Page 28 of Silent Betrayal

He moves from where he’s perched against the headboard between Max and Atlas to sit in front of me, taking my hand. “Kitten, I couldnever be disappointed in you, especially not for something like that. You’re twenty-one; you don’t belong there, anyway. And if you want your GED, we can help you do that from home if that’s what you want.”

“Really?” I ask excitedly.

“Of course,” Ben responds. “I already have the info for you, and with your photographic memory, I can just give you the books to read. Then you take a test at the end and voilà—high school graduate!”

Wow, they make it all sound so easy. I glance at the guys, and when my eyes connect with Max’s, I frown.

“But you—” I cough again and take another drink, then reach for my phone, deciding my voice can’t take much more right now. So instead I use the text to speech app to read aloud my question.“But you guys still have to finish the year there.”I look at Max as it speaks for me. His eyes dart to his brothers over my shoulder, then he grins at me.

“Don’t worry about us, Sweetheart. We have some things going on there, but maybe when that’s done, we can finish early too.”

I look at him in confusion, then type.“What things?”

“Don’t worry about it. Now, c’mon, let’s get back to the movie,” he says with a smile, pressing play on the remote. He’s keeping something from me, but if he doesn’t want to tell me about it, I’m not going to force him. It’s not like I had been honest with them until forced into it, I can’t expect anything different from them.

Later that night, not long after I’m left alone, my door slowly creaks open. I turn, expecting to see Dom, but it’s Atlas who walks in.

“Atlas?” I ask in surprise.

“Yeah,” he whispers, closing the door and moving to stand at the side of my bed. He’s wearing tight boxers, which show off a very impressive package, and a black tank top similar to the one Dom was wearing last night. I forgot how big he is. With his bare arms and shoulders on display it’s hard to focus on anything else.

He frowns down at me. “Having trouble sleeping?” I lick my lips and nod, suddenly afraid to speak and spook him.

He lifts the edge of the blanket and I scoot backwards as he climbs in beside me, lying down on his back. He takes a deep breath before he turns his head to look at me. “You tell me if I hurt you or do anything you don’t like, okay?”

I nod.

“Promise me, Malishka.”

“I promise,” I whisper, staring into his beautiful blue eyes. My gaze wanders to his dark blonde hair, which is down tonight, reaching past his shoulders. I reach up tentatively to feel a piece between my fingers.

“Soft,” I murmur, entranced by it.

He grunts, then gently pulls me into him, my head resting on his shoulder with his arm wrapped around me. His other hand reaches down and grabs my leg, pulling it up over both of his. His hand grips mythigh, the heat from him searing into me. The sensation has my whole body on edge and I squirm uncomfortably.

His hand slowly moves up my thigh, over my hip, up my side until he reaches my face. He tilts my chin up so I’m looking at him and I see the heat there, it’s unmistakable.

“Atlas?” I whisper, unsure what I’m asking.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispers.

“No,” I whisper back, surprising both of us with my boldness. He leans towards me and takes my mouth with his. He doesn’t move at first, like he’s cherishing the moment. Then, slowly, he starts to move. He kisses my lips over and over, making me moan with need. Then he takes my bottom lip between his teeth and sucks on it. I press my entire body as close to him as I can, rubbing myself against him as my fingers dig into his chest. He licks the seam of my mouth and I open eagerly for him. His tongue is thick and demanding and has me groaning in seconds.

All too soon, he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry, I… I can’t control myself around you.”

“I don’t mind,” I whisper, making him chuckle.

He kisses my forehead before moving his hand down to my hip. “Go to sleep, Malishka. I’ll keep your demons away.”

How was I supposed to go to sleep afterthat? But as his hand on my back starts rubbing in soft circles, I find myself relaxing into him, and soon enough, I drift off to sleep.

Chapter twelve

“No,” I say firmly.

“Ben, please!” Mina pouts her lip at me, and I know what she’s trying to do.

“No, don’t you dare stick that lip out at me, Princess!” I point a finger at her, staying firm as I stand by her bed.

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