23. Kai
Chapter 23
Kai
Rooke isn’t just late, he doesn’t show up for class at all. I didn’t expect my foray into teaching to end on such a weird climax, so I tell Rooke’s students to read from their textbooks while I go outside to make a call.
But the call’s bullshit. I just need to clear my head.
Ha. I’m dealing with an infestation, not some cobwebs. I need a fucking weed whacker to get rid of Haven.
I don’t plan on going back to the lecture hall, so I trot down the stairs and out through the cafeteria, walking around the back of the enormous campus building until I’m in the area beside the library windows.
The two enormous oak trees shading the grass look like bookends to a densely wooded area that stretches a few hundred yards from the campus. Those wild trees are a stark contrast to the manicured lawn and rectangular hedges that run along the length of the library garden.
Fresh air is what I need. Reminders of Haven sucking me off under the library table, however, not so much. But this is the furthest I can get from student activity without actually leaving campus grounds.
I turn to look for a spot to sit. The concrete benches are too hard. Maybe I’ll sit under the furthest oak tree.
A student rounds the corner where I’d just been walking. I pay them no mind until I see brown hair fluttering.
Haven speed walks toward me.
“The fuck are you doing here?” I call out. “You’re supposed to be in class.”
She just keeps coming.
“Or in your car,” I add, laughing.
Christ, it’s disturbing how single-minded she looks right now in her cute, thrifted sundress and flip-flops. Thought she learned her lesson about wearing those to class, but I guess I was wrong.
She’s a few feet away when she tugs on the handle of her tote bag, shortening the linen strap.
That should have been my first clue.
The snarl that jumps onto her mouth should have been my second.
But it seems I still have this bad habit of underestimating little Miss H, because I’m standing there smirking at her like an idiot when she swings her tote bag and catches me full on the side of her head.
“Jesus!” I yell as I fall to the grass. “You got a fucking brick in there?”
She stomps down on my stomach, kicks off her flip-flop when it gets tangled in her toes, then does it again.
My washboard abs barely feel it, but I’m kinda too scared to get up in case she slams me with her fucking tote bag again.
“Haven!”
“Fuck you, you piece of shit!” She tries to kick my head, but I get my arms up in time to deflect.
Then she’s on her knees, her sundress’s skirt taut as she straddles me.
Punching, slapping, clawing.
“Christ, what the fuck?” I yell, trying to grab her wrists, but always a millisecond too slow.
Idiot, because you’re reacting, not attacking.
She squeals in surprise when I grab her hips and keep her pinned on top of me as I roll over.
Now she’s under me, and the second she realizes that, fury washes over her. Her knees crash into my back as she kicks and struggles, but all it takes is grabbing her shoulders, then sliding my hands down to her elbows, then finally her wrists.
Pinning them between her hips and my thighs.
Her frustrated growl makes my cock thicken inside my Fendi joggers, but I ignore it. Just because she had her lips wrapped around it a few days ago doesn’t mean this is a replay.
More like a rematch.
Poor girl really thought she could win a round?
I rub the side of my head where she dinged me with her textbooks. “If you gave me a concussion, I’m gonna be?—“
“What?” she cuts in viciously, glaring up at me. “Even more pissed off with me?” A few wild wriggles to punctuate her words before she gives up with an exasperated huff. “You’d literally implode.”
“Figuratively,” I say, using my pinkie finger to brush a strand of hair from her face with a flick of my wrist.
Then I lean forward, resting on my palms as I duck my head inches from hers.
“Got something to say?”
Her lips squirm together for a moment, her blue eyes flickering left-to-right on mine. Then she lets out a puff of breath, her body going slack under mine as she looks away.
If she’s looking for help, I’ve got bad news for her. This area is deserted during class. It only starts livening up after lunch time.
“What the fuck did I do to deserve this?” she whispers. “My dad made me leave?—“
“I’m not pissed you left.” My hands curl into fists as I lower down even more, until our noses are almost touching. “I’m pissed you came back. You should have stayed gone.”
She frowns. “I had to, Kai.”
“No, Heavenly.” I look at her little nose, at her plump little lips, at that singular freckle. “There was plenty you had to do. That any person with a live, beating heart would have felt compelled to do. But coming back here just to rub your sluttiness all over my face?—”
“Why do you keep calling me that?” she bleats, eyes frantically hunting mine. “You know I’m not a slut!”
“Jesus,” I say, sitting up, leaning back, running my hands through my hair and not even giving a shit that I’m getting grass in it. “You’re so fucking delusional.”
I break off with a dry chuckle.
“If this is about my birthday?—”
“You think that’s what this is about?” I kick up to a stand, feet still straddling her hips. “Nah, Heavenly. That day was a fucking eye opener. Finally got to meet the real you. Pity it was eleven years too late.”
Her lips tremble, and it almost looks like she’s going to cry. But she’s always known how to squeeze out the odd tear or two when she needed. Hollywood’s missing one of their stars.
“I said I was sorry,” she says, shaking her head. “I said it a thousand times. If you want me to say it again, I’ll?—”
She cuts off when I press my shoe against her throat. I tilt my head, leaning back to study her.
“Aren’t you sick of being on your back all the time?” I angle the tip of my black Balenciaga sneakers so it digs between her thighs, and she stares up at me with morbid curiosity as I urge her legs apart.
“This is what you were doing over in Ashwood, right?”
Her lips part, but the only thing dawning on that pretty face is anger.
“Spreading your legs,” I stage-whisper.
I’m already stepping over her, dismissing her just like she fucking dismissed me.
Haven lets out this angry, snarling roar. “Asshole!”
She grabs my ankle and pulls .