by B C Morgan
His hand drops to my stocking covered thigh before he hitches it up until it’s around his waist, my head drops back as he pushes his face between my breasts and thrusts his hips into me. His hardness pushes against me and makes me moan low, as I try to hold it in.
He lifts his head up, pins me with his eyes and his hand runs over my propped up thigh, taking my skirt with it.
“What a-are…”
“Shhh, just testing a theory I have,” he growls out, making his dirty as sin voice even hotter, didn’t even think that was possible.
I don’t think or dare to breathe as his hand pushes up even further, sliding over my thigh until his thumb is brushing over the fabric of my panties and I’m almost crying at the act. His eyes are burning into me as he rubs once, twice and then once more with his thumb before pulling his hand away.
“It seems I affect you as much as you do to me, this is going to be a lot of fun Little Zero,” he bites down on my ear lobe before returning my leg to the now unsteady ground and stepping back.
“I truly am sorry for being an asshole to you, I can’t say it won’t happen again but you’re at least safe for the next couple of months,” he winks at me before leaving me a shaking wreck in the middle of a maze.
14
A Pleasant Surprise
One month left of this uneasy order that the Prince put on the guys. Aeron hasn’t touched me since that day in the maze and I have to tell myself it’s a good thing. Nothing good can come from Aeron, other than his fingers, tongue and wicked mouth. Fuck, not again.
Liam’s visits are my favorite part about my classes coming to an end, mainly because he’s the only one in this place, other than the rest of the staff who isn’t trying to avoid me. That being said, sometimes he looks at me as though he’s waging a war with himself over whether he should try to kiss me again. I guess that part by the way his eyes keep dropping to my lips and it isn’t when I’m speaking either. The worst part is that sometimes I want him too.
It’s confusing me and I feel guilty for it, because of Cole. I haven’t given him an answer yet and I haven’t seen him since he told me he would wait for me but even so; it feels as though I’m betraying him. Then I start to question the way I feel for him and wonder if it is just a silly crush like I’ve told myself for so long. Can I really ask him to wait for me if I’m not sure we could even work? I’ve built him up in my mind for so long, what if I’m wrong? Besides, if I’m sitting here thinking about letting Liam kiss me, do I even deserve that level of commitment and devotion?
“Thirty-Four.”
My head snaps up as I look at my tutor, my cheeks turning dark from utter embarrassment, I wasn’t paying any attention and she knows it.
“I-I’m sorry,” I say and she smiles gently before looking to the side of me.
“Don’t worry, class is over for the day,” she says with sympathetic eyes before turning her back to me and I turn to see Maddox still sitting in his chair. We’re the only ones who haven’t vacated the classroom. I know why I haven’t but what’s his reason?
“I was wondering if you wanted to get some extra studying in, I can grab us a table in the library?” he asks, and I don’t think it’s the first time.
My first thought is that I should probably say no and make up some kind of excuse, but he’s been nice to me for no other reason than to be a decent person. Plus, it will give me an excuse to not have to see Liam today, and I think some space is a good thing right now. I need one less guy occupying my mind until I can work the others out.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I say and his smile is infectious as he stands up and holds the door open for me.
We head straight for the library when a thought occurs, and I hate myself for even asking this, but I’m hoping he’ll say yes.
“Maddox, I know this is really selfish of me but can I ask you a favor?” I look up at him through my lashes and he nods his head.
“Could I wear my own clothes,” it comes out as a jumbled mess as I try to say it as quickly as possible and his brows knit together.
“Those aren’t your clothes?” He indicates what I’m wearing and I can’t help but laugh at his reply.
“I mean my choice of clothing, not what’s assigned to me day by day. I have to get written permission from one of the men.”
“Really? Well yeah of course. Do you want me to wait at the library for you while you get changed?”
“Sure or you can wait in my sitting area if you’d like, I can get changed in my bedroom,” his cheeks get even redder as he nods his head and we change course.
“Fuck me, is that Maddox with the Zero?” I hear one girl ask as we walk up the staircase.
“Yep, don’t worry we’ll get our chance at him soon enough. He’ll be the easiest one to bag,” someone replies and my hand clenches into a fist as he ducks his head.
“Ignore them,” I say loud enough for the petty bitches to hear as I lead him to my room and get the door unlocked.
I shoulder my way inside, dropping my bag down by the floor and disappearing into my room to raid my walk-in wardrobe for my clothes. Yes, this day is making my favorites list. At least the ones that have occurred since I made the cut.
I find a pair of shorts, the only ones that aren’t booty shorts, a cami top and my trusty sweater. Teamed with my Doc Martens I finally feel comfortable.
I walk out and head over to where he’s perched in my chair, his head raises and his eyes take me in. But they don’t leave me feeling naked and bare and I love that about him. Like, I like that about him, definitely not love. Damn, where did that come from?
“I prefer you in your clothes,” he whispers as he gets to his feet, and I can’t help but grin at his words before walking back over to the door.
I pull it open and come face to face with Liam, who’s glaring at Maddox and he looks almost as pale as me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude,” he says and I think I can hear jealousy in his voice. I know I must be imagining it, but still.
