Page 6 of Wicked Lord

But I’dneverlet that happen.

So I plastered on the fake smile, the one I’d been wearing since I was young and learned what it meant to be a Battenberg.

Impenetrable walls. Icy shell. Never let anyone in.

I barked out a laugh and tugged free of his hold. “Hurt me? Please, that’s laughable, Vanderhart.”

He eyed me for a long moment before he finally took a step back and released a breath. “I don’t know about you, but I’m about done with this shit for tonight.”

“Same.” I crossed my arms over my dress, trying to cover the slight tear and now-dangling crystals.

“And I’m hungry.” A wolfish grin stretched across Axel’s clean-shaven face.

The university’s star football player usually boasted a few days’ scruff. I had to admit— never out loud, of course—he cleaned up well. Those broad shoulders filled the black tuxedo jacket perfectly, as if it had been made for him. Maybe it was. The Vanderharts were pretty damned wealthy.

“Of course you are,” I muttered.

The one thing I clearly remembered about my ex’s roommate was the never-ending piles of wrappers and take-out cartons that sprawled across his side of the room. It drove OCD Killian nuts.

“I should probably go find Cordelia so we can get out of here.” He hitched his thumb over his shoulder, but his gaze lingered on my throat, likely on the bruises already forming.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked quickly, refusing to let them fall. Not now. Not here.

“Lorelei? You sure you’re okay?” He leaned closer.

Fuck. Stop crying, damn it.

The slap of approaching footfalls propelled my heart up my throat. Ice trickled through my veins, and every muscle in my body tensed as the pungent scent of chewing tobacco loomed closer. I couldn’t move. I was completely frozen.

“Lore?” Axel’s face was right up against mine, his nose an inch from my own. “What’s wrong with you?”

“There you are, Lorelei.” That smooth voice prickled my skin as it bounced across the marble floors, and goosebumps cascaded down my bare arms. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Darkness seeped into the corners of my vision as the pale-yellow walls of the bathroom closed around me. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the dark images away, but they only burned brighter across my subconscious.

“Now, turn around and bend over, so I can fuck that naughty streak right out of you, Lorelei. You need to understand how this relationship will work from day one.”

“Excuse me?” I blurted.

“That out there will not be tolerated.” He gestured to the door toward the ballroom. “As my future wife, you will learn to behave properly. That means not getting drunk in public or ever questioning me in front of others. Your complete obedience is mandatory.”

My eyes were so wide, I was certain my brows must have been hitting my hairline. Was this guy freaking delusional?

He stalked closer, the sweet, pungent scent of tobacco filling my nostrils. He pinned me against the vanity, hand wrapping around my throat. “Now hurry up and do as you’re told before someone comes in.”

I swallowed hard, my throat bobbing beneath his iron grip. My heart smashed against my ribs as my lungs struggled to force in oxygen.

With his free hand, he jerked my dress up and dragged my panties down to my ankles. “Your sweet little cunt better be worth it, Lorelei. Your father has been begging me for this deal for months. Just think of this as your audition.”

I was so shocked I couldn’t move, couldn’t even scream. He spun me around, forcing me against the vanity and pressed my cheek to the cool marble. The whine of his zipper sent terror spiking through my system.

“Wait,” I squealed.

“What now?” He slid his cock between my ass cheeks and nausea crawled up my throat.

“I’m—I’m on my period.”

Brock froze behind me, his erection suddenly falling away. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Lorelei.”