Page 81 of Dare To Break

“Sounds riveting.”

“Has its perks. I can always come and scrub your back for you.”

“I’m good, thanks. You could get food, though, and I’ll be there soon.”

“Done deal!”

I cut the call, and head out of the building. There’s a cluster of girls just ahead of me, giggling and whispering to each other, and as I pass them, one steps into my path.

“Eli, right?”

I walk around her without responding. She catches my sleeve and trots alongside me.

“The Halloween party was announced this morning.” She pauses as though I’m supposed to reply to her. I don’t, and after a second, she carries on talking. “I wanted to know if you have a date. If you haven’t, and you’re interested, I’d really like to … you know … go with you?”

I stop and swing to face her. My gaze sweeps over her from head to toe and back again. She’s pretty enough. Short red hair, curvy, freckles coating her cheeks and nose. “You want me to take you to the Halloween party?”

She nods, lips curving up into a smile, a hint of pink coating her cheeks.

“Why?”

Her smile falters. “What?”

“Why? In all the years we’ve been in this school together, you’ve never spoken to me. So … why?”

“Because …” Her tongue sweeps across her lips. Interesting. It doesn’t give me the same kick as when Arabella does it. “Because I like you?”

“Are you asking me or telling me?”

She presses her lips together, then nods. “I like you.” Her lashes drop. “I’ve always liked you.”

I snort. “Sure. Always, as in before I became the black sheep of the school, or always as in after when I became a little more dangerous?”

The pink in her cheeks fires up into a deep red.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I step closer, anger simmering beneath the surface of my skin. I know what she really wants, and it isn’t Eli Travers. “Did you want to fuck the Monster of Churchill Bradley? Do you want to claim you survived a night with me? Do you want to show all your girlfriends the marks I leave on your body? The handprints, the bites?”

I take another step until I’m crowding into her space. To her credit, she doesn’t back away, and her breasts press against my chest. My dick doesn’t react at all. I lift a hand and twirl a lock of her hair around one finger. “What’s your name?”

“Carmel.”

“Well, Carmel, I like the color red, so that’s one thing in your favor.”

Her smile returns.

“And blood would look so pretty against your skin, don’t you think?”

Her smile drops away.

“I could make you bleed and then lick it off while you suck my dick. What do you say?”

“That’s … No. That’s disgusting.”

I tilt my head. “Is it? I bet your pussy is wet just thinking about being naked in my bed, while I run a knife across your stomach. I’d cut off your panties, maybe fuck you with the handle. Give you a real story to tell your friends the day after. Would you like that … Carmel?”

She stumbles backward, eyes wide, face pale. “You really are a monster, Eli Travers. It’s no wonder no one wants to be near you!”

Aggression boils through my veins at the accusation and my smile is a baring of teeth. “Run away, little girl. Before this monster decides he’s hungry.” I spin away and continue along the path toward the dorm building.

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