Page 13 of Cruel Prep (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 1)

A chorus ofooohsrise from the group, and Viktor is satisfied enough by my dismissal of his ex-girlfriend that he finally goes back to dry humping the girl on his lap.

“Ecstasy?” I turn back and Lily’s mouth is open. I can see the pill on her tongue. Her voice is muffled when she speaks. “I’ve never taken ecstasy.”

I smooth a thumb over her cheekbone, smearing some of the glitter Cora must have brushed there, and smile. “Then let this be your first. Let me be your first.”

I bite it in half, swallow one part of the pill, and offer her the other half. She takes it and nods hesitantly. “Okay. Just… take care of me, okay?” Then she swallows the half pill.

I nod. I don’t say what I’m thinking.

Oh, I’ll take care of you, innocent little Lily.

Just not quite in the way you have in mind.

8

Finn

Thirty minutes later, it’s time to make my move.

“Let’s get out of here.” I brush my lips over Lily’s ear. I love the way she shivers, clutches at my shirt.

I can still enjoy it even if it isn’t real. Even if everything is just pretend. What’s the point in being bad if you can’t have a little fun, right?

“But your friends…” She gestures loosely around the group, and I don’t give a single fuck about anyone in the circle.

Viktor already left with the girl he was making out with before. He is probably deep inside her upstairs somewhere already.

“…are boring,” I finish. I shrug and then curl my arm around her waist, gripping her hip through the silky fabric of her dress. “You are much more interesting.”

Her lips are pouty and pink. I can’t help but imagine all of the things those lips are going to do. I lean forward and kiss her softly, gently.

She parts for me so easily. She gives of herself so freely.

I wonder what it must be like to be that trusting, to be that innocent and vulnerable.

Has she even done this before?

I can’t explain why, but the idea that this could be her first time makes me feel … not guilt, exactly, but regret.

Regret that all this has to be done. That there is no other choice.

I’ll do it, and I’ll enjoy the fuck out of it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t wish things could be different.

“Okay,” she breathes when we break apart. Lily stands up on shaky legs and then reaches back to grab my hand. I let her lead me out of the group and up the stairs.

Her muscles shift and flex, and I like that she is strong. Fit. That she knows how to push her body to the limit. I plan to see exactly how far she is willing to go in just a few minutes.

I’m staring at the sway of her ass beneath her dress, so I don’t notice the person step in to block our path.

Lily slams to a stop, and I bump into her back, wrapping an arm around her chest to steady her and myself. She grabs my arm with her hand, and I don’t mind it at all.

Being the protector. The person she trusts with her safety.

She shouldn’t trust me, and she’ll learn why soon enough, but it feels good right now.

“Where are you going?”

I look up to see the male voice belongs to Dallas fucking Martin. He has on his ridiculous Hell Princes leather jacket, and he is standing in front of Lily with his arms crossed over his chest and his legs spread. He looks like the world’s weakest bouncer.

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