Captured: Highgate Preparatory Academy, Book 1

Seething at Asher’s rudeness, I slam my holdall down on the counter just as I hear the braying laugh of Loki from the other side of the door, and I smile to myself. One point to me, zero to twatwaffle. I start to rummage in my bag. Bingo! You see, I may have a slight addiction to lingerie. If it’s lacy and racy, I’ve got to have it!

I’ll ease them in gently, I think, pulling out a dusky rose silk teddy with black lace trim, that luckily is dry. I slip it on, a small moan of pleasure at the feel of the silk sliding across my body escaping my lips. Towelling dry my hair then finger combing it, I look in the mirror. A smirk curves my lips, and I jut my chin out as a puffed-up feeling radiates through me. My hazel eyes are sparkling, full of mischief.

I can hear faint talking as I open the door, leaving my bag where it is because fuck Ash, he can move it if he doesn’t like it. When I step out, I see they’re all lounging on the sofas. Four pairs of jewelled eyes snap to me, and the flare of heat that enters each pair is enough to rival the burning embers in the fireplace. They watch like hawks, I swear they’re not even breathing, as I sashay out of the bathroom and cross to the stairs.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Asher’s voice cracks over me, although there’s definitely an edge of arousal to his tone. Arsehole, or should I say Ash-hole, snort.

I pause on the bottom step, twisting my upper body slightly and looking at him over my shoulder.

“You said I couldn’t have my room.” His right eyebrow raises. “So, I figured I would sleep in someone else’s,” I say, wide-eyed. My pulse picks up and I bounce slightly on my feet, adrenaline surging through me.

I look at Loki. “May I share your bed for the night?” I ask, batting my eyelashes, my voice breathy.

It comes out huskier than I’d intended, my mouth a little dry. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t a bit excited about snuggling up to the sinful angel. I’m also not ashamed to admit a breath of relief at the idea of not sleeping alone. I’ve struggled to sleep a whole night through since—nope! Still not going there!

He jumps over the back of the sofa he’s sitting on, like a fire has just been lit under his arse, and beams as he walks towards me.

“Always happy to lend a hand to a damsel in distress.” He smiles. “Or a tongue…or cock…” he adds, lowering his voice, and flashing me such a panty melting smile that has my thighs instantly clenching.

“Loki…” Asher warns, voice deep and stern, like the cockblocker he is.

Loki shrugs, in a ‘what can I do’ way.

“Ash, dude. She’s right, ya know. You did say she couldn’t sleep in that room. Nothing about sleeping in one of ours…”

Asher, or Ash, growls low, and fuck me if I don’t clench my thighs a little tighter. Loki notices and smirks. Wanker.

Loki turns away with a shit-eating grin on his face, swaggering ahead of me, and I let out a gasp of surprise. On his back, he has an incredible inked angel, who is down on one knee, head bowed over crossed arms, and hands resting on his knee. His folded wings cover both of Loki’s shoulders, curling over with an air of such desolation that my heart fractures in my chest like ice on a lake in spring.

He really is a fallen angel.

As I follow the wings that cascade down his body, I notice broken feathers littering his lower back. I can’t help myself, I reach out and trace my fingers along those broken wings, causing Loki to pause, and a slight shiver to travel across his skin.

He doesn’t say anything but turns back round to me, my fingers falling away, and the pain and sorrow that’s in his green eyes makes my own fill with moisture, and my heart cracks even more.

We stay like that for a few moments, gazes locked and filled with hurt. Then he, once again, turns away from me and treads up the stairs. There’s an ache in my chest as I watch him.

I follow him up, my steps heavier than before. Once we reach the top, there’s a hallway with one door at the end and two on either side, so five in total. As we pass the first door on the right, I notice a little brass plaque on it, with a name, Jax Griffiths, engraved onto it. I see the other doors all have plaques with the guys’ names on it as well, except for the one opposite Loki’s which has nothing at all.

Well, that’s useful to know who is where.

As Loki reaches for the brass doorknob, he looks at me over his shoulder. His eyes rake slowly up and down my silk clad body, causing my nipples to pebble, even though these dorms are toasty warm. The emerald colour of his gaze shines and sparkles as he takes in my hardened nubs, and a feline grin spreads across his lips.

