Page 8 of Their Offering

Lillian

I blinked rapidly as I woke, only to find myself in my own bed. How did I manage to make it home last night? Did someone find me and help me?

I pressed my lips together and looked around for any sign of what could have happened last night. My eyes stopped on my wrists, both of which had faint red markings ringing them.

I shot up. There was no way all of that really happened, right? Princes of Hell appearing out of nowhere, and one of them having their way with me? I had been crazy drunk, and clearly, something had happened. I just didn’t know what that something was.

“Oh my god,” I muttered as I threw the covers off my legs and stood up. I fell to my knees when the soreness between my legs hit me. “What the fuck?” I whispered.

My door opened, and I let out a startled scream, my hand clutching my heart, feeling as if it was going to leap out of my chest.

“Whoa, girl.” Katie entered my room laughing, her hands up in surrender. “My bad. I totally didn’t mean to scare the shit out of you. I was worried when I never heard from you last night.”

As I slowly stood, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, scrolling through the numerous texts and calls from my best friend. “Sorry. I went for a walk, and next thing I knew….” I shrugged.

She laughed in disbelief and grabbed my wrists. “Went for a walk, huh?” She gestured to the red marks and gave me a wink. “Must’ve been some walk. Looks to me like you got a littletied up.” She quirked a brow as she waited for my response.

I pulled my wrists away, feeling a blush creep to my cheeks. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Trust me.”

She laughed. “I always knew you were kinky.” I almost corrected her, but thankfully, she changed topics. “So, have you heardanythingback from all those applications we put in?”

It wasn’t my ideal topic, but it was better than the alternative.

I had been searching for a job for a while. No one in this town wanted to hire me, though, thanks to being Margaret Stallard’s daughter. My mom had a reputation, and that was ruining my life.

I rolled my eyes and turned to my dresser, picking out some comfy clothes. I deserved sweats and a T-shirt. I was sore in spots I didn’t even know existed. “Don’t even go there. I’m never going to get anything in this fucking town, Katie. I’m stuck. I’ll probably end up just like my mom. It’s what everyone’s waiting for anyway.” I bit my lower lip to keep from crying.

“I didn’t mean to….” She let out a breath. “Let’s just hang out today, okay? I don’t work until four, so you have me all to yourself until then. You look like you could use some girl time.”

I caught my reflection in the mirror on my wall. Geez, I looked rough. I looked like a damn truck ran me over and then backed up. I needed more than girl time.

I nodded. “Yeah. Okay.” I pulled off my shirt and jeans from the night before.

“Holy shit, Lilly. What the fuckdidyou do last night?” Katie was staring at me as if I had grown an extra appendage.

I looked down at my body, only to find light purplish bruises on my hips and thighs. I took a few deep breaths, trying to keep myself calm. Those spots were exactly where Aiden––.

“Oh my god.” My breath picked up as I began to panic. “Katie, you’re not gonna believe me, but something did happen last night. Something crazy.”

When I finally looked up at her, she nodded her head. “You can tell me anything, Lil. Iwillbelieve you. No matter what. I promise.” She sat on my bed and patted the spot next to her. “Did someone hurt you?” she asked me softly.

I shook my head and shrugged on my sweats before sitting beside her, nervously fiddling with my hands. “No one hurt me. Not like that, at least.” I looked up at her again, terrified to go on, but I had to tellsomeone. She was my best friend—my only friend. I could trust her. “What I’m about to tell you is crazy, and I don’t have a reasonable explanation for it, but I swear it happened.” She would call me a lunatic once I was done, but I had to get this out.

“Spill.”

So, I did. I told Katie everything. She didn’t stop me once, not even when I told her about Aiden and Nicholas and the steamy fiasco on the altar. She let out a long breath once I’d finished.

“Holy shit, Lilly. That sounds…”

“Crazy, I know. I have no explanation, but please believe me. It all felt so real, but I thought it was some crazy dream. Then, I woke up tothis,” I pointed to my wrists and hips, “and I’m not so sure it was just a dream.” I stood before she could respond and began pacing, practically wearing holes in the carpet. I was sure my best friend was about to tell me how nuts I sounded and how I really was going to turn out just like my mom.

“I was gonna say… it sounds incredible.” She gave me a wink. “You’re sure you didn’t have anything extra last night? You were just drunk?”

Ouch. “So… you don’t believe me….”

“Shit. No. That’s not what I meant.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead.

“It’s fine.” I couldn’t keep from sounding sharp and irritated.

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