Charity Case (Kings of Knightswood Academy Book 1)

by Ivy Clyde

  “I’ll let time decide,” I said, swirling the dregs of my cold coffee in the bottom of the cup. “Eventually, I’ll know who I really like.”

  There was feverish excitement in the air as Zoya and I stepped out of her dorm room the next evening.

  We weren’t the only ones dressed in lavish gowns and dresses. The girls moving down the corridor wore exuberant gowns that must have come right off the racks of some high-end fashion designers. With our masks set over our faces, we were all able to blend in the crowd. Most of the boys were in designer suits or tux, looking utterly dashing.

  “This is one of the very few times I’m glad I’m going to Knightswood,” whispered Zoya. “I am so excited about this party.”

  “Me too,” I said, enjoying the atmosphere already.

  “Where will Brandon meet you?” I asked, thinking of the senior who’d asked her out.

  “He will be coming from home, so he said he would meet me outside the Rosalind Chapel.” I nodded, walking into the elevator that would take us to the ground floor. The ball would be held in the main hall of the old prayer chapel that stood close to the library. No ceremonies took place there now but the place was used to host dances and gatherings.

  Reaching the exit doors, we found a fleet of limousines waiting for us. People were being ushered into the back and driven to the party venue.

  “I was so afraid of ruining my dress walking all the way to the chapel,” said Zoya. “This makes it so much better!”

  I nodded. The thought of making the long walk in my heeled shoes had scared me too.

  We entered the back of the limousine with two boys and a girl. Soft classical music enveloped us as soon as the doors were shut and the car began moving forward. Bottles of water were chilling in a small bucket of ice.

  Within minutes, we were taken to the chapel. The theme was dark and gothic as the lighting placed on the building gave it an eerie look in the dark, cold night.

  “This is amazing,” whispered Zoya excitedly. Masked couples walked past us and into the open doorway of the chapel. Valets in red and maroon uniforms hung around to help people. Suddenly, she caught the eye of a strange man in a navy suit. “I think that’s Brandon,” she squealed. “Doesn’t he look handsome?”

  It was hard to tell how he looked with the bird-like metallic mask covering half his face but at least, he was tall and well-built, definite plusses in my book.

  “Have fun,” I said as the senior walked forward and pulled Zoya beside him. He gave me a nod and swept her away inside the chapel.

  It was a little awkward to wait by myself but the mask definitely helped.

  I texted Lucas. His reply came back in seconds, saying he was close and to look for a couple in white tuxes. That would definitely separate them from the crowd. I gazed at the people stepping out of the limousines, hoping to catch sight of my gay friend and his boyfriend.

  It was another few minutes before they appeared in my view. Two tall men in elegantly-cut tuxes walked together, their hands intertwined, approaching me without hesitation. Zoya and I sent our photos to him as soon as we were ready that evening, making it easier for him to recognize us.

  “You’re looking beautiful,” said Lucas’s familiar voice. “What a change to see you out of your uniform!”

  I chuckled and gestured at the boy at his side. “Introductions, please!”

  “Where is Zoya?”

  “She already went in with her date.”

  “Impatient, huh?”

  I laughed and nodded.

  The boy beside Lucas lifted the white mask that vertically covered half his face. He looked familiar but I had never spoken to him before.

  “Harry, this is Paris,” said Lucas, motioning at me. “Paris, meet Harry.”

  “Hey, I’ve seen you around.”

  “Yeah,” replied Harry. “You’re Jonathan Gall’s girlfriend.”

  I chuckled. “No. I’m not but we’re close friends.”

  “Are you alone, Paris?” asked Lucas.

  I nodded. “I decided to hang out with you guys.”

  Lucas shook his head with a tut-tut. “You should have told me you didn’t have a date tonight. I would have set you up with someone.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Fine?” he said in a disturbed tone. “You prefer being a third wheel?”