“Hey, you okay?” I ask, drawing his attention back to me.
“Yeah, just came to clean,” he says, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Okay, well I’ll see you later then. Come on Maddox, let’s go study,” I look back at him and he shakes his head before following me.
Can this day get any stranger?
I wake up and stretch my arms over my head, lazy Saturday morning for me I think. My bare feet pad across the floor as I walk into my sitting area, and a scream leaves me when I see someone sitting on my sofa.
Tucker’s head turns to look at me and I watch as his nostrils flare and I really wish I had grabbed my dressing gown. My satin nightie only just falls past my ass and the top dips low with a lace border brushing over the swell of my breasts. I know I was supposed to wear this for the guys but it’s surprisingly comfy.
“Remind me to stop by in the morning more often,” he says and I bite my tongue to stop myself from retorting.
Tucker is a wild card and it’s hard to predict what could offend him, besides his bio is non existent. All I know is what I’ve learnt in our few interactions, which isn’t a hell of a lot.
“What are you doing here?” I ask politely, walking over to my coffee pot and inhaling the scent. I might have refrained from drinking it too often before, but I have a cup most mornings nowadays.
“We drew straws and I got you seeing as I’m one of the few without a few regulars,” his words make me pause, are they supposed to make sense to me?
“Drew straws for what?”
“Taking you into town to pick out a dress, you’re going to a party Thirty-Four,” my eyes search his face but he isn’t giving anything away.
“I have an entire closet full of dresses, you’re safe to bow out,” I hate shopping yet I can imagine this will be worse than anything I’ve experienced before.
“No, you have to pick a new dress to match your mask, it’s a masquerade ball after all,” his voice drops another octave and I c
an’t help but imagine what he and the rest of the Harkwrights will look like in a suit.
“Why did you draw straws?”
“The Prince only trusts a few of us not to touch you, we had to decide which unlucky bastard will have to do it. Guess I lost.”
“He trusts you, I guess he…” I take a deep breath to steady my nerves. “He doesn’t know what you did with me and that ice?”
“Sorry Thirty-Four, I haven’t got a clue what you mean,” he arches a brow and I’m thrown.
He is so convincing he almost has me believing I imagined what happened in his room. I say almost because I don’t think even my mind could have dreamed that up.
“Get dressed, I haven’t got all day,” he smirks and I can’t help but walk off with a little more attitude than necessary. Better than slapping his pompous ass, does he have to be so infuriating?
I pull out a romper and tie my hair back into a braid, before slipping on my sandals and I make my way back to him. He barely even looks at me before opening the door and walking off. I wish I could slam the door closed behind him and in my mind I am. Unfortunately in reality, I follow close behind until we leave the Academy and climb into a limousine with tinted windows, a mini fridge and a driver in the front with the Mountain sitting beside him.
“Can’t we just walk there?” I ask as I stare straight ahead, watching as the divider slides into place.
“I said we were going to town, not which one. Now sit back and let me relax,” he says dismissively as he pulls out his phone and ignores me for the rest of the car ride.
It feels beyond awkward and I’m riding so much tension that I practically fall out the door, the moment we come to a stop. I’m even contemplating kissing the ground in relief. Thankfully I’m not going to, I’m not that crazy... yet.
Tucker strolls to me, grips my elbow and leads me down the sidewalk until we come to a boutique that houses gowns so beautiful I don’t even want to try one on. I can’t pull them off, but I know my opinion doesn’t mean a damn thing.
“What do you think?” He asks and I can’t keep the surprise off my face and he shoots me a smirk.
“This is far from the kind of place I would choose, honestly I don’t think there is a single gown in there that I will feel comfortable in,” my eyes flick repeatedly across his eyes as he strokes his hand across his chin.
“I’ll make you a deal, try on the three dresses that we’ve selected for you and if you don’t find a winner,” he steps closer, his smirk growing in width. “Well, I’ll let you pick the store and the outfit for the ball and I won’t veto at all. What do you say Tiny One, are you game?”
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” I say as his hand envelopes mine and I don’t miss the electricity that shoots up my arm. Although I will pretend that it hasn’t affected me or my psyche on any level. Nope, I’m utterly immune to the Harkwright charm…
He leads me into the boutique and I don’t miss the way the assistants are practically drooling over him. I may as well be invisible right now, they’re certainly making me feel that way.
“Mr. Harkwright, what a pleasure it is to have you in our store,” says the pretty little bleach blonde-haired girl. Yeah definitely not a natural shade, I can see the brown coming through already. When did I become so catty?
“Good morning, could you please show us to your dressing room, ensure the dresses are ready to be tried on and the closed sign is showing on the door. Your store will be open for us only, until I leave.” He barks out and she nearly falls over herself getting everything done.
She leads us to a room with three changing rooms within it and an open area surrounded by mirrors and a comfy sofa for Tucker to relax on.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” She asks as she trails her hand across his shoulder and his eyes flick to it.
“My friend here is the jealous sort, I’d keep your hands to yourselves if you want to keep them.”
