by Sofia Daniel
“How could you know?” bitterness laced his voice. “You weren’t even in the academy when she died.”
“Because you made a stupid mistake when you were young. Because two vindictive girls got between you and poisoned Corrine’s mind. Because no murderer would go to such lengths to rescue a girl he didn’t even know.”
The corner of his lip curled for a millisecond in one of those ironic smiles. Maybe we’d had this conversation already, and I’d forgotten it. Maybe it was because he considered us more than just classmates.
Both Leopold and Sebastian had suggested that Prakash and I had become close on that forgotten Monday. It was hard to imagine how I might have broken through his hard exterior and touched the kind soul underneath, but I must have done or said something terrible to him to drive him away. It had taken nearly the entire term for him to warm to me.
“What happened between us?” I pulled my hands away from his cheeks.
His brows drew together. “I don’t follow.”
“Did we…” My gaze dipped, and warmth spread across my cheeks. After everything I’d done with Leopold and Sebastian, it was ridiculous to feel so bashful around Prakash. I gazed at him through my lashes and asked, “Did we kiss or something?”
His liquid-brown eyes dropped to my lips, and a thrill of anticipation shot through my insides. If I’d kissed Prakash and forgotten about it, I’d have to demand a re-do… to jog my memory.
“We opened up to each other,” he said. “Or rather, I told you my darkest secret of how I caused a nice girl’s ruin.”
An image of him downing glass after glass of golden liquid flashed through my mind. As did a memory of him telling me how much Corrine had changed in her last year of life. I furrowed my brow. “But you regret it, now.”
“More than you can ever know,” he rasped. “If I could have saved Corrine, I would, but she’d gone down such a dark path and made the most unforgivable accusations—”
I placed my finger on his lips. “You don’t have to rehash things on my account. My memories are returning.”
“Don’t force it.”
My heart warmed at his concern. What was it about Prakash that made me feel like I’d known him forever? That I could trust him with all my heart, despite his admission of having broken Corrine’s? Perhaps his stand-offish exterior gave the impression that he didn’t open up to many people, and when he did, it was something to cherish.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“What for?” he asked.
“You went out to the mountains and found me, didn’t you?”
The slight lowering and raising of his gaze told me he had.
“And you saved me from Bianca and her group of sycophants. Thank you for taking such good care of me.” I rose onto my tiptoes and pressed my lips onto his.
Prakash stilled for a heartbeat then took over the kiss. He wrapped a possessive arm around my waist, making me feel like I was his to protect, his to kiss, and his to love. Melting into the kiss, I parted my lips and moaned.
His tongue met mine in a dance of mint-flavored caresses, and the arm around my waist pulled us closer.
I threaded my fingers through his thick, black hair, marveling at how silky it felt under my fingertips. Everything about this guy was strong and masculine.
“Are you sure about this?” he murmured into the kiss.
“Would you break my heart?”
“Never,” he said in a voice as strong as iron.
“Then I’m certain.”
“Then I won’t cease kissing you until you make me stop.”
With a growl, he walked me backward to the edge of his bed, still kissing, tasting, devouring my mouth until my knees weakened, and I lowered myself to the mattress. He bent and placed a knee on the mattress at either side of my hips and laid me flat on the bed.
A breath caught in the back of my throat. I swept my gaze down from the thick strands of inky black hair framing eyes that burned like coals to a curling mouth of full, devastatingly kissable lips. Prominent pectoral muscles bulged from his white, cotton shirt, and a thick erection protruded from his green, uniformed pants.
“I’ve wanted you for so long,” he snarled. “I don’t know if I can hold back.”
Excitement surged between my legs, making me squeeze them together. I whispered, “How long?”
“From the moment I saw you in the hallway with your sister. I couldn’t look at you in case you noticed the desire in my eyes.”
I swallowed hard. “All I saw was contempt.”
Flashing me a grin of straight, white teeth, he pounced on top of me, placed his hands over my wrists, and maneuvered them at the sides of my head. “Then I hid my emotions well.”
