ChapterSeventeen
Alex
My mother is ridiculous.
She fixes me with an ugly grimace while saying, “No, you can’t go to Demetra’s.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re grounded.” She scoffs. “And after your little performance last night? I’m not sure I even want to leave you alone today.”
“I’ll watch her,” Amos offers. “That way you won’t have to worry about her sneaking out.”
My eyes widen. “Mom, let me come with you.” Don’t get me wrong. The idea of doing any kind of bridal shopping with my mother makes me gag, but I’m fucking desperate to be anywhere but home right now. The way Amos leers at me makes my stomach drop. “I can help you pick out the fabric for your dress. We could have some quality time together. We haven’t done that in ages.”
Mother regards me with concern. It’s weird seeing that expression on her face, especially when it comes to me, but she actually looks like my mother right now. Part of my heart flutters at the possibility of her coming to my rescue. Like she should.
“No,” she responds flatly. “Maybe after you’ve learned your lesson. You can’t very well marry into a family without having the right education. Focusing on your studies should give you plenty to do today.”
Terror freezes me in place. I watch her gather her things and leave, my eyes not quite feeling like my own. My lower lip trembles as the resounding click of the door slices through my ears, making my shoulders quiver while I try to find solid ground.
But there’s nothing that can hold me up anymore. No one can save me. I’m as alone as I was when my father left this earth.
And just as my vision blurs, I realize that I’m not sure how much more I can take.
***
It takes me thirty minutes to walk to Tomas’s house. The structure rises before me like a beacon, enticing me like a magnet as I cross my arms over my chest and trudge toward the front door. Tomas is on his way out, pausing when he notices me standing near his truck.
“What are you doing here, doll?” he asks. “I’m heading to a party. Wanna come with me?”
I don’t, but… “Yeah, sure.”
He swings open the door and helps me into the passenger seat, hand sweeping over my ass in that subtle way that any boyfriend might do. Just the touch alone makes me shudder violently, and my stomach flips as I tighten the seat belt over my lap. By the time he starts the truck and has a joint going, I’m so nauseous that I don’t know if I can survive a party.
“Alex.”
Blinking rapidly, I notice the joint sitting in front of my face. I push his hand away, keeping my lips sealed. Drugs aren’t what I need. I have to keep my eyes peeled and my mind sharp. What will happen if the party gets out of control?
A striking three-story building sits on the horizon, a winding driveway lit with torches that cast an eerie glow over the yard. Inside, the party is wild with people clogging every room, doing everything from beer pong to public spankings. Tomas slips his arm around my waist in the most casual manner, inviting me to lean into his chest. For a moment, the scent of patchouli and weed surround me, putting me at ease.
But the security of his arm doesn’t last. I notice Soren standing across the room, wisps of smoke billowing around him as two tall blondes attempt to draw his attention. They scrub his muscles, trace his chin, and bat their eyelashes, all while his blue gaze remains fixed on me.
This room is thick with sex, couples openly fondling each other and women walking around in nothing but jeweled thongs. Seeing the way people grab each other forces me to push my face into Tomas’s neck. He cups the back of my neck, fingers sneaking lightly beneath the back of my tank top.
His nose nuzzles my ear and he whispers, “It would turn me on if you blew me right here, baby. Right where everyone can see you.”
My nails dig into his skin. What he takes as arousal is me attempting to keep my bearings. His hands drop to my ass for a squeeze. I stand on my toes and say, “No.”
“No?”
I shake my head.
“So, after everything I did, you’re just going to be a shitty tease?” he snaps. “You’re such a dumb bitch, Alex.”
He steps away, the absence of his warmth making me feel too vulnerable in the crowded room. I grab the edge of his black vest and hold it tightly while he leads us out of the sea of humping bodies. When I glance back, I don’t see Soren. But I see the spot where I was standing with Tomas, and I realize how exposed we would have been.
“Fucking stupid twat,” Tomas grumbles on the way back to the truck. He yanks open the passenger door. “You really are the fucking queen of blue balls.”