Chapter 41: Forged in Blood: Chapter 39

The past two days have been a whirlwind, and I need to take some time to process everything that’s happened. I was determined to hate Xavier and Axl after everything they did and said, but now …

I feel things for them that are illogical and terrifying. They’ve already seen me naked, but they got dressed before they grabbed snacks from the kitchen, and the vulnerability of being the only one without clothes has me tugging the covers up over my naked torso. “I really need to get some of my things.”

Xavier takes a noisy bite from his apple and nods at two duffel bags in the corner of the room. “Already got them, Cupcake.”

“What? When?”

“While you were sleeping.”

I jump out of bed, no longer concerned about my nudity, and unzip the larger of the two bags. My panties sit in a surprisingly neat pile on top of what looks to be half my wardrobe, and a little digging reveals my well-worn copy of Wuthering Heights. The sight of my favorite book nearly melts me into a puddle, and I silently admonish myself for being so weak where they’re concerned. I’ve become a slave to my hormones. “You went through my things?”

Xavier shrugs nonchalantly. “Kinda had to.”

“But that’s … you had no right to do that. What about my privacy?”

He comes to stand beside me and peers into the bag, then flashes me a wicked grin. “I’ve been inside you, Cupcake. You don’t get more private than that. I didn’t bring your little buzzy friend though. You won’t be needing that anymore.”

A blush races down my neck. I hadn’t yet found the courage to try out the tiny bullet vibrator I ordered online, but after what happened in this room over the past couple days, I was looking forward to seeing how it would feel. I put my hands on my hips and lift one eyebrow. “You’re really that threatened by a toy?”

He grabs the hair at the nape of my neck and pulls me toward him, squishing my boobs against his hard chest. “No, Cupcake, I am not threatened by anything. But we are the only place where you will find your pleasure from here on out.” He licks a path along my jawbone, making me shiver. “Do I make myself clear?”

He tosses the apple core into the trash and trails his free hand down my ribs, grazing my hipbone along the way to the tops of my trembling thighs. “Y-yes.”

“Good little Cupcake.”

“There’s my sweet girl.”

I look past Xavier to see Malachi kicking the door closed and pulling his T-shirt over his head. The sight of his toned abs is enough to make me drool, but every muscle in my body is already aching, and I think my lady parts might close up shop if anyone else tries to gain entry right now. Not to mention I’m still mad as hell at him. Of all of them, he hurt me the most. He made me believe I meant something to him, and then he broke my heart. And I know now it was all because he was following the professor’s orders, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

Malachi pushes Xavier off me. “Out of my way, numbnuts.”

With no protest and only a chuckle, Xavier goes to join Axl on the bed, and they both lie with their arms behind their head.

I make a halfhearted attempt to cover myself with my hands, but Malachi is too swift for me. He circles my wrists and pins them behind my back, and his voice is a commanding growl. “Let me get a good look at you.”

“Stop!” I whisper, trying to wrench out of his grip, but he holds me tight.

His eyes grow dark as they roam over my body. “Even more beautiful than I dreamed, sweet girl.”

“I’m not your sweet girl. I’m too messy, right?” Dammit, I hate the distinct crack in my voice.

“You’ll always be my sweet girl, Ophelia. And I’m sorry, baby. I would never hurt you⁠—”

“But you did hurt me, Malachi,” I remind him.

He presses his lips together and nods before drawing a deep breath. “Then let me show you how sorry I am, baby. Please.” Inhaling deeply, he runs his nose down my throat to my collarbone. When he reaches my breasts, he flicks my nipple with his tongue, catching it with his piercing. I whimper shamelessly and arch toward him.

“I h-have to go to class today. I already missed yesterday.”

I wait for one of them to remind me that nobody will miss me, but the only sound in the room is Malachi’s heavy breathing. “You smell so damn good, sweet girl. And I know you’re going to taste even better.”

He runs a hand over my ass and squeezes before he slips it between my thighs, lightly dusting his knuckles over my aching flesh. “Are you a little sore this morning?”

The stinging between my thighs has me nodding my agreement, and I’m overcome with embarrassment at him knowing exactly what I’ve been doing with his brothers.

He winks. “I can fix that.”

