Chapter 35
thirty-five
“You’re focused on the words and not the concept. But start at the top first. Then read the last. It’s okay.”
I scan the bar. It’s noisy. My Deltas are clinking glasses and flirting hard with Sigmas. The chatter grows into laughter as Oz entertains a few people. Or Nicky snaps a sarcastic remark.
I refused to study in the library. And we decided to avoid our new university granted home unless we feel like being on display. I’m not sure if there are cameras inside. Or perhaps just recording devices. But it feels like the air has been tainted in there.
So we sit in the corner of Westmore, the pub near campus. Scout even dragged a red velvet rope across our corner booth to discourage my brothers from bothering me.
But I still can’t concentrate.
“You’re the one who insisted we come here.” She taps the book in front of her. “Focus, stallion.”
She offered to bring a children’s book, but I gristle at the thought. Would it have been easier? Yeah. And honestly, she’s been so amazing with this that I wouldn’t have been embarrassed if it were just her and I. But I can’t have anyone seeing me learning to read.
I take a deep breath and try again, lining my finger under the sentence. “Like. A. Pony. From the ashes. Pony? Or…”
“Replace a ‘ph’ with an ‘f,’ and you’ll be good.”
I lick my lips. “Yeah, that makes more sense. A phoenix. Don’t they have this on audiobook?”
She chuckles. “Yeah. And you should download it. Then read along. That would help. But tell me what you just read in that paragraph. The concepts.”
I clear my throat. “Um…” I have to search back through all the words jumbled around in my brain, but finally come up with it. “The murderer was someone they knew all along and has been hidden for a long time. But he’s coming back to their minds now.”
A seductive smile parts her lips. “You got it.”
My chest warms. “You’re a good teacher.”
“Did you not have good ones?” she asks, taking a sip of her beer.
“They tried. I had a reading tutor in elementary who helped. But as I went on to middle school, things fell behind. I could manage to get by making friends with the right people who finished my work for me, or I copied from. Even convinced my parents I was fine. Plus, I played soccer, and the school needed a great forward. Combined with my athletics and stellar recommendations from the teachers who loved me, I got accepted to NU. But it was a joke. First class here, I knew I was in trouble. But I had Valen as a roommate. And he did everything for me.”
She places her hand over mine. “I hope you know that this is common. That you shouldn’t feel shamed or—”
I lean over and press a sweet kiss to that plump mouth. Her mauve two lips. She tastes of juniper and a plume of spring air.
“I love you,” I whisper. “You make me feel competent even while doing this.”
She blinks at me, the blue of her eyes like the deepest part of the ocean in the dim light. “Because you are.”
“Well, if I’m so competent? We need to solidify our plan.
Make sure everyone knows their roles.” I glance around at my brothers.
Most of them casual and easy. Laughing and enjoying their evening.
Not pressured. Though the heaviness of the Seven feels like an entity filling the empty corners, ready to swallow us all. “And we need to hurry.”
She opens her mouth to reply, but a beer sloshes over us as Nicky slides one across our table.
“Quit being so—so—married. It’s fucking weird.
” He bypasses the rope with a hip-check and threads into the rounded booth next to me.
“What’s good, Scout? I’m Nicky. Don’t think we’ve been formally introduced, though I was at the wedding.
I’m the secretary of Beta and used to be this guy’s friend. But he’s ditched me.”
He takes a big gulp of his ale, eyes locked on mine accusingly. I pick up the one he gave me and take a swig. “My wife takes precedence over sweaty, stinky brothers. I’m not sorry.”
“Nice to meet you,” Scout says wryly. I notice she slyly tucks the book into her bag and nuzzles closer to my side.
His face drops into a slow grin. “I’m just jealous. Waiting for my appointed, and I’ll probably get stuck with a bitch.”
I nod. “You need one. Someone to put up with your shit. Keep you in line.”
He smirks. “Gods, I hope so. That would be hot.”
My hand slips onto Scout’s thigh possessively. “We were, uh, kind of busy over here.”
“Oh? Doing what?”
“Having a private conversation.”
“Scout! Mr. President! And Nicky…” Oz joins the table, and I roll my eyes. He cuts in on the other side of Scout and sticks out his hand. “Oz Freidenberg.”
I lean in and murmur, “Adal’s younger brother.”
Scout shakes his hand. “Hi. I’ve seen you in the back of Society Foundations class.”
Oz snorts. “Have you? Been checking me out?” His eyebrows dancing lecherously.
“Yeah. You were snoring. It was loud.”
I bust out a laugh as he purses his lips. “Not that loud…”
“I think you should get tested for sleep apnea.”
Oz slaps a hand to his chest, as if he’s offended. “Me and my snoring will go elsewhere.” He exits the booth with a huff. Then freezes. Spinning, he leans toward Scout, and she flinches back. Low, almost so I can’t hear, he tells her, “I’ve never seen him smile this much.”
Scout grins, then wiggles in her seat. It’s the cutest thing ever.
