by B C Morgan
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”
I drop my whisk and watch as it falls to the floor, splatting batter all over the place. My hand shoots to my chest as I turn around to see a male figure standing in the shadows with a hood pulled up over his head.
“Can I-I h-h-help y-y-you?”
“Don’t worry Luna, you’re in safe hands with me. I’m not even here,” I can’t deny who it is, the Prince. Emmet Harkwright himself.
“W-w-w…”
“Shh, don’t waste time asking questions that won’t be answered, I just wanted to see you for myself. Things are about to get crazy around here and I thought I’d steal this moment for myself,” his voice engulfs me and I feel weak at the sound of it. Why do I react so strongly to it? It doesn’t make sense.
“Turn around Luna, tomorrow you’ll go back to being nothing but a number and I’d rather you get this while you still have a name,” I do as he says, watching as my hands shake before me.
I flinch with every step that sounds in my ear and a wicked chuckle fills the otherwise silent space until a hand cups my throat and a shiver spreads down my spine. He slides his hand around until he’s pulled the errant strays of my hair over my shoulder. I don’t know what he wants until a weight drops against my chest and my eyes flick down to a chain that wasn’t there before. I don’t wear jewelry.
“You’re all getting one, but I wanted to deliver this one myself. See you soon,” his mouth drops onto my bare shoulder and a pain shoots out from the spot as he sinks his teeth into me.
I can’t help the moan of pain that passes through my lips and his chuckle fills the air once more and then he’s gone, merged with the darkness like he was never even here.
The necklace around my neck and the stinging bite is the only thing screaming at me that this wasn’t a fabrication of an overactive imagination or a weird ass dream. The Prince was here and maybe tomorrow, I’ll finally get to put a face to the name and dark and - I hate to admit - sensual voice.
11
Roll Call Please
The Harkwright men come back after dinner is served and they waste no time in choosing a girl or two to spend the night with. I’m lucky enough to be passed up again - hard not to take it personal - but Caitlyn isn’t so lucky. I guess Sam must have liked her before because he wastes no time in calling out her number into the mess hall.
No one bats an eye at his overly loud declaration, I guess its normal behavior but it still makes me jump. I try to ignore the laughter that goes around and pretend it isn’t at my expense.
That being said Emmet didn’t lie, every girl got a necklace over breakfast this morning and they were quick to put them on. I still don’t understand the importance behind them but Caitlyn showed me the message that came with hers.
Do not remove or we will dismiss you from the Academy with no further notice.
I need to stop going over everything that has happened today, I just feel a little… lonely. When did that start being an issue for me? I’ve always reveled in being alone and yet, it feels almost suffocating now. I guess I got used to having roommates and now that I’m truly on my own, I’m not sure I like it anymore.
“Anyone called your number yet?”
Lifting my head to look up at Tucker, I slowly shake it in response. “Then I guess today’s my lucky day, come along Thirty-Four,” he clicks his fingers at me and anger surges up, but as usual I squash it before getting to my feet and following after him.
I guess I thought if anyone would call on me it would be Aeron, but I haven’t seen him. I can’t even be sure he returned with the others.
Following Tucker, he leads me to their wing. I swallow hard as he opens a door and walks through it, only it isn’t a bedroom like I was expecting.
The walls are cream and there are various screens with consoles connected. Various sofas, loveseats and even bean bags are placed throughout the room. Vinyl players, stereo systems and speakers in every corner. There’s a pool table, foosball and even an air hockey table, this is a game room for sure.
“Come on Thirty-Four, I want to sit down,” Tucker says as he leads me over to one of the loveseats and pats the space beside him.
I take my seat and he doesn’t try to close the space I’ve put between us, instead his eyes are trained behind the sofa. Staring at the door we came through, and I get the feeling that he’s waiting for something or someone.
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do,” I say in a soft voice as I bite down on my bottom lip and his eyes soften slightly as he takes me in.
“Just sit there and enjoy the comfort… for now,” he replies mysteriously, freeing my bottom lip with his forefinger before going back to study the door and I take the opportunity to take him in myself.
I can just make out the amber of his eyes and my own trail down to the scar circling his left eyebrow, the slight crookedness to his nose and the bow of his lip. He has an indent in his chin and his hair is the color of caramel. My eyes continue their travel to his black T-shirt that stretches across his impressive frame - a little too big for my taste - and I wonder if his muscles are for a purpose or just for show. His arms are big even when they’re not flexed and he doesn’t seem to get any smaller the lower I look. His thighs are wide and even his feet look fucking big. Oh god, I wonder if what they say about big feet is true. I’m so lost in my own musings that I nearly miss the words that pass his lips.
“Show time,” he mutters as someone stumbles through the door and I look up to see Aeron and he’s not alone.
I think she’s Nine, I don’t know and I hate myself for only seeing a number and drawing a blank when it comes to her actual name.
They make their way over and his eyes widen, as much as they can because he’s clearly as high as a kite. He drops down on the other sofa and she wastes no time in sitting beside him and running her hand up his thigh.
“If it isn’t Little Zero, guess someone picked you after all,” he says before almost falling over in laughter and I look to the side as my cheeks flame.
