“I’ve done my time with school, thank you very much,” he chuckled with a shake of his head. There was a reason that he was not an academic. “And you’re a hard worker so I’m sure you can hang in there,” he said, though he knew not everyone was like him and could function with only a few hours of sleep. “It’s an expensive handkerchief, Lottie. I like to take great care of my things.”
“I’ll grab some sugar and another energy drink between classes, that should keep me going,” she laughed and well aware that the Dominant would not approve of the approach. “Fine, I will have your handkerchief dry cleaned and pressed. Would you like it gift wrapped as well?” Looking after your belongings was one thing but this seemed way over the top to her.
Lottie’s words went ignored, Val steered the car past the
stoplight without as much as giving her an indication he’s heard her sudden
input.
He put out the engine one street off Lottie’s address. Valentine reached over
pulling the door open at her side: “You’re in some deep shit, Charlotte. Think about
going a different way with your life. Go on now. We’ll keep in touch.”
Lottie’s anxiety levels were rising as he got closer to her home. No doubt there was any number of people all too willing to tell Oz or Spencer that she had been dropped off by the commander and turn up the pressure on her. Surprisingly that didn’t seem to be his aim and he stopped far enough away that she could slip away hopefully unnoticed.
Holding her breath as he leaned over she let it out again as he opened her door and she moved to undo her belt. His words made her body tense again and she wanted to point out just how good she was at what she did – but since that would get her in more trouble she just let the words hang as she reached for her bag. Climbing out of the car she leaned back in for a second. “Fuck you,” she spat out before slamming the door and walking away without a backward glance though her heart was racing.
The blonde could not even recall what she was doing when the alarm went off. One moment bled into the other as everyone crowded towards the exits. Her heart was still beating far too fast. “Thank goodness.” Daniella looked down at her leg, scrunching her face up at the damage. She hadn’t thought that it could be that bad until she looked at it. “I suppose you are right. Stay safe. We don’t know what else might have happened.”
“Yeah, you too,”Lottie nodded as she turned to head the direction of home and left the other woman to get her leg assessed.
Jim knew that the smart thing to do would be to take another couple days to relax and let his back start to heal. But he’d already started to go a little stir crazy, so instead he’d started to make a slow journey through some of the Montague properties, checking for anything that might present a risk to his family in any way. Which of course meant that near the end of the day, his back had started to hurt worse and worse. When he walked into the bar to get a drink to numb the pain, he expected to be alone, but the familiar voice had him turning sharply before wincing. “Feel like shit and I need a drink. You?”
“Similar although not in pain. It’s been a shit day though,” she remarked with a shrug. “What do you want? It’s on me. I never did get a chance to thank you for getting me out of the fire.” Letting him order she asked for another herself, knocking back what was left in her glass with a grimace at the burn. “Do you want to grab a seat and I’ll bring these over or would you rather I leave you in peace?”
Bast dropped his face into his hands, laughing. “Oh my god. This might actually be a good idea. I wonder if I can get them to write my dissertation while I’m at it.”
“Hmm, I think for that you would need to run a few more tests. I mean who can bring you the best coffee or pastry is not quite the same as who can carry out research for you. That’s probably a very niche group indeed.”
“My pride is wounded, Lottie, and now I’m reconsidering whether or not to vouch for you,” he chuckled with a small smirk. “Ah, yes, going to class simply because there is nothing else better to do. What a shame it is to try and gain an education,” he teased. He glanced at the dripping handkerchief in the submissive’s hand. “I would appreciate that if you could. If not, I can simply have it dry-cleaned and pressed.”
Lottie went to stick out her tongue in jest but thought the better of it at the last moment so just pulled a face. “You try sitting through pages of chemical bonds and their varying reactions when you’ve only slept for four hours, it’s hard work.” She scrunched up her nose, “It’s a handkerchief, you wouldn’t seriously have it dry cleaned. It would be cheaper to buy you a new one!”
Rosaline grinned with a chuckle and she thanked Lottie for the gift before diving into the gift bag to see what was in it. “Ohhh is this for us to have when we inevitably get thrown out?” She asked, her smirk growing ever wider. “I didn’t know it was a requirement until it was pinned on me but I’m definitely not complaining.” She draped an arm around her friend’s shoulders and turned her slightly, gesturing towards a large gaggle of people which consisted mainly of her family. “You’ll have to present your ohh soo sophisticated excuse to them and they’ll decide if you get a pass for the night.”
“Hmm, well I suppose I could talk chemical nerdy theories to you, it doesn’t specify what type of nerdiness,” Lottie laughed. She looked around at the crowd who were clearly all with Rosaline, “No Tru? She must really trust you if she’s letting you out alone with so many shots around?”
“You’re not wrong,” he agreed, especially as someone who did not sleep much himself. “Respectable? Such high praise from you. I need to remember this moment,” he joked with a small chuckle. “But we should get you back to class soon. I don’t think Oz would appreciate you skipping, either.”
“Oh I would, write it in your diary as a red letter day indeed,” she agreed with a smirk. “And I can go with old if you don’t approve of respectable!” Shaking her head slightly she gave a dry laugh, “I can’t imagine Oz would particularly care if I miss one or two classes but I have nothing else to do this afternoon.” She pulled out the now wet and sticky hankie, “Would you like me to wash it for you? I won’t iron it back to your beautiful corners but I can at least get it clean.”
He nodded as she continued to dig through her bag to find the source of the leaking. When she retrieved the dripping energy drink, he chuckled softly. “Those aren’t good for you, but I’m glad your phone and wallet is unharmed.” Checking his watch briefly, he frowned. “Do you have class right now, Lottie?”
“Neither is lack of sleep,” she muttered, rolling her eyes at his comment as she continued to clean up her bag. Her head snapped up at his question. Glancing at her own watch she shrugged, “I can be a few minutes late. Especially since I have a legitimate excuse and a respectable Dominant to vouch for me.”
Lottie's wild adventure 