Vile Heart (Vicious Valentine)

Chapter 5

5

D avian still couldn’t believe it.

Camren had barged back into his life as if nothing had happened two years ago. As if their previous lives hadn’t just completely vanished, taking all those precious moments they’d lived before in its wake.

Leaving Davian struggling for himself.

He’d done that. Davian was fully aware of that. He’d thrown Cam out of his life, had been so shell-shocked when his best friend had reached out to him and had propositioned him…

What? A relationship? Davian scoffed into the silence of the corridors. A guy like Camren Ryka wouldn’t do relationships. He’d simply fuck. He was realistic enough to understand that wasn’t an offer that had been on the table back then.

But he’d wanted it. With his entire existence, he’d wanted Cam. His hero, his safe haven, his best friend.

As my best friend, you are my second self.

Those words. When Cam had sprinkled them over his infatuated self? They’d meant the world to him. But rare beauty like that didn’t exist, Davian had learned that a long time ago. And with the influential Ryka family paying his tuition fee, Davian’s entire family had looked up to him. Poor kid making it big. He couldn’t afford to screw up.

Times had been rough over the past years, their family business barely surviving. Being hungry had become second nature, much like the ice-cold temperature the Mink’s residence was blanketed in, when heating bills hadn’t been paid in time. His parents bickered a lot, and threats and shouts had left their mark on the sense of safety Davian felt at home. He felt lonely, most of the time. Even when he was surrounded by family.

And now, two years after he’d refused Cam’s romantic advances, his former best friend was back, more determined and more dangerous to him than ever. Because Davian had slipped up. Cam was right—he had called out for him. But there was a big difference between hoping that Cam would save him, and the Black Hart showing up. What’s worse was the Black Hart knowing that Davian wanted to be saved.

During Preada.

Davian walked aimlessly around college, with absolutely no intention of going to Cam’s favorite place, the sports hall. He’d left the party behind but wasn’t sure where he was heading. He shouldn’t give in this easily, despite Cam’s threats. It would make him look desperate. Weak.

It was the truth though. He felt vulnerable. Tired of fighting on his own.

The earlier events played through his mind like a broken record. In a black and crimson red, with that inky-black heart pinned to his chest, the light reflecting in those almond eyes, Camren had looked sinfully handsome. The way his arms had wrapped around Davian’s hips, pressing their bodies together. Davian blew out a heavy breath, ignoring how his body thrummed with heat, the recollection enough to make his cock lengthen in his pants.

This was madness, yet there it was, knocking at his door, because of him. Regret smothered his aching heart. He should have never let things go that far, destroying their family’s future like that. But truly, their chances had become slim years ago, when Usurn founders had introduced the mass stores. Their parents never were true competition, and though they’d never wanted to admit it, they’d been overrun by the wealth. Per usual.

A surge of anger rolled through his stomach. He should stop this madness. He shouldn’t crawl back to Cam. He should grab Jaro instead and go home. They’d managed these past two years. He should fucking forget Camren Ryka and admit that he’d let the store go bankrupt.

He was in love with a Black Hart.

The admittance tasted bitter on his tongue. Much like the fear that went hand in hand.

He’d done the right thing by kicking Cam out of his life, he knew he had. The Ryka family controlled his life. When they had proposed to pay his tuition fee, Davian had been so excited to follow Cam to college. Never in a million lightyears would he have thought that he’d be going to study at the university. They only differed one year, and during those first months of their time here, life had been as usual. They’d spend every free moment together. Playing judo, gaming, or just hanging out. Cam’s carefree, wicked character never failed to balance out Davian’s hesitant, serious nature. He would have become a nerd of the same caliber as Jaro had it not been for his best friend.

But then, one evening in December, after a marathon of playing video games in their pyjamas while eating pizza-as-much-as-you-can-eat, the lines had blurred. Davian had often wondered afterward if he’d done something to provoke Camren. He didn’t think so, but couldn’t be sure. With time, the memory had blurred into something that had never happened, but that had kept him up many a night, furiously jerking off.

That night, when they’d been sprawled on Camren’s king-size bed, controllers in hand, holo screen lit up with both their games, Davian had felt so fucking good.

And then Cam had fucked everything up by kissing him.

Davian stopped and looked around. He’d been so lost in his thoughts, that he hadn’t realized where his feet had taken him.

To the sports wing. It was one of the largest departments of the college, with many different fields and pools, both indoor and outdoor.

His multi-slate dinged, the holo screen showing Galya’s face. “Babe, come and join me in the judo room?”

