Page 104 of Theirs to Ruin

I shook my head. “No. We’re not wasting a single breath on him anymore. That guy, whoever he is, is not the guy I knew and I grieved that guy’s loss a long time ago. Now, at least, I can finally let him go.”

“Rebel,” Kage murmured.

I looked up at him, clasped his face in my hands, and kissed him. His mouth immediately opened and he returned my kiss with fervor.

The softness of his lips, so familiar now, met mine with a hungry urgency. Kage's lips were both a balm and a fire, a soothing comfort even as they stoked the flames of my desire. His tongue danced with mine, exploring and tasting every corner of my mouth. Each kiss promised passion and solace, the perfect balance that I craved.

His strong hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, the heat of his body a refuge. It was easy to get lost in him, to allow his presence to fill the void that Ty had left behind. He picked me up in his strong arms, sat down on the chair he’d vacated, and cradled me in his lap. Finally, he pulled back from our kiss and just held me, as if he knew that despite my words, I needed a moment to recover from the wound Ty had dealt me.

I glanced at the clock. Class was starting soon. “I should get going.”

"How about I walk you?"

After we grabbed our things, he took my hand and we decided to walk to campus. Fiery hues framed the landscape—burnt oranges, crimson reds, and sunlit yellows, all competing for attention. Students milled about, red leaves crunching underfoot. Several threw us glances, lingering on our locked hands.

Soon, we reached the mathematics building where I had my Calculus class. I was about to pull away from Kage when he gripped my hand tight.

“I’m walking you inside. I told everyone not to fuck with you. Now I’mshowingeveryone that if they fuck with you, they fuck with me.”

“You sure you want to do that? What if there’s backlash?”

He let out a harsh laugh. “I hope there is. I achieve great satisfaction by putting people in their place.”

“What place is that?”

“Any place where they don’t fuck with me or what’s mine.”

Chapter 44

Camille

As we entered the bustling classroom, I sensed a distinct shift in energy. The usual chatter, the unmistakable sound of laptops being turned on, and the scraping of chairs against the floor grew momentarily subdued. It was as if an invisible wave of surprise had rolled through the room, and now whispers filled the void, rising and falling with an undercurrent of disbelief.

Heads snapped our way, eyes widening. Some students exchanged hushed conversations while trying to subtly point at us. A couple of girls near the window shared whispered words and side-long glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and barely disguised envy.

Kage escorted me down the aisle. Each step felt magnified, every sound amplified. The rows of desks appeared endless, but eventually, we reached the one I normally took. As I settled into my seat, Kage assertively spread his hand over the surface of my desk, claiming the space as his own. With his body leaning down, there was an undeniable intensity in his eyes. They hintedat something raw, and for a moment, we were in our own little world.

His lips met mine in a kiss that was clearly a statement.

I was his.

Pulling back, Kage stood upright, his posture challenging, ready for any confrontation. He glanced around the lecture hall. “Anyone have something to say about Camille and me, especially regarding Ava?" The question hung in the air, and the weight of his words held everyone captive. No one dared speak. Silence, thick and tense, reigned.

“No takers? If anyone changes their mind, or knows someone with opinions, come find me." He glared at every person in the room before turning to me.

“Have a good day, Rebel.”

As he left, it felt like he took the room's oxygen with him. I was acutely aware of the many eyes still on me. An occasional smile or nod was sent my way, but many simply looked away.

I was breathless, my heart still fluttering from our kiss and the boldness of his declaration. With a small smile, I began preparing for the day's lecture.

At the end of Calculus, Kage picked me up and walked me to my next class, where he also treated me to another kiss. This happened two more times that day, and by the time we walked into my final class for the day, I felt confident enough to initiate our kiss before he left. I felt him smiling under the press of my mouth.

He was still smiling when he picked me up.

“How was it?”

“It was a blur,” I admitted with a soft laugh. "What class did you come from?"

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