Chapter 59
OCTOBER 31 – FRIDAY 7:30 PM
R en
Either Nash had a secret talent for clothes shopping, or whoever helped him had impeccable taste. The velvet and satin felt incredible as I smoothed my hands down the front. It was the prettiest and sexiest version of Elsa’s dress—complete with cape and tiara—that I’d ever seen.
The guys had banded together to make my birthday extra special and today had been nothing short of magical. I had a feeling tonight would be the same, and it all started with a call from Dean Henry.
Ivy, Chantry, and I were summoned to his office where he told us that we had been dismissed from classes and our teachers informed. As if that wasn’t cryptic and unnerving, he then sent us back to our dorm room.
TWELVE HOURS EARLIER
“What do you think is going on,” Ivy asked, and I shook my head as we rode up to the senior floor in the elevator.
“No idea. He’s never done that before. Now that I think about it, I’ve never been ordered to my room ever in my life,” I said, and Ivy and Chantry laughed.
“Of course you haven’t, you’re Ren,” Chantry teased.
I was really loving this side of her. Ever since the volleyball - to - the - face incident, she’d been much more open and talkative. She stood straighter, joked more, and didn’t cower when the mean girls walked by.
“Hey…I got in trouble before coming here,” I said as we stepped off the elevator and froze. My heart stopped and fell all the way back down to the ground floor before restarting and racing at full speed.
Blake stood before us with a cheeky grin on his face. He was dressed like a cross between a sexy rocker and a Chippendale dancer. No shirt, tattoos displayed, his favorite black, ripped jeans, leather cuffs on his wrists, chain around his neck, and combat boots on his feet. That was all fine, but he was also wearing a bow tie and holding a silver tray with tall glasses of something bubbly.
He licked his lips as he stepped forward.
“Would you care for a refreshment? We have sparkling, non-alcoholic champagne. It’s actually really good,” he said, making me smile as I reached for a glass.
Ivy and Chantry each took one, and he twirled the empty tray in his hand like a circus performer. The sweet drink tasted like a high - end apple juice when I took a sip. Blake stepped in, and I gasped. The heat from his body made me shiver from head to toe. He tipped my chin up, and all I could hear was the heavy thumping of my heart. As always, his lips hovered over mine until I took the offering, and then he took my breath away with a kiss that would curl anyone’s toes.
He licked my lower lip and smiled. “So sweet,” he whispered, leaving me lightheaded and confused.
“Blake…what’s going on?”
“Follow me and find out.”
Glancing at Ivy and Chantry, they sipped their drinks and tried to hide their smiles. Were they in on this? There was no time to grill them as Blake led the way back to my room.
Everything seemed normal until Myles stepped out into the hallway wearing an identical outfit to Blake with a tray of all my favorite treats. Fresh fruit, the chocolate chip cookies from downstairs, and even the raspberry muffins that he still picked up because he said they helped win me. It had nothing to do with the muffins. It was all him, but I loved that he randomly brought them.
“Hello, Snowflake,” he said, really putting on the accent.
I nearly melted at his feet. No one could look as full of mischief as Myles. It brimmed inside of him.
“And ladies. Would you like a snack,” he asked, his voice like gravel.
I needed to start carrying a fan. He held out napkins, and I smiled at the little snowflakes all over them. I chose one of the muffins and a few strawberries.
Once we each had food, he smiled and opened the door. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. Our beds and desks weren’t touched, but all the extra furniture was removed. In its place were massage tables, comfortable chairs, like you’d see at a spa, and portable foot baths.
The blinds had been drawn, so the room was dark, but everywhere you looked were twinkling lights, flowy sheers, and burning candles. Soft music played, and just like that, I’d stepped away from the school hallway and into a relaxing alternate reality.
“This is incredible,” Chantry said, her eyes wide as she looked around.
“Totally lit,” Ivy said.
Two women I didn’t recognize stood in the middle of the room with Theo. He snapped his fingers, and they walked toward Ivy and Chantry while he walked toward me.
“Are you ready to be pampered?” Theo’s dominant tone was thick and pressed on me like a hand despite speaking in a whisper.
“Why are you all doing this?”
One arrogant eyebrow arched. “Is today not your birthday?”
“Well, it is, but….”
