Chapter 44
GALINA
“You don’t have to do this, you know.”
I fiddle with the buttons on my blouse and frown at my reflection in Lochlan’s floor-length mirror.
I slept like shit last night, waking three times from horrible nightmares involving Nacho chasing me through the dark, his face bloody from where I smashed him with the rock, followed by his bloodcurdling screams as he tumbled over the guardrail at the edge of the cliff
I don’t know if those nightmares will be going away anytime soon. But if I can keep the remedy for them I had last night, namely waking up in Lochlan's arms, knowing I was completely safe, I think I’ll be okay until they’re gone.
The weird thing is that I don’t feel any guilt this morning. Last night I did, a bit. But when I mentioned it to Lochlan last night, he just shook his head and told me I had nothing to feel guilty about. That I should never be sorry for defending myself.
And yeah. Today, that guilt is gone.
The other worry I had last night was if I should keep going with this online alter ego. I’ve always known I had fans who got a little overzealous. But after what happened with Nacho, even though it was a total freak occurrence that he figured out who I was, did I want to continue?
I’m pretty sure I do.
What I’ve always loved about being Velvet Villainess isn’t the fans, or the follower count, or the likes.
It's always been the comments like “I was in a book slump until this rec. Thank you!” Or “That series you suggested got me through chemo.” Or “The BDSM book saved my marriage. You opened our eyes to a whole new world of kink and exploration. I’m so thankful.”
I get to hold the door open for people looking to escape to something new. To learn something about themselves, or their relationship.
I get people to read, and I’m pretty okay with that.
I probably will go over my security, make extra sure that nobody can track me down. I might even get a slightly fuller coverage mask, just to be safe.
But Nacho’s crazy obsession isn’t going to take Villainess away from me.
I shiver when Lochlan comes up behind me, already dressed for class and looking delicious. He wraps his arms around me and gently swats my hands away before he takes over buttoning my shirt.
Well, okay, first he slips a hand inside and palms one of my tits before he toys with my swollen nipple through my bra. But after that, he buttons up my shirt.
…I’m kinda wishing he’d do the opposite.
But we do have class soon. Specifically, Social Psychology of Deception. That could have presented a slight hiccup to our plans of “coming out” today as a couple, since Lochlan is the class TA, and colleges, even ones like Knightsblood, don’t exactly take kindly to students dating their TAs.
But this morning, after he went to The Atheneum for me and got a change of clothes with some help from Arianna, Lochlan stopped by the academic offices and officially disclosed that he was in a relationship with me and that he needed to be relieved of his teaching duties, effective immediately.
They agreed, and another Psych professor is going to be taking over for the rest of the semester.
Lochlan catches my eye in our reflection as he finishes buttoning my blouse.
“What do you mean, this,” he murmurs in my ear, making me shiver.
“I mean walking out of Kingsward today with me. Announcing to the whole campus that we’re…you know…”
He smirks. “Fucking?”
I roll my eyes. “I mean, yeah, that’s implied. But I mean us being…a thing.”
Lochlan grins. “A thing.”
“Well, what would you call it?” I laugh.
“I'm going to tell everyone I see that you’re my girlfriend and future wife, and that I love you, and if anyone fucks with you or looks at you the wrong way, I’m going to get violent.”
“Ooo,” I giggle. “Very red flag.”
“Which obviously means you’re wet now?”
Guiiiil-ttyyy…
“Wanna check?” I say huskily.
I bite back a moan when I feel him harden against my ass. His hand slips down my front, and I watch wide-eyed in the mirror as he bunches up the front of my skirt over my panties and then slips his hand into the lace.
Oh shit…
I whimper softly, clinging to his forearm as he slowly drags a fingertip up my lips, letting it roll over my swollen clit.
Then the motherfucker slips his hand free and flashes a smug grin.
“You ass,” I groan in frustration.
He just keeps grinning as he brings his finger to his mouth and licks it clean.
I sigh and shake my head. “You'd better be ready to finish the job later.”
“Then you'd better be ready to get pulled into a bathroom or empty classroom before you've even had lunch.”
A grin spreads over my face. “You know, telling everyone that you’re a taken man with a girlfriend now might really fuck with your cool-guy image.”
“The thing is,” he shrugs. “I’m not actually that cool.”
I sigh dramatically as I reach up to pat his cheek. “Oh, I know.”
Lochlan laughs and grabs me, crushing his lips to mine and kissing me like he’s conquering me.
“Well…” I breathe, my face tingling with heat as we slowly pull apart. “Are we ready for this?”
“I’ve been ready since the second I laid eyes on you, little villain.”
My pulse is galloping as we leave Kingsward Hall together.
Lochlan takes my hand and squeezes it in his, and I squeeze back.
The double takes and open-mouthed stares start as we near the quad. Then come the whispers. The camera clicks. The hushed “Are they together?!”.
I squeeze his hand harder.
My friends are right where I told them to meet me this morning. It’s not really going to be a surprise. At this point, they’ve all either been told about Lochlan and me, or have put two and two together.
Still, when Arianna, Yelena, Lucia, and Wren see us walking toward them, hand in hand, we’re hit with a wall of squeals, exclamations, and tight hugs. Bella, who I also asked to be here this morning, asks me if I’m being held under duress and if I need her to stab her cousin for me.
I politely decline.
We're interrupted when Achilles walks up behind Yelena and wraps his arms around her before nodding and grinning at Lochlan. Ronan and Drago appear next, both of whom waste no time in telling me I’m “a real trooper” for “taking one for the team” when it comes to Lochlan.
I tell them sweetly I’m that kind of charitable girl.
I called Zane earlier this morning to tell him about Lochlan.
It felt better than just letting him hear about it from the rumor mill on campus.
But even though it's no surprise, he still marches over with a real tough-guy chip on his shoulder and squares up with Lochlan, promising all sorts of repercussions if he ever hurts me.
Lochlan assures Zane that he has no intention of doing anything of the kind, and Zane grunts and tells me that he’s satisfied. Then he reminds me that our parents are going to lose their collective shit when I tell them.
I’m the same as Lochlan. I want to scream it from the rooftops to the whole world that he’s mine.
But telling Papa and Dad? That can wait, at least for a while.
For now, I just sink against his chest when he wraps his arms around me. My heart skips when he cups my jaw and gently lifts my face to his.
“I love you,” he murmurs against my lips.
“I love you, too,” I whisper back before crushing my mouth to his in a searing, all-consuming kiss.