“The judo room?” Davian frowned. “Why would you be there?”

She flashed a smile. “I’ll show you when you get here.”

“Uhm—” He hesitated. Cam’s favorite building on campus had always been the sports wing. And he’d told Davian to meet him here. What were the odds of walking into him? He didn’t want that, right? He’d told himself he’d go home. His chest clenched at the thought. Still, what the hell would she be there? “Is it empty?” He asked instead.

She giggled. “Aside from me, yes.”

“Okay, yes, sure.” His mind rattled. “It’s just that I’m not sure we’re allowed in there tonight.”

Liar. He squeezed his eyes shut, shame burning his insides.

“No one’s here, babe. Besides, I can lock the door. Come.” She winked, crooking her finger.

They had only been together for a few weeks, but aside from a few kisses, they hadn’t exchanged any heated moments. Good Light, he couldn’t even get his dick up when she touched him. She’d never mentioned anything, but he knew she knew. And it was embarrassing.

Did she want to try again?

The fact that she had to show initiative, made him feel like such a loser.

Entering the sports wing, he could blindly find his way to the judo spaces. How often had they not wrestled here? But Cam wasn’t here. Davian tried to suppress that awful feeling of disappointment.

His favorite place on campus might have changed over the past years. Times had changed. Those were his own words. Even though they hurt.

“Galya?” He called as he made his way through the corridor. On his right were multiple practice rooms, the left was reserved for the changing rooms.

“In room three!” She called out.

Pushing open the door to the room, he was met by emptiness. And a chair, set in the middle. “I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I love your creativity, don’t get me wrong. I’m just not sure if I’m ready to take things further.” He winced at his own words. That sounded awful. Swirling around, his gaze searched for her fiery hair. “Galya? You here?”

The door slammed shut behind him. When he spun around, he found himself face to face with a beast of a man, dressed in a black suit.

“Who are you?” Davian asked.

“You know who I am.” The man nudged his chin to where the chair stood. “There are two ways we can do this. Either I drag you to that chair or you go and sit your ass down. Which one’s it going to be?”

Davian’s jaw clenched as he took in the room once more. “She’s not here, is she?” He huffed at the silence that followed. “Of course. I’m too stupid for my own good. So what’s going to happen now?” He stalked toward the chair, sure to keep his head held high. The situation was nerve-wracking, but he wouldn’t show anything. He plopped down onto the chair. “See? Here I am? Now what?”

“Now—” Ropes were pulled out of his pockets, “I’m going to tie you up.”

Now that…Davian’s heart sped up. That was downright terrifying.

“No one's going to get hurt. It’s Cor Night, remember? Spread your legs.”

Davian obeyed, dumbfounded. Should he fight the big guy? “She texted me, you know. She was going to be here.”

“And she will be,” was all he got.

Davian fumbled with his emotions as he watched the big guy tie him up. “Just don’t leave me here, okay?”

“There. Finished.” A flash of a smile, then he walked away.

Davian had to fight the panic that surged through his insides. He bit his lower lip, but it didn’t stop the bitter taste of fear filling his mouth. His breathing sped up and then…the lights went out.

Davian’s eyes furiously blinked as he gazed around the black air. “Calm down,” he muttered. He knew this place. He’d worked out countless times in the judo rooms. But the place felt different in the pitch dark. Especially when tied up. His multi-slate dinged, but his wrist was tucked behind the chair. Jaro…his cousin would search for him. He’d find him. They’d have a big laugh and head back home. Swipe up the scatters of destruction he’d caused. Forget about the past. Forget about…

Footsteps.

Davian scrunched his eyes while his mind tried to focus. Where did they come from? They were light and fast. No…he bit his bottom lip in concentration. They were heavy. There were multiple footsteps. That guard probably.

“H-hello?”

“Davian.” A soft hand brushed his hair.

“Galya?” Davian released his breath in relief, blabbering, “fuck, you really scared the shit out of me. Why is it so dark in here? Who’s the guy who tied me up? You know how scared I am of the darkness.”

Fingers ran over his shoulder down his chest, then disappeared back into the darkness.

Davian blinked in confusion. “Galya? Babe?”

“Don’t worry.” She sounded too far away.

“What do you mean, don’t worry? Where are you going?” Davian threshed in the chair, but the rope didn’t give way.

The click of the closing door created a deafening sound in his head.

This had all been a game. It was Cor Night, after all. How had Cam bribed his girlfriend so easily? Davian signed. Everything was easy for a Black Hart. Now he had another problem. Slowly reality kicked in. He sat tied up on a chair in the darkness. And he wasn’t alone.