Nicky tosses back the rest of his beer and joins Oz. “Don’t be weird. Come join all of us. Mingle.”
Scout glances at me, and I shake my head. “Okay. We will,” I tell him, not removing my eyes from my wife.
The two slip back into the crowd, now shouting at the Northview Nighthawks hockey game playing on all the screens.
When Scout attempts to stand, I shove her back down into the seat with a firm grip on her hip. “You’re not going anywhere. Not until you get your deserved punishment.”
I scan the guys all huddled near the TVs behind the bar. Stools occupied. Thick crowd attuned to Scout’s brother playing on the screen. He slams in a goal, and they go wild.
That’s when I lift her off her seat and plop her on my lap. My hands wrap around her waist. Her body shifts, restless and searching, and it drags a reaction out of me. It doesn’t take long to get her jeans undone. Then mine. A tiny sound of protest breaks out of her before she can stop it.
Thinking again.
She’s always thinking.
I lean in, mouth brushing her ear. “Look forward. Keep watching the game.”
“But—”
“No.” My voice drops, firm. Controlled. “You don’t need to let that noise in your brain take over right now. I’ve got you.”
That’s what she needs. Not softness. Just permission to let go.
Relief.
“No buts, tulip. You were so fucking bad the other night. And now? Yeah. You’re taking all this dick while my brothers watch.”
If some of the Deltas see her here? That’s fine by me. It’ll establish her role as their queen. Let them see who she belongs to. She’s mine to show. Not theirs to have.
When I lift her just enough to line her up, her hands fly to the sticky table, bracing like she already knows what’s coming.
“Fuck!” she squeals, and I smack the outside of her thigh.
“Not so loud!” Though the crowd sounds, the bar music, and the game blaring from the TVs deafens everything else. The dim light in this corner wraps around us like a cover.
“I’m sorry, but this angle. Your cock. It’s just… Fuck—” she gasps as I lower her onto me.
I settle her with a hand on her thigh. “Easy,” I murmur, though my own breath is already rough. “Take it.”
She does. Slowly. Tight as hell. Every inch dragging her lower until I’m buried inside her and she’s trembling on top of me.
Christ.
I hold her there for a second longer than I want to. Let her feel it. Let her settle. I groan as she envelops my whole length and I bottom out. Legs spread wide. Hers cradled by mine.
“What if someone sees!” she whisper-hisses, but her concern crumbles with a moan as I drive my hips up into her.
“That would be embarrassing. Someone could catch you. Pants half down. Taking my dick so good.” I lean in and whisper, “What would you tell them, tulip? Would you admit how much of a sneaky freak you are for me? For your husband?”
She swallows and pushes her back into my chest. “No. I couldn’t.”
“No? That would ruin your reputation.” I smirk, then hook under her thighs and lift her slightly.
Then…I go to town on her pussy. Rapidly fucking her as she hangs on for the ride.
“Just a dirty girl getting fucked hard over here in the corner. In front of everyone. Not the university’s golden child anymore, huh? ”
She whimpers a reply, nails biting into my arms. Hard enough to leave half-moon marks. “I can’t… I can’t come without…”
“Without me fingering you? Without a toy on your clit, baby? Because I think you can. Not only can you, but you will. For me. Be obedient to your husband. Do what I say and come.”
“No.” But she shifts her hips in a way that says the opposite.
“No?”
I smack her thigh again, heat rising up into my chest. I love her. Love how she’s straining against me. Fighting me while she’s already halfway gone.
“Stop thinking so much and let me handle it.”
That’s what makes her relax completely. Body oozing into nothing in my grasp.
“That’s my girl. Taking me so good. You’re so perfect for me. Pussy fits me like a glove.”
I know how to make her go crazy and send her over the edge. Dropping her leg, I grasp her neck. And squeeze down until her pulse pounds beneath my palm.
She claws at my hand with both of hers. “Apollo!” But I choke off the end of her exclamation.
“You better come. It’s what a good girl would do. And you want to be the best girl for me, don’t you?”
When I tighten my grip, those blue eyes roll back. Silent, yet forceful, she relinquishes a barely hushed scream, muscles twitching, clamping down on me. That’s when I ease up. Her pussy pulls everything I have deep inside her. Caressing me in erratic pulses.
She falls back against my shoulder, taking deep, raspy breaths. “Oh…gods.”
I press tiny kisses along her back, her shoulder, and up to her ear. “You were so good, baby. You did so well. You feel stretched inside?”
“Mmmmm,” is all she manages to moan, eyes closed. Body loose and pliable.
Out of breath, I glance around, but no one really pays us much attention. Except for one…
As the thick crowd cheers, loud and unrestrained, Oz takes the opportunity to spin around, raising his eyebrows as he dips a look underneath the table. Where I’m still inside my wife. He laughs, points to us, and then gives a personal round of applause.
Scout’s still slumped against me, eyes heavy, body gone soft. And I?
Give a warm smirk of pride.
But I’m not planning to tell her we just got busted.