Chapter 7
KAYLA
I haven’t seen Chris since I ran off on him last night. Nor have I heard from Michael on how pissed he is at me, so maybe Chris didn’t actually tell him.
Getting out of my car at school, I look around for the neighborhood’s friendly stalker, but I don’t see him, nor do I see my bodyguard anywhere.
Maybe they both decided to leave me alone.
Doubtful…
College students bustle around, talking in groups, rushing to their classes, while I grab my books and start out of the car.
As I head for the humanities building, this sudden eerie feeling washes over me. Goose bumps thread my skin. And I know instantly.
Someone’s watching me.
I can’t see him. But I know he’s there, lurking in the shadows.
I freeze in the middle of the road, glancing around, trying to find the man in the mask. Because I know he’s the one watching. Waiting.
He could be anyone. A professor. A student. The janitor I say hi to every day when I head for class.
“Hey, Kayla!”
I gasp as a woman’s voice flips me in her direction.
I turn to see Eriu bouncing down the steps of the building, heading right for me. My chest still pummels heavily inside me.
I force myself to look into her emerald-green eyes and fake a cheerful appearance. “Hey. I was just…uh…heading to class. Are you done with yours?”
She nods. “Yeah, I have a little break, so I was gonna grab some coffee before the next class.” Her brows stitch in concern. “You okay? You look a little nervous.”
“Yeah, totally fine. Just thought I saw someone I knew.”
She smiles. “No worries. I’ll text you after your class. We can grab lunch.”
“Sounds good.” I wave goodbye before heading toward where she came from.
As I enter the building and rush toward the snack machine to get a water, someone grasps my wrist from behind.
When I pivot around…
Chris.
And his eyes are no longer soft. His jaw is clenched, his throat tight on his next swallow.
Every cell in my body pulses under that heated stare.
Well, he definitely isn’t happy. Wonder why…
“Hey…it’s you.” I fight a nervous laugh while he grinds his jaw and pulls me in the direction of a classroom.
Before I can protest, he drags me inside, throws me up against the wall, and locks the door. I realize the classroom is empty and that he somehow knew that already.
Two palms flatten on each side of my head, the intensity in his eyes dancing with danger as they peer down into mine.
I’m cowering in fear, yet my body tingles simultaneously, like it enjoys every bit of this danger.
My lips part, my gaze zeroing in on his full mouth while my heart beats to a wild crescendo.
His eyes grow heavy-lidded, as though the way I look at him is affecting him just as much as it is affecting me.
“If you do that again…” he husks. “If you sabotage me from keeping you safe, I will handcuff you to me, Kayla.”
He grabs my jaw, fingers pressing deep into my flesh. I grow aroused at the way he manhandles me. Like a thing he can play with and manipulate at his disposal.
“Do you understand me?” He drops his mouth lower until I taste the sweet mint on his breath. “You will eat, sleep, shower right beside me. Is that what you prefer?”
“No.”
Yes.
Maybe.
I sound like a helpless little mouse.
His eyes remain fixed to mine, searching endlessly. His thumb reaches out to brush across my mouth.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again.” He blows a hard breath, and my heart beats faster and faster.
“You…you were worried about me?” My pulse speeds up.
He doesn’t say anything. Instead, he threads his other hand through my hair and holds me still.
I want his hands everywhere, on every broken and bruised inch of me.
Would he hurt me like they did? Would he take care of me?
And suddenly, I’m thinking about the man in the mask. That deep ruggedness of his tone, only a little deeper than Chris’s. Thoughts of all three of us together make my toes curl. My arms bound behind me while one takes me from behind and the other forces his cock down my throat.
A little moan slips from my lips, and instead of pushing off of me, the tip of his tongue rolls past his bottom lip, just enough for me to see it.
Desire unfurls through me like a hungered siren.
I realize how insane I’ve become, thinking of two men. Of being treated the way I want to be.
Why am I like this? What the hell is wrong with me?
