Page 41 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

L iam

The soft rap of my knuckles on Ren’s door sounded loud in the quiet house.

It wouldn’t be this calm for much longer.

We were used to Lawrence’s Thanksgiving dinners with the prominent families, but Edmundo had taken it a step further.

It wasn’t just our immediate families that were invited.

Ivy and Morrison had received an invitation, as well as Rory since his parents were still away, Chantry since she wasn’t going home, and Dean Henry.

Having a meal of any kind with the dean seemed strange.

He wasn’t the type to socialize with students.

“Come…in,” Ren called out.

Every day, her speech was getting better. There were fewer or shorter pauses between the words, and she rarely forgot the names of items. But it was Ren, and she was ten times harder on herself than anyone else would ever be.

Opening the door, I was greeted by a matching white lace bra and underwear.

Ren bent over and smoothed her hands up the sheer stockings covering her legs before checking the sexy little clips holding them in place.

I had never been a stocking guy, but…hello.

I might have just found myself a new kink.

“Wow, are you attending dinner like that? I do feel that it will cause quite a stir. Especially when we all take turns with you on the table,” I said, and her cheeks turned a violent shade of red. “I’m not sure your father will be so understanding of us in that moment.”

Smirking, I stalked the room, unable to take my eyes off of her.

“Turn for me,” I said.

She rolled her eyes, knowing just how much that made me want to punish her. Despite her bratty act, Ren gave me a little smile and turned in a small circle so I could take in the entire outfit. She loved to push my buttons as much as I loved to play with all of hers.

“Well now…I think you’ll have to give me and Theo a private show of this outfit,” I said as she turned to face me.

Reaching out, I feathered my fingers down her arms and watched the goosebumps rise in their wake. Ren licked her lips as I traced a path around to her stomach and up her body until I pressed under her chin to lift her eyes to mine. She didn’t move and didn’t try to touch me.

“Such a good girl, Little Rabbit,” I growled, and her eyes darkened. “Tell me why you texted me to help you? Unless making me hard for the rest of the night was your agenda all along.”

Instead of saying anything, she held out her hand and slowly opened her fingers. There, nestled in her palm, was the choker I’d given her. I lifted the blue diamond-crusted necklace and held it up.

“Are you sure you’re ready to have this back on?”

“Yes…sir,” she said.

“Turn around,” I ordered, smiling and loving how she immediately complied and lifted her long hair for me.

This was so much more than a simple piece of jewelry. Clipping the seamless lock, my gift was back where it belonged. Sighing, I traced it with my fingers. Ren’s head tilted with the slightest bit of pressure.

“Perfect,” I said, appreciating that she understood the significance of not just anyone putting it on her.

She had called me in specifically. “Can I help with anything else while I’m here?

” I was tempted to order her onto the bed.

I resisted the urge because everyone would be arriving soon, and for what I had planned… I needed Theo as well.

“Yes. Can help…” She pointed to the bed, and I lifted an eyebrow at her.

“What is it called?”

“Clothes.” I shook my head. “Skirt.” I shook my head again and saw the frustration building.

“Breathe, Little Rabbit, and let the word come to you. Picture going to the store and running your fingers along the racks. You find one you like, and the salesperson asks you if you would like to try that…”

“Dress,” Ren said, and smiled.

“Sure, I’ll help you get into it,” I said, but before she could move, I snaked my hand around the back of her neck.

Ren gasped, and I brushed my lips along hers, just enough to taste her fruity gloss.

“So long as you’re aware that I’ll be removing it again later.

” She swallowed hard. “That wasn’t a request,” I said.

Her eyes flared with defiance, but the words that came out of her mouth were those of my good girl.

“Yes, sir.”

I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Good girl.”

Ren looked ready to leap on me as I stepped back. Good, she could stew for the night. Swiping the dress off the bed, I lowered the zipper. She placed her hand on my shoulder and stepped into the flowy, silver material. I never took my eyes off hers as I pulled it up and into place.

The air was charged around us. I lived for that tension and the electric sensation that accompanied it like our own personal storm.

Ren turned, and I zipped up the back before grabbing her heels and helping her into them as well.

When we were done, she looked like a delicate flower, but I knew what lay underneath.

“Are you ready for this?”

Ren picked up her small clutch, looked inside before snapping it closed with a sigh. Her face twisted in confusion before she tossed it on the bed, like she wasn’t sure why she had it in the first place.

“Don’t know,” she said.

“Fair enough. I guess we should go find out. The rest of the guys are already downstairs.”

Ren nodded, touching her hair, her other necklace, her ring from Myles, and the one from her mother. It was fascinating to watch her go through her checklist. I offered her my arm, and she took it without question. We’d come a long way since that first night in the woods.

Voices from the dining room reached us on the staircase, and there was already an argument brewing.

“No, I’m not sitting there. Screw all of you. My place is right beside my papa,” Vicky said.

We walked in just as Vicky swiped a seating card and marched to the head of the table. The server setting up looked mortified as Vicky swapped hers with another.

“Why does these say Ivy, Chantry, and Morrison? Are we just inviting anyone for Thanksgiving now,” Vicky asked.

“I don’t know Ms. Genovese. I’m just doing as instructed,” the server said, bowing her head.

“And who the hell is Rory?”

Vicky looked like a golden ball of fury as she stormed around in an almost identical dress to Ren. You couldn’t get any more opposite in personality. Ren was calm, cool, and composed, while Vicky was enraged, animated, and so over the top that it touched everything around her.

