Page 83 of Vexatious Queen

I jumped as the old pipes creaked and the heat turned on.

“Why is it so dark,” I asked, reaching for the light switch.

“Don’t turn on the light,” Liam commanded from somewhere in the large room. My hand stilled. “Come in and close the door, Little Rabbit.”

My body couldn’t decide whether to tremble in fear or excitement. I stepped over the threshold and slowly closed the door.

“Lock it,” came Liam’s order.

My fingers brushed the door until I found the metal lock and turned it with a click. Keeping my hand on the wall, I stepped deeper into the void, body quivering.

“You’re adorable when you’re nervous, Little Rabbit,” he drawled.

My eyes darted toward the sound of his voice, and he chuckled. I couldn’t see or hear his feet, but could sense him getting closer. I jumped but managed not to scream as something soft touched my neck.

“So skittish.” The whisper brushed my ear, sending a tingling sensation down my spine. “Are you scared, Little Rabbit?”

“No.”

The heat radiating from his body gave away his position, and he moved in front of me. I sucked in a sharp breath when he captured my chin between his fingers.

“No, what?”

“No, sir.”

Liam traced a single line down my throat, across my shoulder, and to my hand.

“Why are we in here,” I dared to ask.

Liam was used to me bending his rules, and I knew when I could push the envelope.

“Because this is your happy place. Come.”

He led the way, and I blindly followed. The room felt so much larger without my vision. Liam was here, which meant that I was safe, but I couldn’t shake the instinct to search for danger.

“You’re nervous. I can feel your tension,” Liam said as we came to a stop.

“Yes, sir.”

Liam made a hmm noise that had me biting my lip.

“We are going to fix that. Get undressed.”

My brain was buzzing with questions, but I knew that he wouldn’t provide any answers. I would only secure myself a punishment, delaying the inevitable. So, I unzipped my jacket and jumped when he blew on the side of my neck as he took it from my hands.

“What are you thinking about,” Liam asked as I pulled the hoodie and T-shirt over my head. He took those from me, too.

“How am I going to explain this away when we get caught? I’ll end up another headline in the school’s gossip text pool. We’ll be lucky if we don’t get expelled.”

I finished untying my boots and kicked them off.

“Why are you so negative?”

Wiggling the jeans over my hips, I thought about the question.

“Because I spend every day wondering when the other shoe will drop.”

Liam didn’t say anything, but took the rest of my clothes, including my bra and underwear. I looked around, trying to pinpoint his location, but he was too far away to feel, and he was very adept at being perfectly silent.