Page 216 of Swallow Your Sorries

Maybe Hale would consider letting the waitresses wear masks.

Hale steals a glance at me before standing.

“This is entirely unexpected,” he says. “First, I’d like to thank Eloisa, who has made the former king lose his mind and open up the position. Pussy power is the strongest power known to mankind.”

My face overheats and Gant plants a kiss on my neck. “You’re ridiculously cute. Why are you so shy now? Didn’t you want everyone to know?”

This is all too surreal.

Girlfriend…

“I’d also like to thank my hairstylist, Rie Rie, whose sponge curls have really helped the tousling process. And lastly, I want to say that concubine positions for the harem will be held at my club over the midterm break.”

The hall’s overcome with cheers, but only I seem to notice someone who isn’t happy. Someone who’s slipping away from the chaos and disappearing into the crowd.

Well, that’s a lie. I’m not the only one to notice.

Zedd has too, and he seems…happy about it. Pleased even as we both watch Stassi leave.

“And my first order of business is to sentence this witch.”

Rin swallows.

“The verdict?” Étienne asks, much to Rin’s horror.

“Get on all fours and clean it up,” Hale barks. “With your mouth like the little bitch that you are.”

Rin gasps. “Fuck off. I’m not doing that.”

“She doesn’t leave until Bae’s satisfied that she’s done a good job,” Zedd says, eyeing two tables near the doors and immediately a group of boys stand up and bar the entrance.

So Gant and his clowns really did hold a lot of power. Despite everything, the sheep are still following them blindly and I’m happy for one second that the attention is off of me.

“I’d consider it a blessing,” Gant says to Rin. “If you weren’t spoken for, I’d make you clean the entire hall with your tongue.”

Spoken for?

Who’s spoken for her?

Hale shoves her toward Bae and she lets out a gasp as she fails to brace herself against the table. Instead, she stumbles, practically falling into Bae’s lap.

He doesn’t help her as she tries to steady herself, as she tries to put what little distance she can between them, given that she’s perched on the tail end of the bench.

It feels like an eternity ticks by as we watch them, watching each other.

Some sort of silent communication is happening between them, and Rin breaks it first. What ensues next is something I don’t think we should see. Something that feels even more intimate than Gant’s crass words to me just minutes prior. Still, we all watch transfixed as Rin reaches for Bae’s curtain of long hair that rivals her own, before tossing it over his left shoulder. Then, she begins licking him like a damn cat everywhere the chocolate splattered.

Her pink tongue’s on his sleeve, on his shoulder, over his nipple, his heart, his neck, his cheek.

On the corners of his lips…

Gant’s lips brush the shell of my ear as he whispers, “So you like watching too? Not just being watched?”

I can’t retort because he isn’t wrong. I can’t look away. No one can, including Bae, who’s following her every movement seemingly mesmerised.

The second Rin’s tongue disappears back into her own mouth, her icy expression locks back into place. “Satisfied?” she asks, but there’s far too much emotion in her voice for me to believe her stony demeanour.

“No,” Bae says quietly. “Go lower.”

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