He placed a finger over my lips, and the sentence died in my throat. Heat flooded my body and joined my racing heart in a competition to see which could get me to pass out first.
“Then you have your answer. So, I’ll ask again. Are you ready to be pampered today?” All I could do was nod. “Good, then follow me, Shiver,” he said, running his thumb over my bottom lip…and shiver I did.
I would’ve followed him off a cliff. We turned toward the bathroom door, and my heart sputtered again at the sight of Liam. He leaned against the door jamb, and the only thought in my mind was…holy hell.
We walked up, and I barely noticed when Theo took the drink and napkin of goodies. Liam’s eyes were commanding and easily penetrated my soul without a word. There was something in the way he looked at me that made me want to drop to my knees at his feet and surrender. That was what Theo had meant. Liam’s energy, aura, presence—whatever you wanted to call it—was indescribable.
“You look scrumptious enough to eat, Little Rabbit,” Liam growled as he held out his steady hand while mine visibly trembled. “Don’t worry, we’re going to take very good care of you.”
The butterflies soaring around inside of me went wild with the sexual undertones of that one simple sentence. Then, Liam closed us into the bathroom together.
“We’re going to start with a massage to relax and restore your mind and muscles.”
He tapped my arms, and I raised them over my head for him to remove my sweater vest. Even though he hadn’t touched my skin, it was so sensitive with him near me that the soft blouse I’d worn a thousand times felt scratchy. One at a time, he effortlessly undid the little buttons, and I trembled right down to my toes as he stepped behind me. All my logical brain cells that had been hanging on decided it was a good time to exit stage left.
I closed my eyes as he slid the blouse off and then unclasped my bra and used just one finger on each hand to slide it over my shoulders and down my arms before it disappeared. His hands felt large and warm as he massaged my tense muscles.
“Lean into me,” he breathed against my neck, and I melted into his chest and sighed as he caressed down my sides, around to my stomach, and then up before retreating the same way.
“That’s much better, Little Rabbit. You are such a good girl.”
Liam might be a magician. I didn’t even feel him unzipping my kilt, but suddenly, it dropped to the floor. He kissed my neck and I shuddered against him. He helped me step out of my kilt and then circled me like prey. I was overwhelmed by his energy that pressed on me like a soothing hand. Liam didn’t need to speak. He pointed or tapped a body part, and I knew exactly what he wanted. He called himself a Dom, but to me, it seemed otherworldly.
He freed my hair from the messy twist on top of my head and then helped me slip into the comfiest robe. I knew Myles had picked it out almost immediately. It was a dark navy with lighter blue snowflakes all over it.
Myles was obsessed with them, or me, or maybe the imagery was so tightly wound together in his mind that he couldn’t stop himself from buying everything with the design. That meant he was always thinking about me. What once would’ve freaked me out was now as warm and cozy to my mind and soul as this robe was against my skin.
“Alright, Little Rabbit, let’s get you loosened up.”
The bathroom was quiet and felt like our own little world, so it was jarring to hear the soft music when Liam opened the door. When I stepped out, I noticed that Myles, Blake, and Theo were gone. Liam must have seen my disappointment as he led me over to the massage table.
“Don’t worry. They’ll be back once the massages are done. We thought this was best to give Ivy and Chantry more privacy.”
I could just make out someone on the other side of the temporary privacy screen. Between it, the sheers and the candlelight, they were no more than a blurry shadow.
I smirked. “That was very thoughtful. This is…incredible,” I said as Liam loosened the tie on my robe, his fingers teasingly grazing my skin.
“We haven’t even begun. Wait to praise us once your day is over.” My lip tugged up.
“Okay,” I said, even though I knew that this was going to be the most amazing day.
It would be nice to numb some of the ache of yesterday. I’d spent most of it crying, hating that I couldn’t visit my mother’s grave. It had been one year. One whole year of so many firsts, changes, losses, and wins, and all I wanted was to tell her about everything.
In my heart, I knew that she wasn’t in some casket buried in the ground, but it would’ve given me a place to visit. A place to feel like I was closer to her. A place to mourn. I’d walked from one class to the next like a zombie and only made it because one of the guys was with me all day. After classes Blake had taken me for a walk. We listened to the birds while I quietly sobbed.
