27. Wrenlee

27

WRENLEE

I hear their gasps and exclamations but in this moment… I don't care.

His lips lay claim to mine. His hands are grasping my ass. His tongue invades and I welcome it. I want even more. My body melds into his. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.

He kisses me as if there is no one watching or, maybe, as if everyone is and he's letting the entire world know I am his. There is no denying that he's staking a claim. A claim on not only my body but my heart and my soul.

All my plans, carefully constructed and woven to navigate the delicate travails of social standing shatter. The pieces fall around us like so much broken glass.

I know, on some level, that this is terrible. That everything I know and am is being destroyed. Yet, I can't bring myself to care. Not while he holds me like this. His tongue wrestling mine, my hands in his hair.

Finally, and only because breathing is a requirement neither of us can deny, we part. Breathless, gasping for each breath, I stare into his eyes. His smile is broad and real. Genuine in a way that is so contrary to every smile I've known in my entire life.

In a way that is the best part of Sek'su. He is guileless. Says what he means, means what he does. The simplicity of it is beautiful. He sets me onto my feet but my knees are weak. I grab onto the table to keep myself upright.

"Treasure," he says.

His voice is deep, rumbling, and most of all loud. There is no way anyone in this massive dining hall didn't hear what he said. I'm aware that everyone is looking, watching, and judging. Right now I don't care.

I raise my left hand and caress his cheek, so cool to the touch. He smiles, nods, then turns and walks away. I watch him leave, content until I hear Emery.

"Does anyone need further proof?" she shouts. "She just made out, in public and disgustingly I might add, with one of those… animals."

I lose it. Spinning to face her my face is burning hot. I storm past Valentina and right up to her. Emery's eyes widen and she tries to scramble back but all she manages to do is fall off the bench and onto her ass.

"Take it back," I yell, standing over her with the clear intention to harm her if I have to.

"Take what back? The fact that you fucked an animal?" she screeches.

I clench my hand into a fist and pull my arm back, planning on hitting her. As I swing my arm forward it is stopped. I look over with a snarl but Saylor is there, holding me back.

"Don't. It's not worth it," she says. Saylor looks down at Emery cowering on the floor and holding her hands up in front of herself. "She's not worth it."

"Gah," I exclaim, frustration having to be let out somehow.

I look at the other girls and see it on their faces. I've lost. All of them are shocked and horrified. Even Ivy looks ill.

"Come on," Saylor says.

I look around the room. As I thought, everyone has their attention on me, and not in a good way. I throw my hands up and shake my head.

"So what?" I shout. "You all think you're so great? You know what, fuck it. I love him. He makes me feel things that I have never, in all my life felt. You want me to apologize for that? I'm not going to. You can all fuck off."

I turn and run from the room.