Every nerve ending tingled with excitement. This was nothing like my first time in the hideout with Leopold and Sebastian, who had taken things at a slower, more gentlemanly pace. But this aggressive side to Prakash was thrilling, and I couldn’t wait to see how far he would go.
I glanced from left to right. “What are you doing?”
“Keeping you in place.”
Licking my lips in anticipation of another kiss, I murmured, “It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”
“I intend to keep you that way,” he murmured into my ear.
A shiver skittered down my spine and settled into my fully awakened core. Prakash Kashaayah, the most aloof of the kings, now had me in his grip and wasn’t letting go. I arched up into his chest, and he growled his approval.
“Do you know how many times in calculus I thought about turning around and kissing your pretty, pink lips?” He nipped at my earlobe.
Ripples of pleasure traveled down to my nipples. Even though he held me in place, he still balanced his weight on his knees and elbows. I wanted to feel his body everywhere on mine and rock into his tantalizing hardness.
“You barely even looked in my direction,” I whispered.
“Because it took every ounce of self-control to stop myself from doing this.”
His hand trailed up my bare thigh, sending a line of fire to my core, which pulsed and heated with desire. I swallowed hard. The other kings had been tentative, almost gentlemanly, if one set aside Leopold’s naughty words, but Prakash was masterful. Dominant. He knew exactly what he wanted, and he wanted me.
“Please,” I murmured. “If I don’t feel your body on top of mine right now, I think I’ll explode.”
His dark brows rose a fraction. “As you wish.”
With excruciating slowness, Prakash lowered his torso onto mine. I parted my legs and bucked my hips, my silent way of saying I wanted to feel all of him. Prakash obliged, and his erection lay flush against my core.
I would have grabbed his ass, but he had trapped my wrists. Instead, I writhed under the promising bulge, trying to build up a little friction. “Oh, fuck,” I moaned. “You feel so good.”
A satisfied rumble reverberated in his chest. Half purr, half growl, but all sexy.
He trailed kisses along my jawline and down the column of my neck until they reached my starched shirt collar. Anticipation tingled through my insides. Would he stop there, or would he pull off my top?
He stared down at me through heavy-lidded eyes. From this angle, his irises were so dark, I couldn’t tell the size of his pupils.
“Undo your tie,” he said.
My tongue darted out to lick my lips. “Will you undo yours?”
Still keeping his eyes on mine, he released my wrists and pulled the knot of his shirt free. After throwing the accessory on the floor, he growled, “Your turn.”
With hands that trembled with excitement, hands that longed to explore that dark, olive flesh, I pulled my tie free.
His gaze trailed down to the swell of my breasts, and the tiniest of smiles curled his lips. “Unbutton your shirt.”
“You first.” I smiled back, trying not to salivate at the prospect of seeing Prakash half-naked.
His dark brows quirked. “As you wish.”
P
rakash took his time in sliding the buttons out of their little holes. Each reveal of his beautiful, brown flesh elicited a sharp intake of breath from me, and by the time he revealed a ripped torso of firm pecs and a tight six-pack, I was gasping out his name and reaching out to touch him.
“Your turn,” he said.
“You’re so bossy.” Keeping my eyes on his, I unbuttoned my shirt and let it fall open.
His gaze roved over my breasts, and he licked his lips. “Something tells me you like it that way.” His large hand reached for my left boob, and he paused. “May I?”
I gave him my most enthusiastic nod.
Prakash parted my shirt and ran the tips of his fingers along the lace trim of my bra. His touch sent ripples of pleasure across my breasts and made my nipples tighten.
His nostrils flared. “I had a feeling there was a ridiculously sexy body under that uniform, but this has exceeded my wildest imagination.”
Heat bloomed across my cheeks as I remembered Sebastian climaxing just from the sight of my half-naked body. I reached out and ran my hand down his smooth, hard torso. “Ditto.”
