The Ritual

I was taught to punish and humiliate when needed. But I was also shown the importance of praise. Blakely will learn to crave that from me as much as the other.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

BLAKELY

I SIT SILENTLY in the passenger seat while he drives us to Barrington. My apartment isn’t on campus, but it’s definitely close enough that I could walk if need be.

“Are you going to show me what we did that night in my apartment?” I ask, breaking the awkward silence.

He remains quiet, driving through one of the many parking lots, looking for a space. I cross my arms over my chest and let out a huff. Finding a spot, he backs in. I’m reaching for the door when he holds out his phone to me. I let go of the door handle and look at him. He nods for me to take it.

Pulling it from his hand, I see it’s paused on a video. I push play.

It’s of me in my bedroom. I’m lying on my back, hands up by my head, and I’m passed out. Ryat walks into the room and over to the side of the bed. Ripping my shirt up, he places his hand on my stomach and slides it down and into my underwear. My nipples harden while I watch him push them down my legs before pushing my legs open. He then climbs on to the bed and sits between them. He starts fingering me, and my breathing accelerates while my body reacts to the video.

I watch as his fingers make me squirm in the bed, my body coming alive for him on its own. He gets rough, my body rocking back and forth, forcing me to come. He removes them and rubs them along my lips before sucking his own fingers clean.

I’m fucking panting as I watch this. It’s the only sound you can hear inside the car while I clench my thighs shut. Thankfully, there’s no audio on the video.

He then rips the shirt off me and walks out of the frame. The video stops. Without a word, I throw his phone into his lap, open the door and get out. I practically run across the parking lot to the building, needing to get away from him.

That should not have turned me on as much as it did. But the fact that I wasn’t aware he was there makes my body break out in a sweat. The way he knew what it needed, what it liked.

I make my way to my first class for the day and sit down next to Sarah. She’s got a big smile on her face. “How was your night?”

I blush and look down at my desk. Of course, she knows that I never slept with Matt but had tried. “Good. Yours?”

She places her elbow on her desk and her chin in her hand. “Amazing.”

The girl in front of me turns around, glaring. “Please tell me you two didn’t …”

“Mind your own business,” Sarah tells her.

“Maybe don’t talk so loud,” she snaps, then turns back around, throwing her hair over her shoulder just like last time.

We’re walking out of class when I see Ryat across the hall. Just like before, he’s standing with Gunner and that blonde. “Lunch?” I ask Sarah before she walks away.

“Sure,” she throws over her shoulder.

I try to get closer to them without looking like I’m eavesdropping. I rush to the side hall and peek around the corner.

She stands in front of them, both of her hands on her hips. Her short bleach-blond hair is up in a high pony, and she’s dressed in a pair of short shorts and a T-shirt with a set of black heels. Her back is to me so I can’t see her face. Gunner is smirking, and Ryat looks bored as he stares down at her.

“Cindy Williams.” I hear a familiar voice.

I jump and look over to see Matt is watching me eavesdrop. Fuck! Busted. By him of all people? “Who?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, not expecting an answer.

He smiles a cold and collected smile. Like this was his plan to get me to talk to him. “Her eldest brother … he’s five years older than me. He’ll be president of the United States one day.”

“Yeah, right.” I laugh at that and this weird conversation we’re having. It’s the first time he’s spoken to me since we got into our fight here in the hall.

“And Ryat …” I stiffen when he says his name. “Ryat Archer will be the most ruthless and renowned judge in New York. Well, possibly in the US.”

I frown, looking at him. “Why are you telling me this?” Why is he even talking to me at all? Wasn’t he at the vow ceremony with that girl he was at the house of Lords with? Doesn’t he know I belong to Ryat?