Page 107 of Dare To Take

Kellan doesn’t even hesitate.

“What? No!” She twists in my grip, trying to evade Kellan’s hands as they reach for her jeans. “Stop. Stop it!” He pops open the button and slides down the zipper. “No! Please! I’ll go with you!”

She’s panting, chest heaving, and I can almost taste the fear seeping out of her. I bite the lobe of her ear, and a small cry of pain leaves her lips. Smiling, I lick over the marks I’ve left. “Don’t force my hand, Princess. I always keep my promises.”

A few short weeks ago, I would have been bluffing.

Now, though? Now, she’s killed everything I felt for her.

Now I just want her to bleed as much as I am.

“I’ll go with you. Just don’t … please, don’t …” Her voice is shaking as hard as her body.

“Then fucking start walking.” I swipe up one of the coffee cups, leaving Kellan to pick up the other two and wave a hand toward the doors. “Move, Arabella.”

Her shoulders hunch and her head bows and I wonder if she’ll try and bolt, but she sets off toward the doors without another word. I’m close on her heels, Kellan at my side. Once we’re outside, she stops.

“Keep walking,” I tell her, and press a hand to her back to urge her forward.

When we reach the spot where she gave me the drugged coffee, I curl my fingers into the back of her top and jerk her to a stop.

“Turn around.”

She turns to face me.

I pop the lid off the coffee cup, reach into my pocket and pull out a small packet. Tearing it open with my teeth, I empty the contents into the cup, secure the lid back into place and swirl it, mixing the powder into the drink.

“Take it.” I hold it out.

“What is it?” Her lips are quivering.

“Drink it.” I ignore her question.

“Tell me what’s in it.”

“Drink it,” I repeat, my voice flat.

“No.”

“Kellan, hold her mouth open.”

My friend moves up behind her and winds an arm around her waist. “I warned you, Bella,” he says quietly. “I warned you not to fucking bait him.”

“Don’t do this.” Her tears are flowing now, spilling down her cheeks. “Please, Eli. Don’t make me drink it.”

My hand doesn’t move, the drink between us. “You either take it and down it, or I’ll pour it down your throat until you fucking choke.”

Kellan’s hand wraps around her jaw, tipping her head back. I walk forward and pinch her nose closed. She throws out a hand, wildly trying to knock the cup from my hand. I lift it high above her head.

Kellan’s hand slips down to her throat and he gives a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry, Bella. But I warned you what would happen. You crossed a line, and there are consequences.”

She tries to hold her breath, to keep her mouth closed, and she succeeds for all of a minute, but then her lips part on a gasp. Kellan moves fast, holding her mouth open, and I pour the cooling coffee into her mouth. She coughs, splutters, and gags, trying to spit it out, but I press my hand over her mouth, forcing her to swallow, then repeat the action until the entire cup is empty.

I pat her cheek. “Good girl. I hope you have a nice day.” An alarm goes off on my cell. “You should hurry. You’re going to be late for math.”

Nodding to Kellan, he releases her, and we both walk away, leaving her crying and coughing on the path.

Chapter 66

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