His girl for the evening titters at his remark and he removes her hand from his leg as he rights himself and leans forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs.
“Don’t worry about Tucker, I doubt he even knows how to use it,” his eyes drop to Tucker’s groin before returning to me and I can’t help but stare back. Glutton for punishment, I know. “Feel free to watch, you may learn a thing or two. What am I saying, of course you will. After all, what the fuck does a virgin know?”
“That’s enough Aeron, mean words are beneath you or they should be,” Tucker growls and it only draws out another laugh, only this one is full of bitterness.
“Nine, strip for me and I expect a show,” he orders and she only looks at us for a moment before climbing to her feet and a song starts to fill the room. What’s Your Fantasy by Ludacris, she doesn’t need me watching but it’s hard to stop when she starts to slide the zipper down on her denim zip up dress.
“Come here Thirty-Four,” Tucker growls before he grips my hand and pulls, I can’t stop myself from sprawling over him until he grips my hips and rights me. I swallow hard as my thighs fall either side of his and the length of him - fuck me he’s getting harder - pushes up against my lace panties as my skirt falls around us.
My eyes meet his and there’s a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, and I can’t ignore the fact that I feel him twitch beneath me. His hands stay on my hips as his tongue flicks out to glide across his bottom lip.
“Let me show you how to move,” he says deeply as he uses his hands to make my hips roll, grinding me back and forth across him. My breaths are ragged as I feel my body start to wake up.
I don’t want to enjoy this but my body isn’t listening to me because it’s fucking loving it. My panties are growing damp and I dread to think what impression I’m leaving over his pants right now.
“I don’t know about you Aeron, but I think she’s enjoying it,” his words barely register as
something crashes against the wall and then Aeron is storming past us and out of the door. He doesn’t even wait for the girl he brought with him.
“Job done, thanks Thirty-Four, it’s been fun,” he says as he picks me up and deposits me on the sofa. “You can see yourself out,” and just like Aeron he leaves and I’ve never felt more used in my entire life.
Nothing else really occurs and the day of classes is finally here and I am beyond excited to get started. Business management and culinary classes, the last one alone can make all of this bullshit worth it.
I’m still feeling a little sore over the way Tucker treated me and Aeron has been fucking every girl who isn’t me. Again I have to ask myself why I’m even remotely bothered, I should be happy that I’m still holding on to my virginity, I can’t imagine any of the others can claim the same feat. So why does it feel as though I’m failing?
I need to stop questioning everything and remember why I am here and what my endgame is. I’m not going to fall in love or find Mr. Right. I’m not even planning on getting to a place where I like these bastards or find any redeeming qualities in them. I’m here for the money and to make life better for Poppy… among other things.
Picking up my clothes, I pull on a knee length pencil line skirt with a slit traveling up the side of the leg, a red blouse much tighter than I would have picked and a pair of black stockings. The other problem with the blouse, the buttons deliberately fall short, revealing a glimpse of the red lace bra beneath, because they couldn’t just order me to show them my underwear, oh no they have to make us dress like this as well. I’m beyond nervous as it is, my hand won’t stop shaking and I didn’t even get to eat any breakfast seeing as my hand shook so much the bowl fell and smashed against the floor.
It doesn’t help that my new list of places I can visit arrived this morning with a few extras added and there aren’t a lot of changes between the life of a Thirty-Four and that of a Zero, other than I have fewer restrictions. I’m allowed to sign up for extra-curricular activities - they don’t really interest me - I can go pretty much anywhere other than the north wing unless I’m with one of the guys, and I’m allowed to wander the gardens. Only, not after eight pm, that time seems a little peculiar but who am I to ask questions on how they run this place?
I take one last look in the full-length mirror attached to the wardrobe door, brush my hands down my skirt and leave my room. The corridors are quieter than I expected and the majority of the girls keep their heads down as we hurry to our classes and begin setting our lives right.
Caitlyn isn’t taking any of my classes so I’m going this one alone and aside from the fact that I’m not happy being alone, I can’t say I’m disappointed. This is for my future, I don’t need any distractions, not even from someone who I like to consider a friend. Hey, I have two friends. Who would have thought it?
I take my seat close to the front, ignoring the snickers coming from the girls and I can’t help but roll my eyes. This isn’t high school, grow the fuck up. I don’t care if they call me a brown nose or start asking me where I’m keeping all the apples - childish bitches - I just set my things out in front of me and wait for my first class to begin.
Just like college we have electives and I’ve chosen three, I don’t care how hard or tiring my workload will be, I’m determined to succeed. With the hospitality management, catering and business, I will certainly get an MBA. The best part, this place doesn’t hold as many restrictions. As long as I can keep up I can make this work, even if I only have three years.
I keep my eyes straight ahead, not paying attention to whoever walks in as my elbow hits one of my pens and it rolls off my desk. How cliche can I get, only it gets worse as I lean over to get it only to find it being held out, presented to me by a man’s hand. My eyes lock onto Maddox’s and the soft smile is more shocking to me than the fact he’s even in here.