He says it so coldly that even I believe him and her eyes shoot to me as I give her a smile, and she slowly backs away before pulling the curtain on us and leaving me and Tucker well and truly alone.
“Your dresses are waiting,” he says, turning to face me head on and I have to fight the urge to take a step back.
“O-okay, I’ll t-take them into the n-nearest room,” damn my stammering, it always happens when I can’t afford it to. Like in the presence of a Harkwright for instance.
“No, you’ll get changed out here. I’m not missing a single second of it,” he replies as he snatches hold of my wrist within his hand and my blood thrums beneath the surface.
“P-please,” I don’t know what I’m begging for, but I’m hoping he will and he’ll acquiescence all the same.
“I’ll let you keep your back to me,” my breathing settles out until he pulls me closer and grips my chin with his free hand, “but only for the first one, if I have to go clothes shopping, I’m going to get something good out of it for myself. That or I’ll take the fake blonde up on her offer of hospitality,” I don’t know if he means it but it irks me, nonetheless.
I pull out of his grip and he lets me go without a fight as I pick up the first dress and slide the straps of my romper down my arms until I’m free and it’s gathered around my hips. His eyes are burning into my skin as I turn around, release the clasp and let the material fall down to my ankles. Maybe I’m imagining the hiss I hear from him as he takes in the thong, but I hope I’m not and that hope scares me. I shouldn’t want these men to want me, so why do I? Why do I hate that Aeron is getting his thrills elsewhere or how Tucker can bring me to the brink before dismissing me in an instant? What the fuck is wrong with me?
Self destruction? Fuck I think that could be the reason why. I’ve wanted Cole for so long and now that I have the chance, I’m biting at the quick to tell him no and practically throw myself to the mercy of the Harkwright devils. All of them deserve that title, not just Emmet, all except from Maddox but he’s still a Harkwright and I can’t allow myself to feel anything but animosity for them all.
The problem is I can’t control my body’s reaction to these men or the way my panties end up soaked whenever Aeron or Tucker are close to me, but I can stop myself from dreaming or hoping for anything more. If that’s what I want, a relationship, someone to love and to be loved by then Cole is the only person I need. Although, I need to find out why he was ever in the Academy. Because if he’s a Harkwright, then I may have to say goodbye to him after all.
Ridding myself of these thoughts, I slide the gown over my head and unceremoniously pull it down and over my frame before it kisses the floor. I iron out the creases with the side of my hand before looking in the mirror and I fucking hate it. I turn around to show Tucker and his face scrunches up, I can’t contain my laughter and his death glare only makes it worse.
“What is so funny?” he barks out at me and I have tears streaming down my face, it really doesn’t deserve this reaction but now it’s started, I can’t seem to stop.
He’s in front of me in moments and gripping my shoulders, he spins me around until I’m facing the mirror once more and I take in deep breaths to put an end to my laughing fit once and for all.
“This dress is all kinds of wrong,” I say breathlessly as our eyes connect through the mirror, but he isn’t saying a damn thing in reply.
It’s gold and covered in sequins, with a neckline that ends at my belly button, and I’m not even exaggerating. One wrong move and everyone will be well acquainted with my breasts. It cinches in around my hips - which aren’t so nonexistent now that I’m able to eat three meals a day - and falls to my ankles with a slit that travels all the way to my panty line. Like fuck will I ever wear this.
“You’re right, this is all kinds of wrong,” he says and I’m surprised with how easily he agrees with me. I knew by his face that he didn’t like it either, but I guess I was expecting some ridicule of something at my expense. “Although,” my heart rate ratchets as his hand drops from my shoulders, g
lides around my waist and rests on my bare stomach. “It does have its appeal.”
My eyes are riveted to his hand, as he slides it up over my flushed skin. Moving so damn slow until he gets to the bottom of my bra and with a deft flick of his fingers, has it popping open. My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I wait to see what he’ll do next, only he doesn't do anything. Instead he chooses to walk away and take his seat on the sofa, while I’m standing here with my chest flushed and my entire body thrumming from the fact that something could have happened in this public space.
“You won’t need a bra for the next two either, come along Thirty-Four and no more keeping your back to me. Not unless you’re planning on touching your toes,” I look over my shoulder at him and his smirk leaves me feeling both annoyed and flustered. I think I hate clothes shopping more now than I ever have before.
Closing my eyes as I turn around to face him and I pull the dress back over my head, my bra joining it on the floor. I know he’s made my body sing and given me my first orgasm but this feels more intimate somehow. I can’t make sense of my mind but I can feel my hands beginning to shake at my side as I slowly reach around blindly for the next dress. Only I don’t stumble upon it, it’s simply placed into my arms without a single word being said.
That one act of kindness from Tucker doesn’t automatically make him the good guy in my mind, but it has helped to put a slight dampener on my nerves and I’m grateful for the reprieve. I slowly open my eyes and find him typing away on his phone and a smile threatens to tug at my lips as I step into the next dress and make quick work of sliding the zipper up at the side. I look at myself in the mirror once I’m done and I’m shocked at how perfect it really is.
