropped to my lips and then to my heaving breasts. Dragging his gaze back up to meet my eyes, he leaned down to capture my lips between his. This time, every restraint within me broke down as I matched the ferocity of his kiss. His strong hands held my waist, letting me lose myself to the moment completely.

  He nipped on my bottom lip. Closing my eyes, I parted my mouth, inviting him to delve inside willingly. His tongue slid in smoothly, swirling around mine.

  Nikolai kissed me thoroughly, tasting every corner of my sweet mouth while my legs turned to jelly. Shivers of pleasure coursed through my nerve endings, lighting a fire in my core. The intimate place between my legs throbbed in rhythm with my pounding heart.

  When Nikolai’s hand lifted the hem of my skirt to graze over my thighs, I let him.

  We kept kissing as his hand palmed my breast in a gentle grasp. A gentle squeeze had me moaning and leaning back against the bookshelf. All thought of where we were standing left my head. My only concern was to touch him and be touched by him.

  With a sudden move, he turned me around and pushed me against the bookshelf. My breasts were pressed against the cold wooden surface. Heat from Nik’s body seeped through the fabric of my shirt.

  Bending my head backward, I sought his lips for a kiss. His mouth closed upon mine once more while his hands roamed under my skirt. Moans escaped me as his hands caressed my ass and thighs.

  “You are so responsive, love,” he whispered in my ear. His warm breath tickled the shell of my ear, sending shivers of pleasure through me. He brought his hand to rest on my sex. His heat seeped through the thin fabric of my panties, making me super sensitive to his touch.

  His fingers delved through the waistband of my panties to reach the soft puff of curls over my pussy.

  “Nik,” I moaned. My mind warned me against his curious touches but the jolts of pleasure running through me were far too addictive.

  “You’re so hot and wet down here,” he said in a harsh whisper as he gently rubbed my hardened clit. That’s when I felt his hardness poking my thighs th
rough the bulge in his pants.

  “Nik,” I whispered with effort. “Maybe we should…”

  “Shh.” His finger slipped inside me. Keeping his thumb pressed over my clit, he moved his finger in and out of me. “I am going to make you feel good. Okay?”

  I nodded, staying pressed against the bookshelf as he slid another finger inside me, stretching me some more. It felt amazingly good as he kept up the gentle but steady rhythm.

  “Nik,” I moaned as my head swam with pleasure.

  His warm lips trailed kisses down the side of my neck.

  My hips rolled and swayed, eager to feel every inch of his fingers inside me.

  Heat and pleasure built up inside me. My stomach tightened as the throbbing in my pussy increased beyond any limit.

  “Nik,” I whispered urgently. “Something’s happening.”

  “Just let it come,” he said, increasing the pacing of his fingers. My head rolled back as my pleasure rose to new heights. Nik kept his erection pressed against me as the tightly-built tension within me collapsed.

  A soft cry escaped me as waves of pleasure crashed through me, drowning every thought and emotion. My mouth parted wide as I gasped for air. I slumped against the bookshelf, feeling thoroughly spent but wonderfully relaxed.

  Nik pulled out his fingers and brought his hand up so I could see the strings of clear liquid dripping from them.

  “Did those two ever do this to you?” he asked, swiping the fingers on his tongue.

  I shook my head as my eyes widened at the act.

  He smiled, leaning down to kiss my lips once more, letting me taste the saltiness of my essence on his tongue. It was the most erotic thing I’d ever witnessed in my life.

  When he parted, he looked down at me with heavy intensity in those pale gray eyes. “You won’t forget about this over the holidays.”

  “No,” I whispered. Heck! I wouldn’t forget it for the rest of my life!

  “Take this,” he said, picking up the book from the floor. “My present.”

  A chuckle escaped me. “It’s for Zoya.”

  He moved a lock of hair away from my face and stared at me with a vulnerable expression. “Stay safe while I’m gone. Promise me.”

  I nodded. “I promise.”

  “Now go,” he said, pulling back his mask of indifference back on again. “You can’t miss class because of this.” Turning away from me, he walked down the aisle between the bookshelves and disappeared, leaving me with a clenching pussy and a new craving.

  28

  Paris

  Winter break was a welcome reprieve from the constant pressure of studying for assignments and maintaining grades. The last few days before term ended left me exhausted.

  Of course, Nik took care of most of my exhaustion by working me to my first orgasm. Every time I thought of the encounter, my core throbbed with need. I wanted his heated touch on my body once more. The lazy days spent in the Davenport mansion made me miss him terribly.

  Liam spent the first few days of the break at Gabrielle’s grandfather’s house. Both Clara and Charles worked until late, leaving me to go about the house without any reservation. Within the first day of being back, I’d found my way into the kitchen.

  The kitchen in the mansion was huge with at least three staff working there. They were reluctant to let me stay there at first, calling me “Miss” stiffly every time I was there. However, after Ruben had a talk with them, they seemed relaxed around me, allowing me to help them or letting me bake a few things by myself.

  It was easy to chat with the kitchen staff. The three women working there were close to my mother’s age with families of their own. They were happy to be working even if Christmas was so near.

  “No other place will pay as much,” said Carla, one of the chefs. Her bright ginger hair was covered with a hairnet as she kneaded dough for fresh bread rolls. “Other than Ruben, no one bosses us around.”

