Page 38 of The Cruelty of Thorns

“I like this one, Anastacia,” he chirped. “He’s got a sweet ass and from the way you screamed, his tongue can work magic. I can’t wait to have him suck me off.”

“He lacks your stamina,” she said. “I usually have him sent to his room after feeding.”

“Well, I’m sure we won’t kill him if we play a little longer. Humans are resilient, for the most part. And if we break him, there are always more.”

I was lost in a haze of overstimulation, barely comprehending their exchange. My eyes fluttered shut, as though leaving them open was beyond the capacity of my strength.

“I believe you’ve ruined him for tonight,” the Contessa’s voice wafted around me. “Why don’t you come over here and fuck me?”

I felt Christopher’s weight release me as he crawled across the bed, and was vaguely aware of them rutting beside me, but I was beyond caring by that point. After a while someone slapped my face and tried to jostle me awake, but I didn’t have the energy to respond. The last thing I remember was Christopher’s oath of “well bugger that,” and someone lifting me off the bed.

CHAPTER 18

MYRA

A bond is formed

I AWOKE BEFORE my alarm went off and stretched lazily in the bed. My first thought was of Ron, and I couldn’t help but smile. Though my end of the evening hadn’t gone as planned, he didn’t seem to mind and instead was interested in spending more time with me. I thought about the weekend plans for the lake and how for the first time in a long time I had something to look forward to.

I showered and got ready for class quickly, anxious to start the day. Even Kristin’s teasing couldn’t spoil my good mood. A mood that was improved further when I got to my first class and a message popped up on my phone.

Ron: How are you this morning?

Myra: Fine. How are you?

Ron: Good. Lunch today?

Myra: Okay. I get out of class at 1

Ron: Meet you in the cafeteria then. TTYL

I smiled to myself as I tucked the phone into my purse. A date for dinner last night and one for lunch today? I was thinking things couldn’t get much better until I opened my notebook. My mood darkened when I saw my own drawing staring back from the page.

Julianus.

The kiss in the hallway last night. His words to me. I don’t like seeing you with him. What did he mean when he said we’d see about that after I told him it wasn’t up to him? Why was he suddenly everywhere I went like he was totally fixated on me? I was finally starting to get my life together and I really wanted to give this thing with Ron a chance, but that was hard to do with Julianus popping up all the time.

I decided then and there that the next time I saw him I’d tell him I wasn’t interested and to leave me alone.

Unless he kissed me again. That kiss…

I couldn’t deny it had left me breathless. Just thinking about it caused me to squirm in my seat. I would just have to make sure I didn’t let him do it again.

Not that I had given him permission last night. I had a feeling Julianus was the type of man who took what he wanted. Why he wanted me I had no idea, but I couldn’t deny I had felt something between us from that first look in the bar. And every time after that, whenever he was around, I felt it on my skin and the skittering of my pulse.

It was sexual tension, pure and simple, but that wasn’t enough to build a relationship on. And who’s to say a relationship was what he wanted anyway. He probably just saw me as a conquest, one he would forget about once I gave in to him.

No, best to stick to my resolve and tell him that, while I was flattered by his attention, I wasn’t interested in anything else from him.

As long as he didn’t kiss me again.

♦ ♦ ♦

Ron was waiting for me outside the cafeteria when I arrived after my last class. Since the lunch rush was almost over, we got our food quickly and had our choice of tables. He led me to one in the corner as far away from the door as possible.

“Hopefully we’ll have some privacy here,” he remarked as we sat down. “I don’t mind eating in the cafeteria, it’s just that it isn’t the easiest place to have a conversation.”

I stilled, suddenly wary. What kind of conversation did he want to have? He must have noticed my change in demeanor because his eyes widened and he shook his head.

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