Bound: Highgate Preparatory Academy, Book 2

I sit on the chair next to my mom’s bedside, listening to the bleep of the machines and watching the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. I’m all alone, having sent the others back to Highgate with Lilly, who looked dead on her feet.

I’m gonna fucking kill him, that cuntstain of a father of mine. My lip curls, a sour taste in my mouth as I think of him. I know it was him, I can practically make out that shitty signet ring he wears on his right hand in the bruises on her face.

My fists clench as I catalog her injuries once again, knowing that she won’t tell me the truth, and she won’t report him. I remember the time that I beat the shit out of him, a grim smile pulling my lips up with the memory of his blood coating my hands for once. Looks like he’ll need a little reminder of the lesson that I thought he’d learned that day.

“Be careful, baby.” I hear her rasping voice say, and I look up into eyes that reflect my own. Only hers are full of concern and worry. “I know that look, Jax. nothing good will come from revenge.”

I take her hand once more, which is so much smaller than my own.

“He won’t get away with this,” I vow, righteous fire filling my black soul until it’s ablaze. “He will pay.”

“Oh, baby,” she whispers, shifting with a small moan, which only adds fuel to the fire of my anger. “And what if Lilly gets caught in the crossfire?”

The fire goes out, cold dread sitting like a heavy weight in my stomach.

“What you said to her earlier, about her mom…” I trail off, seeing her gaze turned pained and knowing that I won’t get anything else out of her.

“I shouldn’t have said it, but she looked so downtrodden, so broken,” she replies, swallowing painfully. I reach for her cup, bringing the straw to her lips so that she can drink. “ I can’t say any more, Jax. I promised…” she starts, getting restless, and her heart monitor picks up slightly.

“Hey, don’t worry, mom. I won’t force you, just rest,” I assure her, feeling pleased as she relaxes into the pillows again. Suddenly, I have the overwhelming need to tell her about the baby. She’s always loved children, and she desperately needs to smile. Plus I know that I can trust her, she’s clearly good at keeping secrets. “Lilly’s pregnant.”

Her whole body goes still as she looks at me, joy warring with desperate sadness in her eyes.

“Oh, baby. Is it, I mean, are you…” she trails off, looking away and blushing. I can’t help the grin that splits my lips in a rare smile.

“Loki,” I say, feeling a twinge of…something at the fact that it’s not my child she’s carrying.

“I guess, it doesn’t really matter,” she surprises me by saying, my mouth hanging open. “I know that you’ll all be fathers to that baby, and damn fine ones too.” Her eyes shine as my chest goes tight. “You’ll take care of them both, my sweet boy.”

“I will,” I croak out, clearing my throat which feels tight all of a sudden. A part of me may wish that Lilly’s baby was biologically mine, but mom is right. It doesn’t matter if we share the same genetics, that baby belongs to the five of us as we belong to each other.

“Julian has other things planned,” Mom says into the weighted silence, the room filling with tension at her words. “I don’t know what, but I think he’s trying to teach you all a lesson for disobeying him. Be on your guard, son.”

My stomach rolls, my heartbeat feeling sluggish as I take in what she’s telling me. It seems that Julian’s ire is not yet sated.

I just hope we are ready for his next move.

LILLY

Another week passes with Jax’s mum still recovering in hospital. He told us of her warning, about Julian’s reign of terror being far from over, and to watch our backs. We remain on high alert, the tension surrounding us as we wait for his next move.

Jax visits his mum every day after school, somehow managing to keep up with his studies too. I would be woefully behind if the guys didn’t keep on my arse, making me sit down to study, even though some days I can barely keep my eyes open.

I’m approaching what I think is my twelfth week, sitting in the library with Willow when she leans over to whisper in my ear.

“Have you had your twelve week scan yet?” she asks, jerking me awake after I almost fall asleep in my calculus book.

“Huh?” I ask on a yawn, rubbing my eyes.

“You know, the scan you get at twelve weeks?” she questions me, brows raised.

“Ummm…” I trail off with a cringe, my hands fiddling with my pencil.

