Page 37 of Her Devil

“How do you want to play this?” Charlotte asks. “Because I’m totally up for seeing what stupid things we can get them to do.”

“Anything that gets that suit off Taylor’s body is a win in my book,” Tamsin agrees with a nod.

“Come on, ladies, think bigger than that. This is an opportunity to get some serious dirt on them,” I whisper, attempting to lean in closer, the metal pressing against me as another reminder that, once again, I’m not my own woman.

It’s not uncomfortable, per say. It doesn’t dig in or chafe, yet. But just the thought of being locked up and held at someone else’s whim is demeaning and disgusting, and unfortunately turning me on just a little. The heat in his stare as he closed that lock, and the way he licked along his bottom lip had me thinking about his tongue in other places, places his hands were very fucking close to.

“What on earth do we want dirt for?” Penelope asks, jolting me out of my lust-induced haze. “When we can get them naked and wet and covered in all sorts of disgusting things.”

“Exactly,” Charlotte agrees. “We can get them drunk on dirty pints and do whatever we want.”

Does nobody else see this for the game it really is?

They marched us in here like the prized ponies we are. All dressed up and paraded around the ring, shown off to the commoners who were warned well away from us. Tamsin might think it’s cute, from the man she wants to fuck right now, but in two weeks when she’s bored or he’s done, she’s not going to feel the same.

Then she’s going to be pissed the hell off, just like I am.

“Anyone who wants to get to these girls does it through us.”

They’ve got to be having a fucking laugh.

But the more that happens tonight, the more we get to see behind the curtains, metaphorically speaking, and the more I’m one hundred per cent sure us being here is intentional.

Tamsin and I being in that house rather than standard accommodation was not a lucky accident, not anupgradethat my father has paid for. Not in the traditional sense anyway. This might be an upgrade thatwepay for, in one way or another.

The Angels of Pendleton Prep. The Elite.

There’s something more going on here and I’m determined to find out what it is and why we’ve found ourselves in the middle of it. It’s by design, I’m sure.

And they know, they must do.

These men parade around in expensive suits and hide their identities. Not that we don’t know who they are, but still… it’s all just a game to them. One they know the rules to and we don’t.

“Well then, Angels, I hope you’ve had the chance to think up your first few ideas, because Jessica, here, has a token.” The red pocket square means it’s Oliver, the voice clearly not Jacob, as he places his hands on the girl's shoulders, making her jump in anticipation.

Stephanie smiles as we all look at her expectantly, waiting for more people to filter from the house, no doubt. She likes an audience, and it appears she finally has one. Captive too. “So, Angel’s choice, a truth and a dare, right?”

“That’s right,” Jacob confirms, pressing through the throng of bodies to join Oliver and Jessica.

“Okay,” she ponders, rubbing her hands together. “Let’s start the guys off with something easy, a truth. And because it’s easy, you should totally both answer.” They shrug their agreement as she stalls, drumming her fingers together. “A truth, a truth, a truth. Okay, I’ve got it. If you could only hear one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?”

With a sigh, I lean back in the chair. Not where I was hoping we’d be going with this. But as I look around, everyone is entranced, egging the boys on and calling out all sorts of ridiculous options.

“That’s a hard one,” Jacob says. “Like maybe I could pick one genre, or artist, but one song... Wow. That’s harsh. Now, you’re not going to hold me to this after, right? I’m still going to be able to listen to other music after tonight is over, aren’t I?”

I can almost picture the cheeky smile on his face, the dimple popping on one side of his cheek as his eyes twinkle mischievously. A couple of people laugh as Stephanie smiles and nods. “Of course.”

“Then I think it would have to be “Keep on Moving” by S Club 7.” The group around him erupts into laughter, and I can’t help the smile that breaks free as he calls everyone back to silence. “Hear me out now. Hear me out. It’s got a good steady beat, you can dance to it if you want, and it’s got a totally uplifting motto behind it. You’re never getting depressed listening to that one.”

He crosses his arms over his chest with a nod, clearly impressed with his answer, despite the amused jeering that comes his way. When Oliver announces “Spice Up Your Life” by The Spice Girls, I think everyone has clicked on just how serious these guys are taking their little game.

I can’t imagine that joviality would stick if someone decided to try their luck with one of us though.

“That just leaves Jessica to do the dare then, I guess,” Penelope adds with excitement, looking at Stephanie. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, this could be a good moment for us to get to know Jessica a little better too,” Stephanie says, taking a sip of her champagne as she looks down her nose at the petrified girl who looks like she’s seriously reconsidering whether she should have handed this token in.I don’t blame her. “Let’s have a little show and tell… with the contents of your purse. Get it emptied and tell us all about it.”

A shadow falls over me as someone leans down and whispers, “Fancy a walk?” in my ear. If I didn’t know the voice already, the tattoo on the back of his hand as it rests against my arm would give him away; Leo.

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