12. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Viktor

The bass thrums through my body, pulsing in time with my heartbeat as Eli and I weave through the crowd, the scent of alcohol and perfume thick in the air. I scan the room, searching for our friends, and spot them at our usual table, tucked away in the corner.

Connor's got his tongue down some girl's throat. Think she's the same chick from the gala at the beginning of the season. Zach's just scanning the room while rando guy's sucking his dick. Poor soul, if the schmuck knows what's good for him, he'll run away.

"Hey, look who came to hang out." Jackson half stands and gives Eli a hug. "Thought you were avoiding us all. Or only tolerated us because of Petrov."

At the mention of Alexei, Eli slouches, so I throw an arm around his shoulders, pulling him in for a side hug. "How're you holding up, with my dumbass cousin being gone?"

Eli's face falls, his eyes going distant as he drops onto the red leather sofa. "It's tough, not gonna lie. I miss him like crazy."

"He'll be back before you know it. And just think of the reunion sex." I shoot a smirk at Jackson. "Maybe you can go lay on his roommate's bed and pretend you're sleeping."

"Oh, fuck you." Jackson points at Eli. "Why don't you just tell your boyfriend you like a level of exhibitionism instead of having him threatening to kick my ass all the time."

Killian growls, looking between the three of us before settling on his boyfriend. "Fuckface, don't even think about sleeping at Eli's. If you do, it'll be your ass getting the belt."

We all laugh, even Connor who breaks away from sucking face. And I'm glad Eli is even laughing.

"What's he doing here?" Zach juts his chin toward the far end of the bar across the room.

I turn and look over my shoulder, swallowing the whimper that nearly escapes. Beckett. He's sitting at the bar, a glass of amber liquid in front of him. And he's staring right at me, his eyes dark and intense.

Eli looks at me with that worried mama bird expression. "Isn't that your assistant coach?"

"Yup."

"Are you still harassing the poor guy? You know there are rules against faculty getting involved with students?"

I can't help but flash a wicked grin. "Too late for that. Already had his dick in my mouth."

"Why am I not surprised?" Zach takes a swig of his drink, clearly annoyed.

After the night in the alley, I approached Beckett when practice was through, asking why I couldn't get off. Mostly hoping he'd do it for me. The bastard said one word.

Punishment.

So, when the game against the Serpents ended, I purposely dropped where I was going, wanting my grumpy coach to hear.

I just didn't expect him to show up. But this might work out even better because I'm frustrated as fuck. And I also have no idea why I'm even following his stupid rule.

I get up from the table and go to the bar, my gaze locked on a target. He's a big guy, all muscle and bulk.

"Hey there, handsome," I purr, sliding up next to him. "Wanna dance?"

The guy turns, looking me up and down, then grins, his hand sliding over my hip to the small of my back. "Lead the way."

I peek over his shoulder toward Becks, who's watching, jaw clenched tight. There's a storm brewing in those dark eyes, a barely contained fury that sends a shiver down my spine.

Out on the dance floor, we move to the music, our bodies grinding together. This guy's solid as a brick wall, his muscles hard, his thighs like tree trunks.

But he's not the one I truly want.

Someone bumps into me, pushing me farther into the beefcake. He takes the opportunity to wrap his arms around my waist, but his dumb hands continue sliding lower until he's palming my ass.

Oh, fuck no.

This dance is to make Beckett jealous, not have some low class ox grope me.

I grab his forearms and lift them. "Don't take what's not offered."

My body tenses, eyes blinking. Fuck me. Did I just recite the dumb shit Beckett told me?

Ugh.

"Come on, baby. Why else did you ask me to dance?" He follows up by palming my ass again and squeezing hard enough to make me grimace.

"Wrong move asshole." I slam my head forward, my forehead connecting with his nose, a sickening crunch following. He reels back, blood pouring down his face, his eyes wide with shock and pain. "Told you not to touch without permission." I laugh, the sound sharp and manic in my own ears.

But before I can savor the moment, he lunges at me. "Fucking slut."

I step back, bringing my hands up to guard my face and throw a cross, except the jerk goes flying sideways.

"Walk away." Beckett's voice is deep and gravelly.

The idiot must be short a few brain cells because he swings wildly. Beckett dodges and I just roll my eyes. Anyone who's even had an iota of training can slip those haymakers.

Problem is, he swung at my man. Or soon to be my man. Or the person I will convince to be my man.

Dropping low and sweeping the guy's legs out from under him, he goes down hard, and I grab his wrist, placing him in a wrist lock. "Next time you try to touch what's mine, I'll cut your fucking hand off."

To make my point, I wrench his wrist until the bones snap.

The crowd has parted around us, everyone staring in shock and awe. I focus my attention back on Beckett and give him a cheeky grin, cocking my head to the side. "Fancy meeting you here. You following me now?"

Instead of responding, he crosses the distance between us in three long strides, then grabs me around the waist and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Put me down, you caveman!"

"Had enough of your shit tonight," he says as he tightens his grip around my thighs, making his way through the crowd.

"This is so embarrassing." The words are barely out of my mouth when a sting of pain radiates over my left butt cheek. Did he just? I twist, trying to meet his eyes and glare at him, but he just faces forward and spanks me again.

When I look back at the table where my friends are sitting, Eli's smiling so wide I can see his teeth from here. And he's giving me double thumbs up. Jackson and Killian are laughing their asses off, while Connor just shakes his head.

But Zach looks . . . angry. He even pushes away the loser who's still sucking him off.

That can't be right.

Just hope they're all smart enough to make sure Eli gets home before my cousin ends up making a trip to Crestwood to murder us all.