“I sure hope you know what you’re doing, Pretty Girl,” he states in his low, smooth as honey voice.

I swallow hard and audibly, and his eyes flash to my throat, the flame in his gaze getting hotter.

You can do this, Lilly, I repeat to myself. Take the comfort that’s offered. Numb the pain for a little while.

With that thought, I throw my shoulders back, putting my best breasts forward, lols.

“You gonna let me in or what, Angel?” I sass, one brow raised.

Loki throws his head back and crows with laughter.

“I think you’ll do just fine here, Pretty Girl.” He grins, looking at me appreciatively once again, then turns to open his door. He stays in the doorway, one arm held out, indicating I go ahead like a real gentleman.

“Mi casa es su casa. What’s mine is all yours, Darlin’.” He tells me, waggling his damn eyebrows like some sort of old man comedian.

I chuckle, relieving some of the sexual tension, and any lingering apprehension that was threatening to drown me.

As I pass him in the doorway, I’m suddenly engulfed once again with his warm vanilla scent when I take in a deep breath, and I can feel the heat from his delicious body all down my side.

I mentally lament my hardened nipples that are practically screaming for that delectable tongue of his to sweep across them. I’m smuggling fucking peanuts here!

Bloody hell, Lilly! How many fucking times do we need to drag your head out of that gutter? You may as well take up residence there at this rate!

I take another deep breath in a bid to calm myself down and look round the room, trying to distract my mind from fallen angels and the oblivion that their clever tongues can give.

His room is tastefully decorated in navy and cream with dark wood furniture. The walls are covered with a floral patterned wallpaper in the same colours, which should look feminine, but doesn’t.

Wait, is that fucking fabric on the walls? I shake my head at the pretentiousness of it.

Opposite the door, there are floor-to-ceiling curtains in a sumptuous navy velvet that are drawn against the dark storm that is raging outside. To the right, sitting against the wall is a large dark wood desk, topped with navy leather and one of those industrial looking lamps. There’s a comfy navy blue leather desk chair in front of it.

Next to that is a huge, dark wood wardrobe with a mirror in the door. I can see the reflection of what must be the biggest bed in Christendom. My head jerks to the left to look at it in the flesh.

Devil’s teeth!

The wooden frame is dark, mahogany maybe, and it’s got huge, thickly carved wooden posts draped in what must be silk curtains given the shine, which have the same pattern that the walls do.

Definitely silk on the walls then, I inwardly scoff. The bed is covered in navy and cream bedding, which is all deliciously rumpled like it wasn’t vacated long ago.

He steps up behind me, so close I can feel the heat of his body warming my back like a furnace and I can’t help leaning into the heat. A split second later, hot, sweet breath whispers in my ear.

“Like what you see?” His voice sends shivers of desperate longing down my spine, causing a cascade of tingles to trail to my extremities, right down to the tips of my toes.

Hello, nipples. Long time no see. Not.

“Pretty Girl, I’m hoping you weren’t joking back there in front of the others. You’re wrapped up so nicely, like a present just for me,” he murmurs softly, still not touching me. I can’t say a thing, my breath caught in my chest. I’m utterly under his spell.

“I’m very good at sharing; generous, too,” he says breathily, as his finger finally makes contact and plays with the back of my waistband, leaving my nerve endings tingling. The digit then drops down to the black lacy hem, causing a soft moan to escape my lips and my eyes to close, revelling in his touch.

“You’d look exquisite on my bed, and I’d bet you come so prettily all over my sheets,” he purrs against my ear, his voice like dark chocolate, decadent and sinful. “Can I make you come, baby? Can I touch you?”

I never knew the meaning of insta-lust until now. I mean, sure, I’ve seen guys that make my breath hitch a little, but the way Loki is speaking to me, touching me, I want to give him permission to do all the bad naughty things to me his heart desires. And I don’t care what his motives are, or why he wants me so badly. I just need him not to stop.

“Yes,” I beg, trembling, my legs slightly parting. I’m unable to stop this exquisite torture, even though I know I should. For fuck’s sake, I’ve only just met the guy!

