Page 45 of Conquered (Highgate Preparatory Academ:y Compendium)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

KAI

I open the door to Ash’s place, impressed with the job the cleaners have done given the early hour. Only the best for the Black Knights.

I’m not surprised to see Ash already up, making coffee at the island bar that I’m sure was filled with alcohol last night. If he gets more than a couple of hours of sleep a night, it’s a miracle.

“Fun birthday party?” I ask, noticing that his shoulders are slightly looser than usual.

“It was...memorable,” he says, his forehead creasing slightly as he pours himself an espresso. He indicates to me wordlessly asking if I’d like one. I shake my head at his offer.

“Memorable good?” I query, unable to help prying and wondering if this has anything to do with the beautiful English girl who’s now in our lives.

“Hrumph,” he responds, not looking at me, but a slight pink tinging his cheeks.

Interesting . “How was your night? Did everything go to plan?” he questions back, finally looking up at me.

This is part of the reason that I love my brothers by choice.

He doesn't care that I wasn’t at his birthday party, his nineteenth.

He knows that I hate large groups, and so he won’t force me to attend.

I sigh in frustration, taking my glasses off and rubbing my eyes. “I can’t find out any more about Adrian Ramsey,” I tell him, looking towards the stairs to make sure Lilly isn’t coming down to overhear our conversation.

“Don’t worry, she’s tucked up with the boys and we kept her up quite late last night,” he tells me, a slight tilt to his lips. I don’t miss the way he said ‘we’ either.

“Adrian Ramsey is like a fucking ghost.” Ash’s brows raise at the curse falling from my lips. “All the records are there, but nothing else apart from rumors and speculation. It’s like he doesn’t exist in the real world.”

“How so?” he questions, taking a sip of his drink.

“Well, he’s got a birth certificate, driver’s licence, all the usual. But, I can’t find anything about his family, or about him having a sister.” I tell him pointedly, and his frown deepens.

We’re both lost in our own thoughts for several minutes. I know Ash hates mysteries. He needs the security of knowing everything that goes on. Controlling bastard.

“Perhaps we need to take a step back from her,” he starts.

His words send my stomach plummeting to my feet, and my pulse racing.

“You think that she can’t be trusted?” I ask him, taking a step closer to lean on the island.

“I don’t fucking know,” he says, his hand running through his jet black hair.

There’s a tremor in the movement. “Loki and Jax have already lost their fucking heads, and dicks. What happens if she’s a snake?

Another test?” He looks up at me, his eyes pleading with me to give him answers that I don’t have. I do know one thing though.

“She’s not a snake. And she’s not a test from your father either.

Her story is solid. And she doesn’t give a shit about our money or status.

” My voice is filled with a rare passion.

I know that deep in my bones, Lilly is everything that we need, if we can just let her in.

And keep her safe . “Remember how your dad was with her? He’s interested in her.

He would have ignored her if she was here to test us. ”

I can see him mulling over my words, his eyes darting with his thoughts.

“And as for Loki and Jax, they need her, man. We all do,” I say softly, his head snapping up and his gaze zoning into mine.

“Loki has been starved of love and affection his whole life, apart from his little sisters. And every one of the girls he’s been with before, they've all wanted something from him. His money, his name. Lilly? She just wants his love in return.” I say, interrupting him before he can argue with me about us all needing her.

“And Jax?” he asks, his gaze hard like flint.

“Jax needs her nurturing side. You know his addiction, he needs her to break the cycle his dad got him into. And he needs to see that he can protect her without it.” I can see him agreeing with me, nodding his head once, albeit reluctantly.

“And me?”

“You’ve been hurt by those that are meant to love you most, meant to protect you.

You and Lilly share the same pain, you understand each other on a level that none of us do.

You need her to shine a light on that darkness inside of you, to break those chains you’ve wrapped so tightly around you.

To show you that you are not a monster.” My voice is entreating him to believe me.

His jaw clenches, his fingers clasped tightly around his cup.

“And what about you, Kai?” he lashes out, as he always does when someone hits a nerve. “Or are you above the rest of us fucked up assholes?”

“I need her to feel alive,” I tell him, our gazes locked. His softens slightly, a hand reaching out to me.

“Kai…” he says, his voice broken.

“Why don’t you go and wake her up? Tell her I’m here,” I clear my throat, unable to hold his gaze now that I’ve exposed myself so fully.

