Page 145 of Dare To Fall

I brush her hand off me, and glance down at Ari. “What do you think? Do you want to play with her, Kitten?”

“I’m not gay,” Lacy says before Ari can speak.

“You said, you’d do anything I want. What if I want to give you to Ari as a pet?” I glance around, looking for Miles. “Do you still have that collar and leash I gave you?”

“Probably. Somewhere.”

“Lacy here wants to be our new pet.”

“No, wait. I never said that.”

“You said, anything I want. I want to give my girl here the chance to pay you back for all the shit you’ve done to her.”

Lacy’s cheeks turn red. She takes a step back, smile dropping away. “Fuck you.”

I look her up and down, then smile. “Not in this lifetime.” I guide Arabella past her and out into the hallway.

“Do you want to grab your art stuff and bring it to the room I’m working in?”

Arabella shakes her head. “The two girls I’m sharing a room with aren’t cheerleaders. I’ve never had any problems with them before. I think I’ll be okay.”

“I don’t like you being alone.”

“The room I use is off the main art studio. Mr. McIntyre is in there the entire time. I won’t be alone. I won’t leave until one of you come and meet me.”

“I’m in the main studio, so I’ll be nearby,” Miles adds, coming up beside me. “Garrett is in computer studies with Kellan. The only one who’ll be alone is you.”

I laugh. “I’ll be fine.”

“What if more than one of them corners you.”

“I’d like to see them try.”

“Don’t be too overconfident, Eli,” he persists. “I think you should stay in the room until we come for you.”

I look from him to Ari, who’s nodding. “You agree with him?”

“He’s right. You are the only one who will be alone.”

I reach out and cup her cheek. “Okay. I’ll stay there until you come for me. I’ll keep the door locked and text you once I get there.” I kiss her lips, savoring the contact, then draw away. “Deal?”

She curls her fingers into the front of my shirt and drags me back to her. “Promise me you’ll stay there until we come for you.” Her voice is fierce.

I run my nose along hers. “I promise.”

We part ways outside the main building, and I turn toward the building where my sculpture is while the others go in the opposite direction to the art studio and computer science department. As I skirt the side of the gymnasium, someone calls my name. I turn just as Jace runs around the corner. He skids to a stop a few feet away.

“I need to talk to you.”

“Fuck off.”

“Seriously, Eli. I need to—”

“If you don’t turn around and disappear, the beating I gave you back home will look like fucking foreplay.” I take a step toward him.

“Eli—”

“One.” Another step puts me within arm’s reach.

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