Page 6 of Theirs to Ruin

“You can go,” the EMT confirmed. “But you might feel drowsy or disorientated for a while. Do you have someone who can stay with you tonight?”

I bit my lip, thinking of calling Bianca, but I didn’t want to ruin her date.

“Ava’s gone for the weekend. I’ll stay with you,” Kage announced, his voice clipped.

What? Hell no.

I turned and glared at him. I was grateful for what he’d done, but there was no way he was spending the night at my place. I didn’t even understand why he’d want to. We weren’t friends. He didn’t owe me anything.

I shook my head. “No, I’m fine. I’ll just?—"

“Camille,” Kage cut me off, a hint of warning his voice. “It wasn’t an offer.”

I looked around, desperate for another option. The EMT and his partner waited patiently. I got the feeling that it was either let Kage take me back to campus or they would take me to hospital for monitoring. I wasn’t sure which option was worse.

“Kage—”

“Jesus, Camille. Quit arguing with me and let’s go.”

He put his firm hand on my lower back and guided me away. I drew in a sharp breath, his touch like a live wire, crackling with untamed energy and sparking a wildfire of emotions deep within me. My breath hitched and my knees trembled as he guided me to his car—which was just as rich and obnoxious as he was.

The obsidian Bugatti Chiron looked like a predator in the shadows, with silver accents tracing the car’s contours like veins of precious metal. I stared at it enviously, itching to get behind the wheel. I had always loved cars. Especially fast, sexy ones like this. Driving it would be such a thrill. Too bad the owner of this precious baby was Kage who, despite him rescuing me, I wasn’t sure I could trust.

Suddenly, I froze, hit by the premonition that if I got into that car, my world was going to be tipped on its axis by a guy who would end up destroying me. “This is a bad idea.” The EMT’s were gone, so I had no reason to leave with Kage now. “I’m just going to call an Uber?—”

“The hell you are.” His chiseled jaw went taut, the muscles in his neck twitching, making it clear I was pissing him off. “You’ve already shown you can’t take care of yourself.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Are you blamingmefor what happened?”

He clenched his fists, nostrils flaring. “Did you let that fucker bring you drinks instead of getting them from the bartender yourself?”

He read my expression just fine.

“For fuck’s sake, Camille, it’s one of the first things girls are taught—always keep an eye on your drink to prevent tampering.”

“Thanks for themansplaining, Kage. I’m not an idiot.” Only he was right. I’d been so upset over Ty that I had foolishly let Billy get me those drinks. But that didn’t give Kage the right to blame me for this.

“Fuck you,” I snapped. I’d already revealed my mouthy side; why not go for broke? “Were my clothes too revealing, too? Did I flirt with him too much?”

Kage stalked toward me.Holy shit. I quickly retreated until I’d backed myself against the car. He braced his hands on either side of me and I had to tip my head back to look at him. “You need to grow the fuck up. Given who we go to school with, the lives we live, you know better than anyone that danger is everywhere.”

We glared at each other, the tension between us electric. He was so close, I felt his chest expand and contract with every breath he took. To my horror, my nipples hardened.

“I’ll be more careful next time,” I said, needing him to back off before I gave into the wild urge to pull his head down so I could kiss him.

“You better.” Slowly, he pushed off the car and took a few steps back. “Now get in the goddamn car before I pick you up and throw you in it myself. And a word of warning, you don’t want my hands on you right now.”

I was pretty sure Ididwant his hands on me.All overme. I also wanted to see what he’d do if I refused.

It’s why I didn’t want to get in that car. I didn’t trust myself around him.

“Fine,” I snapped.

It was just a ride to campus. I could deal with that.

I threw open the passenger side door and got inside as Kage watched. He knelt next to me and with carefully controlled movements buckled me into the car. His lips were right in front of me, so lush and tempting, and I turned my head to look in the other direction.

“Stop pouting,” he said. “You made a mistake. I called you out. Get over it.”

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