by Dani René
Black lace inches its way over the edges of the hem and neckline as the floor length offers a slit that slides all the way to my upper thigh, gifting anyone a view of my tanned leg as I take a step. I know Elian would have a coronary if he were here. He never liked others looking at me, besides Ahren of course.
“Hey,” Marleigh says, dragging my attention back to her. “He’s the asshole for leaving you.” She knows about my relationship with Elian. When he left, I told her everything, but what I didn’t admit was that I had fallen in love with him. I wanted a final kiss but he never offered it. Instead, he stole my heart and soul, and he never returned them when he spun on his heel and left me staring at his back.
“I know.” Even as I voice the words, I don’t believe them. Neither does my friend. We’ve come a long way since my first day at Black Mountain Academy. And I’m thankful she’s been by my side.
“Come on,” she says, leading me out into the hallway and down the steps until we get to the door where she has a sleek, silver Audi R8 waiting.
“Shit,” I curse, taking in the beautiful vehicle. “This is pure sex.”
“Then you’ve been having the wrong sex, gorge,” Marleigh says with a laugh. I roll my eyes at her response. She’s draped in floor-length, silver satin that hugs her every curve. The halter neck holds the dress up, while the cut-out diamond shape at her chest offers a glimpse of cleavage.
“Oh please, I just didn’t go sleeping with a college boy every day after school,” I tease, causing her to blush. She shrugs me off, and we make our way to the car where I slip into the passenger seat.
“Yeah, and I haven’t been shacking up with a hot teacher,” Marleigh retorts playfully, which only feels like a kick in the gut. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I have to get over it. Right?”
She shakes her head sadly before pressing the start button. The stereo’s on, playing “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish. It throbs through the speakers, and I smile. “See? Music is the remedy.” She winks before pulling out onto the road and taking us toward the school.
I haven’t told her how difficult it’s been without him. I haven’t confessed just how painful it is to be at school, walking around campus without Elian near. I’m not sure where he’s gone, and I haven’t seen Ahren in weeks, which feels far too long, and I miss him and his friendship.
By the time we reach the academy, I’m less nervous, but I’m having second thoughts about being here, yet Marleigh doesn’t allow me to race home. Not like I could in these fucking heels. So, I follow her up to the entrance which has been set up like a fairytale ball.
“Smile, pretty girls.” The familiar rumble of Ahren has me spinning on my heels to find him standing behind me. He’s dressed in black leather, as usual, but it’s the look in his eye that makes my heart settle in my chest. He makes me feel like being home. Like a brother would calm my crazy, that’s what Ahren does for me.
“You’re here.” It comes out as a disbelieving whisper, but he hears me. Ahren loops his arm through mine, and we head inside, but he doesn’t explain why he’s here. I want to ask, it burns the tip of my tongue, but I don’t want to sound like a crazy ex-girlfriend. They’ve already had one of those, and I don’t plan on being another.
Ahren doesn’t stop until we get to the bar which, thankfully, is serving drinks. Even though everything is non-alcoholic, I grab one and swallow down two mouthfuls. I can’t describe what it feels like seeing Elian’s brother here and knowing he’s not close by.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Ahren as he leads me onto the dance floor, ignoring Marleigh who’s staring at us with her mouth agape in shock at the turn of events. The song changes before he can respond, and I’m taken into his arms, and we slowly move across the floor. Even though there are a few couples already dancing, it’s as if we’re the only people here.
“He’s …” Ahren shakes his head. “Don’t Give Me Those Eyes” by James Blunt screams at us, and I wonder if it’s him speaking to me from a goddamned song. I’ve lost my fucking mind. “He didn’t want to leave.”
“Well, he did,” I bite out, anger taking over the sadness that’s been holding me hostage since Elian left me standing in the darkness. “He doesn’t deserve my tears.” Even as I grit the words through clenched teeth, I feel the burn of salty emotion about to take over.
“He doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want them.” The music slows, and as it comes to an end, Ahren doesn’t release me. His arms are warm, affectionate, and for a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me. But he doesn’t lean in, he doesn’t capture my mouth like Elian used to do. He merely stares at me. “My brother did tend to enjoy making girls cry.”
I watch the younger Donati, and I can’t help but sneer at his response. “He’s an asshole.”
“Why?” he challenges as he spins me across the dance floor when another song starts up, and we weave in between the other couples, and I’m lost in the way we’re moving effortlessly. “Because he saved you? Or because he chose to leave the life that he built behind to ensure you’re able to graduate?”
I look around, taking in all the happy faces, and I wish I could be one of them. But I also ponder Ahren’s questions for a long moment. I don’t know how to answer him without breaking down. It hasn’t been long, but it feels as if a part of me has been torn from my chest. I lock my gaze on Ahren’s before I finally whisper the words I’ve hidden deep in my heart since his kiss, “Because he left me.”
“I could never leave you, even if I wanted to,” the familiar rumbled, yet husky growl comes from behind me, causing me to spin on my heel, leaving Ahren’s arms to find those iridescent blue eyes I’ve come to love.
