Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I pass by the long mirror and notice I’m wearing all black and gray. Shit. Maybe I need to take my own advice and add those mugs to my life.
I need to stop doing that, I berate myself, waving a thanks to the kid sitting next to me for waking me up.
That’s two days in a row I’ve fallen asleep in class. I’ve never been one to get sidetracked from my studies. Rise above and conquer, not fall asleep and drool all over my lab desk. I throw my hoodie over my head and make my way to the business building for my business management course. I’m hoping the catnap I just took will hold me over until I get through the next two classes, so I can go home and catch up on sleep. Not that I care, or am expecting anything, but my bat phone has been silent all day. No incoming messages. No mystery packages unless I slept through it. Which is fine. Maybe he’s bored with me. Faked the business stuff because he finally realizes I’m not up for his silly challenge.
Good. Saves me the time of having to tell him I’m not at his beck and call anymore. This whole thing has become ridiculous anyway. He wants me to be his little sex pet—
“Hey, freak.”
“Shit!” I jump three feet high like a damn cat at the sudden hand touching me. I turn to see Sylvia standing right next to me. “Jesus, a little forewarning when putting your claws on people, huh?”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, you were busy talking to yourself. I tried calling your name.”
I was not…okay, I probably was. “Well, I find myself very interesting. Okay…see ya.” I begin walking away, but she stops me.
“I’m not done with you. Where are we with getting me that invite?” Which also reminds me, where are we with that? I didn’t technically have time last night to bid her entrance into Exquisite. Or was it that I didn’t want to?
“I can’t just get you in. It’s complicated.”
“How so? You got in after one night. Seems pretty uncomplicated to me.” Yeah, and I wish it was.
“Well, it is. Plus, I wasn’t there long enough last night to fully push it.” Her eyes go wide as saucers, and I realize my mistake.
“You went there last night? Who was that man in class yesterday? What did he deliver?”
Okay, twenty questions.
I need to answer them strategically.
“The package was a gift from my parents.” There, got that one done.
“I don’t believe you. Your bestie already spilled that you don’t come from money. I saw the logo on the box. No way it came from them.”
Before I’m able to mask the look on my face, surprise, then disappointment, hit me. I can’t believe Christine would share something so personal about me to a group of strangers.
“Fine, you caught me. It wasn’t from my parents. It was from my Dom. He sends me outfits to wear when I visit him. Last night was an insanely expensive Versace gown. Probably cost more than two months of tuition. He really needs to stop splurging on me. Can’t even imagine what’s coming tonight.” Why did I just do that? Lower myself again?
Her eyes flicker with envy. Not that Mommy and Daddy couldn’t afford the dress for her, but because she wants in that club, and I have what she wants. But why? Is she into being dominated, or is it just that I have something she doesn’t?
“You’re going again tonight?” she asks, bitterness in her tone.
“Yeah. Every night. He demands it.” Even though I fail to admit I have yet to hear from him or receive any packages. “Are we done? I have to get to class.”
“Get me in that club, Jensen, or it’s your friend who’s gonna feel the consequences.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I mumble as I offer her my back and continue my venture to class.
He doesn’t call.
Or text.
No fancy box delivered during class. I even got to pig out on all-you-can-eat spaghetti night in the cafeteria. I went home after a long day of class, ate dinner, and finished all my homework for my Psych class. I didn’t want to pretend I was waiting up, fighting sleep because he might text and demand I come to him—which I would have—unwillingly, of course.
But he never did.
So, when I told myself even if he did text, I wouldn’t abide, he didn’t. Even when I got in my pajamas, swearing I wouldn’t get out of them even if he texted, he didn’t. And even when I closed my eyes stating I wouldn’t even wake up to his message, he didn’t. I also never fell asleep.
My insomnia really needs to take a hike. Because I’m having the opposite problem during the day. I can’t stay awake. I finally close my eyes and find sleep exactly two minutes before my alarm goes off for class. I hit snooze forty-seven times, crossing off showering, eating, and dressing so I can sleep as long as possible before I have to go to class naked and smelly.