“There’s five minutes until class begins, do you mind stepping outside with me for a moment?” He asks and the fact that he asks is already endearing him to me… only slightly of course.
“Yes, of course,” I say, pushing to my feet and ignoring the whispers that are already starting as I leave the room with Maddox hot on my trail.
I turn around as the click of the door closing fills my ears before he gently grips my elbow and pulls me into an empty room and I mean completely empty. There isn’t a single piece of furniture here and it seems strange to me, but I guess every place has those rooms that aren’t needed for whatever reason.
“Is e-everything okay?” I ask, my eyes dropping to the floor as I tuck my hair behind my ears. That’s new, I haven't felt the urge to do that since I got here.
“I wanted to say thank you for saving my life,” he whispers and I flick my eyes up, looking through my lashes as him.
“I didn’t do anything, anyone would do the same.”
He scoffs at my words and I don’t need to question him as to why, I watch his feet as he slowly steps forward and I brace myself for whatever he may do. Only he stops an arms width away and I feel my breathing slow down as I realize he isn’t going to come any closer.
“If that’s true, why didn’t they? There was a whole crowd there Luna, no one was going to help.”
My head shoots up at the use of my name and the acceptance that I hear in his voice at the fact his life means so little here.
“You used my name,” can I get anymore lame?
“You deserve to be set apart from the rest, I won’t do it in front of the others as it will make you a target but if it’s ever just us, I’ll make sure you get to hear your name. Look, I won’t keep you any longer but I’d love to get to know you and you won’t find yourself on the receiving end of orders when it comes to me,” he says and I tuck my hair once more as I slowly nod my head.
“Let’s go back in,” I say as my way of reply and he smiles as I lead the way out of the room and back into class. The whispers can’t get to me, I’m too busy trying to figure Maddox out.
My plan to concentrate on the lesson is shot to shit when he sits in the row in front of me and slightly to my right, I don’t know why I keep staring at him but my eyes are not under my control right now.
He’s got a mop of brown wavy hair that is starting to curl around his ears and I couldn’t help but notice his soft brown eyes when we were talking before. I don’t think he’s as tall as some of the other guys and I’m guessing at about five foot nine, ten at a stretch. He’s not muscular like the others, I mean there’s slight definition to his arms but he’s softer all around. He reminds me of a teddy bear and I can’t help but imagine how he hugs. I bet he gives the best ones out of all the guys, in fact I bet he’s the only one that would even give someone a hug. I can’t imagine the others would give any kind of contact that wasn’t dominating, fear inducing or sexual in some way.
I lean my chin on my hand as my elbow rests on the desk and my face is aflame as he looks up and catches me staring at him. The funny thing, I think his cheeks are redder than mine, he is too cute.
No, do not start humanizing these dickheads. They are all called Harkwright, therefore they are all fucked up. No matter that packaging, their cores will all be rotten.
By the time I’m sitting in my last class, I am shattered. I’m packing up my things when the classroom descends in a stifling hush and I look up to see Tucker standing in the doorway. Everyone is staring right at him, but I refuse to be like the rest, setting my eyes to the front. Only, even the tutor is staring at the intruder and I can feel myself bristling, even if I know I won’t react in any way.
“Thirty-Four, with me,” he commands and my spine stiffens as my mouth falls open.
“Excuse me sir, but I was told my students wouldn’t have their lessons interfered with,” Victoria Doyle, my new favorite person says.
“Then make sure she doesn’t fall behind, she can’t refuse an order,” is his growl and I swallow over the lump forming in my throat as I climb to my feet and go to grab my bag. “Lea
ve it, number Fifty can take it back to your room and make sure nothing happens to its contents,” he flicks his head at one of the other girls and I do as I’m told.
I walk to the door and my jaw tightens when he places his hand on the small of my back and pushes me out of the room and continues to push to show me where he wants to go. He’s a domineering ass and I no longer feel compelled to unravel his mysteries, fuck him. He can stay mysterious, I don’t want to know a damn thing about him.
“You can stop being pissy with me or not, either way you can at least act as though you enjoy my company,” he grinds out through his teeth and my eyes cut to him and I can tell his are trained on me.
“Does it really matter if I enjoy it? As long as you have fun,” I point out and his laughter confuses me. Mainly because it sounds light and carefree and it does not match up to the person, I’ve seen so far.
He comes to a halt, gripping my elbow and drawing me back until I’m slamming into him and I can feel something hard and thick nestling on my ass. I remember how it felt brushing over my panties as he directed my hips, and it brings a heat to my chest that I hope is not showing on my cheeks as well.
“Unlike some of the others here, I prefer the ladies I’m with to get as much enjoyment as I do. You can be sore about the game room as much as you like, but I’m curious about you and I don’t like being curious. So come on Thirty-Four, I’m going to burn the curiosity right out of me,” his words are awfully jarring and I can’t help the jolt of fear that passes through me, I have no idea what is about to happen.
Is he leading me away to fuck me? I wonder if he fucks as dirty as I imagine Aeron does. No, dangerous train of thought and I really need to stop fixating on him. Just because he showed me a bit of attention, I’m better than that or at least, I hope I am.
