Chapter 38
SICK, TWISTED DESIRE
Lexi
I stared at the duffel bag I’d shoved in the corner of my dorm room and let out a pathetic sigh as I belly-flopped onto my bed. I’d been back at Stonewall for two days, but I still couldn’t summon the energy to unpack. Maybe because there was too much mental shit to unpack along with it.
That trip to the Dominican Republic had been a complete disaster.
Not only had I nearly been murdered, but I’d let Killian fuck me. Multiple times. Which was about a thousand times worse.
And even more disturbing, I couldn’t get him out of my head.
He’d gone radio silent since our return, which should’ve been exactly what I wanted—only now, it wasn’t.
He’d promised he’d look into Stan, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he really was or if he’d just blow it off.
I was sure there were dozens of sorority girls who’d let Killian Davenport fuck them for free, just like he’d said.
The thought of another girl’s hands on him sent nausea clawing up my throat.
The fact that my best friend had dismissed my claims about his stepfather so easily hurt like hell, and still, I didn’t want anyone else to have him.
Even if he did find out the truth now, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive him.
But that didn’t mean I didn’t still crave him like a fucking drug.
Ugh, I was so screwed up.
The dorm room door swung open, and Cordi barreled in, a smile stretched from cheek to cheek. “Hey, bitch, how’s it going?”
“Blah,” I muttered.
She bounced onto the mattress beside me and curled her arm around my shoulder. “Well, I’ve got just the thing to get you out of this post-tropical vacation slump.”
I’d totally lied to my friend, telling her the bare minimum about our trip. There was no way I’d ever admit to sex with the devil. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“An intimate party at the Sigma Delta house.”
“Another one?” I squealed.
“This is small and super exclusive. Axel invited me because we’ve been kind of fucking.”
“Kind of? How do you kind of fuck? He kind of slips it in?”
A wicked cackle burst from my friend’s glossy lips. “Let me tell you, girl, there is nothing kind of about Axel’s cock. It’s huge and—”
I held up my hand, shaking my head. “I do not need the gory details, thank you very much.” Axel made me think of Killian, and I needed to wipe that asshole out of my head for good. “And I really don’t want to go to this party.”
“Oh, come on... you know you’ll have fun once we’re there.” Cordi squeezed me into her side. “Which reminds me, I wonder why Micah didn’t invite you.”
That was the million-dollar question, along with where the hell was he? Killian wasn’t the only Sigma Delta ghosting me. “I haven’t seen him since we got back, and he hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts. I’m actually starting to get worried.”
“He’s probably just busy doing Sigma Delta hazing shit.”
“Maybe.” Our biology class was in less than an hour, so there’d be no avoiding me now. I hated the idea of him still being pissed because of whatever he thought was between Killian and me. The truth was that there was nothing there but sick, twisted desire and infinite loathing.
“Why else would he be avoiding you?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Could he be jealous of you and Killian? I’m still pretty damn sure you’ve been holding out on me. I need the dirty details of your trip.”
“Nothing is going on between us besides pure, unadulterated hatred.”
“Right... and sizzling sexual chemistry.” She shrugged and tossed me a smirk. “You guys aren’t fooling anyone.”
Except maybe ourselves.
“Ugh, I have to get to class.” I forced myself off the bed, and Cordi splayed out across my mattress.
She lifted her hips, thrusting suggestively. “Mmm, Killian, give me that big cock, oh yeah, baby, right there. Fuck me...”
“Oh, my gawd, Cordelia, stop!” I grabbed a decorative pillow off her bed and launched it at her.
She let out another cackle before finally sitting up. “Look, the guy may be a total dick but he’s hot as sin. There’s nothing wrong with having some innocent fun.”
Innocent, ha! “But we have history—”
“Yeah, it’s history, meaning in the past. Come on, girl, live in the moment. Axel may or may not have insinuated that Killian wants you there.”
My brows nearly shot to my hairline. “He did?”
“Well, Axel said Killian’s been a broody asshole since he got back, even more than usual, which is saying something. But I know it’s because he clearly misses you.” She grinned. “And gotcha! If you really didn’t care about him, your jaw wouldn’t be seconds away from hitting the floor.”
“Damn you, Cordelia.” If she had any idea of our twisted past, she wouldn’t be so eager to hook me up with the gorgeous bastard. I reached for my backpack and swung it onto my shoulder.
“The party’s at eight. See you there! I’ll be sure to leave something gorgeous and sexy out for you to wear.”
“Not happening!” Shaking my head, I marched to the door and slammed it behind me for good measure.
