Page 31 of King of Violence

Instead, I linger in the shadows, the distant hum of machinery filling the silence. I don’t leave until his car pulls out of the lot an hour later, headlights slicing through the darkness.

???

The tutoring room is quiet, the hum of the library’s overhead lights the only sound between us. Julian sits across from me, his chair tilted back on two legs as he lazily spins a pen between his fingers. His nonchalance is infuriating, especially when I’m here to help him.

“Can you focus for five minutes?” I ask, my tone sharper than I intended.

Julian smirks, leaning forward just enough to let the chair’s front legs hit the floor. “I’m focused,” he says. “You were saying something about formulas?”

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. “About how you’re failing this class because you keep skipping assignments.”

“Life’s complicated, Felix.”

“That’s not an excuse,” I snap back. “And you know it.”

Julian’s smile falters, just for a second, before his mask slips back into place. “You’ve got me there, baby.”

I slam my book shut, the sound echoing in the room. “You know what? I’m tired of this. One minute you’re charming your way out of every situation, and the next you’re dodging simple questions. Like, I don’t know,where you even work?”

Julian stiffens, the easygoing air around him evaporating. “I told you. At my family’s sporting goods store.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that,” I say, crossing my arms. “But you’re never specific. No details, no stories. It’s like you’re afraid to slip up.”

“I’m not afraid of anything,” Julian says, his voice low and dangerous.

“Then tell me the truth for once.”

The tension between us is thick enough to cut with a knife. Julian’s jaw clenches, his eyes hard as he stares at me across the table.

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” he says finally.

“No, you don’t,” I admit as I stand up. “But don’t expect me to sit here and pretend you’re not hiding something from me.”

Julian shoots up from his chair, the legs scraping loudly against the floor. “Why do you care so much?” he demands, stepping closer.

“Because I—” I stop myself, the words catching in my throat.

His expression softens, his eyes searching mine. “Because you what?”

The air shifts between us, and the argument melts into something charged and electric. Julian is close now, his gaze flicking to my lips before returning to my eyes.

“Julian,” I warn, though my voice lacks conviction.

“Felix,” he murmurs, closing the distance between us.

His lips are on mine before I can think to pull away, and the rest of the world falls away. His hands cup my face, his touch firm and insistent, and I can’t help but respond, my fingers clutching the front of his shirt.

The kiss deepens as all the frustration and tension of the past few weeks spills out between us. His tongue slides against mine and I pull him closer. Julian’s hand slips down to my crotch, rubbing my hardening bulge through my pants. I groan into his lips, trying to stay in my right mind. My heart races and mymind is clouded with the feel of him—his heat, his scent, his desperation.

Somehow, we end up pressed against the wall, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. Julian’s hands are under my shirt, his fingers tracing fire along my skin.

“See? You like me,” he whispers, his voice thick with desire.

My control snaps.

I push him down to his knees. “I can’t fucking deal with your mouth anymore.”

His eyes flash with surprise, as if he’s never been one to take orders before. But I don’t wait for him to protest. I unzip my jeans, watching his face flush. I pinch his cheeks to get him to open his mouth before shoving my cock against his tongue. The feel of his mouth on me sends a jolt through my dick.

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