He leaned forward and kissed me again, this time with even more fervor than before. My lips parted to release a groan, and his tongue slipped into my mouth and swiped across mine, sending pulses of pleasure between my spread legs.
“Willow,” he murmured into the kiss.
“Mmmm,” I moaned back and wrapped my hands around his middle. They slid down to a wonderfully firm ass that made me wonder what kind of sports he did to keep so fit.
My hands scrambled to the front of his pants, and he broke the kiss to unbuckle his belt and unzip his fly. I took off my skirt, desperate for more contact.
He parted my thighs and stared at what was probably a wet patch in my panties. My folds were so slick and ready for him. It was like every ounce of caution, every ounce of common sense had traveled south along with all the moisture in my throat.
Prakash placed the pad of his thumb over my swollen nub, and sparks of pleasure shot from my clit to my core, making me cry out.
“You’re so beautifully responsive,” he murmured. “Everything about you is a wonder.”
Licking my lips with anticipation, I reached for the waistband of his briefs, but a loud knock on the door made my heart jump into my throat. I snatched my hands away.
“Who is it?” Prakash snarled over his shoulder.
Whoever was behind the door continued knocking. For a brief moment, I pictured Cormac standing in the hallway, attempting to rescue me from the boy who had seduced his sister all those years ago.
The knocking continued.
Prakash squeezed his eyes shut and scowled. “I’d better get this in case it’s urgent.”
My gaze dropped down to his underpants, where his erection hadn’t faltered an inch. “Hurry back.”
With a reluctant groan, he moved off me and shuffled out of bed. He turned around, treating me to a view of rippling muscles covered in beautiful, olive skin and a tight, hard-looking ass I longed to bite. Before padding across the room, he reached out to the rack and wrapped a towel around his middle.
He opened the door a crack and said, “Wilmington, what do you want?”
My stomach twisted with disgust. Bruce Wilmington had been the ringleader of that terrible attack on Ashley. I drew my legs up to my chest. Was he friends with Prakash?
Bruce coughed. “Barrett… No, Jarrett just scalded himself on a new hookah, and we need your first aid—”
“You’ve got a nerve to come here asking for help after what you did to the Evergreen sisters,” Prakash growled.
Bruce spluttered. “I barely touched your twin, and that was only in jest.”
I wrapped my arms around my legs and scowled. Bruce implied that the kings were using me as their plaything, just as the knights had used and abused Ashley.
Prakash raised his chin. “I’d be happy to give you a refresher on how the kings deal with your kind of jokes.”
“Forget it, Kashaayah,” Bruce spat. “I thought after that crap with Gibbons, you’d get off your high horse and start remembering you’re no better than any of us knights.”
I drew in a sharp breath through my teeth. Bruce had referred to the pull-a-pig game. But if Prakash had publicly humiliated Corrine, someone would have told Cormac, and Cormac would have told me about it.
“The next time you come here spouting nonsense, you’ll leave without teeth,” said Prakash. “Is that clear?”
Bruce snorted. “Whatever you sa—”
Prakash closed the door before Bruce could finish his sentence. He walked back from the door, his lips curled in an apologetic smile. He stopped at his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pack of condoms.
My stomach dropped. Five minutes ago, I would have begged him to slide into me, but hearing Bruce’s voice at the door reminded me of everything that I hated about this academy.
“K-Kash?” I brought my knees up to my chest.
He lowered himself next to me on the bed and slid the pad of his finger down my thigh. “Sorry about Wilmington. I know he’s not your favorite person. Why don’t I take your mind off him?”
“Kash.” My throat dried. “I-I’m still a virgin, and I’m not—”
Prakash drew back and stared into my eyes, his brows creased. “I thought that with all the time you spent with Leo over the Christmas break…”
A giggle bubbled up from my insides. “Believe it or not, he’s only gone so far.
“And I haven’t.” He lowered his head into the juncture of my neck and groaned. “Forgive me. I should have taken things a bit slowly.”