  “Plus, we get medical insurance,” said Violet, her sous-chef. She was measuring nuts and dried berries to start soaking them in rum for Christmas pudding.

  “I guess you ladies have a good deal going on, then,” I said, watching Carla’s expert moves with kneading the dough.

  “It’s relaxing most days,” said Mary, the kitchen hand. Her mocha-hued skin glistened under the bright lights of the kitchen. “Only when the Davenports throw a party, it gets hectic, though they don’t do it as much as the other rich folks I’ve worked for before. Mr. Davenport’s health isn’t always good.”

  “You should look forward to the Christmas party, Paris,” said Carla. “The food is exquisite, even if I say so myself.” Mary and Violet chuckled at her self-praise.

  “Is it always on Christmas day?” I asked.

  “Nah. The Davenports always celebrate Christmas eve and Christmas day privately,” said Mary. “The actual party would be sometime next week.” Carla and Violet nodded their agreement.

  Just as they began talking of Christmas, a new worry blossomed in my mind. I had to get gifts, not just for Zoya and Jonathan, but also the Davenports. A groan escaped me as I laid my head on the table.

  “What’s wrong, Paris?” asked Mary at once.

  “What do I get Mr. and Mrs. Davenport for Christmas?”

  “Master Charles enjoys bright socks,” said Ruben, walking inside the kitchen. “I give him a pair every Christmas.”

  “What about Clara?” I asked.

  “Ahhh…Madam always loves flowers.”

  “And Liam?”

  “He gets almond cookies baked by yours truly,” he said with a little bow.

  The women at the table chuckled at my stunned expression.

  “They’re people who appreciate kind gestures,” said Mary. “Besides, they have enough money to buy whatever the heck they wanted.”

  “So, it would be okay for me to bake them something too?” I asked, looking at Ruben and the women gathered at the working table.

  “Sure, Miss,” said Ruben with a smile. “They would truly appreciate your efforts.”

  “That’s great,” I said as a grin spread on my lips. “My mom and I used to bake treats for my best friend and her mother for every occasion.”

  “There you go!” said Mary with a gentle clap on my back. “Let me know if you need help with anything.”

  “Thanks.” Before I could say another word, another pair of footsteps approached the kitchen. All of us looked to the doorway.

  “There you are, Paris.” It was Clara.

  “Hey,” I said, getting to my feet. “Were you looking for me?”

  “Yes. I am free the whole afternoon today. How about we go out for lunch and some shopping? We have a party next week, so we both need new dresses.”

  “I can help you choose,” I said, walking up to her. “But I still have a lot of new dresses in my wardrobe. I am all set for the party.”

  “Come on,” she said, wrapping an arm over my shoulder. “Let me have some fun dressing you up.” Her smile was so infectious, it had me nodding the next second. Clara had the kind of aura that instantly put people at ease.

  She led me back to the front of the house and into the porch where a white Mercedes waited for us. Ushering me inside, she climbed in beside me.

  “You look so much better now,” she said as the car drove out of the main gates of the estate.

  “The last few days were tough,” I answered. “All submission deadlines fell on the last day of term and we even had a test for Physics.”

  “No wonder Liam sounded so moody on the phone that day,” she said thoughtfully. “He must be having a grand time warming up in Bali.”

  “Bali?”

  “You didn’t know?” She chuckled softly, looking ahead. “Gabrielle invited him to one of his family’s luxury hotels in Bali. The beach sounds really good right now.”

  “Yeah. It will be snow and rain for the next few months for us.”

  “That’s why!” she said enthusiastically. “We have to have fun by ourselves too. W
hat do you say?”

  I nodded, grinning back.

  We chatted about silly things and it was a while before I realized an hour had passed. A passing signboard by the roadside welcomed us into New York.

  “We are going to New York?” I asked, surprised.

  “Yes. Some of my favorite boutique shops are in New York. Trust me, you’ll love it too.”

  We entered the city in another fifteen minutes. Looking out of the window, I looked at the familiar sights as the car drove through the afternoon traffic.

  In another few minutes, the car came to a stop beside a grand, towering building in the middle of the city. We were near the front gates of The Ritz.

  “We’re having lunch here?” I asked.

  “Yes. They serve a really good brunch.”

  Climbing out of the car, she gestured for me to follow her. Luckily, I wore a navy silk dress with matching pumps that I found in the wardrobe of my room. I took off my lens-less glasses and put them in my pocket.

  “Won’t you have trouble seeing?” asked Clara, looking down at me.

  “They don’t have glasses. I wear them out of habit.”

  “Really?” She looked at me with surprised, round eyes. “I thought you had a vision problem.” A relieved chuckle escaped her. “Oh, I’m so glad!” She hugged me tightly, not caring about the valets moving about us.

  “Here,” I said, handing her my glasses. “See for yourself.”

  Clara took the spectacles and poked a finger through it. “Wow, I am so glad you’re really fine.” She laughed softly, handing it back to me. “It does make you look smart though.”

  I grinned, placing them in my pocket.

  She seemed to know her way around the vast lobby and the corridors leading away from it. I made sure to keep my gaze on Clara as I followed after her.

  The dining room was magnificent. Natural light coupled with glittering lamps on the high ceiling created a dazzling atmosphere. The décor was sharp and clean. As soon as we entered the hall, we were ushered to a table.