Page 55 of Ink Deep Devotion

Distance seemed to be my punishment for loving a monster.

Distance from Dash and everyone except Damian and Titan.

“It’s good to see you on your feet again,” Blaze whispers in my hair.

I bury my face in his chest while hugging him tightly. He visited me in the hospital, but with Titan and Damian looming over him, the conversation was short and rushed. Seeing him in class after he was attacked by Dom, grinning, joking, and painting means the world to me.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Why? Chicks dig scars?” He hugs me back, but then Damian joins us, and Blaze loosens his grip.

“I thought you were dating…what’s his face? That hot rugby player?”

Blaze waves his hand,“He was so last month, Mila. I’m into women, not girls, but women. As for men, if I find one who has a bigger cock than me, then I might make an exception. But, at last,” Blaze fakes exhaustion as I swallow down my giggle.“It’s so hard to find a hot guy with a huge dick and has a brain, not to mention wants to be my submissive. I’m always a top.”

“Enough,” Damian snarls, moving closer.

“Oh, insecure are we?” Blaze jokes as he eyes Damian’s pant zipper. I burst out laughing, which is the only thing that stops Damian from forever silencing Blaze. Damian regards my laugh, and something lightens in his eyes.

“Confidence reduces the need for outward displays of one's size.” Damian replies in a milder tone.

“True, unless you’re packing like I am. How can I not brag about Guinness size, man?” Blaze hits his shoulder playfully, but Damian doesn’t budge nor crack a smile.

“Don’t touch her,” Damian warns.“I know what you did, and we appreciate that, but she’s not yours, and you’re not one of us.”

I’m suddenly a chew toy two heathens are fighting over.

“I didn’t try to stop Dom so I could earn a favor from a King. I did it because she’s my friend. Mila always sees the good; she’s the type of person who looks at a weed and considers it a unique flower.” Blaze flashes me a press grin.“But one look at Dom’s face told me he had snapped. I did it to protect her because some flowers have thorns small enough to kill."

Reaching out, I grasp Blaze's hand.

“We’re going to get started with class in five minutes.” Professor Winters calls out, her eyes too timid to look our way.

Damian tenses, his eyes meeting mine for a sustained period. Looking deep, I see a fear buried deep within. It has me reaching out my other hand, reassuring him,“I’ll be fine.” I nod.

What monsters plague him? I want to grab them and cast them into a deep sea. Deep down, all his narrowed looks and stern warnings are just layers of protection covering what I’m assuming was a frightened child.

Blaze looks at Damian,“You should know that every Friday night, the class gets together now. We have a big art party, and then we donate the art to local galleries. I guess we are all trying to be good before we graduate and our parents get their hands on us again.” Blaze flashes Damian a smirk.

“Mila,” Blaze looks at me,“You should join us. We take turns driving the art to the galleries every week.”

“I’ll drive with her, no problem.” Damian nods.“Just tell me where and when.”

I squeeze his hand, wishing it was Dash’s, but wishing is like throwing seeds onto untilled soil. It’s left open to the elements; the wind scatters it, and the sun overheats it until it’s cracked and chipped, unable to produce much of anything anymore.

???

Titan escorted me to my room. Dash had evaded me the entire day. I felt like a rubber band being stretched. Each time I changed classes, I was pulled, my eyes searching for Dash. His absence was like a glacial wind.

You know what the cold does to rubber, don’t you? It crumbles it.

I feel like shattered remnants as I lay in bed. My room is a disaster; I didn’t unpack, instead just tossing my stuff around. I need the chaos and clutter to distract my mind from the cut, clean distance Dash created.

Knock, knock, knock.

I sit up abruptly in bed, grabbing my phone and pulling the covers higher as I hear my roommate Amanda answer the door. I don’t talk to her much; she has guys coming over all hours of the day. I pretty much avoid the main living room area of our dorm, only passing it when I need to come to my private room.

“Oh,” she clears her throat.“Hi,” she answers, her voice so saccharine that it makes my teeth feel so dirty that only a good dental cleaning can clean it.

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