Page 8 of Tantalizing Kings

Emma laughs. “Trust me, we all knew.” Mia’s face pales.

“Really?” she looks around at all of us.

“Girl, Molly was pretty much screaming the whole time. You picked the loudest girl possible. Also, it was all over your face when you popped up from the seat.”

“Oh, god,” Mia groans, sliding down in her chair.

“And mine was in Charlie’s hot tub.” Emma wiggles her eyebrows. Charlie is her boyfriend who goes to the all-boys school an hour away. She goes to his parents’ place most weekends.

“What about you?” Mia asks.

Embarrassment floods me. “I don’t have any crazy places.” It’s my turn to slide down in my chair.

“What? You and Raymond did have sex, right?”

“Yes. A few times.”

“A few times!” Alice gawks. “You’ve been dating for three years!”

“And I’m pretty sure the main reason why he cheated on me was because I didn’t put out.” I sit up in my seat and lean over to lower my voice. “I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but Raymond fucked like a fish out of water. He would lay on top of me and flop around a little bit before dramatically groaning. Then he would roll off and ask if I came. I indeed didnot. If you have to ask, then clearly you’re doing it wrong,” I declare, giving them a blank look.

They all look at me, shocked, before bursting out laughing. “Oh, babe. I’m so sorry.” Alice’s face is red from laughing so hard.

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumble, slumping back in my chair.

“You poor thing.” Emma wipes her eyes. I flip her off, making her laugh harder.

“I would do things with him every now and then to please him, but I didn’t want to have sex with him just because he wanted it. I don’t like being used like that. So, we hardly had sex. He only cared what he got out of it. Any time I brought up trying something that might help get me off, he would blow up and act hurt, so I stopped asking.”

“What a selfish dick,” Emma scoffs. “He never even tried to get you off?”

“Does the time he thought he was playing with my clit, but it was really my left labia count?” I glare at her, and she struggles to hold in more laughter.

“Oh, babe, we need to get you a real man. I can't believe you’ve never had an orgasm.”

“I’ve given myself plenty,” I argue.

“Yes, but it’s so much better when it's with someone who knows what he’s doing. Who reads your body like a book, who makes sure you're feeling good before focusing on themselves.”

“There are guys out there like that?” I ask. “Where can I find myself one because that sounds pretty damn nice, if you ask me.”

“Yes,” Alice sighs, giving me a pitying look.

It’s just now that I notice she’s eating a piece of strawberry cheesecake. “Wait!” I whine. “They were serving cheesecake?”

“Sorry, babe.” Alice winces. “You know the rules, only one per person. I thought you would have made it in time.” I didn’t even go to the line to grab something to eat, coming right to their table as soon as I saw them.

Disappointment fills me as I pout. I’m about to beg for her last bite because it’s my favorite when someone places a full slice down on the table in front of me.

My eyes widen, a smile finding my lips. I look up, only no one is there. All three girls are looking to my left. I follow their gaze and my belly flips. Biting my lip, I watch as Declan Harris walks out of the café.

Declan is a year older than me. We didn’t go to school together last year because he’d already graduated. But before that, the first year everything started going dark in my life, Declan was the little piece of light that I looked forward to. We never really talked, not more than a few words here and there. But it’s like he knew when I was at my lowest. He would do things like this, giving me my favorite dessert when there wasn’t any left. I’d open my locker to find a rose, or little origami butterflies on my desk.

I always knew it was him because I’d find him watching me, waiting for me to notice. And as soon as I did, he would give me a small smile and leave.

“It’s been a few years since that’s happened,” Alice says, sounding amused.

I look down at the cheesecake and take a bite, moaning as the flavor hits my tongue.

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