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?
He snorts. “Cindy Williams will be Mrs. Cindy Archer.”
My pulse accelerates at his words. Now I understand why he’s talking to me. He thinks he can hurt me. He thinks I’m such a needy, lonely bitch that I’ve already gone and fallen for Ryat after one fucking night! Seriously? So, because a guy finally fucked me, I’m supposed to love him?
He steps into me, and it presses my back into the wall. “Matt …” I warn.
Leaning into my ear, he whispers, “She will be his wife. She will have his kids. And she will be the one tied to his bed that he fucks.”
A coldness runs up my spine. Not at his words but how he says them. The dark tone in his voice sends warning shivers down my spine.
He pulls back and smiles down at me. “Just like you will be all three of those things for me.” Reaching out, he plays with a piece of hair that’s fallen out of my messy bun. “Have fun while you can, Blakely. He may be fucking you for now, but I will be the one who will have you for the rest of your miserable fucking life. And I will never let you see the light of day.” Leaning forward, he licks up the side of my face, making me taste vomit. “And you will pay for what you’ve done to me. Remember that he’s playing with you now, but I will own you. Till death do us part. And that won’t come fast enough for you.” His eyes drop to the hickeys that Ryat left on my neck, then the bruises on my arms and wrists. “You may be his slut, but you will be my worthless whore.” Then he walks off.
RYAT
“WHY DIDN’T YOU choose me?” Cindy asks, her hands on her hips. “I know my name was on that list,” she snaps at me.
I say nothing. Not every girl gets chosen. We have fifteen seniors this year and hundreds of women’s names on the list. That’s why some Lords choose to have more than one. The list of women willing to be a chosen is a mile long.