“Is that you?” He whispered.

Fingertips trailed down from his forehead to his cheeks, lingering where they traced the shape of his lips. Davian opened his mouth, but the fingers moved away, continuing their soft perusal down his chin. He swallowed, and the caress followed the bobbing of his throat. “I shouldn’t,” he muttered to himself, voice sounding unnaturally hoarse. “Fuck, I really shouldn’t—” His breath hitched when those fingers tweaked a nipple through the thin material of his white shirt.

Another pair of fingers stroked his other nipple, and Davian tilted his head back and groaned. His pants tightened uncomfortably as blood rushed south. He stared up into the darkness when those fingertips started unbuttoning his shirt, caressing the naked skin of his lower abdomen. “Is that you?” He tried again. The fingers had reached his pants. “I shouldn’t want this.” His protest was weak, the sensations sizzling through his veins. “Fuck,” he moaned when they traced the outline of his stiffened cock. His head lolled back and his hips thrust up out of their own volition. It had been so long since someone had touched him. His pants were rolled down and left at his knees, and Davian stared through hooded eyes in an attempt to see. Fingers kneaded the insides of his thighs, and Davian shuddered when they reached his balls.

“I might blow before you even begin.” His body thrummed with a need that was new to him. Davian thought he heard a chuckle, but then all sounds were blocked by the loud buzzing of his ears as a warm mouth engulfed his exposed slit. Davian jerked on a grunt and he could only gasp through quivering lips. “Good Light, you feel so good,” he babbled. “I never knew it could be like this. I—” Heat enflamed the tips of his toes and worked its way up to his groin, where that sinful mouth was now taking Davian’s cock to the back of a throat. He lifted his ass in an unbridled roll, words of plea spilling past his lips. Hands rolled his heavy balls in their palm, and that heat spread out through his abs up to his chest, tightening his muscles as he prepared for release.

That vicious mouth kept on sliding up and down his shaft, tongue darting out to lick at his wet tip, cleaning up the pre-cum that kept on oozing out.

“I can’t stop,” Davian murmured. The muscles in his arms hurt from the effort to be released. “Oh, fuck, you’re going to make me come.”

Hands were everywhere. Cupping his sack, wrapping around his girth, keeping him still when Davian wanted to thrust, faster and faster, in search of his climax. He couldn’t think anymore, his usual restraint completely cracked. He could only moan when that mouth gave him the perfect suction, lips closing tight around his dick and sucking him slow and deep. Davian came on a howl, his entire body shocked from what was the most intense orgasm he’d ever experienced. And that mouth kept wrapped firmly around him until he was fully milked, only then leaving lazy laps to clean him up.

Davian stayed like this, body trembling, mind numb. That mouth went to leaving wet, open kisses on his stomach, onto his pubic hair, and softened cock. Then Davian’s cock was nicely tucked back into his briefs together with his pants. His shirt was tugged back inside his waistband, the buttons still open. More kisses were dropped onto his stomach and chest, and then Davian held his breath because that mouth was just inches away from his own. A finger touched his lips, tracing the shape of his mouth once more, accompanied by those lips, as if they were testing its firmness. Soft kisses were dropped to the corners of his mouth, causing goosebumps on his neck. When they pulled back, Davian searched for it with his own lips, craning his neck in an attempt to drag it back in. On his own mouth.

This was madness, he knew it. And yet, he craved the sensation like a starved man.

Intimacy. Safety.

Isn’t that what he’d come for tonight?

Davian had never felt so exposed.

Sitting here, tied up, with the intensity of this mouth caressing him, taking care of him, made him want to huddle up into a ball and cry.

“Untie me,” he barked instead. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it’s not funny anymore.”

The light switched on. He winced, blinking furiously, then froze.

Camren sat between Davian’s spread thighs, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. “You have an interesting definition of fun.” He smiled. “Hot as hell perhaps, or forbidden, or sexy as fuck?—”

“Stop.” Davian’s nostrils flared. He wasn’t sure if he could keep those tears inside.

“Baby, with the way you tremble and moan and then fall apart on my tongue? Hmm.” He grinned, looking smug. “I’ve only just begun.”

Davian looked around. Panic threatened to boil over. “Where’s Galya? What have you done with her?”

“She left after she was requested to lure you in. As to what I’m going to do with her…” Camren cocked his head. “I haven’t quite decided. I’m no fan of people who touch what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours!”

Camren’s easy smile vanished, eyes flashing with anger. “Stop Davian. We both know the truth.”