He steps closer, eliminating any distance between his front and my back, and I gasp at the contact, at the sudden hardness between us. His finger reaches round to the front of my knickers, slowly sliding underneath the silk, and he discovers just how wet I am. A low moan escapes my lips, my hand wrapping round his wrist tightly and holding on for dear life.

A deep groan leaves his luscious lips. Lips that have started to nibble my earlobe, causing me to burn hot with need, and desperate shivers to wrack my body. My head falls to the side to allow him better access.

“Such a good girl, so responsive,” he praises as his fingers slide along my wet heat, fire radiating from his touch and my hips buck seeking more contact. “Look how wet you are for me already.”

His other hand comes round my waist, supporting me as his fingers find my clit. I whimper in his arms, my unoccupied arm reaching up behind me and pulling him closer by his neck.

But I’m powerless, a slave to his clever, beautiful fingers as they play me like an instrument. A throaty moan leaves me as he continues to thrum the bundle of nerves, driving me fucking wild, and sending waves of exquisite pleasure rolling over my body. My fingers find his thick hair, tangling in it. I can’t keep my eyes open, the pleasure is too intense.

Fuck.

“When you come, Pretty Girl,” he whispers, kissing my neck, “you’re going to scream my name in that sexy British accent of yours, aren’t you?”

He pauses, and his hand stills too, waiting, tormenting me with its inactivity.

“Yes,” I part groan, part whisper. “Please.”

I’m beyond caring that I’m begging this beautiful stranger, my hips thrusting forward and my hand round his wrist gripping so tightly I’m amazed that I haven’t cut off the blood flow.

“Please, what?” he taunts, still not moving his fucking fingers.

“Please, Loki!” I cry baring my teeth.

“Good girl.”

I hear the smirk in his voice for a second until he slams two fingers inside me whilst the heel of his hand grinds into my clit. He crooks his fingers in a come-hither motion, and my knees buckle, his other arm banding round my waist to keep me upright.

I. Fucking. Shatter.

And of course, I’m screaming his name as I fracture into a thousand pieces and am scattered to the four winds.

ASH

“Loki!!!”

We all hear her scream her release. I bet the fucker didn’t even shut his door. Asshole.

I’m not the only one who adjusts himself, gritting my teeth hard enough to crack, and trying to pretend that I’m not painfully hard.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, damp from the shower, hair dripping and covered in my scent, her towel clinging to all those mouth watering curves…fuck me, I almost came in my pants like an inexperienced kid.

Her pixie features have an innocent yet wicked naughtiness about them, like a succubus who fucks you with a beautiful smile while draining the life out of you. The fact that she’s shorter than us, even Kai, by a few inches, just adds to her harmless fairy vibe. Though clearly, she’s got some fight in her and a tongue as sharp as a knife. My dick twitches at that thought, leaving me mentally cursing.

Jax’s rumble is like thunder, and Kai is the shade of a ripe tomato. I let out a growl, my fists tight, and fingernails biting into my palms. Yet at the same time, my mind imagines me in Loki’s place, making her scream my name instead of his.

Goddammit!

“Do you think…” Kai stutters, looking up at me with wide eyes full of longing and blown with lust, glancing up from the iPad he’s been busily tapping away on. That thing is fucking stuck to his hand, and I swear he even sleeps with it. Lucky for us, as he’s our tech guy and can find out anything we need to know.

Jesus fucking Christ, the siren has us all in her thrall. She needs to be gone, pronto!

“What?!” I snap at him, instantly feeling my stomach knot with regret at my harsh tone.

These guys are like my brothers. We’ve known each other our whole lives, our parents forcing us together at every turn from the moment we were born, our intertwined destinies carved in stone.

But joke’s on them, because we chose each other early on by becoming closer than family, our bond stronger than anything that blood dictates. We became each others’ support, a part of our very souls melding until we were several parts of a whole. We’ve been through the fires of Hell together and are still traveling through the scorching depths. I would do anything for these guys. I have done everything for them, sold my soul to the devil to keep them at least a little free from the blackness that eats away at me.