I press my lips together and suck in a breath through my nose. “But I really need to go to class. And I have a meeting with my advisor.”

Malachi’s reply is to seal his mouth over mine. He flicks his tongue over my lips until I part them on a moan, allowing him entry. His free hand glides up my neck to palm the back of my head. He holds me in place, my wrists still pinned in one of his large hands. And then he kisses me so hard that my trembling legs almost give way. I would crumple to the floor if he wasn’t holding me up. My body melts into his like I’m made of hot wax. His expert tongue dances against mine, drawing out a series of moans and whimpers. Unable to help myself, I grind on him, painfully aware of how hard he is. Am I really the kind of girl who melts for a boy just because he’s a good kisser? I shouldn’t even be contemplating letting him do this, but I keep picturing him throwing me onto the bed and taking me while Axl and Xavier watch.

Wetness pools between my thighs, but Malachi pulls back all too soon, leaving me gasping and needy. “You really should get to class, Ophelia. Because I haven’t slept for two nights, and I’m feeling a little …” He rolls his neck. “Unrestrained.”

I swallow the unexpected bubble of disappointment that jumps into my throat.

He tucks my hair behind my ear and smiles. “What time do your classes finish, baby?”

“Um.” I’m distracted by his hard length still pressed against my stomach and his hand on my ass. “Four-thirty.”

“I’ll come meet you after. Okay?”

I nod.

He releases my wrists and taps me on the ass. “Go get showered and dressed before I change my mind.”

I glance at his brothers and find their eyes still locked on me, but they don’t protest me going to class either. I’m grateful because I really do need to go, and I suspect any one of them could convince me to stay.

I’m leaving the Commons after grabbing a cup of coffee when Cadence links her arm through mine. “Hey, girl. You want to grab some lunch together today?”

Lunch with Cadence sounds amazing, but I shake my head, disappointed. “Can’t, sorry. I have a meeting with my personal advisor during my break between classes.”

She pulls a face like she’s disappointed too. “Maybe some other day, then?”

I nod eagerly, a smile stretching across my face. “I’d love that.”

She keeps her arm linked with mine, and I continue walking alongside her. We may not be able to have lunch, but I have a bit of time. “You missed a fun party Saturday. It was a shame you didn’t come. Better than sitting in your room on your own crying over some douchebag.”

I clear my throat and avoid eye contact as I’m struck by the vivid memory of how a few nights earlier I spent the night losing my virginity to said douchebag, well, one of them at least, and letting him drink my blood. “Maybe the next one?” I say, trying to stop the thoughts of Axl and Xavier and their sinfully delicious mouths, not to mention their huge⁠—

“You feeling a little better, though?” Cadence interrupts my thoughts and spares me from blushing. “You seem brighter today.”

“Yeah. Much better. Thank you.”

She squeezes my shoulder. “That’s my girl.”

An unexpected sob wells in my throat, and I swallow it back down. Surely none of this is real, right? I’m going to wake up from a coma any moment now and find out the past few days have been a dream.

Happiness like this cannot possibly be real. I, Ophelia Ilyria Hart—orphan with no money who has never had a friend in her life—am actually in college. I love all of my classes, and despite missing a couple days, I’m holding my own in every subject.

My dream of becoming a social worker and helping kids who have no one else to look out for them isn’t the unattainable dream I considered it for so long. One day, I will change lives. And not just any lives. The lives of kids who are like me.

On top of all that, I have three absurdly hot guys interested in me. Even if it’s only because my blood is special, I can live with that.

But some part of me always knew there would be a guy—definitely not three guys, but still. After everything that’s happened, I never imagined true friendship, so Cadence wanting to be my friend is probably the best part of my unbelievable new life. She’s friendly, funny, and so much cooler than all the other girls who’ve treated me like shit since I got here.

Cadence comes to a stop as we reach the building that houses all the natural science classes and labs. “This is me,” she says, pulling me into a quick hug. “Don’t forget what I said about coming by Silver Vale, okay? I’m at study group tonight, but I’ll be home the rest of the week.”

“Yeah, okay, sure. I’ll drop by sometime.”

“Cool. See you around, Ophelia.”

She spins on her heel and goes inside Urania Hall, and I tip my face toward the sun and smile. Today is going to be a great day.