I ran a hand up and down his smooth, muscular back. “I’ve enjoyed every moment of our time together, but I’m not ready to go that far just yet.”
“Of course.” He straightened and pressed a kiss on my shoulder. “Sorry for being a horny bastard. Do you want me to walk you over to Leo’s or Seb’s?
“Actually…” My throat dried. “I wanted to continue with you here tonight, but to keep my knickers on.”
He took my hand and pressed a chaste kiss on my knuckle. “Why don’t we start again. This time, I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”
I grinned and lowered my legs, giving him a perfect view of my breasts. His eyes flared, and the fingers holding up his towel dropped, revealing that gorgeous, thick erection straining through the fabric of his boxers.
Pleasure rippled through my core, and I bit my lip to stifle a groan.
The desire burning in his gaze told me to ready myself for a thrilling evening.
Chapter 21
In one night, Prakash and I caught up with Leopold and Sebastian, but we didn’t have full-blown sex. With his fingers and tongue and a bit of frottage, he’d managed to give me three orgasms before allowing himself to climax. By the time we collapsed under the covers, the sky had turned from black to indigo, and the first signs of light illuminated the clouds.
I lay in his strong arms, resting my head on his shoulder and my arm around his waist, feeling sleepy and sated. All my troubles were nearly over.
Ashley was expelled. Miss Claymore had been fired, disgraced, and reported to the police. If she tried to approach Sebastian again, he would press charges about the underaged sex and the tampered brakes on his Porsche.
Bianca would eventually leave me alone when she realized that I wasn’t interested in spilling her secret before she was ready to speak to the police, and Geraldine was the least effective of the pair, who would probably take her friend’s lead.
I don’t know what happened to Corrine. Everyone said it had been suicide. The level of bullying in Brittas Academy was enough to drive a person to despair, but the bullies were brutal enough to force a lethal amount of alcohol down a person’s neck and leave them to the elements.
Now that her diary and my translations had burned, I would never uncover what had happened in her final days.
Prakash stirred. The hand around my back pulled me into his
warm, hard body, and a tiny purr reverberated in the back of his throat. I slid my hand from his waist to his chest and ran my fingers over the patch of hair between his nipples, marveling at how manly it felt.
“Willow,” he whispered.
“Good morning.” I pressed a kiss on his jaw.
“Don’t go back to your room.”
I rested my hand directly on his heart. “I’ll say here tonight.”
“Every night,” he murmured. “It’s not safe.”
“Huh?”
His breathing deepened, and my gaze flicked to the wall clock. Six-thirty-seven on a Saturday. We had plenty of time to lie in. I closed my eyes and settled myself to fall back to sleep.
“Kash?” Leopold’s voice made us both jolt.
Sunlight filled the room, probably made brighter by the clear, azure sky, and from being reflected on all the snow.
Prakash grunted. “What?”
“Breakfast.”
“Later.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pinning me into his chest, and rubbed circles on my waist.
His fingertips skimmed the tops of my pelvis and the bottom of my ribs, trailing lines of pleasure with every touch. My core stirred, and a soft moan filled the back of my throat.
He chuckled. “Ready for more?”
“Do you have someone in there with you?” Leopold asked. “Seb! Kash is harboring a stowaway.”
Prakash chuckled. “He’s such a dick.”
“You’d better let him in before he shouts the whole hallway down.”
“Someone needs to sort him out.” Prakash pulled himself out of bed and wrapped a towel around his middle, obscuring my view of his gorgeous, muscular ass.
I sat up, pulled the covers up to my chest, secured them in my arms, and enjoyed the view.
As Prakash padded across the room, sunlight from the window brought out the copper shades on the muscles rippling on his back, and I let out a contented sigh. Prakash was unfeasibly beautiful, and unfeasibly mine, as were the other kings.
He opened the door a crack. Leopold curled his fingers around the wood and pushed the door wide enough to stick his head through the gap.