Tears ache behind my eyes, and I curl my fingers against my sides.
“Get off me, asshole!” I shove him off. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again!”
He immediately backs off, as though I’ve suddenly grown thorns.
“My apologies, ma’am.” He turns rigid.
I instantly regret what I said, wanting that man again, the one who worried, who sounded like he cared.
My chin trembles, and I rush out of the room, hearing him call my name.
But I don’t look back.
There’s no reason to. He’s not my future.
Because I don’t have one.
Not anymore.
CHRIS
I slam a fist into the wall as soon as she walks out the door, tears shining in her eyes. The ones I put there.
“Fucking bastard,” I scold myself.
I made her uncomfortable. I made her cry.
Kayla…
I know about her past. I know she was taken and hurt for years before she was found, and I go and trap her like that?
But I wasn’t thinking. Not when I recalled how she ran off on me, leaving me worried that something could’ve happened to her. When I tracked her back to her place, she was there, and luckily still okay.
It’s not even my job I’m worried about. I don’t care if I lose it. I can’t let anything happen to her, not on my watch. It’s my duty to ensure her safety, and I don’t fail at anything.
My pulse still races as I think about the way she looked at my mouth. Like she wanted to know how good it’d fit around hers. I bet she tastes sweet, like an innocent little flower that requires a delicate touch.
But I can’t be the man to give her that.
Not after what she’s been through. I don’t even know how to be gentle with a woman.
Never was before. Never needed to be, not with the kind of women I’ve fucked.
They all wanted it rough, and I gave them everything they craved. But I can’t be that way with Kayla.
But shit, the way she made me throb. The way I wanted to find out if she was aching for me between her soft thighs. The sounds I could force out of her while my tongue’s pressed over her clit…
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to tame my ill-fitted thoughts so I can go and do my fucking job: watching her. I know she’s in class now for the next hour, and I know where.
Taking another moment to compose myself, I head out in her direction until I reach her classroom, which is already in session. Peering through the little window in the door, I see her in the middle row, chatting with some guy her age.
My hand clenches when she smiles at him.
That’s how it should be, though. Her talking to guys that aren’t me. I don’t belong with any woman, not with the things I’ve done. Least of all Kayla.
She’ll remain out of reach, where she belongs.
KAYLA
When I strut into my classroom, I still have Chris on my mind. He must think I’m crazy after how I reacted.
But that’s because I am crazy. Not like I’m in denial.
The professor strolls into the room, and I scurry to find a seat in the nearly full classroom.
“Hey,” someone whispers loudly, and I startle to see where the noise is coming from.
When I find the source, there’s a guy waving to me, a huge grin on his face. I immediately recognize him: Prince from the bar.
What the hell is he doing here? Were we always in the same class and I just never noticed? There are a couple of hundred kids here, so that wouldn’t be so hard.
Heading in his direction, I drag a smile.
“Hey, Kayla.” He removes his messenger bag from on top of the chair beside his, grinning sheepishly.
“Hey. I hope I’m not taking anyone’s seat.” I settle into it.
“Nah,” he waves off with a smirk. “I was saving it for you.”
I drop my tote onto my lap and start to remove my laptop and a textbook on European history.
“I can’t believe we’re in the same class.”
“Wish I noticed you before.” He drops his mouth close to my ear. “This class would’ve been a lot more fun.”
“You don’t like it? I find it interesting to go back in time and reexamine mistakes humans made and how they affect us today.”
He shrugs. “I’m not one to focus on the past. I like to spend my energy on the present and the future. Plus, this professor is boring as hell.” His voice lowers as the teacher starts to speak, fixing his red-rimmed glasses.
A door slams shut. I jerk toward it to find Chris marching inside, and every single girl in the room has her eyes set on him.
My throat instantly dries when our eyes connect.
He may be a jerk, but he’s a handsome jerk.
His gaze stays glued to mine until the very last second as he makes it to the last row, taking a seat that allows him a direct view of me from behind.
