XXI
Syn
T ori’s eyes go wide, and she takes a step back, narrowly avoiding falling off the step.
“That’s not the outfit I provided you with this morning,” I say, not moving an inch. “Did Royal give you that?”
The hem of her dress has risen up, and she makes a half-hearted effort in smoothing it down. “I bought it myself, this morning. I thought it would be appropriate as an initiate to attend the game and show my support for one of the vice presidents.”
“I didn’t realize you were so enthusiastic. Next time, you can be the Wildcat’s cheerleader as Gemini suggested.”
Her lip catches between her teeth and then she straightens her back. “Whatever you say, sir,” she says, as though the idea doesn’t bother her. “It would be my pleasure to show how much I support Royal.”
Royal…
Not the stupid basketball team, but Royal, specifically.
I’m not sure why anger bubbles up inside of me at that, but I hide it instead, folding my arms. “The post-game party is starting. A more appropriate outfit is in your kennel. I expect you to be at the front door in twenty minutes. For every minute you’re late, that’s the number of dicks you’ll be sucking off tonight, initiate .”
If she thinks she’s convincing anyone that she’s not scared of being here, then she’s a fool. I don’t miss the way her fingers clutch at the jacket she’s holding.
“Yes, sir,” she mutters, before taking a few steps towards me.
I step to the side and let her pass. As she hurries through the house, I close the door and stroll into the kitchen to help myself to a glass of Yamazaki.
Personally, I prefer a Scotch whiskey over a Japanese one, but JP used to drink Yamazaki. Since he died, I switched.
Some days, it’s the only place I can find warmth.
Tonight, it’s my reminder.
I sip the last mouthful, holding it in my mouth for a moment before swallowing. Then, after setting the glass down on the kitchen island, I walk through the house to the front door.
The sole purpose of the initiation is compliance.
The opening ceremony and its recorded activities serve the purpose of blackmail if required in the future. Everything else is to see who will follow orders, and who we’ll have the problem with in the future. Sex is used because people are nothing more than raging hormones, and this gives them an opportunity to do things from the wildest, darkest, filthiest parts of their fantasies.
She’s not even going to pass the initiation.
She has no use to us.
She’s not going to have a future.
Standing in front of the door, I look up at the picture of JP. Had Tori not applied to James Keyingham, I would’ve stayed living off-campus, even if I would be the only president of the Elite to do so in all its history.
Tori appears with just a minute to spare.
Tonight’s outfit was selected carefully.
A cheerleading uniform.
Not the one I’d have her wearing at Royal’s next game—although I’m absolutely going to let her think that.
This outfit was created with tonight in mind.
The skirt is short, and the cropped top hugs her chest so tightly, it almost looks painted on. If she had pom poms—and the fact that she didn’t bring the ones she’d been carrying earlier hasn’t escaped me—she wouldn’t want to be waving them in the air as she’d likely flash everyone.
I didn’t provide her with underwear, and I can see, up top, at least, she’s not wearing any.
“Come now,” I say, as she glares at me. Clearly holding herself back from running her mouth. “Cheerleaders are supposed to be cheery, and I know you were doing such an amazing job earlier.”
She plants a smile on her face, even though she continues to glower at me.
I open the door and walk outside knowing she will follow. When I get to the golfcart, I go to the passenger seat, pulling the keys out of my pocket as I sit down. I toss them in her direction, but instead of catching them, they sail past, landing behind her.
“There’s a fine line between late and fashionably late,” I tell her when she just stands there.
She stares at me before giving me a smile and slowly turning around. Instead of crouching down, she bends over like she’s touching her toes. The fabric of her skirt slides over her ass before it turns upside down over her body, completely revealing her asshole.
This year, Royal got creative, having all the initiates on their knees in stocks, giving all the members head. If she’d been late, that’s what I would have done now.
Tonight, I have something else in mind, and what I’m seeing now is not far from a spoiler of things to come—no pun intended there, as that’s the opposite of what she can expect later.
But surprisingly, my mouth is dry, and I’m already making a mental note of the changes I’m going to implement. Starting with the guestlist.
She straightens, turns, and walks to the golfcart like she hasn’t just flashed her pussy to the world.
“Maybe you can perform that party trick later,” I say as she starts the buggy.
She doesn’t respond. Instead, she sets off towards the church.
It’s cold out, so I’m wearing a sweater. Until tonight, I wasn’t sure I’d ever forgive Royal for choosing to play for the basketball team since that meant wearing this horrific outfit, but I think he’s just earned that forgiveness.
“Cold?” I’m making no effort to hide the fact that I’m staring at her nipples. “Or is the cold air on your cunt turning you on?”
Her knuckles whiten as she tightens her grip on the steering wheel.
The next couple of hours are going to drag.
