Page 44 of Their Will be Done

I took a quick peek at my ass in the restroom mirror after making sure there wasn’t anyone else in one of the stalls. Surprisingly, it isn’t as bruised as it feels. Was it because Zachary kept massaging it while—?

Oh no, Trinity.Hellno. Your thoughts will remain pure as freshly fallen snow today.

“Want to walk together?” Jasper asks.

“Uh…sure,” I manage while battling my shock. Dear Lord, I don’t think I can take any more surprises today. I already feel like I’m walking a razor’s edge.

Jasper stands, wincing faintly, and then sticks out his hand.

“What?”

He glares at me.

I cringe back when he darts forward and tries to grab my hand. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not going to rape you,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Just…give me your fucking hand.”

As soon as I give it to him, he hauls me up from the bed.

Halfway down the hall I eventually find my voice. “What’s up, Jasper?” I try for casual, but I have no idea if he falls for it.

“Shut up and look like you’re in love with me or something.”

I barely suppress a snort. Everyone in Saint Amos is on the fucking spectrum. Must be the stuffy air in this place.

Jasper’s palm sweats against mine, and he keeps shifting his grip as if he’s not sure if he’s holding my hand right. We draw more than a few eyes on our way down to the church, and no wonder. He’s wearing a thousand-yard-glare that could incinerate anyone who happened to cross his view, and I’m alternating between trying to make myself invisible and keep an eye on Jasper to make sure he’s not about to jump out a window—with me in tow.

By the time we get to the chapel, there’s a small group of boys tagging along behind us.

You’d think it couldn’t get more awkward than this, but then Perry enters the picture.

Jasper stops short. I glance at him and immediately turn to see what he’s looking at with a face that suddenly turned to stone.

Not what.Who.

Perry’s standing under one of the trees dotting the lawn between Saint Amos and the chapel. Hewasheading our way, but as I watch he slows down. A second later he stops, watching us with owlish eyes as Jasper heads for the chapel again.

“Aren’t you going to—?”

“Don’t be an idiot,” he mutters, tugging me after him. I give Perry a timid wave, but he either doesn’t see me or decides not to draw any more attention to himself because he doesn’t wave back.

I couldn’t be happier when we step inside the chapel’s cool shadows. I aim for the pew closest to the door but Jasper tightens his grip and hauls me down the aisle like this is our own shotgun wedding.

I guess morning prayers aren’t compulsory for staff but Sunday mass is because today the pews are crammed full.

I spot all four members of the Brotherhood as Jasper hauls me down the aisle. Apollo is on the other side of the church in the second row, nestled between a bunch of men I assume all work in the kitchen. Cass and Rube are sitting with the students.

Judging from the way they’re staring at me, the fact that my roommate is holding my hand doesn’t sit well.

I should probably mention to Jasper that holding my hand isn’t going to make anyone believe he’s suddenly into girls. What it will do is get him into a ton of shit for dragging me around like he just bought me at a slave auction.

We sit in the second row behind the teachers with Zachary less than a yard to the left. It feels like he’s the only one in the entire church who hasn’t been watching me since I walked in.

Somehow, that makes me more nervous than if he’d been staring like his brothers.

The bruise on his jaw is barely noticeable now. I’m sure if it was still visible, he wouldn’t have dared to show his face this morning.

I wince when my ass hits the pew. Although Zachary’s spanking didn’t bruise my skin as much as I’d thought it would, it still hurts like hell. Especially on these hard seats.

---