Malcolm.”
“Then how did you collar her?” Mr. Mason doesn’t sound accusatory, merely curious.
I peek at Kieren while they talk about me like I’m not even here. Kieren has a ring of bruises blooming around his throat. I swallow in sympathy.
“She’ s her brother’s sister, only worse- sheltered, naïve, and innocent. She needs a keeper. Her size will be a draw. That isn’t your son’s thing, but you know it’s ours.” Mr. Kline speaks in a code only he and Mr. Mason understand. They do that rumbly laugh again- definitely buddies. Kieren hides a smirk behind his palm. He knows what they’re talking about.
I stare at the scuff on the tip of my left boot. I wan t the floor to swallow me. They’re talking about us as if we aren’t even here. Kieren catches my eye and I can tell he’s sorry. I know his quest of virgins is finally over. Kieren looks frightened enough that I wonder if Mr. Mason is going to castrate him. Nah- he’d want grandchildren.
“What’s your name, girl?” Mr. Mas on demands.
“Willow Prynne, s ir.” I say with confidence, and finally look up at him. Okay, Mr. Mason isn’t scary or ugly now that he’s no longer pissed. He’s handsome in a father sort of way. He’s a lot younger than my dad, but Dad was in his fifties when I was born. I realize Mr. Mason isn’t much older than Clover.
“How do you know my son and what happened tonight,” he commands. It feels like an interrogation and I know I can’t lie. I bet Mr. Mason is a cop or a lawyer.
“I know both of your sons. I went to school with them. I’ve known Kieren since kindergarten. I’ve um… I’ve had a crush on his forever. My cousin surprised me for my birthday tonight by asking Kieren to join us. I disobeyed Mr. Kline and went along with it. Kieren kept touching me, but I never said no. I just pushed him away, but he’s relentless. I found out a crush is different than reality. I couldn’t take anymore pawing so we lost him in the club, but he found me again. I take half of the responsibility for tonight. I should have listened to Mr. Kline. I should have said no outright before it turned into what just happened. I said no here in the hallway, but Kieren was too far gone. He’s probably a little sore where I kneed him, so I wouldn’t punish him there,” I meekly say as a furious blush blossoms on my cheeks.
The men share a laugh over my admission, and Kieren mouths thank you to me. I mouth back do it again and I’ll cut your nuts off, asshole. He nods in understanding- we’re copasetic. Kieren wants to keep his testicles and I want girls to have a say in whether or not he gets between their thighs.
“Night, brother , don’t have too much fun with him.” Mr. Kline’s hand grips the nape of my neck and steers me down the hallway while I try to avoid tripping over my own feet.
“You , too, Augustus, don’t have too much fun with her punishment,” Mr. Mason says in amusement. Mr. Kline snorts when I shudder.
~Chapter Five~
I twist my fingers in the hem of my skirt to dry the dampness that beads on my palms. The ride home feels even longer than the ride to the club. That’s saying something, considering I was about to bolt from my car to get away from Kieren’s roaming hands.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper in the cab of the truck. I’m so quiet that I don ’t think Mr. Kline heard me.
“For what - exactly?” He asks with equal quietness, but where my tone quivered, his is eerily calm.
“You said not to see Kieren and I did it anyway. In my defense, I didn’t know he was coming tonight. I did mean what I said to Mr. Mason about how I was leading Kieren on by not saying no outright.” I try to appease Mr. Kline by admitting it was partially my fault, but his long-suffering sigh informs me it’s not good enough- too little, too late.
“No excuses, Willow. You must own your actions. Every choice you made tonight
“Then how did you collar her?” Mr. Mason doesn’t sound accusatory, merely curious.
I peek at Kieren while they talk about me like I’m not even here. Kieren has a ring of bruises blooming around his throat. I swallow in sympathy.
“She’ s her brother’s sister, only worse- sheltered, naïve, and innocent. She needs a keeper. Her size will be a draw. That isn’t your son’s thing, but you know it’s ours.” Mr. Kline speaks in a code only he and Mr. Mason understand. They do that rumbly laugh again- definitely buddies. Kieren hides a smirk behind his palm. He knows what they’re talking about.
I stare at the scuff on the tip of my left boot. I wan t the floor to swallow me. They’re talking about us as if we aren’t even here. Kieren catches my eye and I can tell he’s sorry. I know his quest of virgins is finally over. Kieren looks frightened enough that I wonder if Mr. Mason is going to castrate him. Nah- he’d want grandchildren.
“What’s your name, girl?” Mr. Mas on demands.
“Willow Prynne, s ir.” I say with confidence, and finally look up at him. Okay, Mr. Mason isn’t scary or ugly now that he’s no longer pissed. He’s handsome in a father sort of way. He’s a lot younger than my dad, but Dad was in his fifties when I was born. I realize Mr. Mason isn’t much older than Clover.
“How do you know my son and what happened tonight,” he commands. It feels like an interrogation and I know I can’t lie. I bet Mr. Mason is a cop or a lawyer.
“I know both of your sons. I went to school with them. I’ve known Kieren since kindergarten. I’ve um… I’ve had a crush on his forever. My cousin surprised me for my birthday tonight by asking Kieren to join us. I disobeyed Mr. Kline and went along with it. Kieren kept touching me, but I never said no. I just pushed him away, but he’s relentless. I found out a crush is different than reality. I couldn’t take anymore pawing so we lost him in the club, but he found me again. I take half of the responsibility for tonight. I should have listened to Mr. Kline. I should have said no outright before it turned into what just happened. I said no here in the hallway, but Kieren was too far gone. He’s probably a little sore where I kneed him, so I wouldn’t punish him there,” I meekly say as a furious blush blossoms on my cheeks.
The men share a laugh over my admission, and Kieren mouths thank you to me. I mouth back do it again and I’ll cut your nuts off, asshole. He nods in understanding- we’re copasetic. Kieren wants to keep his testicles and I want girls to have a say in whether or not he gets between their thighs.
“Night, brother , don’t have too much fun with him.” Mr. Kline’s hand grips the nape of my neck and steers me down the hallway while I try to avoid tripping over my own feet.
“You , too, Augustus, don’t have too much fun with her punishment,” Mr. Mason says in amusement. Mr. Kline snorts when I shudder.
~Chapter Five~
I twist my fingers in the hem of my skirt to dry the dampness that beads on my palms. The ride home feels even longer than the ride to the club. That’s saying something, considering I was about to bolt from my car to get away from Kieren’s roaming hands.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper in the cab of the truck. I’m so quiet that I don ’t think Mr. Kline heard me.
“For what - exactly?” He asks with equal quietness, but where my tone quivered, his is eerily calm.
“You said not to see Kieren and I did it anyway. In my defense, I didn’t know he was coming tonight. I did mean what I said to Mr. Mason about how I was leading Kieren on by not saying no outright.” I try to appease Mr. Kline by admitting it was partially my fault, but his long-suffering sigh informs me it’s not good enough- too little, too late.
“No excuses, Willow. You must own your actions. Every choice you made tonight
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