Chapter 34
thirty-four
It’s been a few days of orchestrating Delta’s attack plan for Wicked Wednesday. But focusing all my energy on making sure our house wins has kept my hands busy. Even if I’m completely distracted by Nick’s lips on the woman I’m watching on camera as she walks toward Delta house.
She’s wearing a Queen of Hearts costume that makes my dick regrettably hard. Bosom floating up over her red corset. Every silky inch of her legs is showcased under a short, fluffy skirt. Thigh-high stockings that make me wanna… Swallowing through a tight throat, I curse my body.
Should I have reached out to her? Probably, but I also needed time away to think. Figure things out. Playing that image on repeat in my mind infuriates me…
Nick deserves what’s coming to him.
I’m not stupid enough to believe the message was sent to help me in any way. No. Whoever did it wanted to hurt me and break me apart from the love of my life…
Was Nick smart enough to do this himself? Unlikely.
But who was truly behind it?
That’s what I’m about to find out.
Then…I need to make sure Olivia understands exactly who she belongs to.
Carnival music flares in waves from the circus tents outside. The party is so thick, some of the events had to be moved to the first floor, where I slide easily among the costumed brothers and sisters without much notice.
Instead of dressing up like we’re supposed to, I’m in my usual black hoodie, mask, and jeans. Brass knuckles on my fingers dug deep into my pockets.
There aren’t many places to hide in Delta house, being an open-concept mid-century prairie-style square. But Nick found a spot in the half-bathroom. A shadow rhythmically filters under the door while dramatic groans sift through the crack.
The man himself has his black-and-white striped pants around his ankles as his hips thrust rapidly into a Sigma. Not one of my sisters, thankfully. Otherwise, I’d have to double-tap him.
“What the fuck!” He pauses as the girl with blue hair smiles at me like she’s found a new prize.
“Oh, a two for one!” she says, pulling Nick closer by the ass.
“I’m a bit busy here… Go play Seven Minutes and fuck off.”
I flick the blade open and twirl it through my fingers. Unfortunately, the Sigma sister only gets more excited. “He and I need to have a private conversation, darling. If you wouldn’t mind getting off on someone else…”
“Oh. Bummer…” She eyes Nick for a moment, then slides off him, shoving her leather skirt down. “If you want to play, come find me,” she tells me, dragging a long, red fingernail across my chest before she goes.
My heel kicks the door closed behind me as Nick zips up and crosses his arms.
“Stay the fuck away from Olivia Cardell.”
He chuckles, his grin growing wide like he’s won something. “Yeah? Or what? Think you can intimidate me because you wear a fucking mask and have a blade? Bitch, I do CrossFit every fucking day.”
If I have to hear about his pre-workouts one more time…
“I mean, I already own your digital coin accounts.”
Wide-eyed panic crosses his face as it pales to alabaster. “What?” Hurriedly, he digs out his phone, which shakes in his hand. Tears form in his eyes as he glances up at me. “You stole my shit! You fucking…”
He takes a step closer, but I shove the knife in his direction until he freezes. With the back of his hand, he swipes at his flushed cheeks. “All for a fucking ruse?! I didn’t fucking touch her. I mean, yeah, I kissed her once. But that was for a photo op. It was just a gag. I was getting paid.”
Now this… This sounds like what I was wondering about.
“I don’t even want her. That blue-haired freak is more my style.” He shoves a finger toward the closed door. I let him keep talking. “Listen, if she’s yours? You better go after that Elliot geek. I don’t know his last name. Some fucking scholarship. He’s the kid to worry about.”
Yeah. I do worry about myself sometimes.
“So, who made you pose for the picture and go after her?”
“Her brothers paid me.”
My jaw tightens…
Ryan and Aiden Cardell.
I should’ve known.
Index finger on the back, I click the knife closed and open the door.
“What about my money, man?”
“You’ll get it back in twenty minutes.” Like I give a shit about money.
Ryan sits with my cousin, Pippi, on his lap in the blackjack tent. She blows a kiss onto some chips as he tosses down his bid. When I enter, he immediately clocks my position. And then…
The fucker smiles.
Not a regular one. One that tells me he knows I know what he did.