“Your job this evening is to serve the basketball team. I don’t want to hear a single complaint from them, or you will be punished. I do not want their glasses to get empty. If they ask you to shake your pom poms…” I sigh and feign looking around. “Well, you didn’t bring them, so you’d better shake something else instead.”
“And if they ask me to bend over, I do that, right?” she asks.
The word that comes out of my mouth is the exact opposite of what I should say: “No.”
Before I have the time to wonder if I drank a little more whiskey than I realized, she glances at me, arching an eyebrow.
“You are an initiate. The only people you bend over for is a member of the Elite, which means, unfortunately for you, you won’t be earning any money, nor will you be getting a single orgasm.”
We arrive at the church, and she parks in our assigned spot. The doors are open, and music and drunk students are spilling out into the night, but I don’t miss her muttered comment.
“Bold of you to assume I think I’d ever get off with any one of the Elite.”
Before she can stand, I yank her into my lap, quickly hooking my legs around hers to force them apart.
She squeals, attracting the attention of a few of the party goers outside. Her hands grip my arm wrapped around her waist, trying to pry me off. She squeezes her legs against mine, like she’s trying to close them, but her exposed pussy is hidden behind the golfcart.
“Wiggle any more, and everyone will see your exposed cunt. Or is that what you want?” I mutter in her ear.
Instantly, she stops moving.
“You do surprise me,” I say, without sounding the slightest bit surprised. I release one arm, but only so I can push it under her skirt and between her legs. Her body jerks against me as I run my finger along her, over her clit. “I think I’d have you coming in seconds to this little audience in front of us.”
She clutches me so hard that I can feel her nails through my sleeve. “Syn…”
Lazily, I start rubbing her clit, and she starts squirming against me.
Fuck .
“Put on a show, and I’m sure you’ll earn a couple thousand. They might only be students, but they’re a richer than your usual clientele.”
All at once, she stops, her grip on me loosening as she tries to turn to face me. Although her cheeks are clearly flushed, her eyes are narrowed. “A woman who likes sex and enjoys sex does not make her a whore, Syn. I’ve only slept with five people in my entire life, and three of them are you, Royal, and Gemini,” she hisses. “And maybe you did make me come, but then again, that could have been because of Royal or Gemini. Or the fucking drugs you had me take. Or maybe it was just the fact that I was imagining it wasn’t you, because the only reason I’m letting you touch me is because of your stupid contract.”
While I’m trying to fight my anger long enough to respond, she manages to extract herself from me and get out of the golf cart.
I step out and grab her arm before she can walk away, forcing her to stop and face me. “Don’t delude yourself, Victoria. You’re desperate. Desperate for money. You’ve been in my house for long enough to know the truth you’re looking for doesn’t exist. It never did. And yet you’re still here. Why would you stay if you weren’t after me and my money?”
“Delusional?” she says, her eyes going wide. “Go look in a mirror, Synclair . You say you hate me because of my brother, and yet the first thing you did was stick your dick in me the moment you had the chance. You could have had anyone— everyone —in your stupid society do that instead of you, but you didn’t.”
My grip on her arm tightens. “Only a whore would want everyone to fuck her.”
There’s a crazed look in her eyes as she just laughs. “It’s been driving me insane, trying to understand why the hell you’re so set in your stupid belief about Cole and JP, but it’s not that you’re trying to hide anything. You’re either just an idiot, or deaf. Or maybe both. But you’ve not listened to anything I’ve just said anyway.”
Her laughter has anger churning up my insides.
I want to hurt her.
I want her to suffer.
But the pain I want to inflict right now is nothing short of a beating, and the only thing stopping me from raising my hand is the fucking audience watching us.
Instead, I let go, shoving her away as I do. “Fine. Let’s play a game, initiate. Make it to sunrise without getting caught, and all you’ll have to do is serve every member of the Elite in the dining hall, for a week. Get caught, and you’re heading down into that crypt to service every member of the Elite every night for the week.”
She looks at me like she thinks I’m joking.
“Run.”
Fear flashes through her eyes before she turns and does exactly what I told her.
I have no intention of chasing after her. I don’t even watch to see what direction she goes as I march into the church.
The music is pulsing. Bodies grind up against each other, despite the beat of the song. Not caring if anyone is in my way, I take the shortest route to the bar and order a drink.
Without realizing what I’ve ordered until I taste the smokey liquid, the whiskey feels more like a thick sludge as it goes down my throat, choking me. With a roar, I launch the glass through the air, narrowly missing the asshole who served it to me.
It explodes as it hits the wall, sending glass and whiskey flying everywhere.
“Syn, what the fuck?” Royal appears at my side.
“Change of plans,” I say as I turn, seeing Gemini standing next to him. Good. “The members think they’re missing out? Then tonight, anyone who wants in, can.”
Royal’s eyes go wide. “I thought it was just going to be us?”
“Apparently, that little bitch is in heat, so fuck it. Let them have her.”