Page 118 of Theirs to Ruin

“But your soul…”

“I’m already going to hell when I die. But even the devil knows what an angel you are; he’ll give me a pass on Billy.”

I shook my head. I hated that he thought he was going to hell.

“Don’t feel bad for me, Rebel. I live my life with eyes wide open. Plus, I can’t be completely fucked since I get to spend some time with you. And I’m going to spend every second I can enjoying you. That means when you’re ready, I’ll restrain you.”

Despite the heaviness in my heart, I rolled my eyes in an effort to push past the darkness we’d stumbled into. “When will I be ready exactly?”

“When you don’t have to whisper what you want in my ear, but say it out loud, even in public.”

I sputtered. “In that case, then I’ll never be ready.”

A slow grin spread across his face. “Don’t underestimate me. Or yourself.”

He cupped my cheek, gave me a firm, close-mouthed kiss, then groaned as he adjusted himself in his pants. I watched him do it, fascinated, only for him to catch me looking.

Slowly, in a mockery of how I’d done it, he bent over and whispered in my ear.

“I promise it’s coming to get you. Every time we touch it’s for pleasure but it’s also prepping you, getting you used to my touch. When the time is right, you’re going to take all of me. No part of you will stay virgin. You’re going to be stuffed so full of me you won’t know where you end and we begin.”

I swear I almost fainted.

It was only later, when we were back at the chateau and he was calling for takeout – Chinese this time – that I realized that while he hadn’t taken every part of my body yet, he’d already taken part of my heart.

Why else would I care so much about his soul?

My feelings for Kage were growing every day, and I don’t think I’d ever been more scared. Not when I was roofied. Not even when the river tried to take me as I struggled to save Ava.

Ty broke my heart and was still breaking it.

When the end came for me and Kage, he’d rip my heart right out of my chest and throw it into the fire where it would melt away, nothing left to fix.

Chapter 48

Camille

Iwalked into Kimmy Sue’s coffee shop in downtown Crimsonvale, the warm, inviting space humming with conversations and the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee. Simone had already grabbed us a table.

“Hi,” I said as I sat down across from her. “Cute place.”

“I know, right?”

She looked around, absorbing every detail of the cafe. It was obvious she was making the most of being away from campus, and I didn’t blame her. Earlier, the walls of my room had felt like they were closing in, so when Simone had suggested meeting off campus, I’d jumped at the opportunity.

Kage was in Manhattan visiting his family. I knew his parents and brother still blamed me for Ava’s death, and the thought gnawed at my insides. I was afraid they’d poison Kage against me.

Simone cleared her throat. "So, about you and Kage,” she began.

I felt my cheeks heat. “Nope,” I said, not unkindly. “Not going there.”

She blew out a raspberry. “You’re no fun.”

“I also don’t know what the hell I’m doing, Simone.” I took a deep breath, then completely contradicted myself by confiding in her. “I’m in over my head. My life’s already a fucking mess, and Kage is a tornado. I should be getting my life in order, not fooling around with him and?—"

“Having fun? Getting fucked? Thinking of yourself for a change?” Simone interjected, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Her words drew scandalized stares from a pair of older ladies at the next table.

My face heated and I covered my face with my hand. “Never mind,” I said. “What about you? Anyone you’re hot for?”

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