  I frowned. Was that how he was seeing me right now? Is that why Zoya already went inside with her date? Realization dawned on me that no one wanted me to hang around while they were with their dates. It took me a second longer to realize this event was an actual ball, not some pool party in someone’s backyard.

  “I’m her date,” said a familiar voice from beside me as an arm slid around my waist.

  “Nik.”

  “Thank god,” muttered Lucas. “Come on, Harry. Let’s go dance.” He pulled at his partner’s hand, making him stumble after him and then catching him before he could fall. The romance between them was already going strong.

  “Get your hands off her,” said another familiar voice.

  Two tall men in dark suits had appeared before us. The deep baritone told me it was Gabrielle. The person next to him was definitely Liam.

  “I am taking her to the dance,” said Nik, tightening his hold over my waist.”

  “We are her dates.”

  “Did she actually agree to be your dates?” asked Nik.

  That shut both Liam and Gabrielle.

  “I didn’t ask to be your date either,” I said, looking up at Nik with a smile. “But since we’re all here and with no dates, let’s enjoy ourselves?”

  “With him?” said Liam with distaste.

  “We can dance together,” I said, keeping my voice strong. “It’s either that or nothing.”

  I let the three boys decide for themselves. There was no way I was letting them put me in a spot.

  “We can always bail if we don’t like it,” suggested Gabrielle.

  “I guess,” said Liam with a shrug.

  I looked towards Nik.

  “Fine,” he said, exhaling a long breath.

  I walked forward with the three guys following close behind me. It was dark and shadowy inside the main dance hall. My knights moved forward to shield me from the colliding bodies on the dance floor and created a kind of wall around me. People gave our formation a wide birth, allowing us to dance freely.

  The music was amazing. The DJ played a variety of upbeat songs interspersed with slower melodies for the couples. My heart soared high, kicked in by my excitement and the presence of the three boys I’d come to like. My little group was able to make it work, as I turned around on the spot, dancing in turn with all of them.

  Gabrielle was the enthusiastic one in our group, kicking his legs and throwing his arms around wildly, uncaring whether he hit someone or not. Nik and Liam were more reserved, making up for the wildness of our partner.

  The boys took their turns to hold me close. They kissed me openly, right in front of the others but astonishingly, no fight broke out between them. I was really being shared equally by my partners. By the end of the hour, I was out of breath and my feet were hurting but a huge smile was plastered on my face. I was having the time of my life, showered with attention from my handsome and kingly partners.

  “Let’s take a break,” suggested Gabrielle. “Are you thirsty, Paris?”

  I nodded, slowing down on my feet.

  Nik gestured towards the corner and led the way for us to reach the place where they’d set up drinks and food.

  “What would you like to drink?” asked Liam, shouting to be heard over the music and screams of the dancers.

  “Orange juice on the rocks!” I shouted back.

  Liam got me my drink and the boys sorted themselves out with flutes of champagne.

  “It’s stuffy in here,” said Nik, pulling at his tightly buttoned collar.

  “Should we go out and get some air?” I suggested, looking toward both Liam and Gabrielle. They both gave thumbs-up t
o the idea. Draining our drinks, we crossed the packed dance hall to reach one of the exit doors.

  The cold wind blowing outside felt amazingly refreshing after the crowded chapel hall.

  “This feels so good,” I said, lifting my face to the breeze. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we had an open-air party?”

  “We have those in the summer,” said Liam. “You’ll love it. Just wait for winter to pass.”

  “Did you know there will be fireworks tonight at midnight?” asked Nik.

  “No.” I looked around at them. “No one mentioned anything about fireworks.”

  “I guess it’s more of a tradition,” said Liam. “Everyone knows, so I guess it’s not a big deal around here.”

  Excitement swelled inside me. I’d never been seen a full-scale firework show before.

  “How about we head up to the tower?” said Nik, gazing up at the tall tower that rose into the night sky. The top was completely dark.

  “It’s probably locked,” said Liam.

  “That won’t keep me away,” said Nik with a smirk. “Are you boys in or out? It’s an amazing view from up there and so much quieter.”