“You’re here.” The words are whispered on a gasp, a breath of shock at him standing here, looking like a hero, a white knight. Dressed in a black tux that looks like it’s been tailored perfectly to his frame, a deep-red button-up, which eerily matches my dress, and a tie that shimmers, making it seem as if the night sky has been folded and bound into a knot just for him.
The corner of his mouth tilts upward, and I’m lost in the endless ocean pools that have captured me since the first time I saw them. He doesn’t speak, but his gaze holds me steady as if I’m a possession, and I suppose I am. Elian Donati owns me, and I’m okay with that.
“Thank you,” he says, looking over my shoulder at Ahren who bows out like a gentleman taking his leave. Then those blues are on my grays. “I should never have left you like that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“I had spilled blood. I lost control, and being around you would’ve just made it worse. I felt guilty for what I did.” It’s the first time that I see Elian unsure of himself. Granted, he’s talking about killing a man, but he did it to protect me.
“You thought I would judge you for saving my life?”
Fury blazes in his stare, and I wonder if he’s recalling the shitshow that went down. The asshole was stalking me, doing things with my underwear, putting fear into my mind. And Elian ended it, even though he started it.
“I’ll never apologize.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” I reply. “I needed you.” My admission causes my cheeks to heat, the blush burning along my skin down to my chest.
“I don’t like this dress,” Elian grunts, as he sways me along the dance floor to the song. “Too many men can see what’s mine.”
“Am I though?” I challenge him, locking my gaze on his. “Am I yours?”
“If you ever doubted it,” he tells me. “I’m here to show you that you have nothing to doubt.” His mouth crashes on mine, and I feel as if the whole senior year has stopped all movement and I’m the center of attention. Usually, I’d pull away and hide from the eyes on me, but right now, all I want is Elian to devour me whole.
There are stares from other students, whispers as we move through the crowd, but I don’t care. I no longer fear what people say or think about me and the choice I’ve made. And it se
ems Elian doesn’t either.
As the song fades into another, Elian laces his fingers with mine, and he leads me out into the sparkling night. Between the stars and the fairy lights that illuminate the path leading up to the entrance, we’re bathed in a soft, yellow glow.
Elian turns to me, his eyes shimmering as he regards me. “I will never in my life lie to you or hide anything from you again. I’ve lost you once. I’m not prepared to do it again.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. “Are you trying to tell me I’m stuck with you, Mr. Donati?” The challenge in my words causes his eyes to glimmer with desire.
“Oh, that’s exactly what I’m telling my beloved little deviant.”
My mouth falls open, but I shut it quickly, almost as if I didn’t just hear what he said, but Elian’s more perceptive than that. With me, it’s as if he can read my mind.
“I love you, Arabella,” he confesses. “And I’m not prepared to ever watch you leave my life. Never again.” My heart skips multiple beats from his confession, but I’m grinning from ear to ear.
“Then you better be on your best behavior, Mr. Donati,” I tell him. “And don’t ever leave me.” This time, I snake my arms around his waist, tilting my head backward so I can look into those blue eyes. “I love you too, by the way,” I admit, my cheeks burning from embarrassment and nervousness.
“Then it seems we’re stuck with each other.” And he kisses me against the cool brick wall where nobody else can see us. He consumes me with everything he has, and I know tonight, he’ll once again make love to me.
And I welcome it—tonight, and for the rest of my nights well into the future.
Epilogue
Elian
Even though it’s not entirely the last day of classes, I’m here to collect my belongings. I’ve enjoyed saying goodbye to my students. From tomorrow, they’ll have a brand-new teacher to deal with. When I went to Dawson and asked him to allow me to resign, he did ask why, and I had to explain that I’d fallen for one of the students. I didn’t go into detail, but I have a feeling he knew who it was.
The whispers had been going around since prom, and I needed a new start with Arabella. Since she’s decided to go to England for university, I told her I’m not allowing her to go on her own. Which brings me back to the last afternoon I’ll ever be in this class. The door clicks, and I grin. Glancing to the left, I see Arabella walk toward me in her school uniform.
“Hello, Mr. Donati,” she greets in a seductive tone that has my cock jolting against my zipper. “I figured I needed some … detention,” she says, running her nail from the knot in my tie down to where the pointed end stops at my belt buckle.
“Bend over this fucking desk, Ms. Davenport,” I order, my voice already husky with need to be inside her. Like the good girl she is, Arabella obeys, leaning her slender frame over the edge of my desk. Her skirt hikes up, just far enough to gift me a view of the bottom curve of the cheeks of her ass. “Where are your panties, deviant?”
“Oops, I think I lost them, Mr. Donati,” she coos in a voice that ignites my blood, causing it to turn to lava in my veins. I shift the hem of her skirt, shoving it over her hips to find her bare.
My hand comes down on her ass, harshly, echoing through the room until I bring it down again on the other cheek. Squeals of pleasure tumble from her lips, and I continue my assault of her pert little butt.
“Elian, please,” she whimpers as I turn her ass cheeks bright red. My handprint is etched into her flesh, and I can’t help but smile.