I was so not going.
With each step farther down the dorm hallway though, I played out the possibilities of the night. Maybe Cordelia was right. Why shouldn’t I go? I didn’t have to talk to Killian. Maybe this was my chance to find Micah. Because I had a really bad feeling he wasn’t going to be in class.
As it turned out, my gut had been right. Micah didn’t show up to Biology which had my anxiety shooting through the roof. What if he’d gotten caught gathering intel on the Sigma Delta’s secret society?
I shot off another text message.
Me: Micah, please text me back. I’m really worried about you. It’s been days.
I glared at the screen, willing those little blue dots to appear.
Nothing.
Huffing out a breath, I walked through the grove of old whispering willows. A chilly breeze lifted off the water below, lashing auburn hair across my face. The back of my neck tingled, and I hazarded a quick glance over my shoulder.
Ever since returning from our island getaway, I’d had the weirdest feeling. Like someone had been following me. Shaking my head, I chased away the crazy thought. I was just on edge after that attack at the hotel.
Who would be following me here? No way whoever Killian stole those documents from trailed us all the way back to Copper Cove.
I gripped the strap of my backpack tighter and picked up my pace across the park at the edge of campus.
It was a shortcut into the town below the cliffs.
I hardly ever wandered beyond Stonewall University’s campus, but I had a few hours until my next class, and I desperately needed to clear my head.
The crackle of approaching footsteps sent my heart climbing up my throat. I whirled around.
To nothing.
The thick willows surrounded me, the icy breeze of approaching winter whistling through bare limbs. Fear is just a mental response to an outside stimulus.
I just needed to get the hell out of here. Picking up my pace, I sped through the massive trees, the feeling of dread pooling in my gut with each step.
Heavy footfalls grew closer, I was sure of it this time, and I dipped behind a towering tree. With my back against the light bark, I willed the rapid rise and fall of my chest to slow. Inhale. Exhale.
A long moment later, I peered around the wide trunk and met a pair of bright blue eyes.
I shrieked and stumbled back, tripping over a fallen branch. My ass hit the floor and pain shot up my tailbone.
“Fucking hell, Sebastian,” I hissed, “you scared the shit out of me.”
Stan’s son loomed over me, a sinister smirk on his lips. My insides trembled, but I forced my expression into a mask of calm. I already knew what his father was capable of, and after the gala, I was more than aware of what he could do.
That poor girl had been murdered the night of the masquerade; I was sure of it. And I’d done nothing about it. I’d kept quiet like a big fat coward.
“Sorry, Alexis. You know I didn’t mean to.” He bent down, a creepy smile plastered across his face, and offered his hand.
I swallowed hard and forced my fingers to wrap around his palm. I had to play it cool. There was no way he knew I was the masked girl from that night. If he did, I would’ve already been dead.
The second I was standing again, I ripped my hand away from his. “Thanks,” I muttered, discreetly wiping my hand on my pants.
“How was your little trip with Kill?”
My heart bottomed out. Shit. How did he know about that?
“Hell,” I finally spat. “Every moment spent with your stepbrother was pure torture.”
His grin only grew wider. “Somehow, I doubt that.” He paused, those cold blue eyes skimming over me. “You didn’t happen to take your friend Micah with you guys, did you?”
My brows slammed together as I regarded Satan’s spawn. “No. I have no idea where he is. Actually, I was about to ask you the same thing. He joined your little fraternity, and now he’s gone.”
“Micah Preston never joined the ranks of Sigma Delta. He was only a pledge, and he failed in his task.” A frosty edge laced his tone, sending goosebumps spilling down my arms. He inched closer, and I instinctively took a step back. “Any idea what his task was?”
“I couldn’t care less about your freaky fraternity shit.” I pinned my arms across my chest.
“Preston was instructed to find a nosy female who’d heard something she shouldn’t have.” His eyes tapered at the edges, and his voice dropped to an ominous whisper. “And I think you’re that girl.”
His hand snapped out and wrapped around my throat.
I jumped back and hit the tree, trapped against the trunk and his unyielding form. Sebastian shoved me against the old willow, pinning me against the rough bark.
“Was it you, Alexis?” he hissed. “Were you a naughty girl, eavesdropping on a conversation that was none of your business?”
I flailed and struggled against his hold, but his grip was like steel around my throat. Every move only sent me gasping for air. Darkness threatened at the corners of my vision.
I wheezed and slammed my palms into his chest, desperate to break free. “Let… go,” I rasped out.
“Let go of her.” A lethal voice cut through the mad pounding of my heart.