Page 51 of Cruel Devotion

“Yep, some realRomeo and Julietstuff.”

I frowned. “Wait. Did Professor Blume tell you guys that when I missed Brit Lit one day?”

She laughed as I opened the door to the dark room. No lights were on, but the full moon glowed so brightly in the sky that it lent some illumination to this space. It actually had a nice view of the landscape nearby, visible with a wall of windows from floor to ceiling, wrapping all the way around the curved wall. This room was used as an accessory banquet room for smaller events. So, it wasn’t like I was luring her into a lightless closet.

“No. And that would be more in Shakespeare 101 than Brit Lit.” She shrugged. “Aunt Cindy told me about it. She knew someone who had been a student when it happened.”

“Huh.” I slowed her to face me once the door to this room shut. Fortunately, no one was in here. It seemed we’d lucked out on not interrupting anyone else trying to get lucky here.

“I know that?—”

I kissed her. Not hard, but firmly. Once I had her attention and she kissed me back, I softened my approach and sucked on her lip tenderly before licking it and diving in for a longer, slower, drugging kiss.

“And I know that you know what this room is for,” I replied when she was sagging against me.

“But I’m…” She furrowed her brow, lowering her gaze.

I tipped her chin up, kissing her as gently as I could again. “Not ready,” I finished for her.

She blinked up at me, bewitching me with the trust that shone in her emerald eyes. “No. Not… not yet.”

I kissed her again, crushing her against me. I never wanted to let her go. She slayed me with her honesty. And the fact that she felt comfortable enough to share that honesty with me proved that she really was connected to me. She wasn’t just going along with what I wanted and said to appease me. She was standing up for what she wanted and felt. That kind of confidence was the sexiest thing ever.

“I know,” I said. “And it’s okay.”

“That I don’t want to have sex with you here?”

I nodded.

“And that I’m not ready yet?”

I smiled and lowered to kiss her again. “Yeah. It’s fine. I want to go at your pace, Haley. I don’t want to force you into anything. I respect you too much.”

Her face transformed from slight worry and trepidation to utter joy. “I have been so wrong about you for too long.”

Her praise was a stab in my heart. If she only knew that I’d campaigned to get her here to fuck her for a dare, she wouldn’t be saying something sweet like that.

“So, let me get this straight,” Preston said.

We both whipped our heads around to face him as he strolled out from the shadows at the other side of the room. A door was barely visible there, but I spotted Drake leaning against the wall as Preston calmly walked into the center of the room.

“What the fuck?” I growled, pushing Haley to stand behind me, making sure I remained between her and this rich asshole. “Why are you here?” I demanded it of him but looked back at Drake, too.

He smiled, holding up his hand to waggle a camera in it.

Fuck!I guessed right. They did want to video it!

“Let me get this straight. You’ve got no intention of fucking her here tonight?” Preston smiled, rubbing his chin.

“What? You knew about…” Haley huffed angrily behind me. “What’s going on? Why are you here?”

“You’re going to fail to take her V-card,” Preston taunted me.

“That’s none of your damn business!” Haley stayed behind me but shouted at Preston around me. “Come on, Eli. Let’s go. I don’t want to be near him.”

“It looks to me that you’re failing this dare, Young.”

I stiffened, seething and glaring at him with all the hatred I could ever feel at once. Almost more livid than putting up with my loveless parents. More anger than when I fought my dad back.

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