“You have seen a midwife right?” I bite my lip and her eyes roll so hard I’m surprised they don’t get stuck. “Bloody idiots! The lot of you!” she hisses, packing up her stuff, then standing to do mine. “Come on,” she orders, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet.

“Hey!” I whisper-yell as she drags me from the library, my converse squeaking on the floor. My feet are just too achy at the moment for my beloved Irregulars, plus none of the guys will let me wear heels because of the baby—le sigh. They said something along the lines of an increased chance of falls and how it’s not safe for either of us.

She manhandles me all the way to my dorm, holding her palm out when we get there.

“Key,” she demands, and I can see a fire in her eyes that lets me know she’s pissed. I obey, trying to placate her, which doesn’t seem to work as she throws the door open once she’s unlocked it, pulling me inside before slamming it shut.

“What the fuck?!” Loki exclaims, jumping up from the sofa, Ash and Kai doing the same.

“What the fuck is right, you prick!” Willow snarls, finally letting go of me. I watch wide-eyed and she strides towards him, getting all up in his grill. She looks ridiculous, like a tiny fairy going up against a giant, but she doesn’t let that stop her, poking her finger into his chest. I wince, knowing how much that hurts from past experience. “I don’t know what kind of shit is going on with you guys, but you need to get your heads out of your arses, and take Lilly to a fucking midwife! She needs tests, and a scan to check that the baby is okay. Plus regular checkups and shit!”

Loki stands there, jaw clenched as his cheeks flush. Heaving a sigh, he brings his hands up to run through his hair, then turns to look at me, his eyes pained.

“Fuck, Lilly, I had no idea,” he says, and I shake my head trying to tell him that neither did I.

“Of course you bloody didn’t! You’re an eighteen year old guy for christ’s sake!” Willow says, throwing her hands up. She turns to Ash, who stands there with a gleam of respect in his eyes as he looks at her. “Get on it, Vanderbilt,” she orders.

One perfect, black brow arches, his lips twitching with amusement that she probably doesn’t spot, otherwise she’d be spitting mad again. He reaches into his suit trousers pocket, pulling out his phone and scrolling until he finds what he’s looking for. Looking up at me, he brings the phone up to his ear.

“Dr. Richards? Yes, It’s Asher Vanderbilt here,” he says, cool as always, holding my gaze as he speaks. “My fiancée needs to see an obstetrician, do you have someone on your team?” He pauses. “Yes, thank you, we are very excited, but needless to say this is news of the utmost confidentiality.” He says the last part in a hard tone, almost threateningly, and I wonder if he has something on this doctor that he doesn’t want shared. “Tomorrow at ten is perfect. We shall see Dr. Kent then. Thank you.”

Ending the call, he bypasses a smug looking Willow to come up to me, hand cupping my jaw.

“I’m sorry I didn’t think of this,” he whispers, swallowing thickly. “I’d never willingly put you or the baby in danger.”

“I know, Ash. You weren’t to know what I’d need,” I tell him, placing my own hand on top of his, but I can see the regret and determination in the hard steel of his eyes.

“But I should know, and I will give you everything you need and more, my love,” he whispers back, brushing a light kiss against my lips that gives me all the shivers.

“I’m coming too,” Loki says firmly, and I look to see he’s also stepped up to us. “I want to be there and I don’t give a fuck how it looks.” Ash just nods, looking over at Kai, who lifts his chin. “I assume Jax will want to be there as well,” he says with a sigh, but not like he minds all that much. “Kai, email administration will you.”

“Right,” Willow pipes up, and I must admit I’d kind of forgotten that she was here. Worst friend ever. “Now that that’s sorted, go run my girl a bubble bath, give her something yummy to eat, and then an early night.”

I love the way she bosses the guys around, and I love that when it comes to me, they all jump and do as she orders, Loki giving me a quick peck before heading into the bathroom, Kai coming over to do the same before heading to the kitchen.

“I’ll see you later, babe,” she tells me, nudging Ash out of the way so that she can give me a hug. “Let me know how it goes tomorrow, yeah?”

“Hashtag-obvs,” I chuckle, squeezing her back tightly. “Thanks, hun.”

