Page 50 of Kingston

Elliot mumbles from against my chest. “I’m fine. Thank you.” She makes no move to look at these girls at all. Against all odds, she might trust me. My heart expands at the thought of it.

When I feel she might be okay with it, I slowly move the palms of my hands over her back in soothing strokes. Her fingers unclench from my T-shirt, and now that I don’t have a death grip on her, she moves her arms from between us and wraps them around my back. She trembles, almost as if… I close my eyes. Almost as if everything has been too damn much.

We stand there like that for several minutes before she finally eases her head back and takes a shuddering breath. I take advantage of the moment to bring my hands up to cup her head, gently brushing my thumbs over the swell of her cheeks.

“You wouldn’t hurt me.” It’s not a question, simply a statement.

Relieved, I shake my head. I tuck my hand into my pocket, withdrawing my phone. Glancing quickly at her, I type out a couple texts.

As if it’s only now occurred to her that I’m trying to communicate with her, she startles when her phone buzzes twice in her bag with the notifications. She cocks her head to the side and shoots me a smile, then makes a dive for it, wrenching her phone from the side pocket.

Not unless you wanted me to.

Her eyes shoot to mine, pink cresting her cheekbones.

I’m embarrassed…

About the whole spanking thing.

Shit. What must you think of me?

I grunt a bit deep in my chest. Women. There’s not a chance any of the three of us thought it was anything but…

Don’t be embarrassed. It was hot.

She nibbles her lip, sending my libido into overdrive. If I didn’t think she was truly embarrassed and seeking reassurance, I’d assume she was teasing me on purpose. Either way, I’m getting hard again, and my boner isn’t so easily disguised in these pants.

I’m guessing nothing like that

has ever happened at

Hawthorne Hall before, huh?

I smirk and hold my hands up in a classic I-have-no-idea gesture. Because honestly, the entire situation is out of the norm. And I don’t think any one of us knows the proper way to handle it. Obviously not, with all the trouble that’s already cropped up.

But none of it matters right now because a laugh bubbles from her, and I really fucking love the sound of it. She bends over her phone once more, sliding a quick glance at me as she types.

Why were you really in my room?

Because …

I know I was part of it, but I didn’t

agree with everything that went down.

I thought the hot chocolate

would make you feel better.

It was dumb. Sorry.

Did you hit Kingston?

I blow out a hard breath and nod.

Did he deserve it?

Maybe.