Page 76 of Love to Defy You
Our guide, the hooded figure with the torch, waits for us in the corridor, and we follow him back the way we came. Alek carries me the whole way until we reach the stairwell, and he sets me down on the bench next to his wallet and cell phone.
Alek rounds on our guide. “Where are our clothes?”
“When you arrived, you shed your mortal attire,” the cloaked figure rasps. “You will leave in the clothing befitting a pythia and her god.”
“Fucking great.” Alek snatches his phone and wallet off the bench in one hand. He grabs my wrist with the other and pulls me to my feet. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
Alek leads me up the stairs and opens the cellar door at the top. The wood creaks on its hinges as the frigid night air bites our cheeks.
Twigs and rocks cut my feet as we make our way through the bushes toward the sidewalk, and I whimper. When we emerge from the brush, Henri Rooman rushes up to us, and I startle.
“What happened to you two?” Henri glances down at our filthy robes and bare feet.
Alek scans the quad. “Where’s your pythia?”
“Oh, well, uh...” Henri’s complexion colors scarlet. “I’m sort of exclusive with Prisha now, so I didn’t bring anyone.”
Under any other circumstance, I would grab Alek’s phone out of his hand and call Prisha to demand the details, but all I can think about is the implications of him coming here solo tonight.
Alek swears under his breath. “You don’t have a pythia?”
Henri shakes his head. “No, but they said a substitute would be provided.”
I turn my back on the guys just in time. Liquid vomit spews from my mouth into the bushes, and I fold forward, coughing and shaking.
The next morning, I awaken with a jolt. I’m breathing fast, and my racing heart thunders as though it’s trying to claw its way out of my chest. Until I can catch my breath, I fist the sheets and close my eyes against the wave of nausea gripping me.
“Hey, hey, you’re okay.” Alek’s soothing voice cuts through the blood pumping in my ears. He begins to rub gentle circles on my back with his broad hand.
I blink my eyes open, and the bedroom of our apartment comes into focus. When I turn, Alek is sitting beside me on the bed, his back pressed to the headboard. Judging by the empty coffee cup on his nightstand, he’s been up for a while.
The memories of last night are so vivid—Enzo’s face watching me as I came, my subsequent breakdown in front of dozens of people, and poor, poor Henri…
Despite the nausea, I’m not sure there’s anything left in my stomach to throw up.
“Lie back down,malishka.“ Alek leans me back against the pillows. “Would you like some breakfast? I had crepes delivered.”
“Sure.” My voice is raspy from sleep. “And a big cup of coffee.”
“Coming right up.” Alek stands and leaves the bedroom.
I stare up at the ceiling above, wishing I could forget about my humiliating sub drop. That’s never happened to me before, but I would rather not go through that ordeal again, especially not in front of the Order of Apollo.
The sex, on the other hand, is something I wouldn’t mind trying again. Having an audience get off on watching Alek rail me is an experience I’ll never forget, especially since it might have been the most earth-shattering orgasm I’ve ever had. It was terrifying, and yet, the fear fed my pleasure.
It felt just as exhilarating as the night Alek cornered me in the hall of mirrors, running his switchblade over the most sensitive area on my body. Terror mixed with lust to create an explosive mixture that sent adrenaline rushing straight to my core. It makes no sense, but I’m sexually attracted to danger.
Last night, I lived out my deepest, darkest fantasy, and it was so much better than I imagined. How the hell are Alek and I going to top that?
A movement out of the corner of my eye startles me. I gasp as I fall out of the bed, naked and tangled in the sheets, and I shrink against the nightstand.
“Malishka, it’s just me.“ Alek sets a tray of food down on the bed and rushes over. He crouches in front of me, putting his hands on my shoulders as he stares at me with pinched eyebrows.
My heart is racing, and I clutch the sheets to my chest to calm myself down. “Sorry, I just…”
“Don’t apologize.” He stands up and pulls me to my feet, keeping his hands under my elbows to steady me. “Come. Sit down.”
I slump onto the edge of the mattress and try to catch my breath.