“Always, boo,” she replies, planting another kiss on my cheek before sweeping out of the door. I am starting to really love that girl.

“She’s growing on me,” Ash declares, taking my hand and leading me to the bathroom. I chuckle, moaning as the smell of my favourite lavender, marjoram, and geranium bubble bath fills the air.

Ash kneels down, undoing my Chucks and helping me to slip my feet out of them. I can hear Loki swirling the water around, and know that he’ll be getting the perfect temperature for me as Ash starts to undress me, helping me out of my berry red Lucy and Yak dungarees, yellow cotton t-shirt, and lacy bra, and French knicker set until I stand before him naked.

“You are so beautiful, Princess,” he murmurs, his hand reaching out to trail across my stomach. I swear it flips at his touch.

My breath hitches, thinking he’ll continue south, but he just takes my hand in his and leads me to the bath, helping me to climb into the huge tub. He holds my hand until I’m settled, Loki placing a glass of cold water on the side by my head. They both turn, starting to head out of the door.

“‘O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?’”

I quote at their backs, and they pause, turning around slowly, a smug grin on Ash’s face.

“Did you just quote Shakespeare at me to get you off, Princess?” he asks, amusement clear in his tone, a wide grin pulling up his lush lips. I arch a brow at him, opening my legs in clear invitation.

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Loki comments, coming back into the room, and walking around the bath, kneeling on the floor. “Want us to take care of all your needs, Pretty Girl?”

“Yes,” I reply, my voice breathy with sweet anticipation.

“Yes…what?” he teases, his hand dipping into the water, his fingers grazing my inner thigh, sending shooting stars straight to my core.

“Please,” I moan, fingers capturing my jaw and turning my face so that I’m staring into grey eyes instead of emerald ones.

“Good girl,” Ash praises, and my whole body flushes as he dips his head, placing his lips on mine.

His kiss is languid, a slow torturous teasing of mouth and tongue that soon works me up into a frenzy of need, especially with the combination of Loki’s fingers swirling just around my clit but not quite touching it.

“Ash…Loki,” I beg, my voice a breathless whine, desperation clawing at my centre. “Please.”

“Seeing as you asked so nicely,” Loki replies, slamming two fingers inside me, the heel of his hand hitting my clit. My back arches out of the water, my hands grasping the slippery sides of the tub as pleasure explodes across my closed eyelids.

Ash holds my jaw firm in one hand, deepening the kiss, his tongue plunging into my mouth, somehow in time with Loki’s fingers. I feel a sharp tug on my exposed nipple, and I cry out into Ash’s mouth, but he doesn’t release me, swallowing my moans as he destroys me with his mouth.

“That’s it, baby,” Loki whispers in my ear, voice strained and low as he continues to fuck my pussy with his fingers. “Let us take real good care of you.”

My leg lifts, balancing my foot on the side of the tub so Loki can go deeper, hitting that sweet spot over and over again until I’m a writhing mess. Ash’s hand slips down from my jaw to the top of my neck, tightening his grip so that I’m struggling to take a full breath as he continues to dominate my mouth.

“Come for us, Pretty Girl,” Loki orders, adding a third finger just as Ash pinches my nipple hard.

I scream into Ash’s mouth, my pussy clamping down on Loki’s fingers as wave upon wave of exquisite pleasure rolls over me, lighting me up from the inside. They don’t stop, not until I’m a quivering, twitching mess.

Ash finally releases my mouth with a final gentle kiss, letting go of my nipple at the same time as Loki pulls his fingers out, making me gasp.

“So fucking beautiful, Princess,” Ash says, his eyes hooded and making my cunt pulse.

He stands up, his trousers tented in the most mouthwatering way. I turn as Loki does the same, adjusting himself in his grey sweats as he gets up. Loki leans down, giving me a peck on my kiss swollen lips, before straightening up, and walking back around the bath.

I watch, my brows furrowed as they begin to make their way to the open door.

“What about you guys?” I ask, my voice husky when they start making their way out.

“We’re taking care of you, Princess,” Ash states, looking at me over his shoulder. “Now wash up, and come get something to eat. Early night for you tonight.”

And with that, they walk out, leaving me very much satisfied.