Page 57 of Say It Slowly

I flash him a confused look. “Know better than towhat, talk to someone? You know, this is really starting to feel like a cult—”

Roman steps up to me, pressing me against the wall with his large body. “You just put that guy in danger, Lux, but I’m sure you fucking knew that.”

“Why would he be in danger? That’s a bit dramatic,” I say. “I approached him, not the other way around. Everyone saw that.”

“It’s blatant disrespect, Lux, and that shit just doesn’t fly here. A guy just doesn’t sit back and let his chick talk to other guys. Now something has to be done about it.”

What the fuck kind of caveman shit isthat? “He doesn’t even attend ExU,” I say, rolling my eyes. “So he doesn’t know about you and me. Besides, I was just talking to him. Obviously nothing scandalous happened, so there’s no score to settle. You can chill.”

He inches even closer, so his lower half is touching mine, pressing me harder against the concrete wall. He lowers his head, so his face is right up in mine. “You don’t get it, do you? You’re a part of the elite now, and we have rules. Rules that govern every fucking thing you do.”

My heart thuds against my ribcage. “I never asked for this,” I tell him for the millionth time. Maybe one of these days, it’ll get through that thick skull of his.

“Neither did I,” he says through gritted teeth. “And yet here we are.”

“And what if I don’t want to follow your rules?” I ask.

He stares down at me with so much disdain, I wonder where it came from? If I piss him off so much, then why keep doing this? Why not cut me loose?

“Then I guess I’ll have to show you what happens when you don’t,” he says ominously.

Uh. What the fuck doesthatmean? He’s already forced me into a relationship with him, lured me into fucking him, taken my dorm room away…what else is there?

“Maybe I should just take you right here,” he continues. “Show your new little friend who you belong to.”

Uh….shit. “I think he knows that by now.”

Dipping his head, Roman brushes his lips over my eyelids, then my cheek, and finally my lips, just a featherlight touch meant to entice. “Knowing itandseeing itare two different things.”

I have a sinking feeling this isn’t an idle threat. He would absolutely fuck me in front of all these people—who are, at this moment, craning their necks to look out the windows and see what’s happening.

I tilt my head. “Are they two different things, though? I think they’re mostly the same.”

“You’re so determined to challenge me at every-fucking-turn,” he says against my lips. “And I’ve played nice. But maybe it’s time I show you that shit like this isn’t cool.”

He’s beenplaying nicethis whole time? The Roman I’ve known is rough, and bossy, and a complete asshole. If all I’ve seen so far is hisniceside, then I’m seriously fucked.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Roman

Her smell surrounds me,and my heart is pounding. I’m pissed at what she pulled inside the restaurant, deliberately goading me into exactly what’s happening now. But she has to learn that her actions have a ripple effect. Everything she says, and does, have consequences.

She swallows, and turns her head away from me, like she’s afraid I’ll kiss her. And maybe I will, just to prove a point. “So what’s it going to be, Little Rabbit? Are you ready to take your punishment?”

My cock twitches at the thought of putting her in her place. My anger only feeds the white-hot need burning through my veins. I’m desperate to feel her soft curves under my palms.

Earlier, in the study, not touching her was nearly impossible. The self-control that took was Herculean. And now that I have her alone, and so damn close, I don’t know if I’m capable of stopping myself.

She looks up at me and swallows. Whatever her next words are going to be, I can tell they’re costing her. “I’m…sorry,” she stammers. “I shouldn’t have involved someone else in this.”

Fuck.I wanted her to push back, and deny that what she did was wrong, because, then, I could excuse what happens next. I could pretend that fucking her in front of everyone was about control, and not about the all-consuming need to taste her again.

“It’s too late for that, Little Rabbit. The damage is done.”

Her eyelids flutter. “I’ll go in…and…apologize to Elliot. I’ll take responsibility in front of everyone.”

I clench my jaw, anger mutating into a twisted sort of rage. She’s still pressed against the wall, blinking up at me with those large doe eyes. “A-are you okay?” she asks.

---