What they arranged for today was twice as special. It had been a long time since I had a girl’s day. Mum and I used to go all the time before she got sick. The guys had planned something sweet, but for me, it held so much more meaning.
Pushing the robe from my shoulders, I stood naked in front of Liam and loved how his eyes traced my body with a searing heat.
“Lay face down,” he said.
Climbing onto the table, I sighed when I felt the warming pad. I should’ve known Liam would be an amazing masseuse. But I realized I hadn’t given him enough credit the moment he spread warm oil along my body and began to work the muscles.
Firmly and in the most delicious way, his fingers dug into my skin right where I was the tightest and worked each little ball of tension. He started with my shoulders, then moved down my back to my arms and legs. I was practically asleep when Liam squatted beside my head. I couldn’t see his face, just his knees and bare feet, but I could picture the piercing look in his gaze.
“This massage is going to relax you in every way,” he whispered in my ear. My relaxed heart began pounding out of control in my chest once more. “And when I make you come…you must remain silent, Little Rabbit.” Shivers raced down my spine in excitement. “Not. A. Single. Sound,” Liam breathed in my ear. “Do you understand?”
I swallowed and licked my lips. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good, Little Rabbit. Roll over,” he ordered and then stood.
Was he really doing this with Ivy, Chantry, and two people I didn’t know in the room? I still couldn’t see anything but shadows when I rolled over. Getting settled on my back, Liam grabbed me by the ankles and dragged me down the table until my head was on the bed and not the opening for my face. I’d almost made the mistake of squealing but pressed my lips together. Liam smirked, knowing that I’d almost gotten myself in trouble, and we hadn’t even begun.
He removed the head attachment before coating his talented hands in the fragrant oil and getting to work. His face was cast in shadows as the candlelight flickered. At that moment, I decided there was nothing more erotic than Liam’s intensely focused stare.
His hands ran down my body, fingers and thumbs like magic. Gently gliding them over my breasts, ribs, and hips, he slowly stoked the fire between my thighs. It wasn’t humanly possible for him to know my body better than I did, and yet he found spots that lit a need in me that made no sense.
The aching in my core had me begging for more. I was caught between being the most relaxed I’d ever been and so pent up that I wanted to scream as Liam continued his slow, sensual torture.
Liam had been waiting for me to reach that point and how he knew I was there, I will never understand.
He gently pressed my clit, and I came so close to screaming that I had to bite my lip as my body bowed off the table. He kept massaging and then did it again and again, and by the time his finger slipped inside me, I was done. It took seconds while he rubbed my G-spot to push me over the cliff without a parachute. The earth-shattering quaking ripped through me, and if I hadn’t gripped the bed, I would’ve fallen off. Dots danced behind my eyes, and my mouth hung open in a silent scream.
Of course, Liam wasn’t done forcing the orgasms out in waves that made me writhe on the table over and over again. I was panting hard when he removed his finger and then smiled at me as he sucked it into his mouth.
Liam’s arms flexed as he braced himself and leaned close to my ear.
“You taste as delicious as I suspected, Little Rabbit. One day soon, I’ll do nothing but feast on you.” He smoothed back my hair, and his eyes locked with mine. The candlelight danced like miniature flames in his cinnamon-colored eyes. With a devious smirk, he stood up straight, and I saw how excited he was.
Liam touched my chin, forcing my attention back onto his face.
“No, this is not about me. Today is only about you,” he said matter-of-factly. “Now roll over again for me. The lava stones should be ready.”
Standing before the full-length mirror, I couldn’t get over what they had done. The pampering had been an all-day affair. After the massages, we enjoyed mani-pedis, feasted on all my favorite foods, and watched a trashy rom-com. Then, they’d brought in a professional stylist to do my hair and makeup. There were even little decorative crystals on my face, fanning the corners of my eyes.
I loved everything about today and wanted to remember it forever. We were in for a future of craziness, and we still had so many enemies, but the Kings made me feel like we could conquer anything together.
“God, Ren, you look so beautiful,” Ivy said.
Turning, I smiled at her.
“So do you. You look stunning as Belle. I can’t believe Sabastian agreed to go as Gaston.”
“Me either, but he said he was happy to.” Ivy looked downright giddy.
