Westminster Academy (Part One)

twenty-four

"If you ever disrespect Azalea again, God have mercy on you."

I was speechless. And so was Miles, according to the silence that followed. I leaned against the lockers in the hallway, not ashamed that I had just listened to a conversation that had not been meant for my ears, and was completely stunned.

The fact that this was how Henry talked about me behind my back made me want to cry. Apparently, I had totally underestimated how committed he was to me and our relationship.

For him I was more than just the submissive he claimed, the trophy he could show off. He respected me deeply, enough to stand up for me in front of his friends. Or ex friends. I doubted that Miles would talk to him ever again. And Henry had willingly sacrificed a friendship and risked his reputation to defend me.

Crazy.

I was so immersed in my affection and admiration for him that I didn't realise the talk was over. There had been silence for a while and I presumed that Miles had left without saying another word. Which meant that Henry must be...

"Didn't I tell you to go?"

...on his way to me.

My heart jumped when he turned the corner and towered over me all of a sudden.

"Y-yeah?" I stuttered. "I didn't mean to..."

"How much did you hear?"

Henry seemed enraged. It had probably cost him lots of self control to stay so calm and composed in Miles' presence. I didn't blame him.

"Not much" I said hesitantly.

"How much is not much?"

"Everything..." I admitted, biting my lip.

Henry sighed. I could see the tension in his muscles, still clenched with anger. But his gaze rested on me, and when I met this eyes, they softened.

Looking him in the eye after hearing him defend me so passionately, I felt myself fall.

For him.

It was a slow, warm realisation that grew hotter and hotter. I was falling in love with Henry Craven. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"Thank you for...the things you said" I whispered, holding eye contact.

"Don't thank me for having your back, ace" he replied and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's the bare minimum."

We were barely one foot apart. His scent seemed to be fogging my senses, I felt blurry and like parts of me were boiling with heat.

"I should take you over my knee for eavesdropping" Henry murmured, his voice raspy.

"And why don't you, sir?" I asked innocently.

Henry's gaze dropped from my eyes to my lips. He glanced back up, as if to check whether he had my permission. I could feel my eyes sparkle with cheek and desire.

"You're a brat" Henry stated, smirked and grabbed my throat.

His lips were on mine before I could have another thought.

Henry pinned me to the lockers, one hand on my waist, the other still wrapped around my neck. And God that man knew how to kiss. His lips were gentle but firm at the same time, leading me through the kiss with ease. It was passionate, yet effortless and I let myself melt into him without a single doubt.

It was my first kiss, I had no idea what I was doing. But somehow, Henry made me feel like it was totally natural to be this intimate, and like I could just relax into him. His lips and my intuition were all I needed.

The sparks of desire immediately found their way further down my body, and if we weren't standing in the middle of the hallway, where students could walk by literally any second, I would have wished for more. More kissing, more touching, just more.

My procreative instincts are working.

Henry broke the kiss and let go of my throat. I caught my breath, my cheeks flushed and my body vibrating with heat. Henry looked like he was barely able to keep himself from doing it again, immediately.

I wouldn't mind...

His eyes wandered over my face and an amused smile appeared on his lips.

"You okay, ace?"

"Yeah, fine" I replied, sounding very not convincing. Henry chuckled.

"So...that's kissing" I said when I had cooled down a bit.

He frowned. "You've never been kissed before?"

"I've never let anyone."

"This just now was your first kiss?"

"Yep."

I could see his eyes lighten up with pride. "I'm honoured."

I laughed. "Don't flatter yourself. Someone had to be the first."

It was meant as a mocking joke, the kind that we always made. But Henry's expression froze, the happiness from a second ago cooled down drastically.

"Relax, it was just a-"

He shut me up with another kiss. But this one was different. It was harder, more forceful, and so fast that I could barely keep up. Almost violent, like he was punishing me with his lips, delivering discipline just through a kiss.

The hand on my waist turned into a firm grip, holding me in place. This was neither sweet nor gentle. And it was a huge turn on.

Just as the tension in my abdomen became unbearable, Henry drew back and ripped his lips from mine. His grey eyes bore into me with such dominance that I struggled to hold his gaze.

"I am not someone" he growled. "Those pretty lips of yours are mine, am I clear?"

I couldn't help a smile.

"A bit possessive, aren't you?"

"Answer my question, Azalea." Henry said, sternly. "Those lips belong to me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir" I replied, enjoying it to the fullest.

"Do you need another reminder?"

I raised my eyebrows. "I think we've already strained our luck enough. Someone will walk by."

Henry smirked. "Do I look like I care?"

I stared at him in disbelief. This...animalistic side of him was new.

"Let them walk by and watch me kiss my girl."

He didn't waste time to prove just how much I was indeed his girl.