Page 56 of Her Rabid Beasts

xoxo

I smack it right on top of my underwear. He’ll see it as soon as he walks into his room tonight. Takethat,deputy headmaster.

As I stalk back outside to where Henry is perched on Eugene’s back, waiting for me, I’m still irritated and wired. Me, coming by myself, will never be enough. Now that I’ve been here, seen Lyle’s things, come on his bed, it’s going to be forever etched at the back of my mind. How, in another world, this space would rightfully be mine. That my place is in his bed. At his dining table. Preferably being fed by him as was a regina’s right.

And the sight of my underwear kept in his special drawer has permanently altered something in my mind.

Did he actually think he would get away with that?

Upon shutting the new door in my room, it seals itself seamlessly shut, blending back into the wall like it was never there. The only thing that’s left is a tiny metal dragon head that, once touched, lets me open the door back up. You can’t see it from the entry to our room, so the others will be none the wiser.

I now have private access to Lyle’s apartment.

Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, I peer through my window in time to hear Christine say, “Off you go then, boss!”

Bless that gargoyle.

I suddenly feel quite well. Rather happy, even.

Lyle’s blonde head disappears through the dorm doors and everyone else stays put, clearly having been instructed to stay outside. Savage stalks up and down the same patch of grass, obviously irritated. I rush into my bathroom and wash my hands. “Can’t believe you shut down the entire dorm for that,” I say to the school. “But I’m bloody grateful right now.”

I’m stepping out of the bathroom by the time Lyle steps into my room—without knocking, I might add.

I suddenly realise that this is the first time he’s been inmyroom as well. A day for firsts, apparently.

The boss lion completely dwarfs the doorway as he stands there, staring at me with two tiny lines appearing between his dark blonde brows. His angelic face is pale and tight, his mouth pressed into a thin, hard line. My breath catches as I stare at him in return.

Goddess, he’s so perfect in that navy blue suit and the way it hugs his broad shoulders and tapers down to those hips. His tailor needs a raise. But what I would give to see him cast it off and give in to the urges I now know are in there.

His gaze flicks quickly down to assess my body before glancing about the room. I enjoy that cursory look so much that I sigh and casually lean against the doorframe next to me.

Then his nostrils flare, and I calmly watch as his pupils dilate.

Yup, he still smells my arousal. I demurely fold my hands behind my back, knowing perfectly well that the movement pushes my braless tits out. His eyes slide to Eugene perched at the end of my bed.

The bird squarks a sombre greeting.

Lyle’s eyes slide back to me. “Are you well, Miss Aquinas?” he asks tightly.

So much restraint, Lyle,I want to say.Let go a little. Show me more of what I just saw in your room.

Those clenched fists by his sides are giving him away, and I wonder if I should tell him I’m not buying any of his noble teacher act. Not anymore.

My voice is blessedly light as I purr. “Oh, I’m quite well, Mr. Pardalia.” I can’t keep the grin off my face and he regards me with justified suspicion. “Thank you for asking.”

There’s a moment of silence, like he’s waiting for me to say more. I allow the space between us to become taut and heated as I just gaze into his amber eyes, thinking about those condoms.

“Savage wants to see you,” he says.

“Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.” I smile sweetly. “That’s an order from his regina.”

He stares at me with what looks like a “don’t test me, Miss Aquinas” warning look before he stalks back out, shoulders tight and his gait oh-so-controlled. I restrain myself from following him and throwing myself into his arms. He probably wouldn’t even catch me and I’d be left to slide down to his legs, fully embarrassing myself.

After a minute, Minnie thunders in, throwing me from my musings. She fusses over me like a mother cat, but Gertie, Eugene and Henry calm her down. I don’t tell her about the door or about the incident on my stomach. She clearly has her secrets about Titus, so I take that as permission for me to keep my secret about the door.

My little secret is to be between me and the school. And I really don’t want to worry her about the attack. As long as I keep my cool, I won’t have to worry about any breaches. I’m in such a good mood that I’m not even upset when Minnie prances off to spend the night with Titus.

Chapter 25

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