Page 60 of A Lesson in Obedience
“That’s really not as appealing as you make it sound,” I stated, snatching my receipt from her hand. “And for the record, I’m not a fan of um,” I snapped my fingers, “desperate pussy.”
Her mouth dropped open at my blunt response.
“I prefer the taste of my girlfriend’s. I’ll make sure to let her know how exhausting she is after she wears me out later tonight.” I winked at her, turning around and locking eyes with Grayson. I noddedtowards the door and he looked from me to the cashier before slipping out of the booth.
He followed behind me as we rounded the corner, falling into step beside me. “What the hell happened just now?”
“A day in the life of being very good looking but tremendously faithful.” I slapped him on the back.
He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “It’s a good thing you can’t use your powers on campus because I can only imagine what you’d be hearing right about now.”
“Their looks say enough. Riley can handle herself though.”
Grayson nudged my shoulder. “We both know you would gladly handle things for her.”
“That makes two of us, hmm?” I challenged, nudging him back. He knocked his shoulder against mine and the contact felt fun and flirty. While we walked, I had to flex my fingers out, willing them not to hold his hand. It didn’t hurt, holding back, but just like Grayson had said…it just made me sad. “Riley is likely in the library since her second class is?—”
I heard nothing but static. I stopped walking and shook my head, the sound never ceasing.
“River?” I heard Grayson say, but the static got louder and it was piercing. I grabbed the sides of my head, stumbling back and pressing my back against the side of one of the buildings we passed. “River, hey what’s wrong?”
I pressed my palms against my temples, needing it to stop. I vigorously shook my head, grinding my teeth together with how the sound grated on my mind. I closed my eyes and heard a voice, it was so faint. I couldn’t truly make it out, but it didn’t sound like anyone I knew, but I couldn’t think straight.
I felt myself being shaken, but it wasn’t doing me any good. I slapped the side of my head over and over again. I didn’t know why, but I was doing it. My head was throbbing from the hits, but I continued, it was like I needed to obey.
“For fucks sake…” Grayson’s voice sounded so far away and when I pulled my hand back for another hit, I felt something slither into my ears. When I tried to open my eyes, they were clouded by a black film. A sudden bitter taste developed on my tongue. The static, the voice, everything was blocked and constrained.
My whole body shook and I backed away from my best friend, running my hands down my arms and stomach. I stuck my finger in my ear, still feeling the sensation like something was in there. My eyesight was clearer, and I ran my hand over my tongue to try to remove the bitter taste. Shadows wafted in front of me, looking as if they came off of my tongue. I watched as Grayson put his dampener ring back on.
I opened my mouth, but he beat me to it. “What the fuck just happened, River?”
“I-I don’t know. That’s never happened before. I didn’t…” I sucked in a breath, rubbing the side of my head. “I didn’t want to.”
“Was it your dad?” Grayson asked, stepping closer to me and placing his hand on my cheek. I looked around and it seemed like he had moved us in between buildings.
I rested my hand on top of his, leaning into his touch. “I don’t think it was. I know my dad’s invasions. I’ve felt them before…more times than I’d like to admit.”
“Okay…” Grayson moved his thumb along my cheek. “What now?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I have to tell my brother.”
“And Riley?”
“I’ll tell her. Just let me talk to my brother.” I didn’t want to hide anything from Riley, but Asher would be a pain in my ass if I didn’t tell him immediately.
I licked my lips, the foul taste still lingering. I tenderly touched my ears. “Did you…ear fuck me with your shadows?”
Grayson pressed his lips together trying not to laugh, dropping his hand, but I caught it. “That’s one way to put it, sure. It’s the only way I could get to you from the inside. The downside is that it endsup everywhere, your mind, eyes, nose and mouth, hence the bad tasting aftereffects.”
I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. He blinked, using his other hand to rub the back of his neck. I moved to text Riley that we would be a little late getting her, but all I could think about was how easy it had been to let myself be taken off guard. I knew how to shield my mind, but I’d never kept up the practice.
Maybe Asher was right to worry about me.
22
Riley
Isat on the floor in between two bookshelves flipping through one of my textbooks. I scribbled down notes, hoping that secluding myself to the third floor of the library would give me some sense of privacy. I sighed, looking past my textbook to see students at the various desks on this floor trying not to stare at me, but they were doing a terrible job at being discreet. I pretended like I didn’t care as I tilted my head back, banging it against the wall.
