The Ritual

She looks back over where I was just standing and then back at me. Without answering, she begins to walk off again.

“Blake?” I snap, grabbing her arm. She tries to pull away from me, so I tighten my grip and drag her into a nearby room that just happens to be empty.

“Don’t touch me!” she screams, dropping all of her books to the floor as I shut the door behind us.

“What in the fuck is going on with you?” I demand, getting in her face.

Her eyes narrow up at me right before she slaps me. “Fuck you!” she shouts. She goes to do it again, and I grab her wrists, spinning her around, and wrap my free hand around the front of her. I pin both of her arms to her chest, her back pressed to my front. “Fuck all of you.” She sniffs, then her body softens against mine, and she starts crying.

“Hey.” I let go of her and spin her around to face me, knowing something is seriously wrong. She drops her head, and I grip her chin, forcing her to look up at me. “You better tell me right fucking now what’s going on with you.”

Her bloodshot eyes search mine, and then she shakes her head, her nostrils flaring. “I took an oath to let you fuck me, Ryat. I don’t have to give you anything else.”

My teeth grind. “It doesn’t work that way …”

“Says who?” She snorts, yanking away from me. “You?” Her eyes drop to my shoes and run up over my jeans and T-shirt. When they reach mine, they’re full of disdain. Then she quickly picks up her books before walking past me toward the door.

I step in front of her and slap my hand against it, blocking her exit. “Blake …”

She looks at me, her blue eyes now blazing with fire. Something has happened that has pissed her the fuck off, and I don’t like that she won’t tell me what it is. “Unless you plan on ripping my clothes off and bending me over a desk, we’re done here,” she states, arching a brow.

This bitch is challenging me.

My cock is already hard at her little attitude, but I’m also speechless. Who knew Blakely was such a firecracker? I didn’t. Matt always made her sound like a little flower that he had to protect from the softest breeze.

I let go of the door, raising my hands in surrender and stepping away. I’ll let her leave right now because I have a better idea of how to remind her where she stands with me. I’m not Matt. I won’t put up with this shit.

She yanks the door open and storms out, her heels clanking on the floor as the door falls shut, closing me in the classroom.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

BLAKELY

I SIT AT the kitchen bar in our apartment drinking a rum and Coke. It’s my third. I skipped the rest of my classes today. Didn’t give a shit to be there.

Matt got to me. He was right. It doesn’t matter who I fuck today, tomorrow, or next week. The end will be the same. I’ll be his. And now I’ve pissed him off. He pretty much told me he’d keep me caged in the dark as his sex slave.

What the fuck did I do to him? He was cheating on me! He never even told me about the ritual. How was I going to vow to be his if I didn’t know about it? Ryat chose me, but Matt showed no interest in me whatsoever. Just our future as husband and wife. Let’s not forget the girl he’s been with for God knows how long.

I take another drink, the straw making a slurping sound as I realize I’ve reached the bottom. Then there’s Ryat and his high horse. I’m not telling him shit about Matt and me. He’s already possessive and controlling. If he knew what Matt said to me, he’d probably take it out on my ass, and I’m not going to allow that. I didn’t do anything wrong.

Getting to my feet, I walk into the kitchen to pour myself another drink but realize the bottle is empty. “Great.” I throw it into the sink, and it shatters, some of the pieces falling onto the floor. I step back, not wanting to get cut, and go over to the bar, picking up my cell to call Sarah.

“Hey, girl.” She answers on the second ring.

“Wanna go out?” I ask her in greeting. Either she wants to or not. I don’t have time to beat around the bush.

“Yeah,” she answers excitedly. “Gunner and I—”

“Just me and you,” I interrupt her. “I need a girls’ night. And please don’t tell Gunner where we’re going. I’m avoiding Ryat right now.”

“Of course,” she says without hesitation. “You at the apartment?”

“Yep.” I nod to myself.