Page 133 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“Want more?” Mason asks.

Nim says nothing.

“Beg,” he instructs.

Seniors one table over start laughing.

Nim doesn’t obey. She sends that scathing glare over all three of us, grabs the edge of the table and comes up to her knees, leaning close. “I’ll tell them what you did,” she whispers, breathless, enraged. “When, where,how.”

I grab the leash and yank her close, lifting her chin so I can stare down into her eyes. She grabs onto my thigh to steady herself, and my cock thickens in my lap like it thinks she’s about to start blowing me.

“Then do it, little Nim,” I whisper, stroking my thumb along her bottom lip. “Do it, and see what happens.”

I grab the front of her throat and push her backso hard that she topples onto her side, flashing a pair of black and pink polka-dot panties at us before she can recover and pull down her skirt.

That’s not all I see. The pink S-shaped brand on her pale inner thigh is clearly visible. Suddenly, I’m too aware of all the eyes on her. Everyone who canseewhat we did to Nim.Except, no one knows it was us.

She tugs her dress down so quickly, it’s like she’s been practicing to keep that mark a secret.

I don’t wantanyoneto see that mark. I don’t want anyone to seeher.And when I stand and happen to catch Mason and Silas’ eye, I see that inexplicable possessiveness mirrored on their faces.

“Go to your room,” I instruct her, pointing to the cafeteria’s exit. “And if Ieversee you in such a state of disarray again, I’ll have you suspended.”

Nim wastes no time getting up, but she doesn’t run from the cafeteria like a scared little girl. She pulls her clothes straight, slowly unties the bow around her neck and rips her hair tie out of her braid.My hands curl into fists when she stares me down and slowly starts undoing my braid, one twist at a time. She says nothing—from how the muscles in her neck cord, perhaps she’s too emotional to speak.Her silence, the stony anger on her face, it makes me want to pull her onto my lap and warm up her ass with a few slaps.

“Knox, relax,” Mason murmurs, and perhaps just in time because I was about to launch myself at her, and I know exactly what I would do when I got my hands on her.

“Get out!” I yell, stabbing a finger at the exit.

My voice seems to echo too many times. Hollow, unstable. Nim flinches, but when she backs up, it’s slowly. And when she finally turns and walks out of the cafeteria, it’s with her head held high.

I sit down, reach for my drink, and yank my hand into my lap when I see how it’s shaking. Focusing on my plate for a second, I wait until the tremors have dissipated, and then draw my serviette over my lap and pick up my knife and fork.

“She’s a fucking mess,” Silas says.

“Yes.” I cut a sliver of meat and pause, my wrists resting on the table as I look at each of them in turn. “But she’sourmess. And we need to clean that shit up.”

Chapter 17

Nim

I’m still punching my pillow when Romi lets herself into our room. I stop, my face squashed into the pillowcase, waiting for her to speak. To say something condescending. To be sympathetic. But she says nothing.

Turning my head, I peek over the top of my arm at her. She’s standing by the door, holding a plate and a bowl, no expression on her face. “You’re going to starve,” she says, taking the plates over to our study desks. She puts the bowl down on her table and the plate on mine. “Come eat, Nim.”

I turn my face away and give my pillow another smack, imagining that it’s Knox’s pretty fucking face. “I’m nineteen, not five,” I mutter.

“If you keep this up, you won’t live to see twenty-five.”

She turns in her chair, watching me as I cross the room. I ditched my school uniform as I was walking across the room, tossing each article of clothing as far as I could. My stockings didn’t make it very far—they’re right by the door.

“This place had better have online courses,” I say, giving her a deadpan stare as I plop down in my chair. “Because I amnotgoing out there again.”

“None of this would have happened if you’d brushed your damn hair.”

“Oh my God, really?” I slam my fist into the desk. “They’repickingon me, Romi.”

“Yes, obviously.” She rolls her eyes as she takes a bite of her salad. “And you’ll walk it off like everyone else does.”

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