  “I’m in,” said Gabrielle. “I hate getting jostled by everyone, especially the dudes.”

  “Do you know someone who can get us in?” I asked.

  “Yes. Me,” said Nik, pointing at his chest. “Come on.”

  We followed him to the back of the chapel. It was darker here without a single valet or teacher around. Nik walked forward to the closed-door set to the far right. We followed him, eager to see what he was up to.

  “Let me borrow this,” said Nik, leaning into me and gently sliding two thin wire pins from the side of my head. A lock of my hair fell past my ear as it came loose with the pins. I was impressed by how easily he took them out without pulling or tearing a single strand.

  Kneeling down on the ground, he began fiddling with the padlock.

  “Seriously?” scoffed Liam. “You’re going to pick the lock?”

  Nik remained quiet, working with the two-wire pins. It took him at least five minutes to work the lock while the rest of us waited with bated breaths. When a low click sounded, we stared at the open padlock.

  “Wow,” I breathed. “You really did it.”

  Coming closer, he pressed his lips to mine and squeezed my left butt cheek. Warmth flooded into my cheeks as his pale eyes glittered in the moonlight with desire.

  “Stop groping her,” said Gabrielle, walking past us and removing the lock from the door. Pocketing it, he pushed the door open and walked inside. Liam disappeared after him, leaving me to enter the darkened space with Nik.

  We pulled our cell phones to light our way up the staircase in the corner.

  Gathering the skirt of my dress, I slowly went up the stairs.

  “I’m sorry we can’t switch on the lights,” said Nik. He held my hand, leading me upward at a slow pace. “It will alert everyone and we’ll have to share the place with others. Besides, I am pretty sure it’s out of bounds for students.”

  “It’s fine,” I said with a laugh. “It’s more exciting this way.”

  “Does being naughty in the dark excite you, Paris?” asked Gabrielle’s voice from the front.

  “Yep!” I said boldly.

  “Is anyone still interested in watching the fireworks?” asked Gabrielle. “We could do more exciting things with Paris in the dark up here.”

  “I’m game,” said Nik.

  I couldn’t tell whether they were joking or being serious. So far, they’d shared me for dances and kisses. Would they really go further than that when we were all together? The idea made my core throb hard in response, surprising me with the intensity of its desire. It’s like my body had already come to terms with being shared by the kings of the academy.

  We came upon a small, circular room which made up the tower. It wasn’t so dark here as thick shafts of moonlight entered through the wide-cut windows on the walls.

  “You’ve been enjoying this place for the last two years,” said Liam, looking out of one of the windows. “I’m impressed.”

  Gabrielle went to stand next to him. “It’s amazing up here. Only con is that we might just freeze our balls up here.”

  “That won’t happen with Paris here,” said Nik, pulling me against him and nuzzling the side of my neck.

  My heart raced as two more pairs of hands came to rest on my waist. While Nik nibbled the sensitive skin of my neck, Liam licked my ear. Gabrielle lifted the hem of my dress and slid his hands over my legs, caressing my thighs.

  Moans escaped me as my body throbbed with pleasure and lust. Every nerve ending was being fired by their touches, leaving me to gasp and moan uncontrollably.

  “Loosen up, Paris,” said Gabrielle, parting my tightly pressed legs. It was the only thing I could do against the way my core was throbbing and threatening to gush out my arousal.

  But just as I felt Gabrielle’s fingers slipping through the waistband of my panties, my legs turned to jelly. I tottered under the combined administration of all three men. Nik had moved to the swell of my breasts exposed over the top of my dress. His lips left kisses and gentle nips on my exposed cleavage. Liam gently loosened the length of my hair from the tight bun. He raked his fingers through the strands in the most sensuous way while kissing my lips.

  I was losing my mind, not even aware of the moment when my body was lowered to the cold, stone floor of the tower. My lovers went down with me, continuing to coax my body into pleasurable throbs.

  “Oh god!” I gasped as Gabrielle inserted his fingers through my dripping slit.

