Page 221 of Forbidden Lessons

Chapter 65

Haven

My fingers dig into the carpet as my body bobs back and forth. The fire paints warm orange light over my eyelids, my lips, my cheeks, my neck.

So fucking glorious.

So fucking luxurious.

I should be melting into the floor. The air stirs, bringing me a hint of Bastian’s scent.

Bourbon. Rain-soaked earth.

There’s a faint clink beside me, then another.

Clink.

Such an insidious sound.

I should’ve opened my eyes, but it’s already too late.

Clink.

Clink…clink, clink-clink-clink-clink-clink-clink

The collar around my throat snaps tight, and on instinct, I grab it. I tilt my head back, gaping at Bastian, my gaze sliding to where he has the chain wrapped around his fist.

“Up!” He tugs hard, the collar hitting me just below my chin, its chain digging into the flesh spun tight over my jawbone. I snatch the metal links, trying to pull back, but he’s stronger, and it hurts too much to resist.

I stand, wavering on my feet.

Confusion washes over me. There’s something in Bastian’s eyes, this kind of desperate hunger, and that shouldn’t be there. Not with?—

Where’s Kai?

I whip my head to the door, my hand sliding over my mouth. God, I have such a vivid memory of him coming through the door, covered in blood.

When I turn back to Bastian, he’s watching me with a bemused smile. “I don’t like this,” I whisper.

“What?” He strokes the edge of the collar, then slides a finger behind it, tightening it even more. “This?”

I grab his wrist. “The drugs. They’re making me see things.”

“What things?” He starts moving his finger from side to side.

“I thought.” I swallow, and he pauses like he’s feeling my throat move. “I thought someone was here.”

Bastian laughs. “Would I dothisif someone was here?” He tugs at the collar, drawing us together, his other hand cupping my breast through the soft hoodie.

I gasp at the contact, and then arch into it, intohim.

But he pulls away almost immediately, flicking my hardened nipple with his finger.

“Put this on.”

My eyes flicker to the thing dangling from his hand.

A black, satin sleep mask.

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