dear life, preparing for the worst to happen. My body shakes with fear, adrenaline kicking in.
“Oh, baby!” Marek’s fingers swoop into my hair, tugging my head back. “I don’t take what isn’t given freely.”
“Please, let me go,” I plead.
“Now, you know I can’t do that. A part of me thinks this tight body of yours is still yearning for more from me.” It’s not. He skims up the back of my thighs to under my dress. His movements are slow, daring me to say no.
And yet, I don’t. Marek has this ability of forcing me out of my comfort zone, pushing me to my limits. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m certain Marek came out here for one thing.
To hurt me, or worse, kill me.
Maybe a part of me has always known. Ever since I found Reed’s dorm covered in pools of blood, I think I’ve known the Glass House Boys are responsible for whatever happened to my sister. I’ve chosen to ignore it, letting myself be pulled into their orbit, and allowing them to become human, if only in my mind.
“That’s my girl,” Marek whispers the moment I relax.
Sensing my cooperation, he turns me around again, our noses jutting against each other. His eyes fall to my lips as they part, inviting him forward. The kiss is manic, made of parts that make no sense, and still, I melt into him, loving the way his tongue feels against my bottom lip.
“Do your worst, Marek,” I challenge.
Ever put your hand over a flame and inch closer, seeing how far you can push yourself? My body is the hand, and Marek is the flame, enticing me, pulling me in, to test my ability to withstand severe pain.
“I plan to.” Marek bites and nips the sensitive skin of my earlobe.
My dress is lifted, and my panties are ripped. The sound of his zipper being lowered is deafening. Marek bends, circling his arms around me and lifting me towards the sky. I’m a glutton for punishment, wrapping my legs around his waist, bringing our bodies closer.
In an instant, Marek is buried inside of me, drilling me against the tree. There’s no other way to describe his animalistic movements. My hands clench at his back as he fucks me until stars dance in my eyes. He doesn’t gaze at me lovingly, like he would defend everything and anyone stupid enough to break through my walls. No, this isn’t what it is. Nature vs. reality.
I shouldn’t want this, but I hold on, riding the wave of pleasure only Marek has been able to create and replicate, time and time again.
“I said do your worst,” I whisper, easing my lips to the skin below his ear, alternating between small pecks and brutal nibbles. “This is too sweet for someone like you, Marek. Show me what it means to be with the king of Glass Heart Academy. Give me the same treatment you’ve given all the other girls.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for, Palmer.”
“Take off your mask and show me who you are. The real you. You’ve been holding out on me. For what? Because you were in love with my sister?”
At the mention of Reed, his body tightens, and he takes something out of his back pocket. The silver handle shines. A blade flips out of the end, and he presses it to my throat hard enough to cause my blood to pump harder, but not enough to cut me.
“There he is. The truth,” I whisper, trying not to move. Marek applies a little more pressure, pleased with himself. “Is it Reed? She’s what turns you into this psychotic piece of shit? Did she give you permission to become this horrible version of a man?” Ever since he’d told me the truth, visions of Marek and my sister can’t escape my mind. The two of them loving each other feels like a betrayal. That’s a mess of dirty laundry I plan to keep tucked away.
“Shut the fuck up!” he shouts.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” I turn my head away, and he adjusts the knife so I don’t slit my throat.
Our chests rise and fall in rhythm, a fucked up song only he and I know the words to.
“Shut the fuck up, Palmer, and be a good little girl like the rest of them and take this like a happy pill.” He morphs the glare on his face to a smirk. “You and I both know, regular will never work anymore. Simple vanilla won’t make your