Page 135 of Theirs to Ruin

I remembered the tracker he put on my phone. My initial questioning of whether he could have killed Ava. Dante had counseled Ava, and who was to say I was the only student he’d acted on his attraction with? Plus, he’d pushed me away. Was it really because he felt he wasn’t a good man, or because he’d figured out I was clueless about Ava’s killer and couldn’t wait to cut me loose?

Kage seemed to read my thoughts, his hand finding mine. “We’re just trying to piece things together. We owe it to Ava to explore every possibility. Even the ones we don’t want to think about.”

I nodded but said nothing else.

We both headed back to the Bugatti. Kage pulled out and started driving but instead of getting onto the freeway that would take us back to campus, Kage passed the exit.

“Where are we going?”

He glanced at me. “At least we confirmed Ava was making that blanket for someone on campus. Someone she called her boyfriend. I know you didn’t like what I said about Dante, but can we put it aside for now? I have a favorite spot I’d like to take you to.”

His thoughtfulness and consideration for my feelings eased the tension inside me. “Driving to some secluded spot? Is the reward your dick, Kage?” I teased.

He barked out a laugh. “Damn, you've got a one-track mind, don’t you? While that is a brilliant idea and will be kept in mind for later, I was thinking about occupying your mouth in a completely different way for now.”

Soon, the car slowed and I looked around. We were parked next to a little shop called Top of the Cruffin.

“Gourmet cruffins,” Kage said. “They’re part croissant, part muffin.” He got out of the car and came around to open my door. He took my hand and tugged me to the entrance. I was a little disoriented by our sudden shift from investigating Ava’s death to dessert.

As if reading my thoughts, Kage said, “I learned early on that we have to make time for the fun stuff even when everything else is going to shit.”

Coming from a mafia family, he would know. “Did you know I love cruffins?” I was lying. I’d never had one.

“Yeah? Well, hold on to your socks because these are going to knock them off you.”

The second we stepped inside the shop the aroma engulfed us. Warm, sweet, buttery—an olfactory hug that immediately had me salivating. The shop itself was a whimsical masterpiece, adorned with vintage décor, fairy lights, and wooden shelves holding an array of colorful jars filled with toppings and sweet concoctions. In the display case sat a myriad of cruffins, each uniquely decorated, practically oozing temptation with their glossy, drizzled icings and sprinklings of various nuts and fruits.

“I'm a hazelnut and chocolate guy, always have been,” Kage said. “What’s your poison?”

“Coconut,” I whispered, my eyes locked on an oversized cruffin, a creamy coconut custard spilling out of its flaky golden top. The description said it was a bridge between a cruffin and a luxurious coconut cream pie. It was garnished with a sprinkle of perfectly toasted coconut and graham cracker crumbs.

We placed our orders and found a small table near the back. Kage held out a chair for me and his fingers casually brushed against my lower back when I sat. A flicker of warmth and affection surged through me.

Kage went back to the counter and returned with a tray. His chocolate-hazelnut cruffin looked nothing short of sin, a rich,chocolate-filled pastry that promised a rush of endorphins with each bite. It was adorned with a lavish Nutella glaze, chocolate chips, and a generous sprinkle of crushed hazelnuts.

I picked up my cruffin and took a bite. The coconut cream melted over my tongue.

“Oh, that’s so fucking good.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Kage’s eyes were glued to my lips. His eyes filled with heat before he blinked and shook his head. “You know,” he said, lifting his chocolate-hazelnut creation, “I never understood the whole coconut thing.”

“Really? Try it. You won’t regret it.”

He leaned over, but instead of reaching for my pastry, his mouth covered mine. His tongue stole some of the residual sweetness from my lips. When he pulled away, I saw the heady pleasure on his face. He took a huge bite of my cruffin.

“Well?”

He grinned. “Not bad, but I’ve tasted much better cream from you.”

I laughed even as his eyes lingered on my mouth. A flame simmered in my belly and spread warmth through my veins.

Between bites of our cruffins, our continuing flirtation became something thicker. I finished my treat then looked longingly at the display case, even though I was so stuffed I couldn’t eat another bite. “I need more of this cream in my life. Maybe I’ll get some curves with it.”

He frowned and put down his cruffin. “I thought we settled this in bed. You’re fucking perfect.”

I winced. “Sorry. Bad habit.”

His chair scraped against the floor when he stood. He rounded the table to slide into the seat beside me. His arm draped over my shoulders, a comforting, protective cocoon. “Camille, think about Casino Night. Every damn person in thatroom couldn’t take their eyes off you. Not because you were naked, though that was fucking spectacular, but because of the confidence, the fire that blazed in your eyes. You owned us all.”

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