Page 19 of Kept

“Sure,” I breathed. She’d entrusted me with the responsibility of a multi-million-dollar library’s safety for the foreseeable future. If I knew she wouldn’t disapprove, I would’ve fist-punched the air. “Good night, Mrs. Clarke.”

“Good night, Miss Fawkes. Don’t you show up tomorrow with blue hair.” She grumbled the last part, shutting the Tiffany doors behind her.

Fortunately for her, Rachelle had already cornered the blue-hair market in this neck of the woods. I texted Mom, fudging the truth just a little.

Jane:I’m going to stay late tonight for dinner with a few friends. Love you, don’t stay up too late, remember to take the blue pills with food

Mom:Good! Luv u too, honeybun

Mom:Lock up when u get home

With that taken care of, I packed my messenger bag, flipped off the lights, and locked up. The staircase to Bourdillon’s roof was tucked away in a dark corner between the Hall of Arts and the English wing. Four stories up was a metal access door. I pulled it, half-expecting it to be locked.

It swung open silently, and I stepped out into a cool night breeze. Several strands of hair brushed across my face and I pushed them back, turning in place. Bourdillon’s roof was flat, the building tall enough to look out over the forest for miles. A dark lake glittered behind the building. I’d been in such deep shit I hadn’t even gone exploring yet.

“So you decided to stay.”

My back straightened at the sound of Rhett’s voice. “Of course I did. You can’t scare me off.”

“That wasn’t my intention.” I turned, saw him, and a strange lump rose in my throat. No fast food bags here. He’d laid out a fucking rooftop picnic, one of the cafeteria’s stolen tablecloths making up our spot. A glass of white wine waited for me, along with the kind of food I could’ve only dreamed about eating a year ago: an entire charcuterie plate, steaming risotto, ripe red berries dripping cream.

Heady stuff for a person who’d once lived on ramen and Rice-a-Roni.

“If you think feeding me is going to soften me up, think again,” I finally said, but my stomach was grumbling.

He just held up the glass of wine and raised an eyebrow.

I sank to my knees on the opposite side of the tablecloth and slid my messenger bag off my shoulder. My mouth started watering from the smell of the food.

He started loading a plate with food while I sipped the wine and handed it to me. What was his endgame here? It had all the makings of a date, but a date wasn’t a date when one person was on the hook for their education.

I forced myself to eat slowly, savoring every bite. If they were going to blackmail into being the Pet, I’d get my dinner’s worth out of it.

Halfway through, I summoned my courage to make a demand. “Are you going to apologize at all?”

I wasn’t fooling myself; there was a price to pay for everything good in life. Dinner for sex. At their beck and call. What else was a pet good for?

Rhett sipped his wine. He hadn’t eaten very much. “No.” The arch of his eyebrow dared me to push the subject, but I didn’t have the fortitude to push yet.

When the last of the berries were gone and the dishes were packed back in their basket, I licked my lips, catching a few stray sugar crystals. Rhett’s eyes followed the motion, and he shifted in place.

This was it. Time for payment.

He climbed over the empty tablecloth. The way he was crouched over me was almost beast-like and possessive. My heart caught up with the moment and started galloping in my chest when he wound his fingers into my hair and kissed me hard enough to bruise my lip. My limbs had gone to liquid.

Despite my anger, I was so pliable to his touch.

“Let me drive you home,” he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.

What the hell? I shook my head. I could walk home alone like a big girl.

I scrambled out from under him and got to my feet. He remained on his knees, looking up at me. The man gave me emotional whiplash. Threatening my future in one moment, bringing me a rooftop picnic and offering to drive me home the next.

“I can walk. YourPetis an adult who can take care of herself.”

He stood up slowly, like he knew he didn’t have to move quickly to catch up. That twisted Jane inside me was waiting for her dismissal.

“I’m driving you home,” he said, with perfect finality. An order.

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