“When you scream, it will be with me inside you,” I tell her before unzipping my slacks, fisting my cock, and lining it up with her entrance. I don’t have to wait because she’s drenched. My cock sinks into her in one long thrust, which has my eyes rolling back in my head. The pleasure that zips through every inch of me causes a growl to fall from my lips. I reach for her neck, holding her against me, feeling every part of her tremble at the nearness.
“Oh god, you’re so deep,” Arabella moans when I slide into her, taking her harshly, claiming my little deviant once more. With every thrust, I confirm wordlessly she is mine. She disappeared from my life for a short moment, but she will never leave my life again.
“You. Are. Mine.” Every word is enunciated by the thrust of my hips before I bite down on her earlobe, tugging the soft flesh, causing her cunt to tighten around my shaft, and I drown in her sweetness. We’re so close she’s molded to me, and with every pulse, I feel the emotion taking hold of me. My chest bursts, the black heart I long since hid away fills with her light. I tried to fight it, but I fell for her.
“I’ve always been yours,” she hisses as I tug her hair, my free hand gripping her throat and squeezing, which only makes the slick warmth of her body pulse around my shaft as if she’s milking my fucking soul from my body.
“Happy Graduation, little deviant,” I murmur as I fuck her harder, faster, until we’re both shattering, splintering as she calls out my name for the whole fucking school to hear, and I grunt my release inside her.
Arabella
TWO MONTHS LATER
Nothing in this world could’ve prepared me for the journey that Black Mountain brought me. It wasn’t just eye-opening. I grew up, became a woman. I’m no longer fearful of the future—I’m looking forward to it. And as I say goodbye, I wonder what would’ve happened to me if I never came here.
The man beside me wouldn’t be in my life, and he wouldn’t be holding my hand. The shiny promise ring on my left ring finger wouldn’t be glittering for the world to see. And I would never have thought I would be okay with a man who killed my mother. But when I thought about his admission, when he explained how she so easily bartered me as if I were a possession, I knew my instinct was right—she never loved me.
“Are you ready?” Elian asks from beside me.
Nodding, the excitement has now taken over, and I’m ready to leave. When I glance over my shoulder, I wave at Aunt Midge who’s grinning from ear to ear. Apparently, she spoke some sense into Elian, and that’s how he ended up coming to prom. I’m thankful for her. Even though we haven’t heard from my dad again, I know if he were to ever come near us, he wouldn’t live to tell the tale. Either that, or he’d be in prison.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Even though he knew where Dad was, he chose me instead of the revenge he’d been seeking since his father died. I’ve found someone special, and I’m lucky.
Elian’s hand lands on my thigh, and he gives it a squeeze as we head out onto the highway which will take us to the airport. Behind us, Black Mountain shrinks the farther away we get from it, and I wonder momentarily if we’ll ever see it again. Since Ahren has left to move to Arizona, and my aunt is thinking of moving to New York, there’s not much for the small town to come back to.
“I love you, little deviant,” Elian tells me, the confidence in his voice sending my stomach into whirls of excitement.
“And I love you, Mr. Donati,” I murmur in return, earning my leg another squeeze. Time to make new memories and break so many more rules than we’ve already done.
THE END
Acknowledgments
I cannot believe this book is done. It’s been one heck of a rollercoaster! Thank you to the amazing Alta Hensley for telling me about this super fun project, and a HUGE thank you to Jenika Snow for inviting me to be a part of the Black Mountain Academy!
Thank you to four special ladies, to the awesome Candice Royer for helping me with ALL the freaking edits. This was most definitely a tough one. To Allyson and Nikki for their BETA reading skills, as well as Ally for falling in love with Mr. Donati. And also a MASSIVE thank you to Marjorie for stepping in to proofread at the last minute. I know I may have melted your Kindle, but Mr. Donati says thanks! ;)
To my ADULT, Caroline for putting up with my bullshit.
To my hubster who makes the dinner and ensures I have alcohol on hand while I’m on deadline. You may not be my teacher, but you’re my everything. Lov
e you madly!
The Street Team, you ladies work your ass off to get my name out there, thank you. From the bottom of my little black heart, THANK YOU!
My Deviants!! This group is like my own personal form of therapy. Thank you!! There is never a dull moment, and that’s what makes me thankful for your love and support. It’s not easy working with the intense stress and deadlines, but you always seem to brighten my day!
To my fellow authors who are there with advice, support, and just a general pick me up. Thank you. It means more to me than you know. Thank you for sharing my work with your readers, and giving me a friendship that is second to none.
To the bloggers, you ladies read, read, read, support, post, review, and you do it with a smile. Thank you!! We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, so keep what you’re doing, we appreciate you! #AllBlogsMatter!
Lastly, to the readers, thank YOU! It’s because of you I’m able to put out book after book. Giving you what you ask for, and hopefully making you excited about the next book. Thank you for your reviews, keeping them SPOILER FREE ;) But most of all, thank you for buying our books. For your support, love, and encouragement.
Mad love, D x
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