“Stop harassing the staff, Vicky,” Nash said, and her furious gaze landed on him. “Why do you care that more people are coming to dinner? It’s not like you’re in the kitchen cooking the meal. I doubt you’d even know how.”

“I care because this is supposed to be a meal to give thanks for those we have in our lives. I don’t know any of these people. Why was I not consulted to invite my friends?” Vicky placed her hands on her hips.

“What friends,” Theo asked, cocking a sexy eyebrow in disgust. I smirked. “Do you mean the plastic mannequins that follow you around? The ones who tell you how great you are just so they can kiss your family ring, but will stab you in the back if they get the chance. Those pretend friends?”

“How dare you,” Vicky growled as the doorbell rang.

Vicky hadn’t noticed us until this moment. Her eyes traveled up and down Ren, and her initial anger turned to something far darker.

“You copied me,” she said, stomping her foot.

“How…not know…you wear,” Ren said.

Vicky rolled her eyes. “Ugh…please tell me we don’t need to listen to you talk like that all night? Not know…not know,” Vicky mocked.

“Watch your mouth,” I threatened.

Vicky crossed her arms. “Or what? Will big bad Liam hurt me in my home? Why don’t you fuck off and get out if you don’t like my attitude,” she snarled.

Ren kept hold of me and held me back when I stepped forward. She subtlety shook her head. It was the only thing keeping me from marching across the room and tossing Vicky out on her ungrateful ass. I didn’t give a shit if this was her family’s home, she was acting like a brat.

“Hey, what did we miss,” Myles asked as he walked in with Lip.

“Nothing worth mentioning,” Nash answered, but the tension remained.

“Ren,” Lip yelled and dashed across the room to wrap his arms around her.

“You are gonna be so impressed. I had to pick a country other than America for my school project, and I chose Canada. Did you know that the plural of moose is just moose? And they can grow to seven feet tall which is like two-hundred and thirteen centimetres. They weigh as much as a car, and run up to thirty-five miles…sorry…fifty-six kilometers an hour,” Lip said, excitedly.

Ren smiled, her entire face bright and warm.

It was no wonder that she naturally drew people in.

“That…is…great,” she said, hugging him back. The small words like is , it , in , or , and the were what really tripped her up. The fact she used it properly was just further proof that she was making huge progress.

“Yes…how fascinating,” Vicky drawled and crossed her arms.

“Victoria.” Her head snapped toward Edmundo’s voice. “I will speak to you privately…now,” he said, and she suddenly didn’t look so sure of herself.

“Well, this will be an interesting Thanksgiving,” I drawled as the doorbell rang again.

Rory came in, and I moved over to the guys, leaving Ren with Lip as he chatted about all the other things he’d learned about Canada.

“So, how do we think this is going to go?”

“Two words…shit…show,” Nash said.

He was right. You just couldn’t have this many different personalities without some sort of drama unfolding.

Ivy and Chantry walked in with Morrison, who looked very uncomfortable. The girls squealed when they saw Ren and ran over to hug her.

“I think you might be right.”

Ella and Ethan arrived next, followed by my parents and Sienna. There was a strange tension between the usually happy O’Briens. Great, not even the nicest of us were having a good day. That did not bode well.

“Mom. Dad,” I said, kissing my mom on her cheek, before hugging my sister. “Is Nora coming?”

Dad grumbled and walked away, while Mom rolled her eyes.

“Edmundo included her in the invitation. She said she’d think about it, but you know your sister.”

“I do. I assume that Dad is still hoping she will come to her senses and do whatever he says?”

Mom snickered. “Something like that.”

“I wouldn’t marry some mean old man either,” Sienna piped in, crossing her arms.

“And you shouldn’t,” I said, smiling at my little sister.

Mom smacked my arm. “Are you trying to start another war?”

“There wouldn’t be one if Dad stopped trying to meddle and control everyone.”

Dean Henry entered the room holding a bottle of scotch, and I watched in complete disbelief as he hugged Ella.

I’d never seen Dean Henry outside of the school.

In my mind, he was chained there by duty and never left.

Seeing him socializing was blowing my mind.

It seemed to have the same effect on the rest of the guys.

They all stared when Edmundo returned, and the two of them hugged and clapped each other on the back.

What alternate reality were we living in? But I took it all in. A meal like this was a goldmine of information.

“Welcome, everyone,” Edmundo said, his voice booming over the noisy chatter. “Please, have a seat, and the meal will be served shortly.”

I squeezed my mom’s hand as she looked at the door and knew she was hoping that Nora would show. I really did hate to see her so sad.

Ren waved me over and pointed at the chair beside her.

“How did I get the seat of honor,” I asked, whispering in her ear.

“Don’t…know.” She looked at Nash across the way as he glared at Vicky sitting beside him. “But…this great show,” she said, making me laugh.

Pulling out her chair, I helped Ren sit. The doorbell rang again, but I wasn’t paying attention to who had arrived until my mother gasped, her hands going to her mouth.

“You have got to be kidding me,” my father growled.

Nora stood in the doorway, and she wasn’t alone.

She was holding hands with Merlin, Nash’s MC contact.

He wore jeans, motorcycle boots, and a dress shirt, but still had on his cut with the Lost Souls reaper emblem.

My mom looked like she was going to faint while my father was moments away from blowing a gasket. Sienna ran up to introduce herself.

“Hi everyone, sorry we’re late. Do you have an extra seat,” Nora asked as the rest of us stared.

Ren snickered, and I looked down. She had her lips pressed together, and her eyes were wide as she glanced up at me.

Yup, this was going to be a meal to remember.

God bless holidays.