CHAPTER 5- THE RULES

Chapter 5 – The Rules

Maya

I woke up still feeling them.

The dull ache between my legs. The faint sting on my ass. The memory of both of them inside me at the same time. I stared at the ceiling and tried to breathe normally.

My phone lit up the second I reached for it.

Noah: How sore are you?

Theo: Be honest.

I hesitated, then typed.

Me: Very.

Noah: Good. Stay that way.

Theo: We’re giving you today. Rest that cunt. Tomorrow we won’t be gentle.

I locked the phone and pressed it against my chest. Part of me wanted to feel relieved. The bigger part of me already felt restless.

Lila was still asleep when I slipped out of the room. I showered longer than necessary, dressed in the loosest clothes I owned, and left the dorm before she woke up. I didn’t want questions.

Campus was quieter than usual. I grabbed coffee and sat on a bench far from the main paths, trying to clear my head. Every time I shifted I felt the lingering soreness. Every time I closed my eyes I saw the way they had looked at me while they used me.

Around midday I forced myself to the dining hall. I kept my head down, grabbed a tray, and found a seat in the corner. I had only taken two bites when a shadow fell across the table.

Lila slid into the chair opposite me, eyes sharp.

“People are talking,” she said under her breath.

My stomach dropped. “About what?”

“You. And Noah Kane. And Theo Blackwell.” She leaned in. “Is it true you’ve been hanging around both of them?”

I kept my face blank. “We’ve talked a couple times.”

She studied me for a long second, then sighed. “Just be careful, okay? Those two don’t do normal.”

I nodded, even though careful had stopped being an option days ago.

The rest of the day passed in fragments. I walked aimlessly. I sat in an empty courtyard and tried to read. I ignored three messages from my group project chat. My phone stayed heavy in my pocket, waiting.

At 6:47 p.m. it finally lit up with their names.

Noah: Rare books room. Now.

I stared at the message for a full ten seconds. Then I stood up and walked.

They were already inside when I slipped through the door. Noah leaned against the heavy table, arms crossed. Theo stood by the window. The lock clicked behind me.

Noah spoke first. “People are talking.”

“I know.”

“Does it bother you?”

“I can’t afford rumors,” I said. “My scholarship—”

“Your scholarship is fine.” His voice was quiet and absolute. “If it becomes a problem, I’ll handle it.”

Theo walked closer. “We’re not hiding you. But we’re not putting you on display either. You belong to us. That’s private until we decide otherwise.”

I swallowed. “And if I want to stop?”

Noah’s eyes darkened. “Do you?”

The silence stretched.

“No,” I whispered.

Something satisfied moved through both their expressions.

Noah stepped into my space. “New rules. When we text, you come. When we want you, you make yourself available. You don’t get to disappear. You don’t get to pretend this isn’t happening. Clear?”

“Clear.”

Theo’s hand brushed my lower back, light but possessive. “Good girl. Go back to your dorm. Rest. Tomorrow we start teaching you how to take both of us properly.”

Noah’s gaze dropped to my mouth. “And Maya? Next time you try to negotiate, we won’t be this patient.”

They left me standing in the rare books room with my heart slamming and heat already building between my legs.

I walked back to East Hall in a daze. Lila was on a video call when I came in. She glanced at me, raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

I sat on my bed, phone in my hand, and waited.

A final message came through.

Noah: Sleep well. You’ll need it.

I locked the screen, lay back, and stared at the ceiling.

Tomorrow was coming whether I was ready or not.

And part of me was already aching for it.