Page 297 of Bad for Me

Her eyes met mine, and the tears flowed again. Holding her close, I stroked her back and assured her I would never let anyone hurt her again. The next person who tried would end up dead.

22

NATALIE

Oliver backedme against his desk, pinning me in. “I’ve got to get ready. I can’t be late for graduation.”

“What were you looking for in the closet?” he asked, raising his brow.

I shrugged, hating that he’d caught me. “Nothing.”

He pulled down the top of my sundress, exposing one breast. I jumped when his fingers slapped the nipple, not seeing it coming. “You said no bruises that people could see.”

“Ollie, please.”

He smacked it again, and I glared at him, knowing I’d done this to myself.

“We’re not in the bedroom,” I whined, and warmth pooled between my legs.

He brought his hand up to hit me again. I dug my fingers into the edge of the desk, knowing I’d be in big trouble if I blocked him. It didn’t matter where I needed to go or that I was already running a little late for check in.

My core ached. “Sir, please,” I shuddered as he used his tongue to soothe the pain in my breast.

“Kitten, what were you looking for?” He drew my nipple into his mouth before releasing it with a pop. “Don’t brat, it doesn’t look good on you.”

“I heard you talking about my graduation present.” I gave him a small, innocent smile. “I was curious.”

He smirked. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“No, sir.” He brought my attention to something that was, though, as he adjusted himself.

He lifted the top of my dress back into place. “Now go finish your makeup.”

I smiled as he stepped back to let me go. When I sashayed by him, he smacked my ass.

“Be good,” he scolded.

Heading back into our room, I felt butterflies again. After what happened with Coach Wolfe, I’d only gone back to my dorm long enough to pack and move in with Oliver. I still called him sir or professor when we were in the bedroom, but it was Ollie everywhere else.

As much as it pained him to trade his favorite class with a colleague, neither one of us wanted to hide our relationship. We didn’t flaunt it, we just enjoyed lunch in his office. Long lunches that usually had us both late for our next classes, but extremely satisfied.

They couldn’t find any evidence that Coach Wolfe raped me, but they’d found video of the abduction and me being held in his basement. It was all they needed to send him away. Other girls came forward and, with all the charges, he would probably never see the light of day again. It also let me get a feel of how big and how far of a reach the Elite had.

Oliver still punished and tortured me on a regular basis, but I’d learned so much about myself in the process and every time I thought I couldn’t come harder, he proved me wrong.

“Natalie,” he called from the living room.

I hurried and finished my makeup. My gown was already pressed and in the car, ready to go. I slipped my heels on, made sure my dress covered the red marks he’d left on my breast and headed to the living room.

“What the fuck?” I brought my hands up to cover my mouth. Oliver was down on one knee on the faux bear skin rug where he’d made love to me last night.

“Kitten,” he growled, and I clamped my legs together. He didn’t like it when I cussed, and I’d pay for that slip later.

“Yes, sir.”

He took my hand. “I never thought I’d find my equal. Natalie, I know I’ve made you mine in almost every way, and I’d like to take this leap with you.”

I was tempted to use my safe word, but he knew my limits better than I knew them myself. He was always pushing them, but he’d back off if I needed it. This, though, I’d jump off the cliff with him without a second thought.

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