Page 66 of Groupthink

I shuddered at the sensation. I couldn’t escape.

I didn’t want to escape.

His voice went even softer; dangerous and delicate. “All I have to do…” his light touch descended to my chin, traced my jaw, and brushed the column of my neck. “Is take off this towel…”

My back was against the wall. My chest heaved with the thrill of being alive.

And Grayson snuck two thick fingers into the fabric of the towel and gave it a tug.

It crumpled to the floor with aflump.

My nipples puckered as the cool air kissed my damp flesh. Goosebumps crawled up my arms, my stomach, my legs. I wanted to get this over with, but at the same time, I wanted it to last forever.

Grayson looked up and down my body and his mouth dropped open.

That shut him up.

That’s what I thought,I thought smugly. Wait, where did that confidence come from? I was used to Disgrace beating me down—

“You’ve gained weight,” Grayson sneered, as if to cover for his momentary lapse in control.

My confidence wilted under his looming presence.

He could do anything he wanted to me in that moment, and I’d let him.

Just for a chance for him to shine on me again, to approve of me, towantme…

His lips were headed for mine, and I squeezed my eyes shut, longing for it. I needed his kisses, his touch all over me to validate me. To assure me I was back on track; to undo the mistake I made last night. I knew I was making a mistake, but this whole weekend had been about mistakes; what was one more?

“AHHH!” Effie screamed, launching herself down the hallway clutching her hot pink YAAAS QUEEN pillow.

Grayson only had time to turn his head and look before she whacked him in the face.

“What the—?!”

“GET OUT! OUT!” she cried, whacking him over and over.

He held his arms over his head to defend himself, but that didn’t stop Effie’s barrage of blows.

“Jesus! Fine—”

“DID I STUTTER?!” Effie shrieked.

“YOU!” whack!

“ARE!” whack!

“NOT!” whack!

“WELCOME!” whack!

“IN!” whack!

“THIS!” whack!

“HOUSE!”

Whack! Whack! Whack!

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