With a deep chuckle, he tosses down the rest of his beer and winks at me. I skirt through the crowd and approach, Pippi barely noticing my arrival as she studies the cards in front of her.
Ryan stretches his arms wide across the seats next to him. “Want to join us, Vanq?”
Apollo glances up from the head of the table, his dark eyes taking in the situation. I know he’s already reaching for his gun, but I shake my head.
“No.”
Ryan shrugs and narrows his blue eyes at me. “Now we’re even.”
So this was about me finding his video of my cousin on her knees for him and sharing it with her brothers… If he thinks this is even, I have more news for him.
“Not quite yet, Cardell.”
His dark eyebrows lower as he gives my frame a once-over. “Hm?”
I lean over and let my voice drop low into his ear. “The heart god? You can thank me for his disappearance.”
Realization floods his face as it turns from shock to regret, then gratitude. “Fuck…”
And with that, I spin on a heel and head out to find my appointed.
The great room is packed, lights dim, people dancing to the DJ with their sweaty bodies pressed up against each other. But I find her as she scans the crowd from the second-floor balcony just over the entrance, overlooking her peasants below. She’s alone.
Eyes distant, she leans her elbows against the banister, lost in thoughts that are about to get brutally interrupted.
Her costume glistens beneath the party lights, every inch of her body perfectly showcased.
Rage and raw possessiveness explode in my chest, a potent cocktail that erases any lingering hesitation.
My footsteps are silent as I stalk toward her, sliding my hand up her exposed thigh to her ass.
“Vanq! Where have you been—”
I grip her throat, cutting off her words, then hold her against the railing with my body. The tent in my jeans presses against her lower back. She turns her head to look at me, and I press my forehead to hers, seething breaths through my mask.
“You’re mine,” I growl. “Time everyone knew that.”
Using her hair, I force her to bend over. She gasps sharply, clawing at the polished wood to hold her up as the oblivious crowd parties below, unaware they’re moments away from seeing her at her most beautiful…
Overflowing with my cum.
My hand travels up her skirt, fingers digging into soft flesh, leaving marks I intend for her to wear proudly tomorrow. Her breath hitches, hips arching back involuntarily as I tear her panties aside.
“Valen,” she whimpers breathlessly, a plea and protest in one.
I smack a hand on her ass and command, “Quiet.”
With a sigh of relief, I get my jeans open, my painfully hard cock bobbing out. I shove my hips forward to join hers, seating myself fully within her sopping pussy. Her shuddering moan is music to my ears.
“This is exactly what you fucking wanted, isn’t it? To be owned completely? Now everyone will know who you belong to.”
Without mercy or preparation, I drive into her, the hot grip of her body wrenching a groan from deep inside my chest.
Gripping her waist, I fuck her relentlessly, each thrust pushing her harder against the railing. Heads swivel below as Olivia’s moans echo from her throat, whispers scattering into raucous cheers and whistles as they grasp what’s unfolding above them.
“Look at your fucking queen!” My voice booms over the noise, proud and merciless. “She begged for this, to be taken right here, in front of all of you!”
She sobs with pleasure, bright crimson staining her cheeks, but her traitorous body eagerly pushes back to meet every punishing thrust, slick and trembling beneath my hold. Fingers clutch helplessly at the banister as her moans spill louder, impossible to control.
I fist her hair, forcing her head up as the crowd roars, calling her name, chanting encouragement and lewd suggestions. Marking her with every rough movement, I fuck her harder.
“Tell them who owns you,” I demand, my breath a harsh caress against her ear. “Yell it.”
Stammering, gasping, she finally cries out brokenly, “Vanq! I’m Vanq’s!” Her shouts are drowned out among the crowd and music as it picks up. She turns her flushed, tear-streaked face toward me, wanton need flooding her forest eyes. “You own me. Every piece of my soul.”
Her surrender unravels my control, and with ferocious finality, I bury myself as far as I can go, pouring myself inside her, publicly declaring that she’s mine.
Brothers and sisters below erupt into applause and whistles, the spectacle complete. Olivia sags against the railing, knees shaking uncontrollably.
