Page 23 of Vile Heart

Liar.

He looked aside to where Jaro stood talking with one of his classmates, his coat wrapped around his arm, ready to leave. He blew out a breath. He was sick and tired of his own denial. Cam was right. After two years of combining remote classes with a job in the production plant of their family’s business, something inside Davian had just cracked. He’d missed Camren. Had wanted him back in his life. And yes, he had fucked up everything because he trusted Camren to be true to his promise and come and save him.

But Davian was scared.

Poverty wasn’t a choice. It was a destiny. For as long as he could remember, the Ryka family had owned his past, his present, and his future.

What if he’d disappoint Camren? What if his dark devil got tired of him and threw him away? Replaced him with some handsome guy?

“Darling, you look troubled.”

Davian jolted. He hadn’t heard Galya approach. The arm she slung around his shoulder made him wince, but he tried to shrug it off, trying to swallow the forming bile. He was so fucking confused. “Are we still together?” He blurted.

She threw back her head and giggled. “And find myself getting buried six feet under? Absolutely not. Sorry babe, but your man is trouble. Look at him staring me down with those gorgeous eyes. If looks could kill…” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “He’s yours for the taking though. So just go for it.”

She was gone before he could protest.

Davian squared his shoulders and took in a deep breath, nerves suddenly fluttering through his stomach. This was fucking insane. Tonight, Camren had already sucked his dick, had fucked him against the bar. And yet… it was hard to let go. To accept being dependent. To risk being thrown away. Then again, there was no other choice. His heart had begged Camren’s return and now he was here, Davian was incapable of running any longer.

Turning over his shoulder, he caught Camren staring at him over the rim of his glass, while some guy was talking to him. A pang of jealousy made Davian’s chest tighten and he had to take in another deep breath. Then he made his way to the bar.

Camren’s dark, almond-shaped eyes glared as he watched Davian come closer. When he nearly reached them, he held up a hand, making the other guy stop in his tracks and look over to Davian. He was gone before Davian could set another foot down.

“Hi.” Davian cleared his throat as a sudden feeling of discomfort blanketed him. He chuckled it away. “I, uhm?—”

Camren didn’t say anything, just kept on staring him down, a light frown between his perfectly arched, black eyebrows.

“So I was afraid,” another nervous chuckle, “as I told you. You were my best friend. I looked up to you. You were fearless, awesome—” Davian looked away, skin burning fromembarrassment. “I grew up wanting to be like you. And the more I liked you, the more I started to worry about what my life would be without you. Like, uhm, I’d be insignificant again, while you—” Davian pointed at Camren’s black heart, “would go off and continue being so cool. When you kissed me, I, I—” His heart had burst out of his rib cage. His cock had hardened so fast Davian hadn’t known how to hide it. “I got scared. But that look on your face…that haunted me for the rest of that night. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to reject you. But once it was done, I knew that things would never be the same again, and so I thought it best to disappear. For my h-heart.” Davian pressed his hand against his chest. It clenched under the gray material of his shirt.

Camren still didn’t say anything, the blinking of his eyes the only proof he was still there, listening.

“But I missed you,” Davian admitted. “When my parents proposed doing classes online so I could help out the business, I thought it was for the best. You’d be out there doing your thing with the guys and I wasn’t ready to see you with someone else. So, yeah.” He took a deep breath through his nose, expanding his chest in an attempt to shake off the hurting.

“And?” Camren finally asked.

“And what?”

“Was it worth it?” He took another drink and pointed his chin to Davian. “Hiding away?”

Davian shook his head.

“Knowing how easy you have me wrapped around your finger once more? Was it worth all the heartbreak? You, of all people, should know that fear doesn’t keep me away.” A lazy grin cracked through, making those lush lips curve up. Davian could only stare at them. He had to shake himself out of it. He had to— Camren reached out and cupped his chin. “Don’t.”

Davian’s eyes flicked up. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t overthink everything. Don’t hide yourself. What’s the real problem here, baby? You don’t like me?”

“I do.”

“Don’t want to be with me?”

“I do.”

“Can’t make up your mind?”

Davian frowned. “What do you mean?”

Camren smirked. “Boy or toy?”

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