I readjust in the chair, feeling hot and cold all at once.
“What the hell is an old dude doing here?” Prince laughs.
“He’s like forty. That’s not old.” This need to defend him comes over me, and I don’t know why.
But nothing about Chris is old. He’s every bit man, and I want to run my hands all over his body.
Whore, the voice inside me says, and disgust grabs hold of me and refuses to let go.
I own the title, something I’ve been called for years. Why should now be any different?
The class passes slowly because I know he’s watching my every move. I spend that time trying to pay attention in between turning around to find Chris still staring at me, an aggravated expression painted on his face.
He looks as though he’s ready to punish me. Ready to grab me by my hair, force me to my knees, and pry my mouth open with his cock.
I bet it’s thick and hard. I bet he fucks just as roughly.
I discreetly shift in the seat, not realizing I’ve been biting my lip.
“You okay?” Prince asks.
My eyes pop wildly while my entire face heats up. I wish I could hide from my mortification.
“Yep. Just anxious for it to end.”
“See? Boring. I told you.” He puffs out his chest and folds his arms across it like he’s just proven me wrong.
But he has no idea…
Nothing about today’s lecture is boring. It’s just hard to pay attention with my bodyguard right behind me.
I glance back at Chris again, and this time one corner of his mouth curls, just a little. Just enough to make my heart skip a beat.
Did he notice me practically grinding all over the chair? Did he know it was because of him? Or was he smiling like that because he liked that I was looking at him?
The bell goes off, and everyone starts to bolt.
“Don’t forget to read chapters ten to fifteen for next week’s class! There will be a quiz!” the professor announces.
Collective groans ring through, and Prince is definitely the loudest.
I grab my things and start toward the exit with Prince next to me. But I know who’s right behind us. I can feel him towering over me, the warmth of his body cascading through mine.
When I glance back, he’s there, eyes on me.
He leans in, and it’s like a powerful wave of electric current falling over me. “You won’t be getting away from me ever again, Kayla Jenkins.”
His hot breath swirls around the side of my neck.
My stomach drops, and not because I’m nervous. A thrilling feeling comes alive inside me instead.
We wrestle our way out of the building with a horde of students rushing both ways.
Once we’re outside, Prince grabs my hand. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving me so quickly.”
I nervously shiver, knowing Chris is listening and watching everything, even as he stands a few feet behind Prince nonchalantly.
But when his eyes zero in on our joined hands, his nostrils flare.
I immediately drag my hand away, afraid he’ll break Prince’s arm.
That relaxes him. A bit.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I’m meeting a friend at the cafeteria, actually.”
My gaze darts to Chris for a second, while he’s now pretending to be using his cellphone. But I know he’s faking it.
My phone vibrates, and I find a text from Eriu. Just in time.
Eriu
In the cafeteria. Saved you a seat.
Kayla
Coming.
“Uh, want to join us?” I ask Prince.
That has Chris snapping his feral eyes to mine, a hint of danger in the tendrils of his gaze. A shudder zips up my spine.
“But I’m sure you have plenty of friends,” I backpedal. “And you don’t actually want to.”
Prince chuckles. “I do have my fair share, but none of them are you, so count me in.”
He’s being sweet, I know he is, but it’s making me feel nothing, which wasn’t the case with Chris or the masked mystery man.
That’s because you don’t like nice. You like crazy and rough and wildly intense.
At least my subconscious knows me well.
He strides beside me while Chris follows. But Prince doesn’t even notice. A guy like that is all about himself. I know the type. Met men like that in my past life.
He’s no different.
When we make it inside the cafeteria, Eriu waves us over. I rush to give her a hug and introduce her to Prince.
While we eat, she drops her face toward my ear.
“He’s cute!” she whispers, while I elbow her.
“Not my type.” My eyes snap to Chris’s.
Apparently, my type is currently drilling holes into the back of my head.