Page 16 of The King's Maiden
Once Gia found a side road to the private entrance, we stared wide-eyed at the literal fortress beyond the wrought-iron gate.
The guard looked out of place for a college fraternity. Even one with special off-campus housing. Dressed like a secret-service wannabe, he checked my name and scrutinized my face before ushering us through.
As Gia pulled around the circular driveway to let me out, I assured her several times my ride-share app was fully operational. I promised to use it without a second thought if things went south.
When her car pulled away, a tiny flicker of doubt sparked to life inside me. But then, the guard directed me down a path off to the right, and I quickly smothered it.
I’d made it this far.
And I needed to keep going—move toward something instead of running away.Again.
Walking shakily down the cobblestone path, a round structure came into view. Its dark red brick and black accents gave off an eerie vibe, but it was more inviting than the main house behind me. A golden glow illuminating the windows and the music filtering from within its walls made it hauntingly beautiful.
It looked like it fell off a page in one of my dad’s old books.
As I approached, two guys about my age stood flanking the main doors. Dressed head-to-toe in black, they didn’t make eye contact with me as I climbed the front steps. They opened the doors to allow me in without a single word.
Not even ahey girl, you come here often?
“Thanks,” I said as I crossed the threshold.
One of them pointed me toward the coat check station to the right, which was almost the same thing asyou’re welcomeif I set the bar on social niceties low.
Unzipping my only black jacket, I quickly shrugged it off. The faded leather didn’t really jive with the aesthetic at Camelot Court, but it was all I had on short notice. I’d borrowed the rest of my outfit from Gia, aside from the charm bracelet I never took off.
And, of course, the racy black thong she’d talked me into buying for the occasion.
Losing one’s virginity was supposed to be special, after all.
I handed off my overnight bag, but kept my black clutch with the essentials—Chapstick, my inhaler, and a few condoms I never used with my ex. Better to be prepared than endup needing protection and not having it, and no-freaking-way would I leave my health and safety in the hands of some guy I’d never met.
Even if he called himself a Knight.
While I had my fingers crossed that one of their White Knight complexes secured me a spot, I had no illusions over what that implied.
A college guy got the pleasure of my company for the next thirty days?
I expected the emphasis to be onpleasureand the expectations for that word to be literal.
Considering the blatant display of seduction and sin Camelot Court held inside of that one room, I gave myself a mental pat on the back for coming prepared.
Sex and sin permeated the space. Couples shrouded in the dark alcoves had their heads thrown back, eyes closed with pleasure. Deep moans of satisfaction resonated over the music’s heavy bass.
If ever there was a night to lose my virginity as quickly as possible, this was it. And I never would’ve ended up in this situation if I’d just gone through with popping the ol’ cherry a year ago, so I was ready.
My body sure as hell felt ready.
But my feet retreated on instinct.
As soon as I stepped into that room, some underlying defense mechanism kicked in and alerted me to danger. Alarm bells ringing, red lights flashing—my brain yelled at me to run.
I ignored it.
But I did pause for a second to take it all in. Neutralize the threat of the unknown through prolonged exposure. That seemed like a smart course of action over jumping straight into the fire.
Gorgeous girls dressed in fancy gowns and absurdly hot guys in sleek suits caught my eye at every turn. Couples danced in the center of the room. Rowdy groups clustered by the bar threw their heads back with a round of shots.
But the dark alcoves around the room snagged my attention, and they wouldn’t let it go.