As leader of our group, it’s my job to make the hard decisions, to take the punishments when things go wrong. I’ve taken beatings meant for them, and I’d take them a thousand times over if it keeps them safe.

Kai looks me in the eye, raising his chin. Good, he’s come a long way from the shy, scared kid he used to be thanks to his fucking cunt of an uncle. He clears his throat.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to, you know, let her sleep in there…with him?” he asks, his eyes traveling back towards the stairs.

I growl again, and for an instant, I almost wince, feeling a twinge of regret at my choice to deny her a room. Then I remember the reason why she can’t be in there, and the feeling passes, leaving a taste of ash in my mouth and making my hard-on soften.

“I’ll speak to the administration tomorrow,” I scowl.

I rule this fucking place just like my father before me, and they’ll bend over backwards to do as I say. No one wants to piss me off.

Except a certain pixie faced, hazel eyed brunette…

I look back at Kai, my brow furrowing and my muscles tingling with tightness.

“What do we know about her?” I demand, rolling my neck in a bid to ease the tension in my shoulders.

“Not much…” he sighs and looks down to the screen. “I can’t seem to find much intel on her. Her application mentions a mother, Laura Darling, now deceased, and that she’s British and lives, or I supposed lived, in Islington, London. She’s seventeen, eighteen in May.” He looks up at me again, pushing his glasses back up his nose, a frown on his face.

“And her father?” I question.

“No one listed on the birth certificate,” Kai muses, gazing back down. “Although, it seems she was adopted by her uncle after her mother’s death. A Mr Adrian Ramsey,” he adds.

“And what do we know about Mr Ramsey?” I prod, my lips pinching at the lack of information on our little British flower.

“Mr Adrian Ramsey, billionaire recluse who lives in the wilds of Wiltshire near Stonehenge,” Kai reads. “Not much is known about him, or his fortune, although we do know he’s one of the world’s richest bachelors. According to urban myth, he was involved in a huge scandal in his younger days, but no one knows what, and had his heart broken which caused him to shut himself away in his glorious mansion, never to emerge and never to love again.” Kai makes a sound in the back of his throat. “Fucking gossip writers, vultures all of them,” he mutters.

“And that’s it?” I ask, my mind scrambling to understand how there could be nothing else.

“Oh, hang on…” Kai says, sitting up. “Here’s a newspaper article on her mother’s death, which happened in February this year.” His eyes scan the screen rapidly, his face going deathly pale as he reads.

“What?” Jax asks in that gruff voice of his, obviously noticing Kai’s pallor.

Gulping, Kai looks up at us, eyes wide and full of horror.

“It says that her mother died in an aggravated burglary gone wrong. Apparently, she was stabbed forty-seven times. Culprit unknown.”

“Jesus,” I whisper, my hand rubbing over my mouth.

“That’s not all,” he rasps. He looks sick. “Lilly found her when she came home from shopping with friends.”

“Fuck!” Jax growls, punching the cushion next to him.

“Anything else?” I ask, a cool calmness descending over me until I become what everyone calls me, The Ice Knight.

“There’s a police report. It confirms that the culprit has never been found; it’s an open case…” he trails off, curses, then drops the iPad on the rug like it’s burnt him.

On the screen is what I recognize as a police photograph of the crime scene, showing a pile of butchered meat, in a pool of blood, with a face incredibly similar to Lilly’s. It’s the only thing that’s recognizable…It’s what Lilly came home to.

Fucking Hell.

The ice surrounding me cracks a little as I sit there, staring at what used to be Lilly’s mom.

“That’s it,” he sighs, taking his glasses off and rubbing his own hand across his face.

Taking a deep breath, I look up at them. My brothers in all but blood.

“This doesn’t change anything,” I coldly say. “She can’t stay here. She doesn’t belong here. And we need more intel, Kai. So see what you can dig up about the uncle.” Kai nods then bends to pick up his iPad. “It’s all too fucking mysterious for my liking,” I finish, the black wings of panic at all the unknowns fluttering in my peripheral vision.

There’s a mystery here, and I fucking hate mysteries. Who the fuck is Adrian Ramsey? And how the fuck do we know nothing about him?

But most importantly, who is Lilly Darling?