Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Ashleigh
A hint of pink washes over Shelaine’s face as she gathers her robe around her. The man behind, however, grips the back and wrenches it from her body, leaving her in just a bra and her panties shoved to the side as cum drips down her leg.
“No need to cover up, my love,” he murmurs, circling his arms around her waist.
For a moment, she stiffens in his embrace, as if she either doesn’t know him or doesn’t want him touching her. All too soon, she goes weak and pliant in his grasp.
“Yes, but if I’m going to be on babysitting duty, I want to do so with a modicum of dignity.”
“Dignity,” he growls. “What dignity do you have left? Especially not here. Not in front of these men. Besides.” His teeth graze her earlobe, eliciting a soft moan from her lips. “I want them to see the woman I own. You’re far too self-conscious since the baby, and I aim to prove to you just how desirable you still are.”
This is ridiculous. The man acts as if he owns her. This isn’t right. What’s worse is that the dean doesn’t even stand up for her. None of the men gathering around us do.
Someone has to defend her. She’s been nothing but kind to me the few times I’ve interacted with her. For these assholes to treat her like this is just wrong.
Before I can stop myself, I pull out of Dean Anderson’s grasp and step closer to Shelaine. “I’m pretty sure she can think for herself. If she wants to cover up, then that’s her right. No is a complete sentence, even if it’s unspoken.”
All eyes turn to me, and for a brief moment, it’s as if I can no longer breathe. The intensity of their stares root me to the spot as a slight tremor vibrates through my body.
“Please,” Shelaine murmurs, her voice soft and cajoling. “Don’t make things wor-“
“Who is this little bitch who thinks she can speak to me like this?” Despite Shelaine holding him back, he arches forward as his eyes blaze. They look as if they’re lit from within by hellfire itself. “From the way you were sucking the dean’s cock, I’m pretty sure you’re not a Mistress. And even if you were, you have no power over me.”
Dean Anderson slips between us, his stance rigid as he slides his hand across my waist to move me further behind him. “That’s enough, Luke. You don’t want to go there right now.”
“Or what?” He has the audacity to smirk as he takes a step back. “Gonna ship me back to Florida? Pops will send me right back. No doubt with Preston sending his disregards.”
“Florida?”
“Luke,” Dean Anderson warns, cutting me off. His voice grows a touch harder, like granite grinding against steel. “I have no issue with you. Leave this submissive to me. You have no power over her. See to your own, and I will see to mine.”
Mine .
The word sizzles through my brain, branding me from the inside out. Did I really just hear him say that? Glancing up at his face, I note the hard set of his jaw. Even when he looks down at me, there’s no warmth, no affection, just hard retribution.
I should be terrified. I should want to run from this place and forget I saw anything. Unfortunately, all I want to do is sink to my knees and feel him in my mouth again, feel the way his fingers flexed in my hair as I pleasured him for the first time.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep such thoughts in my head as Luke balls up his fists and takes another step toward us. Unable to help myself, I slide my hand over the dean’s. Instead of rebuffing me like I expect, he wraps his fingers around mine and gives me a reassuring squeeze.
“Careful son,” Dean Anderson growls out. “Don’t do something you can’t walk away from. Your roots may go deep, but mine go wide. I don’t give a shit about Louis, or the damned Order, or that your trauma has you so fucking pissed off all the time. Right now, you’re in my domain. There is nowhere for you to run. So I suggest you cool the fuck off.”
Though the conversation thus far has been thrown back and forth in harsh whispers, others start to take notice. Several in particular make their way around us, surrounding us until there is no way to escape. Spots dance before my eyes as I glue myself to the dean’s side.
Does he notice them? Does he care? Right now, he just seems to be going toe-to-toe with this raging inferno.
“You gonna make me, old man?” With a flick of his wrist, he rips his mask off and tosses it to the floor.
Unbidden, a sharp gasp rips from my throat, bringing his attention back to me. “But you’re... You’re... You teach here!” I finally exclaim. “How? Why?”
“I’m sure you’ll be shocked to know just how many hold positions over you... Or under you. Depending on what they want to do to you that day.”
“It’s enough, Luke,” a larger man rumbles from next to me.
“Hey now. I have no beef with you,” He replies, holding up his hands.
“You may not have beef,” another one spits out, his voice thick with a hard Russian accent. “But we have whole cow. Stop or be stopped.”
“Forget this,” Luke hisses, grabbing Shelaine by the arm and hauling her closer to his chest. “Go ahead and defend the submissive who can’t keep her mouth shut like that’s not an issue. She’s the problem here, not me. Someone should have trained her better.”
“My, my,” a familiar voice flits in, turning my blood ice cold. “Seems someone is in quite the mood. Shocking, seeing as you’ve already depleted yourself. I’m surprised you’re not in better humor.”
Peering around the dean’s arm, I look the newcomer up and down. He sounds like Doctor Andrew, and based on the clothes he’s in, he looks like he’s dressed just like Doctor Andrew. But there’s no way. This is insanity. All of this is just pure insanity.
For a moment, my knees threaten to give out as everything comes crashing down around me all at once. The dean, the coach, and the psychiatrist. Who else is in here with prominent positions in the school?
I have to do something. I have to get control of the situation somehow. Sliding my hand into the side of my bra, I grab my notebook and small pen. Deep down, I know Marnie would say, ‘not now, dumbass,’ but it’s the only thing I know of to keep me sane.
