Page 317 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Screw that—he looks good enough to eat in his slim-fit tuxedo, biceps bulging against his shirt, bow tie at a roguish angle. I think his hair was meant to be slicked back tonight, but he’s obviously been pawing at it like he does, because it’s all over the fucking place.

Without realizing it, I move closer to him. At first, it’s as if I’m trying to find a quiet space in the busy kitchen. Circulating around the other kids like a leaf on the surface of a rippling river.

Briar was in the small lounge area a few steps down from the kitchen. But the closer I move to him, the closer he moves to me.

We meet on the steps, and in a second I’m against the wall again.

But this time, he doesn’t lift me up. His head is down, his mouth by my ear, and his hands are on my hips, holding me in place.

“Iwillbe your first,” he says to me.

A shudder races through me. He touches my chin, levers my head up. “And if that’s not tonight, then I’ll wait.”

My stomach bottoms out. How the fuck could I ever have thought he was capable of anything Addy said he was? He might be rough around the edges, but Prince Briar’s only ever been?—

Rough?

Cruel?

Brutal?

More importantly, how on earth am I supposed to entrap him into committing a crime when he’s just told me he’ll wait until I’m ready? I can’t do this. Any of this. My mind is in tatters.

I squeeze closed my eyes and turn my head away. “I have to go,” I murmur.

He wraps his hands over my shoulders, but I shove them off.

“Wait,” he says.

The command goes straight to my legs without involving my brain.

“I need you, Indi.”

I hear his words, but they’re gibberish. Heneedsme? For what? So he can get off?

I shake my head, but he catches hold of my chin and stops me. “If I can’t have you tonight, then at least let me taste you.”

Kissing? I glance away.

This, apparently, counts as consent in Briar’s world. I barely have time for a yell before he’s pulling me after him.

For a frantic, panicked moment I think he’s dragging me back upstairs, and I almost dig in my heels.

But then he detours down a side hallway, opens a door, pulls me inside, and slams it shut behind me.

A bathroom.

Pristine, sparkling and shit…but it’s still a fucking bathroom.

“Briar, I’m not?—”

He shoves a finger against my mouth. And then his hand is up the skirt of my dress, grabbing my pussy.

Fingers raking over my skin, he gathers my dress and hikes it up to my waist.

Shit. None of this is going to plan anymore. Addy doesn’t know where I am, I don’t know where she is?—

Briar yanks down my underwear so hard, the fabric leaves burning tracks down my thighs. He holds up the sliver of blue lace and considers it before turning his icy eyes onto me.

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