Page 18 of Theirs to Ruin

Chapter 7

Camille

Dante looked like a completely different person in faded and ripped jeans that cupped his impressive bulge, black motorcycle boots, and a sleeveless black shirt that not only accentuated his muscular build but revealed the full length of his sleeve tattoo. I stared at the fearsome skull near his shoulder and the intricate waterfall of roses and other designs going down to his wrist.

The bar lights played off his olive skin, transforming him from school counselor to sexy biker, all mystery and allure. His shaggy ebony hair looked like he’d been running his hands through it, the front falling over his intense blue eyes, the blue a turbulent sea of secrets that sent my heart into a series of erratic pirouettes.

How could a guy have such different yet equally sexy personas? I knew he rode a motorcycle. I had even seen him come roaring into the faculty parking lot on his Harley a few times. But full biker-mode Dante was beyond delicious.

The heat of a blush rose from my neck to my cheeks, probably painting them a bright red. I pushed my thighs together, tryingnot to think about how wet the sight of Dante was making me. He had the same instantaneous effect on me that Kage had. The same effect Ty had on me in Italy, for that matter. One look at any of them and my body instinctively prepared itself for a sex marathon. Or a full-on orgy.

It was like my own body didn’t get the memo that I was still a virgin.

Suddenly remembering I had a drink in my hand and wasn’t even twenty, I ducked a little behind Bianca, sure Dante would notice me at any moment. My sexy disguise wasn’tthatgood.

"Fuck me, that guy is one hot piece of ass," Bianca swooned.

“He's also faculty. But it doesn’t look like he’s seen me yet.” I looked around for an escape hatch, quickly spotting the hallway leading to the bathrooms and what looked like a back entrance. “I’m going to the rest room. Hopefully he’ll grab a seat facing away from us. Otherwise, I’m going to have to bail.”

"God, would you relax? Dante Morillo isn’t going to shred your dreams. As you can see, he’s way more biker than buttoned-up counselor. I’m sure it wasn’t that long ago that he was sneaking into bars as a minor himself."

“Maybe you’re right,” I said, taking a fortifying swallow of my drink while I still had the chance. “Be right back.” I rose and quickly headed toward the bathrooms, knowing I should keep going through the back door. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not yet at least. I wanted a few more minutes to soak up every little detail I could about this shocking side of Dante. Quickly, I used the bathroom and washed my hands before stepping back into the hallway. I froze when I saw Dante leaning against the wall.

He grinned at me. “You looked good out there on the track, Peaches.”

I melted at hearing his nickname for me, one he’d started calling me after I’d told him peaches were my favorite fruit.

“Um, thanks,” I said, automatically using the stiff smile I’d mastered during our sessions to mask how badly I wanted to fuck his brains out. I walked up to him, stopping a few feet away. “Were you there watching someone race?”

“A buddy of mine,” he said. “Unlike you, he didn’t win. Since you’re here celebrating, I won’t lecture you about drinking. But not sure this is the best place for you and Bianca to be, Camille. This crowd can get rough.”

I nodded, wanting to point out his new look and the bikers he’d been talking to. Instead, I sucked in a breath when he straightened. He took a couple of steps closer until I felt his body heat rising off him like a furnace.

“How have you been?”

You mean besides the fact I was roofied last month, my dad’s hooking me up with any Sugar Daddy who might be interested, and my roommate hates me? “I’ve been okay, Dante. Just trying to focus on school and making Tier Two.”

“Ah yes, the bane of my existence, the school’s tier system. I have no doubt you’ll reach your goals, but remember what I told you before. ‘Nature doesn’t hurry yet all is accomplished.’”

“Lao Tzu,” I said, remembering the Chinese philosopher we’d talked about during one of our sessions last year.

“That’s right. I’m glad you remembered.”

I remembered everything Dante had told me, including what he’d said aboutkintsugi.I’d just finished telling him my heart would never heal after losing Ty and my mom, and he’d told me about the Japanese art of taking something broken and using a paste of gold to glue it back together until it was more beautiful than before.

I’d thought that was so cool and looked up pictures ofkintsugiat the library afterward. Staring at the unique artwork had sparked something in me. Not enough to heal my heartbreak at Ty’s betrayal or my mom’s death, but enough thatwhen I felt my sadness creeping in, I pictured my heart when it was finally whole again, precious traces of gold running through it. Beautiful but hardened. Not so easy to break or give away. I told myself I’d treat that revived heart like the treasure it was, which is why my attraction to Kage frustrated me so much. I’d protected myself by bailing on Dante, yet if anyone held the power to destroy all the work I’d done to become stronger, it was Kage.

Good thing he’d changed his mind about having anything to do with me, including getting me off.

“Well, I should get back to Bianca,” I said reluctantly, part of me wishing Dante and I could sit at a table and talk all night.

Dante nodded and stepped back. “Finish your drink but then head back to campus, yeah?”

I nodded, grateful that he wasn’t going to turn me in. “I will. Good night.”

“Night, Camille,” he murmured, his deep, velvety voice causing me to shiver.

Blindly, I made my way back to Bianca and plopped down on the stool next to her. “You were right. I ran into Dante by the bathrooms and he’s not going to turn me in. But he said to finish my drink and get out of here.”

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