Before I even have a chance to flip it open, a pair of strong hands rip them from me, leaving me bereft. Dean Anderson glares down at me even as his lips twitch with what looks to be the ghost of a smile. “I believe we’ve put on enough of a show in front of the submissives. I cannot have her out here while we deal with this and finish the damned initiation. Now, enough is enough. We are gathering unwanted attention.”
“Then put the bitch in her place,” Luke whispers, his voice harsh and strained in the growing uneasy cacophony. “It’s not that hard.”
Doctor Andrew comes a bit closer and leans in. “I understand that Kessler blood may run hot but perhaps put a damper on it for now. That is, unless you crave my ropes again. Either settle or be settled.”
None of this conversation makes sense. But then, if I’m being completely honest, nothing right now makes any sense at all. At some point, I’ll wake up from this with my fingers between my thighs and arousal coating my hand.
Man. Wouldn’t Marnie laugh to hear about this? Such an absurd dream, no doubt fueled by our desperation to ferret out the secret society on campus. How is it my brain twisted this all about until it was some underground sex ring?
But then, that would also explain why Doctor Andrew is here. It was his list that started this whole damn thing. But where did the ropes come from? And how did the hulking Russian man who looks more at home in an action flick instead of this opulent castle appear?
“Ashleigh?” A soft voice whispers in my ear, but I can’t seem to understand it. Can’t seem to respond. “Ashleigh!” This time, it’s a bit more forceful, followed by a firm shake.
Whose voice is that? It takes several blinks before a masked face swims into view. Instead of the calm, steady gaze of Dean Anderson, it’s someone else. Someone familiar.
“She’s in shock.”
Doctor Andrew. Fuck. This isn’t a dream. Shaking my head, I look at all the concerned eyes staring down at me—male and female alike.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Really, John. I do think it’s best to remove her from the situation for a moment. She needs to catch her breath, at least.”
“Can Chastity look after her?”
“Not even for a moment. I’m afraid this interaction has had a detrimental effect on my Chastity. As it is, I’m going to have to put her in my cage for at least an hour. Once everything is in hand here, I will take her home.”
In that instant, everything clicks. “Oh my god,” I whisper. “She’s your client. I knew it. I knew there was something more to it.”
His lips quirk up into a smug grin. “You know nothing, Miss. Hartwell. Anything you think that mind of yours might put together as fact is most likely wrong.”
“Chelsea,” the stranger with the softer Russian accent snaps out. “Take her to the back room. The one close to the bathroom. No funny business unless you want to show this new girl how a Russian punishes his Lastachka .”
Any hope of this being a dream leaves the instant I hear the unknown Russian word drip from his lips. A dream is just your brain trying to make sense out of reality. When in the hell have I ever heard Russian or tried to speak it?
Tingles shoot down my hands as my gut flips back and forth until I’m about to be sick. Hand on my stomach, I lean forward a touch as bile rises in my throat and threatens to suffocate me.
“Catch her,” Doctor Andrew murmurs as I pitch forward. “Next time, don’t lock your knees. You will do well to keep that in mind for when he eventually puts you on the cross.”
“Enough, Andrew,” the dean bellows out as he scoops me into his arms. “Take Chastity home and make sure she’s okay. Luke, get your fucking head out of your fucking ass or so help me, I’ll let Andrew do whatever the fuck it is he wants to you.”
“Fuck this,” Luke hisses. “We’re out.”
“Good,” the dean growls behind me. “It’s better that you cool off now before things get out of hand. She meant you no disrespect. And trust me. She’ll learn to mind sooner rather than later. I can guarantee you that.” A heavy sigh rips from his throat as he turns to the Russian guy. “Grigori, if you can spare Chelsea, I’d be grateful.”
“Do you want Melody to join you as well?” Another familiar voice calls out.
Great. Someone else I know in this secret cadre.
As much as I detest feeling this weak in front of everyone, the feel of Dean Anderson’s arms as they wrap around me, holding me tightly, turns the churning back into butterflies. Shaking my head, I press against his hands and ease myself down.
I can’t act like this. I can’t let this existential dread and overwhelm keep me from doing what I intended to do in the first place. There’s certainly no way I can gather intel while burrowed in Dean Anderson’s chest.
“Please,” I murmur, keeping my voice soft so only a few can hear. “Sir, I would like to stand up again.”
For a moment, he seems to hesitate, as if he’s not going to honor my request. But then, from what I’m gathering, I have no power here. I’m helpless, ineffectual, and completely at his mercy.
As if my brain comes back online, everything becomes crystal clear. I wanted this. I wanted him. Granted, even with all the research, I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted. If I’m being honest with myself, I still don’t. What I do know is there is absolutely no way I’ll be able to learn while up in Dean Anderson’s arms.
Eventually, he sets me back down but holds onto my shoulders as Doctor Andrew steps closer. “Her pupils seem fine now. Let her go.” The instant the dean releases my arms, I miss the warmth of his hands on my body. Thankfully, however, I don’t sway back into him, seeking out his touch. “She seems stable enough. You still might have Bradley look her over to make sure everything is okay physically.”
“I’m not letting him touch her.” There’s an odd note to the dean’s voice. It’s a quaver of possessiveness if I’ve ever heard it. “Now then, are you sure you can walk?”
“Yes, Sir.” I whisper, doing my best to mimic the other submissives growing restless around me. “You have other responsibilities that have nothing to do with me.”
“Listen to me closely. As of right now, you are, unfortunately, my highest responsibility. You’ve thrown yourself in my path in the worst way, and you will rue the day you forced my hand.”