I had no idea why Nash invited the swimmers from Hawking Shores when he obviously hated them. But I’d given up trying to understand Nash’s motives. He juggled secrets like a clown would balls.
“And I love your costume, Chantry. You make the sexiest pirate ever. Even your sword looks real,” I said, and she laughed and posed for me.
There was a knock at the door just before it opened, and in walked the Devil himself.
Nash didn’t bother with a costume, opting to wear an all-black suit that fit him like a glove and a masquerade mask. He looked every bit the mafia Don he was born to become. I knew from Myles that the guys would be dressed the same except for their masks. Each of them had picked a different color. Nash’s was black and silver.
“I need to speak to Ren alone for a minute,” he said, his exquisite blue eyes accentuated by the covering.
Chantry and Ivy slipped past him, and as the door closed, I sucked in a shuddering breath. He looked dangerous, dashing even, and I hugged my stomach as it tumbled around with each step he took.
“You take my breath away, Princess,” Nash said, and my eyebrow cocked.
“Careful, Collier. That almost sounded like you caught some of those pesky feelings.”
“Oh, I still hate you,” he said, smiling.
“Good, because I definitely hate you,” I said and felt the blush heating my face. “Thank you for the dress. It’s amazing.” I ran my hands down the lush white faux fur lining the edge of the cape. It was so soft that I wanted to cuddle in it, and rub it against my face.
“I’m glad you like it. I got you something else.”
“Nash….”
“No, you’re going to take this,” he said, and my eyes went wide.
I stared at him like he’d lost his mind when he walked over to my bed and kneeled down to pull something out from underneath.
“What are you doing?”
“I stored this here for safekeeping,” he said as he placed the brown-paper covered parcel down on the bed.
Walking over, I stared down at the gift and then looked up at Nash. He grabbed my hands before I could reach for it and sighed.
“Look, here’s the thing…tonight, you’ll understand why I couldn’t say anything to you and why I had to wait. Some of those things may make you angry.”
“Oh, you are not off to a good start. Why?”
“Just…trust me. I know you well enough to know that you’ll want to punch me in the face.”
“Is this about Vicky? Are you stuck in the contract?”
My whole body felt like it was waiting for his response.
“No, and yes. I know how to deal with her and the contract. But Vicky is still a part of this. I’m not making sense. The point is, I really want you to remember right now.”
“You’re kind of scaring me.”
His knuckles brushed my cheek. “Don’t be. It’s not like that. Just…please try to forgive me for keeping what I know from you. I don’t beg and I don’t normally say sorry, but I will for this, for you. I had no choice and to prove that I’m not a complete dick. I got you this.” He held his hand out toward the gift. “I guess it’s better to say I got it back.”
“You didn’t….”
With a racing heart, I reached down and pulled at the tape holding the edges of the paper together. My eyes filled with tears as I stared at my mother’s painting. The same one I’d used as a bargaining chip to get Nash into the banquet. My hands went to my mouth, and shock kept the sob from escaping.
“I know you said that in the museum, it could be loved by many, but this painting is special. It was clearly made with love for you. I couldn’t let you use this for me, especially with everything I said and did after.”
Nash gripped my chin and forced me to look at him. Smiling, he pulled the folded, black pocket square from his suit jacket and dabbed at the tears, trying not to ruin my makeup.
“I could say I’m sorry a million times, and I know you’d never truly believe me. Believe this…I have demons, and I will always be an asshole, but I’m sorry for what I said…how I treated you, and for keeping what I have from you.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” I ordered.
Nash crushed his lips to mine as he pulled me against him. My head spun while every emotion swirled around like a vortex inside of me, including terror over whatever worried him.
I sucked in a deep breath as our lips parted. “Please tell me you didn’t hurt Mr. Paval to get this back?”
He chuckled. “Would I do that? I mean does he really need all of his fingers,” Nash teased, making me smile. God, I hoped it was teasing. “We better go, or I’ll miss my grand opening,” Nash said.
Plucking the pocket square from his hand, I wiped away the lipstick on his mouth before folding it and putting it back in his pocket.
“Thank you, Nash, and I will try to remember even though you’ve officially scared the shit out of me.”
He smiled wide. “Good, I like to keep you guessing.”
“I hate you so much,” I said.
“I hate you more.”