“Hey, who the fuck are you, man?” Ronny demands.
Dorian swiftly spins to face him. “Her roommate. Her suitor. Someone who’s smart enough to fuck her.” He lifts a shoulder. “I’m many things to her. You aren’t.” Slowly, he tilts his head to the side. “In fact, you’renothing.”
Ronny stands from his seat. “What’d you just say to me?”
I can sense the tension radiating from Ronny now. He’s had a few drinks while we’ve been talking. He was already agitated with the wayI handled his bullshit comments about vets, but now he’sextremelyagitated at being talked down to. Dorian is definitely spoiling for a fight, and Ronny just might give it to him. I don’t feel like witnessing a blood bath, so I stand from my seat and step forward, clearing my throat.
“You should go, Dorian,” I say softly. “I’ll settle my tab and drive to the house. I’ll see you there.”
“Bill’s taken care of,” Dorian says mildly. “For youandyour friends.” Slowly, he turns to look at me again. “Let’s go home.” He holds out a hand.
I swallow, giving my head a shake. “I’ll drive myself and meet you there.”
Dorian leans close, until his mouth is right by my ear. “If you don’t come back with me right fucking now, Mira, I’m going to beat that manchild to a bloody pulp. You had your little rebellion, now it’s over, and youarecoming back with me. Understand?”
Shit.
Chapter Thirteen
Dorian doesn’t let me get in my car. Instead, with a hand firmly wrapped around my arm, he takes me to his. Valerie looks like she wants to protest when we leave the bar, but I stop her with a subtle shake of my head. Dorian’s in a dangerous mood right now, and I won’t risk his rage turning on either of my roommates—formerroommates.
I don’t speak in the car, too nervous to say anything to him. Dorian doesn’t try to initiate a conversation, either—not until we park in front of his house. Then, he turns to me and says, “You’re in trouble, Mira. When we get inside, you are going to go directly to my room, where you will wait for your punishment. If you know what’s good for you, you are going to strip naked and wait for me on my bed while I assure my crew that you didnotrun away or try to ask for help.”
I swallow harshly. If Connor or Seamus think that I tried to run or that I talked, I’m once again in serious danger. “I don’t want to be punished.”
Dorian’s eyes harden. “Of course you don’t, but you do need to learn.”
“I told you I was going out,” I say, feeling my brows furrow.
“You said you were going out to dinner with your roommates. You did not say you were going to a shitty dive bar to pick up guys. You didnotsay that you would let another man put his hands on you.”
“Ronny didn’t—”
“Donotsay his name,” Dorian snaps. “I’m barely holding on, Mira. I have patience, but I am not a saint. You’ve tempted my wrath a whole fucking lot tonight. Don’t make it worse for yourself. Go to my room, get naked, wait on the bed.”
“I’mnotgoing to get naked,” I say, growing irritated. “I’m not taking my clothes off. Just because you dislike something I did doesn’t mean you can punish me like an errant schoolgirl. I amnota child, I am anadult, and you’re being unfair.”
“The adult world is unfair,” he seethes. “Life is unfair. You’re tempting my fairness right now.” He inhales a deep breath, nostrils flaring before he opens his door and climbs out.
I stay put. There is no way I am going to follow him into the House of Horrors like a condemned prisoner going to their execution. I’m going to stay right fucking here. Dorian glances at me, shakes his head, and rounds the car to my door. On instinct, I lock it, even though I know the gesture is futile. He releases a puff of laughter, then shakes his head and reaches into his pocket, withdrawing the key FOB to the car. He clicks a button; the car unlocks. Before I can lock it again, he wrenches open the door and leans over me. Ignoring my protests, he snaps off my seatbelt, grabs my arm, and physically drags me out of the car.
“Are you fucking insane?” I demand. “Stop!I didnothingthat deserves a…”
“Punishment? You did. As for insanity,” he cuts off with a chuckle, “you are pushing me phenomenally close to the point of no return. Now, compose yourself.”
I clench my jaw as he steers me into the house. We pass by the living room; Dorian stops when he sees Seamus and Connor seated there, sharing a drink.
Seamus glances over me impassively. “Looks like you found her. Problems?”
“Nope, our guest just needs a clarifications of the rules of this house.”
“You need any supplies?” Connor queries, making me tense. “I have a few toys that could come in handy. Crop, cane, wartenberg pinwheel—”
“No, thank you. I’ll handle it. She wasn’t running or doing anything dangerous, just rebelling in her own way.”
“I was gettingdrinkswith myfriends,”I hiss, coming embarrassingly close to stomping my foot as though I’m a child.
“Not my problem,” Connor says, turning back to Seamus. “Your Dorian’s charge. What he says goes.”
