Page 44 of Bitter Rivals (Bitterwood Elites)

His words paint my vision red, and I struggle against the anger rising up inside of me like a tidal wave. These motherfuckers havenoidea what I’ve sacrificed! Shame wars with fury because a small part of me feels exactly like what Cashel accuses—an absolute skank—but Bitterwood has no place for guilt. It’s just another emotion that will get you killed. Ignoring the douchebags before me, I slip off my shoes before reaching down into my right one and pulling out the key. “I got this—it goes toyourbox.”

Bentley steps forward, and I hastily scramble back, my back pressed against the cold, cinder block wall, clutching the key to my chest. A dry chuckle escapes his full lips, his blue eyes alight with devilry as he gestures around at the small dorm room. “Where do you think you’re going to go, doll? Look around you, there’s nowhere to run. You’velockedyourself in a room with us.” Bentley reaches towards me, and I pull together all my strength, forcing myself not to flinch as he cups my cheek in his large hand. “You know if we want the key, all we have to do is take it.”

Inhaling deeply once more, I will myself to remain calm and regain the upper hand, ducking out from his grasp. “True, but I have something you want.”

“And what’s that?” Bentley asks in a bored voice.

“Me.”

Cashel perks up at this, the life bleeding back into his eyes. “If we want you, lass, we’ll just take that, too.”

“True,” I shrug, “but I’m offering myself to you willingly.”

The blond boy laughs cruelly. “Who says I want you willing?”

Well, fuck, why does that turn me on so much?

“Make us a different deal,” Bentley suggests seductively, his eyes roaming along every inch of my body. I’m not sure what he wants, but he answers for me. “From now on, you are exclusivelyours.”

I can’t hold in the scoff or stop my eyes from rolling. “What doesthateven mean?”

“It means you’re our little whore and no one else's. We own you. You do everything we say—sexually or otherwise,” Cashel supplies, cupping his dick through his pants.

These assholes want me to sell them my soul… is what’s inside their box worth it?

Students aren’t supposed to be in here.

Professor Vaughn’s words echo in my head as well as the fact his office was on the very inaccessible second floor behind a hidden panel. Principal Windsor for sure didn’t want any student to find the key, and I’m sure the box, too.

I ignore their deal, deflecting an answer by asking them another question. “Where was the box?”

Bentley grins, flicking his hair away from his eyes. “The pool house... in the deep end surrounded by blood-thirsty sharks.”

“Don’t forget the hidden glass panel you had to jump through first, cutting your skin, so the scent of your blood gets you eaten before you can find it.” Cashel adds to Bentley’s brief explanation.

I grimace. “Listen, Principal Windsor didn’t want anyone finding this key—and obviously, the box—whatever is inside ismonumental.”

“Agreed, but like we said, we don’t need it,” Bentley counters.

“But we do need a personal slut who is willing to be at our beck and call, a filthy creature that will fulfill our darkest desires. Is that you, lass?” Cashel’s words make my stomach twist.

This is the price.

I thought Professor Vaughn stripped me of my pride… nope. It’ll be these two assholes, but it’s my choice, ultimately. No one can say they forced me to do anything, so how badly do I want the box?

Maybe it’s my own free pass, too—and my life is worth the whoredom.

Sinking slowly to my knees and keeping my gaze on the ground, I murmur submissively, “How can I serve you?”

Cashel’s hand fists the knotted curls still high in my ponytail. “We’ll start with something simple. Do to me what you did to Vaughn,but better.”

“I’ll just be sitting over here, watching, waiting for my turn.” I twist my head to see Bentley lowering himself to the bottom bunk bed, stroking his cock through his slacks. “Just remember that she’s ours, Cash.Bothof ours.” His words are directed at Cashel, whose iron grip on my hair tightens even more.

“Both of ours.” Cashel makes this agreement begrudgingly, his eyes boring into mine. Neither of them seems too keen on sharingme, even though they share everything else just fine. “Now, be a good little slut and open those pretty lips wide for me.”

His finger glides over my bottom lip, teasing my senses, and I blink up at him while digging the key hard into my palm, grounding myself. “First, I want the box.” My voice is steady, my gaze stern, even though inwardly, I know this is foolish. Like Professor Vaughn, Cashel and Bentley are too controlling. I need assurance they’ll hold up to their end of the deal. They’re strong enough to ensure I keep my word, but once I do this, once I give them both my body to use, I won’t have leverage any longer.

Cashel stares at me, still stroking the pad of his thumb across my lip, his eyes already hooded, jaw slackened. By some magic—or perhaps the same logical conclusion I’ve already drawn—Cashel nods in agreement. Bentley, watching this whole interaction, fishes my prize out from his pocket, tossing it to the blond boy, who releases me to catch it and then hands me the box. “Go on then, see if your key is a fit.”

---