Hooking a finger beneath my mask, I lift it just enough to savagely claim her lips in front of them all. A lavish, all-consuming kiss seals us together while my cock still throbs deep inside her. Against her cheek, I whisper harshly, “Never doubt who you belong to.”
She shivers as I slip out. I tuck myself away, then entwine my hand with hers. As she follows with a question on her face, she shoves her dress down. Cheeks still blushing with desire and humiliation.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“I’ll show you.”
We alight the stairs, through the halls of closed doors, until we reach the farthest room. I pull out my keys and unlock the bolts.
Her eyes search my face. “Your room?”
Nodding, I pull her inside, then quickly shove the door closed and lock it behind us. As soon as we step in, I rip off my mask and shake out my hair. I reach for her, but she’s already wandering farther into the room.
“Wow…” She turns in a slow circle, taking in the LED lights, computer, messy bed, empty energy drink cans, and pizza boxes. Oh, and my spare sets of weights. Figured if I had to compete with other frat bros, I had to at least lift to get her attention.
“Welcome to the cave. Sorry, it stinks.”
“Now I can see why you like our mansion.” Her gaze finds my face as she steps closer, then brushes a palm over my cheek. “Where have you been?”
“Nick sent me a photo of you and him kissing in the library—”
She gasps, horrified, then attempts to argue, but I shake my head.
“I knew you didn’t want to, but it made me rage with jealousy. Then with protectiveness. But that first picture made me feel like… Well, I had flashes to those old teenage thoughts that I’m just a dorky kid who won’t ever get the cool girl.”
She smiles broadly, and I can’t help but blush with embarrassment. “And…I’m the cool girl.”
“The fucking coolest.”
There’s no way I’m starting a war between her and her brothers by confessing Ryan’s involvement. Possibly Aiden’s. It would make her have to choose me over them, and I don’t want that. I’ll just blame it all on Nick Veldt.
“I didn’t want to. He—”
“Yep, I already get it, Monarch. Fucker deserves to get what’s coming to him. He’s been running a crypto mining scheme, so I turned over the evidence. Authorities won’t bat an eye at rape, but threaten their wallets? Now they care. He’ll be in prison soon.”
She smiles sweetly, then steps into my body, brushing her lips against mine. “Thank you.” Breathing against my cheek, she lowers her voice. “For believing me. Protecting me.”
I’m unable to answer her back. She has me in a trance.
We hold each other’s gaze for a long moment before she slips away, picking up various objects and setting them down. Opening my drawers and holding up my underwear, dangling it from a finger with a playful look on her face. I lean against the wall and cross my arms, watching her as she stalks me.
A loud laugh bursts from her chest as she points to the floor. “Is this…a practice golf hole?”
I purse my lips, trying to decide if I should confess. “Uh…I just didn’t want you to beat me again.”
She bites her lip, head shaking slightly. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And competitive. And possibly already have plans to put in a course on our back acreage.”
She snorts, then nods toward my computer with Call of Duty up on its loading screen. “Is competition what the game is about?”
“Yeah.”
Sliding into my side, she gathers my hand in hers and blinks at me with a coy smile. “Will you show me how to play?”
Gods, if my dick worked right now, I’d fuck her again. Everything within me grows warm. I think she likes me.
For the next hour, I sit her on my lap and show her the basics, even help her with the controls. She’s good for a beginner and even better with aim than most people just starting. My pulse thrills whenever she starts smack-talking until I can’t hold back a smile.
“I like this,” she says. “Being here with you…doing geek things.”
She swivels around to straddle me, plants a whisper of a kiss on my cheek, then smirks as I slide my hand over her ass. In a teasing sing-song voice, she mocks, “I’m such a cool girl, totally into the dorky kid with the big ego and faster hands than anyone expects.”
Matching her energy, I grin. “You could’ve just said: big dick, elite hacker.”
“Such a big dick,” she hums. “We’ll see about the backdoor...hacks.”
I chuckle. “Now you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
Her eyes search the ceiling for an answer as she smirks. “Nope. It’s the honest truth. Thank you, Valen. For letting me in here. For trusting me enough to…”
I gather her hair into a ponytail and hold it out of the way as I kiss her. Then deepen it, knowing that she’s right.
I finally trust her, and I hope, someday, she’ll do the same for me.