I turn onto my side, and a hand rests on my hip and pulls me back into him. “Where are you disappearing to, my Star?”
“Nowhere, I’m right here,” I say softly as his mouth falls down onto my neck, nipping at the tender skin as he moves down to my shoulder.
“Maybe in body, but your mind is elsewhere. What are you keeping inside that pretty little head of yours?” he asks, as he closes the last of the distance between us, until we’re flush against one another.
“I’m just thinking about the New Year, wondering what I’ll be doing when the ball drops.”
He moves fast, not stopping until I’m flat on my back and he’s hovering over me. His nose brushes against mine as he sets his hard eyes on mine.
“You’re lying. We can’t have that now can we.” His hand falls on my collarbone, as his thumb brushes across my pulse.
My heart is beating erratically as I stare up at him, wondering if he’s going to apply pressure. Will he try to strangle me? Hurt me?
Someone pounds against the door, but he isn’t moving. His hand snaking up further until it’s around my throat.
“Do you trust me, Star?”
“I don’t know, especially with your hand around my throat.” It comes out as a squeak and he tightens his grip before pulling away and moving off me completely.
“At least you haven’t started crying or whimpering like a damn dog. The same can’t be said for Fifteen and Twenty-Eight. I guess they prefer it when it’s soft and gentle, unless they’re the ones inflicting the damage.” His arms are rigid, while his neck is tight and corded.
“Carly and Emily, the first and last victims.” It comes out on a whisper as I move across the bed until I’m against the wall, and away from him. I draw my knees up into my chest and wrap my arms around them. Chills run over me, and I’m struggling to swallow as the back of my throat begins to ache.
“Oh yeah, so they were. The last girl I brought back to my room as well. What do you make of that?” His voice drops lower as he stalks forward.
The pounding on the door is getting louder, but neither of us moves to let whoever it is in.
“Are you trying to scare me?” It comes out shaky as he places his hands on the bed and leans forward.
“I guess that depends. Are you scared, Star? Are you worried I might try to hurt you, finish what happened in the pool house?” He doesn’t look away, but his eyes drop for a moment, as I lick my suddenly dry lips. Not that it will do any good. My mouth is as dry as the Sahara desert.
“That w-w-wasn’t y-y-you. Despite everything, I k-know it wasn’t.” He stretches his arm forward, and grips my ankle before pulling me roughly down the bed.
The door flies open and slams against the wall before Tucker storms in, and pulls Emmet away from me before his fist slams into his jaw.
“Tucker, stop,” I shout as I scramble off the bed and run to them. He pulls his arm back to deliver another hit, but stops as I grip his elbow. He turns his dark eyes on me before he pulls his free and turns back to Emmet.
“Touch her again and see what happens. I don’t care who your fucking dad is. You don’t have my permission.” Of all the reactions Emmet can give him, laughing isn’t the best one.
“What about us? Do we have your permission?” My head flies in Aeron’s direction, who swaggers into the room, closely followed by Tom, who props the now broken door back into its frame.
“Sure, come on in. The more the merrier,” Emmet spits out a mouthful of blood, before levelling a sneer on them all.
“How hospitable of you, but we weren’t looking for an invitation,” Tom replies, before he drops down on the sofa and beckons me with his hand.
I hesitate, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in this situation and he levels me with his kind eyes. I stop thinking as I close the distance, drop down beside him, and curl up into his side.
“Fine, let’s do this.” Emmet approaches us and sits down on the coffee table, resting his hand on my knee, causing a growl to emit from Tucker’s chest.
“Don’t push it, Emmet. Tucker has not had a good time,” Aeron says lazily as he drops on the floor and dances his fingers across my ankle.
“Fine, then let’s cut to the chase. What do you want?”
“Well, I want to know what pudding Moonbeam made for Tucker over Christmas.” Tom smiles down at me, and I melt under his gaze.
“A Christmas pudding. It’s something the British like to have. I thought I’d give it a try.” I can’t stop my smile, and I know it will be meeting my eyes.
“Ahh, I wonder what you’ll make for me when I claim you.” He gives me a wink before dropping his head to nuzzle my neck.
“Good luck with that,” comes from Tucker as he starts pacing the ground in front of us.
“I agree. She’s mine next. I’ve waited long enough for my Star.” Does he have to put so much emphasis on that pet name he’s chosen for me?
“I think you’ll find I’m next in line, so get ready to wait a little longer. By the end of this, you should have the patience of a saint.” Tom chuckles as Emmet goes red in the face, neck, and his shoulders go tight. A vein throbs in his neck, and I can’t take my eyes off it.
“That isn’t what I meant.” Tucker’s smile is wide before he turns around and bursts out laughing. He slaps at his knee before he shakes it off, and returns to his full height as he gives us all a smirk.
“I said good luck because I’m not going to relinquish my claim.” He rubs his hands together in obvious glee, as every set of eyes in this room stare at him, waiting for him to finish. “Luna will be mine until she graduates. Happy fucking New Year, boys.”
None of us are saying anything, instead we alternate our looks between Tucker and Emmet. The former stands there with his chest thrust out, a slight tilt to his head, and a sneer across his perfect mouth. The latter has a furious tick in his cheek as he grinds his teeth, and his chest is moving rapidly.
“Here’s what’s going to happen, you are going to release Luna, and then Tom is going to renounce his position as next in line. Therefore, I get what I want and no one gets hurt.” He cracks his knuckles, gets to his feet, and walks over to Tucker.
“Not going to happen. You see, I have no reason to want to keep you happy. I’m not an idiot like Aeron. Now I know what I have and I plan on keeping her until she’s free to choose who she wants. Say and do what you want, I won’t make the same mistake as him.” He jerks his thumb at Aeron, who shoots daggers into his back.
“What does it even matter?” I mutter, and I don’t like the way all the attention is now focused solely on me.
“Have you got something you’d like to share with the rest of the class?” Aeron laughs without mirth, and I bristle at his tone.
“What does it matter who claims me? None of you listen to your own rules. You do what you want, when you want, and yet you expect us to do everything down to the letter.” Self five, I got it all out without a single stutter.
“She has a point, and if we all have his permission, then what does it matter who has the power? As long as you don’t piss Tucker off, that is.” Tom is fucking loving every minute of this. He isn’t even trying to conceal the enjoyment he’s feeling right now.