Page 55 of Heirs of Havoc

“Don’t let him get to you,” Feliks says, reaching for a baggy of weed laying on the floor. “He feeds off this shit.”

“He’s good at getting to me,” I groan.

“You’re good at getting to each other.” Feliks rolls a joint with as much finesse as he toys with what’s between my legs. Then he rises from where he’s sitting. “Come on.” Pulling me by the hand, he’s slow to get me up, but another moan from down the hall makes it easier. Once I’m on my feet, he leads me towards a window, the only one in his room, large above the bed. He opens it, pulling the screen out.

“You gonna end my misery?”

He chuckles. Soft. “Something like that.” Then he holds out a hand. “Come on, Bunny, don’t be a wuss.” The moonlight streams in, right on his face. And another grunt from down the hall is enough to have me approach him.

When I get to the window, Feliks climbs through. With one eye squinted, he reaches in and pulls me up. His hands come around my waist, sitting me down on something before I realize where I am. The roof. He uses the slant as a step, the moonlight shining on us. We can see the campus from here and it looks like a movie. So small and distant. But the drama that lies inside is much bigger than I am.

Feliks passes the open bottle of vodka to me, the one I didn’t see him carry. “Whenever the guys are getting to me, I pop up here for a drink.” When I take the bottle, he pulls the joint from his ear, lighting it. “Thought you could use some muscle relaxers.”

“Why are you being nice to me?” My question makes me bring the bottle to my lips.

“You’ve been through enough.” Feliks wraps his thick lips around that joint, forcing me to take another sip. That also gives me the courage to ask the next question.

“So why do you let Dom be… Dom?”

Feliks leans back on one forearm, his eyes straight ahead. “He saved my life.”

“That’s hard to believe,” I snort, taking another swig. The burn of the vodka warms my body, offsetting the chilly night.

“Nah, he did.” Feliks pulls off his hoodie, a tank underneath and it’s hard not to eye the biceps he hides under his baggy clothes. His sweater comes around me, adding to the heat between us. “I got caught stealing from Kazarian when I got kicked out of my foster home at sixteen.” One of the biggest Russian dons. “It wasn’t the first time I’d snuck into that place and his father would’ve killed me had Dom not stepped in. He took up for me, spared my life and used my skills for his gain. That was the last time I was broke.” He takes a puff, looking out at the view.

Something in me softens seeing the tenderness in Feliks’ eyes. “Last time you were sober too, huh? It takes a lot of gluttony to get over Dominik Federov.”

Feliks lets out a soft laugh, turning to me as his eyes drop to my lips. “Nah, my life was a mess before he found me. Typical poor kid tale. Abusive father. Disappearing mom.”

“I know all about a disappearing mom.” Looking towards campus, the lights sparkle below. “Explains why I’m so fucked up.”

“Well, if that led you to Dom, you’re as fucked up as the rest of us.” He smirks, those eyes fixed on me again.

“Thanks for the distraction.” My stomach twists.

Why is he looking at me like that?

“Hey, Mia?” His voice is so soft I can hardly hear him, his eyes bouncing between mine before his eyes drop to my lips.

The flutters intensify as I swallow hard on the vodka in my mouth. “What?”

“I-I’m gonna—” He stammers, something I’ve never seen him do.

My brows knit, trying to make out his words but before I can ask if he’s okay, his lips press to mine.

My eyes widen, a rush of butterflies bursting through me, tickling my insides.

It’s easy to settle into his lips, like I’ve been here before. The softness of his kiss contradicts the eagerness. And unlike William, it’s not sloppy. It’s not wet or cold.

It’s perfect.

Mia, don’t.

Mia, stop.

Don’t stop, Mia.

This feels too good. But this is bad. This is terrible.

---