Kings of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #1) - Caroline Peckham ,Susanne Valenti Page 0,147

I ended up hurt by it. He wanted me bleeding and I imagined if I ever got too comfortable in this place, he’d soon make sure that didn’t last.

Saint’s hand fell to the base of my spine and I worked hard to keep my breathing even as he moved closer. “You will return here after classes every day. If you have work to do, you can do it at my desk up here.”

I shook my head, turning to him sharply enough to knock his hand off of my back. “How am I going to concentrate on my work with three hell hounds breathing down my neck? I need some time to spend in the library. Some space.”

His lips became tight. “If you prove your obedience, you can earn yourself privileges like that. But for now, you will return here as soon as classes are out and remain here unless one of us says otherwise.”

I ground my teeth together, the sound gnawing at my ears.

“Stop grinding your teeth,” Saint instructed sharply and my hands tightened around the railing.

“If I stop grinding them, a lot of insults are gonna pour out, Saint, is that what you’d prefer?”

“What did I say about using our names?” he hissed and my pulse spiked as I glared at him.

Part of me wondered if he’d spank me again and that part was also down on her knees, flipping up her skirt and begging for it. Shit – no. Don’t let this sadistic beast into your fantasies.

“Sorry, master,” I said dryly. So dryly my mouth felt like a cactus was growing in it. It did not feel good to use that word. It felt like cutting off a piece of my soul and handing it to him.

He smirked, nodding his head in approval and that felt like a slap to the face.

I am not made to bow.

“When is your waxing next due?” he asked casually as if that was a perfectly reasonable thing to ask a person.

“None of your damn business,” I said indignantly.

“Your business is now my business,” he snarled and I pursed my lips as he fixed me with a warning stare that made my heart beat wildly.

“I got laser hair removal back in California,” I said through my teeth.

“Good,” he said, his eyes brightening – and by brighten I mean they went from a soul-filled pit of hell to the inky swirl of the River Styx.

“Any other personal questions you have no right to know the answer to that you wanna air?” I asked lightly, though my insides were knotting and fraying.

“How often does your hair need dyeing?” he asked, apparently wanting this information more than he wanted to rise to my tone.

“This is natural,” I said, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “And you will not be cutting it, or dyeing it, master.” I threw in the last word just to soften the demand I’d just made. I knew if he wanted that, he’d force it. But I would fight tooth and nail for my hair. It was more than just hair, it was my identity. It was the one thing I shared with my sister.

He fisted a hand in that identity suddenly, yanking until I yelped and forcing me even closer to him. “I’ll do whatever I want to it, Barbie. But luckily for you, I happen to like it like this. So long as you keep it clean and styled.”

I fought to keep my features still as he tightened his grip in my hair, trying not to let him see my pain.

He released me suddenly and I battled the urge to rub the sore patch on my scalp. He was a hair-pulling asshat. Had he never grown out of playground games? But maybe he knew pulling someone’s hair was demeaning and effective in belittling them.

“I want a full list of the wash products you require. I like how you smell, I want you to stay that way. Do not use any of Blake or Kyan’s shower products,” he commanded and I nodded my agreement at that one. I didn’t wanna smell like any of them anyway.

“And just to be clear, when we said you belong to us mind, body and soul we meant it. Which means that your body belongs to us. As such, no one is allowed to touch it without our permission.”

My lips popped open. “So you’re gonna make sure I’m miserable and can’t even get laid to take the edge off?”

He chuckled darkly. “Oh you can get laid if