Page 42 of Dean's Delinquent

Just keep monitoring the situation. I need to think about this.

“Ahhh John. I was expecting you to already be out on the main floor. Why are you holed up back here?” Doctor Andrew’s voice slithers down my spine like ice dripping onto my skin.

“Even gods need to take a breather now and then. How can I help you?”

“Oh, there’s nothing to help me with. Just making sure you were still planning on doing the initiation. You’ve been acting rather odd lately. So I just wanted to check in with you.”

“He’s fine, Rayne,” Grigori booms out as he, too, slides into the room. “Not everyone needs to be shrunk by you.”

“And yet,” he replies, “they seem to be all the better for it. Tell me, how is your Chelsea doing?”

“Please keep my slave’s name out of your mouth unless I’ve asked for your assistance,” he nearly growls as Sergei steps in closer.

“I keep bitch safe. She is okay as waterfall.” The bodyguard replies as he rolls his shoulders.

“I mean your slave no harm,” he chuckles, rocking back on his heels. “There is no ill will between us.” Doctor Andrew’s voice softens a touch, as if cajoling the Bratva enforcer. “Besides, I am forever in my debt for your assistance with my own precious Chastity.”

Next to Grigori, Sergei snorts and shakes his head. “I told you not to put all eggs in titty basket. But you never listened to me.”

Normally, their back and forth is fine. In fact, I draw great amusement with how they size each other up. Unfortunately, my head is far too full with a brat of my own to keep allowing this to continue much longer. “Enough of all this posturing. Please, gentlemen. I’d like to keep things civil.”

A heavy sigh slips from Grigori’s lips as he turns to me. “I apologize. I am just out of sorts tonight. Chelsea has been in a rare mood, and so I’ve had to handle her harder than usual lately.”

Shaking my head, I clap my hand against his shoulder. Not that I’m surprised. It’s very close to a break and most of the students are anxious to be free of their scholastic obligations—even the bratty ones.

Either way, we can’t stay here hidden away from the world much longer. “Perhaps after the initiation, you should avail yourself to a private dungeon,” I offer. “Maybe get some of the steam out?”

“We have our own, but I appreciate the offer. I just wish to get this over with.”

“Yes,” I murmur in agreement. “As would I.”

Ever perceptive, Doctor Andrew turns to me, a rare smile curving his lips into a sinister grin. “Have plans we don’t know about?”

The last thing I need is for him to suspect he was right all along about my desire for Ashleigh. Bastard will never let me live it down.

“Despite all you do for the university, some of us are entitled to our own thoughts and plans.”

“Mmmmhmmmm. Very well. Enjoy the initiation then.” The eat-shit, know-it-all smile he gives as he leaves the room makes me pause.

Grigori looks between the two of us and shrugs, as if to say to not involve him in any of this. But what I’d be involving him in, I haven’t a clue. It’s as if the psych doc knows something I don’t. It’s not out of the ordinary, but it is very aggravating.

Stepping into the main room, I scan the heads of the dominants and submissives scattered about. Those wishing to initiate the newcomer mill back and forth, their faces fully concealed by their masks. But I know them. I know each and every one of them as well as I know the back of my hand.

Those with claimed submissives stand off to the side, their half masks showing the sadistic smirks I’ve come to expect from them. No doubt, Grigori will use this as yet another teaching moment for Chelsea. Despite his firm hand, she still has a wild streak in her no one but him seems to be able to control. Even now, as he stands there, his hand twitches as if he wishes to grasp her by the hair and drag her off to parts unknown.

Next to him, Luke rubs his hands together, his lips twisting up in glee as he looks about the room and feeds of the frenetic energy swirling about. At his feet, Shelaine kneels, ever graceful, ever the dutiful submissive. Seems as if I trained her well, and Luke merely added on his finishing polish.

Next to them, Professor Richards and Doctor Andrew converse softly while the submissive sisters hang their heads low in quiet repose. Was it really a year or so ago that Chastity came into our fold as an initiate? Weariness runs through me as I resist the urge to take off my mask and rub my face.

A frown pulls down my brows as I scan the room for Professor Douglas. No doubt he’s still in the honeymoon phase with his submissive. I’ve never seen someone disappear so fast after an initiation or claiming. I can’t fault the man, though. From what I’ve seen and heard, the brat will need some time under his tutelage before coming fully into our fold.

For a moment, my heart squeezes in my chest as I look about the rest of the room, seeking something that I can’t seem to find. Submissives come and go, but none of them call out to me. None of them grip me in a way these other dominants seem to find.

To know them would know they’d destroy the world, destroy me even, if it meant keeping their submissives safely by their side. I thought by now, I’d feel the same. Unfortunately, I’ve been so stuck in the role of leader and taskmaster that I haven’t been able to find someone I can call mine.

At least someone I’m allowed to have. And I guess that’s the point, isn’t it? I can have pretty much anyone I choose except the one I want with every fiber of my being.

Yes, I’ve sampled the various submissives here, but other than Shelaine when she was my secretary, nothing really lasted. And even with her, it was more about keeping her safe and hidden from the people following her and seeking her out more than undying carnal lust.

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