Davian’s lips clamped shut. He felt his cheeks warm with embarrassment. Had he been so obvious when he’d destroyed his family’s business? Had everyone known? Good Light, he’d been desperate for the entire world to see.

“The real question is, are you ready to give in?” Camren slid his hands over Davian’s clothed thighs and pressed a kiss on the outline of his softened dick, making it twitch with interest. “I mean, your body is. But it’s your heart I’m after.”

“No.”

“I will make you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Why did you do it then?” Camren dragged his glare over Davian’s face, making him shudder. “Why did you ruin everything if it wasn’t for me coming back to you, and keeping my promise?”

Davian pressed his lips into a fine line, mind rattling. Cam was right. And he wanted it. Wanted it so badly that he—his heart thundered. But he couldn’t give in. Couldn’t sign his life away like that. “Times have changed,” he tried. The words sounded good, but they were meaningless.

Camren tipped his head back and laughed. The sound was a low, warm ruffle that made Davian’s heart rate pick up. “You keep on saying that. But I don’t think you understand.” Camren’s hands tightened on his thighs, sliding up and over his hardening dick. Despite the mind-shattering orgasm, Davian’s arousal flared once more. “Tonight’s Praeda.”

Davian’s gaze shifted automatically to the black heart that was pinned onto the expensive material of Camren’s blazer. He barely registered the rest of that phrase.

“...meaning that I get to hunt you down. Make you mine.”

He flicked up his gaze. His mouth had gone dry.

“You heard me well enough.” Camren leaned in and pressed his lips on Davian’s, reaching behind him to untie his ropes. “I don’t know what’s holding you back, but I will find out. Tonight’s your night. Enjoy yourself. It’s your last night alone.”

“What? Last night a-alone?” Davian echoed, shaking his freed hands and feet. It’s what he’d wanted. And yet…

“You know what I mean, baby.” Camren’s fingertips traced the shape of his lips, inky-black gaze focused on what he felt. “No matter what shitshow you have caused, we’ll fix it.”

Davian snarled, snatching a finger between his teeth. Camren laughed, shaking his head. “You always were afraid of speaking your emotions. Don’t worry, we’ll work on it together.”

Davian let go of Camren’s finger and broke out of his chair. “I’m not some fucking toy you can play with.” He walked toward the door. “I’m going home.”

“Baby…” Camren tutted. “Remember what I said before? Don’t make a scene, unless you want the whole student embodiment to watch as I bend you over and fuck you raw.”

Davian felt his ears burn, grunting when Camren let out another one of those annoying sexy rumbles.

“You’re taking me for a fool.” He reached for the door, grabbing the doorknob to keep his balance. Suddenly he felt light-headed.

“Really? And what about your?”

Davian peered over his shoulder. “What about me?”

“You’re a walking contradiction. Always have been. Even when we were just friends, you’d complicate your life. Too many choices and no courage to say ‘no’.”

“If you didn’t want to be my friend back then, why stay? You could have gone.”

You could have exchanged me. The words formed a heavy pit in Davian’s stomach.

“Why would I do that? You were my best friend. You were everything I wanted.”

“But you…you ruined it,” Davian’s voice broke.

“Did I? Do you remember how many messages I left you after you’d kicked me out?”

Yes, he did. Davian sniffed, but no sharp retort left his throat. Instead, he felt raw with the sudden reunion of these bitter feelings from the past.

“Two hundred and thirty,” Camren voiced his thoughts. “It took me nearly three hundred messages in four months to understand that you’d really thrown me out. That you’d lied to me.”

“I never—” Davian cleared his paper dry throat, but the lump that had formed was too thick. He was lost for words.

“Thing is, you're right about one thing. Times have changed. I have changed.”

Camren approached from behind him. “A few years ago, you surprised me. You hurt me. You threw me out like I was trash. You reaching out for me today? It means that you haven’t forgotten me. And I sure as fuck haven’t forgotten you. So you can snarl all you like, but before this night is over, I’ll have you hauled back to where you belong. Ohh…” Camren’s hand brushed through Davian’s blond strands. “You like that, don’t you? When I claim you like this? When I tell you what I’ll do with you once you’re back in my grasp?”

“No.” But the denial sounded strange in Davian’s ears.

A low chuckle, then Camren pressed his nose in Davian’s hair, inhaling deeply. “Liar. Beautiful liar. Go now and have fun—” Davian couldn’t help but squeak when Camren swatted his ass, “because in the end, I will hunt you down.”