Page 15 of Vile Heart

“Baby…” Camren tutted. “Remember what I said before? Don’t make a scene, unless you want the whole student embodiment to watch as I bend you over and fuck you raw.”

Davian felt his ears burn, grunting when Camren let out another one of those annoying sexy rumbles.

“You’re taking me for a fool.” He reached for the door, grabbing the doorknob to keep his balance. Suddenly he felt light-headed.

“Really? And what about your?”

Davian peered over his shoulder. “What about me?”

“You’re a walking contradiction. Always have been. Even when we were just friends, you’d complicate your life. Too many choices and no courage to say ‘no’.”

“If you didn’t want to be my friend back then, why stay? You could have gone.”

You could have exchanged me.The words formed a heavy pit in Davian’s stomach.

“Why would I do that? You were my best friend. You were everything I wanted.”

“But you…you ruined it,” Davian’s voice broke.

“Did I? Do you remember how many messages I left you after you’d kicked me out?”

Yes, he did. Davian sniffed, but no sharp retort left his throat. Instead, he felt raw with the sudden reunion of these bitter feelings from the past.

“Two hundred and thirty,” Camren voiced his thoughts. “It took me nearly three hundred messages in four months to understand that you’d really thrown me out. That you’d lied to me.”

“I never—” Davian cleared his paper dry throat, but the lump that had formed was too thick. He was lost for words.

“Thing is, you're right about one thing. Times have changed.Ihave changed.”

Camren approached from behind him. “A few years ago, you surprised me. You hurt me. You threw me out like I was trash. You reaching out for me today? It means that you haven’t forgotten me. And I sure as fuck haven’t forgotten you. So you can snarl all you like, but before this night is over, I’ll have you hauled back to where you belong. Ohh…” Camren’s hand brushed through Davian’s blond strands. “You like that, don’t you? When I claim you like this? When I tell you what I’ll do with you once you’re back in my grasp?”

“No.” But the denial sounded strange in Davian’s ears.

A low chuckle, then Camren pressed his nose in Davian’s hair, inhaling deeply. “Liar. Beautiful liar. Go now and have fun—” Davian couldn’t help but squeak when Camren swatted his ass, “because in the end, I will hunt you down.”

6

Davian fled. Out of the studio and through the corridors. He was panting, his mind swimming, his body struggling to comprehend what the fuck had just happened.

Finally, he made it back to the foyer, where a few students peered at him in astonishment.

“You alright?” Someone asked.

“Yeah.” Davian brushed a shaking hand through his hair. “I’m good.” Sweat dripped down his temple and landed on his flushed skin. He was still breathing hard when he made his way to get a drink. A familiar man leaned against the bar, eyes already fixed on him. Davian shivered in recognition. It was the guy from before.

“A piece of advice?” Leaning in, the man murmured, “He won’t let you go. Never has. I’d just surrender. It’ll go faster.”

“What do you mean, lever let me go?” Davian flattened his lips as if to prevent the flutters in his stomach from flying away.

The other guy shook his head, chuckling. “I’m Andry, by the way. I work for the Ryka family. I’ve seen you around.Before. I’m sure I’ll see much more of you after tonight when he has you back in his clutches.”

“You’re wrong. I won’t be anyone’s property. I’ve worked my ass off to be where I am.”

Andry pressed his lips in sympathy. “Life’s unfair, isn’t it? Even your hard-working ass is controlled by the rich. If his parents decide tomorrow that they won’t pay your tuition fees anymore, your future is—” Andry clicked his fingers, “gone up in smoke.”

“I won’t have him control me,” Davian sneered into his glass.

“Now that’s just a paradox, isn’t it?”

---