I hear him heave a sigh, and as he walks past me, his hand comes out to squeeze my shoulder before letting go and heading up the stairs.

My chest rises and falls with my own deep inhale.

I can’t deny the truth of my words, even if they took me by surprise. Lilly makes me feel more alive than I’ve felt in a long time. She has breathed life into me, waking me up as if from a deep slumber.

And I need her breath, like a dying man needs the kiss of life.

LILLY

I wake up with two hot bodies pressed close on either side of me. Memories of the night before flash across my vision, making my toes curl and my breath quicken.

I can't believe that happened!

I squirm with delight, only to get growled at in stereo.

I can't help but giggle out loud. I feel so happy.

Full of joy, and for a moment, completely free of everything that happened earlier in the year.

Before morbid thoughts can overtake my peace, I get double poked with morning wood by the arseholes on either side of me.

“If you're gonna squirm all up on my wood,” Jax growls out, his voice is so deep this morning Her Vagisty starts panting, “then you'll have to deal with him,” he says as he slowly grinds his hard dick up against my inner thigh.

I shiver at the contact and feel the wetness of precum smear across my leg.

“Couldn't have said it better myself, brother , ” Loki drawls from behind me, his voice husky and delicious too. “Never too early for a bit of DP in my opinion.”

“Loki!” I admonish, which turns into a groan as his hands begin to wander over my stomach.

Just then, the door crashes open, hitting the wall, and I squeal and sit upright. The guys leap up, hard dicks bobbing. I look up to see Ash framed in the doorway, wearing his familiar slacks, in soft grey today, and white shirt, no tie. Must be the weekend, I snort to myself.

“Kai’s here.” The familiar bored tone of Ash's voice travels over to me and pisses me off instantly.

His steel grey gaze meets mine, full of arrogant insolence, a perfect jet black brow raised.

I don't miss the sudden flare of lust as his eyes dart down, then back up again.

I look down and realise that, of fucking course, I didn't cover myself and am naked and exposed from the waist up.

Nothing he hasn't seen before I guess. With that, he turns on his heels and leaves, saying nothing of the fact we are all naked in the same bed.

“Fucking asshole,” Jax grumbles, heading in the direction of the bathroom.

Loki begins to say something, and it's only then I remember that I'm meant to be going on a hike with Kai today. I scramble out of bed and rush after Ash, heading down the stairs. I see Kai leaning against the makeshift bar, talking to Ash, his eyes going wide when he spots me.

“Kai! I'm so sorry! I completely forgot about our hike!” I gasp out, noticing his face getting redder by the minute. “Kai? Are you okay?” I ask, concerned that maybe he's angry with me about forgetting.

It's then that Ash turns round, his own steel eyes widening, and suddenly, the penny drops.

“I'm still naked, aren't I?” I cringe, tipping my head back as my whole body flushes with embarrassed heat.

“As the day you were born, Pretty Girl,” Loki chuckles out, slapping my arse hard as he walks past.

“What the fuck was that for?” I glare at him, rubbing my buttcheek.

“Kai likes a little pain, don't you, Kai?” Loki innocently asks. “Or more specifically, likes to give a little pain,” Loki finishes with a wink.

My head whips to Kai whose face is crimson, his mouth hanging open, completely lost for words. To be fair, I'm also speechless, not knowing whether to be turned on or embarrassed anymore.

Kai seems to find his voice and walks over to me. With his eyes on the ground, he holds out a black holdall to me.

“I–I brought over some of your clothes and things. I thought we could go from here,” he says, finally meeting my gaze with his honey brown one. His wonderful, fresh woodsy scent surrounds me as he hands me the bag.

“Thanks,” I smile. “I'll be ready in two shakes of a lamb's tail!” I call as I turn and head back up the stairs, feeling three sets of eyes following my movements.

Twenty minutes later, I'm coming back down the stairs, washed and ready to go.

Kai packed my most sensible clothes; high-waisted nineteen-fifties style slim leg blue jeans, long-sleeved red striped top, tucked in at the waist obviously, and a soft as butter red cashmere jumper.

Seems he likes the vintage look, I muse.

He's also brought my brown leather utility style boots, the most like walking boots-type shoes that I own.

I wonder if I should be pissed that he went through my stuff...it seems that the dominant behaviour of the others is definitely turning me submissive because I find, with some surprise, that I don’t mind.