Page 46 of Alive and Kicking
Once I find myself alone in my apartment, I do actually manage to crack open my Sociology textbook for the quiz coming up.
I’m not sure when I fell asleep, but I’m woken by Sloane whispering my name. They seem to have learned not to shake me awake, but I don’t think I would still wake up stabbing anyway after so many months with the boys filling my bed. When I manage to blink the sleep from my eyes, I find Sloane grinning down at me. “Ready for the gym?”
I furrow my brow before I realize I never told him that I wasn’t going today. It takes a moment for me to clear my dry throat before I can clear things up. “I’m not going today. I’ve got an appointment at the clinic this morning.”
A frown mars his handsome face and he tilts his head to the side. “Is something wrong?”
My head shakes vigorously. “No, no nothing is wrong. It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just the clinic on campus. I don’t have to be up for another hour, I forgot to let you know I was sleeping in this morning. I was going to tell you, but it slipped my mind.”
Sloane’s face smooths out. “It’s all good,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
He leaves quietly, and somehow Zane manages to sleep through my conversation with Sloane as well as my alarm when it goes off an hour later. I’m not sure what time he came in last night but it must have been late if he’s this tired.
I manage to get dressed quietly, not wanting to wake him. The black yoga pants I pick out are comfortable, especially on a day like today when I’m bloated and feel gross. And the shirt I grab is a long sleeve, Sweeny University hockey shirt with Mckenna and Sloane’s number on the back. The sleeves are loose and it’s another comfortable option.
Leaving the apartment, I creep down the stairs to grab a cup of coffee. The machine in the upstairs apartment isn’t as fancy, so I actually have to put it on and don’t just wake up to a pot of freshly brewed coffee every morning. Besides, it seems like a waste when there’s already coffee ready downstairs.
The soft tapping of feet on the hardwood lets me know that someone is approaching. “Where are you going?” Cain asks behind me, suspicion practically dripping from his words.
I roll my eyes but tell myself that he’s just trying to look out for me. This is what I’ve always wanted so I need to suck it the hell up and just be glad my dreams are coming true. He takes the creamer from my hand, putting it into the refrigerator for me before folding himself into a chair on the island. I turn toward him, my to-go cup of perfectly made coffee in hand, and decide that since he’s being nice, I probably should too.
“I’ve got an appointment. I’m not going off to blackmail anyone else.”
His eyes narrow on me like he’s trying to detect whether or not I’m telling the truth. “Give me a minute and I’ll go with you.” He shifts his weight like he’s about to get up from his seat.
I purse my lips. “You can’t. It’s at the clinic on campus. It would definitely not be good for you to be seen with me in public like that.”
The muscles in Cain’s jaw tense and his nose flares. It’s a good thing he can’t breathe fire or else alarms would be going off with the amount of smoke he would be puffing out. “Can’t you take Zane or Nox with you?”
I shrug. “I could, but I’m not going to. It’s a doctor’s appointment; it’s not like I’m heading off to assassinate Chlamydia.”
Cain’s head shakes imperceptibly as his brows furrow. “How the hell would you assassinate an STD?”
Rolling my eyes, I make sure the lid to my coffee cup is on tight. “No. It’s my new name for Carol.”
Cain’s brows raise and his head tilts back. “Oh. Okay, that makes more sense. Are you sure you don’t want to bring one of the guys with you?”
I huff out a breath. “I’ll be fine. It’s right before class and I’m meeting the guys and Sandy at the coffee shop after, so you don’t need to worry.”
Cain runs a hand through his hair before he grits his teeth. “Fine. Just be safe and call if anything feels off. And I mean anything, Viviana. You will call us for back-up if you need it.”
Wow. He just full named me. It’s been awhile since he’s used my full first name. His demands aren’t anything too taxing so I might as well agree, but I can’t let him know how easy it is to get me to see reason so I give him a mock salute. “Sir, yes Sir.”
Heat fills his eyes at me using the title, and he’s so stupefied that I manage to press a quick kiss to his lips before I head out of the kitchen. That, along with the quick breath he lets out, tells me he’s not as unaffected by me as he usually lets on. When I’m halfway to the front door his words reach me. “Keep pushing me Rossi and I will show you exactly what I want to do to you. I’m not a soft Dom; your ass will be red if you keep behaving like a brat.”
Shivers go down my spine as I turn to find him standing in the doorway, and I bite my lip. He watches me closely, his eyes focused on my mouth until I look away. I feel like an idiota sometimes in the presence of this man. He’s in front of me so fast that I startle when his hand wraps around my neck, forcing me to make eye contact with him. “Do you understand?” he demands, and I nod my head. “Words, Viv. You will use your words with me.”
“Yes,” I say automatically.
“Yes what?”
A flush travels through me at the intense way he stares into my eyes. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” His lids droop as his eyes slowly trail back to my lips. “And next time you want a kiss, you will ask.”
“Yes, sir.” I shift, rubbing my thighs together.
He tightens his grip around my throat and leans in. The kiss is anything but soft. It’s all clashing teeth and nipped bottom lips. When his tongue finally breaches my mouth the moan that leaves me is embarrassing, but it urges him on nonetheless. When he pulls away, my mind is fuzzy and I want to chase after him, but the grip he has on my neck is firm and keeps me where I am. “Now go to your appointment before I change my mind and break Nox’s ‘no fucking in the living-room’ rule.”