  “Feel good yet, Paris?” whispered Liam in my ear. “We’ve fucked with you enough over the past few months. You deserve a break.”

  I moaned in response as Gabrielle worked my core, slipping his fingers in and out of me at a rapid pace. With Liam and Nik touching me everywhere, I was struggling to hold onto my climax.

  “It’s okay, love,” whispered Nik as he sucked my nipples. “Let yourself go.” With a gasp, I realized they’d taken my dress off completely. My bra and panties lay scattered nearby. I was completely naked while they were fully dressed. The mere sight of them gathered around me brought my control crashing down.

  I cried out as a hard orgasm wracked through my body. I trembled as shivers throbbed through my frame. My lungs gasped for air. The cold breeze blowing through the windows no longer bothered me. In fact, it felt soothing against my heated flesh.

  My body went slack as I slumped onto Liam and Nik’s lap. They held me close now, stroking my hair gently and crooning in my ear. Gabrielle caressed my burning cheek with the back of his hand. “She is so beautiful like this,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss my lips.

  I must have fallen asleep at some point because when I came to again, I found my body fully clothed and draped with the men’s jackets. Nik and Liam were still supporting me while Gabrielle smoked a cigarette. Its glowing butt was the only light in the dark tower room.

  With a moan, I sat up and stretched my arms.

  “How long was I out?” I asked.

  “About half an hour,” said Nik. “We didn’t feel like you waking up.”

  “Mmm, it’s really peaceful up here, isn’t it?” said Liam in a light tone. “The best place to escape from the crowd.”

  “What do you say, Nik?” asked Gabrielle, blowing smoke rings into the air. “Want to share this place with us again?”

  He scoffed. “I’ll trade you this place for her.”

  “Nice try,” replied Gabrielle with a chuckle.

  “What’s the time now?” I asked, getting to my feet and walking across the room to reach a window. After the short nap, I felt amazingly refreshed. Perhaps, the raging orgasm left me energized. It was incredible how calm we all felt. I waited for the bout of embarrassment and humiliation to burn me after what I just did with all of them but none came. In fact, I’d been too willing to succumb to their touches.

  “It’s almost midnig
ht,” said Gabrielle, grinding the glowing butt of his cigarette into the ground. “The fireworks will start in a few minutes.”

  Everyone gathered around me. The night sky was scattered with stars as far as the eyes could see. Surrounded by my lovers, I was warm against the cold breeze.

  A loud blast went into the sky, followed by a burst of red stars. Loud cheers rose up in the sky. It was the advent of a new year.

  “Happy New Year, Liam,” I said, turning to my left and pressing a kiss to his lips. “Happy New Year, Gabrielle,” I said, turning to my right and kissing him. “Happy New Year, Nik.” I kissed him too.

  “Happy New Year, Paris,” they chorused.

  The sky was soon lit up with bursts of red, golden and green stars. People cheered but their voices were too muffled up here. All thoughts of the future vanished from my head as I watched the fireworks with a mesmerized look in my eyes, all too content to be with the three young men who held my heart in their hands now. Because believe it or not, they all held a part of it now.

  31

  Paris

  Holiday inertia was real, making the first week of school after winter break horribly hectic. All classes started with new lessons with announcements made on upcoming assignments. It felt like the teachers were waiting for the vacation to get over and spring everything on us at the same time.

  To my surprise, I actually missed the Davenport residence and the people in it. The late breakfasts that Ruben fixed for me, full freedom to walk the grounds around the house, reading in the family library that smelled of coffee, tobacco and whiskey, and dinners with the whole Davenport family. My first week back at Knightswood made me miss everything terribly.

  “They are being so crazy,” groaned Lucas one morning as we headed to Physics class in the science wing. “Some of the teachers are already talking about final exams.”

  “I am worrying about college applications,” I said, panting as I tried to keep up with his long strides. “Did you know most early applications close by February? I have to work on those personal essays sometime this week.”