Chapter 4

Four

XAVIER

“Explain to me what happened.”

“Fucking Joseph pummeled me for no fucking reason. Look, I know he’s your friend, but he’s a hothead. My father is a powerful man, understand? I’ll definitely be pressing charges⁠—”

Reaching forward with an open palm, I give him a swift throat strike. Carter Cline bends at the waist and coughs like he’s choking on his tongue.

“Lie to me again and that’ll be your dick. Now… What happened?”

“I can’t breathe…” Spit chunks fly out of his mouth. What a fucking drama queen.

“You’re talking. Therefore, you’re breathing. Everything’s on video, you piece of shit. From the moment you tried to drug Elle’s drink to when you pinned her to the ground. You’re out of Theta Rho. Pack up your shit and leave tonight. I’ll speak with Dean Garnett on Monday, which means you’ll be expelled from Northview as well. Mr. Garett Cline works for Arboson Steel, right? A subsidiary of Cardell Enterprises, correct? So, press all the charges you want, but I’ll have Elle Townsend sue you for attempted rape and my father will end your father’s career. Understand?”

Turning, I slide my phone out of my pocket and call security, then text a few pledges to escort the asshole from the building before Levi gets hold of him. My best friend has been in love with Elle since we were kids and I know he’s got a temper. He’s not going to let this go without some retaliation. Levi won’t stop when he sets his mind to something and would get tossed in prison by the time he was done with Cline. Hopefully, Big G has him under surveillance until I can distract him. Get Cline out of the manor without causing even more of a scene.

Letting loose a heavy sigh, I wander downstairs where people are already leaving. All I want to do is get started on my night routine, but I’m stuck cleaning up everyone’s Red Night messes. Being the head of the fraternity doesn’t always have its perks. But my father prepared me for the title. He was president and my son will be as well.

Big G has Levi cornered on one small plot of the grounds past the pool house. My best friend paces like a lion looking for his next kill. Approaching calmly, I put my arms to my sides to show him I’m not a threat.

“What happened?”

“Fucking Cline tried to force himself on Elle,” he says with a sneer.

“I already told him to pack up and leave. He’s out. It was in front of enough witnesses. I’ll talk with the dean next week. I’m sure his daddy will settle the case to avoid jail time.” His entire body relaxes with the news, but G still steps a bit closer. The big man is always trying to protect me, ever since we played football together in high school.

“Oh…huh. Well, good.” Running his fingers through his curly hair, he seems to be less perturbed. Despite loving her so desperately, Levi’s not very good at figuring out how to get Elle. He just needs a little nudge.

“Yeah, so I think the more important thing is…how is Elle? She okay?”

“I don’t know. I think she left.” I can practically see the light bulb turn on in his brain. “Should I go check on her, you think?”

With a slight raise to my eyebrows, I wait for him to get it.

He nods. “Right, I should go check on her.”

Brushing past me, he heads back toward the house, and I lower my voice, speaking to Big G. “Watch him until he leaves.”

Levi will forget the address, so I text him where she lives. In the same apartment as my kitten. Glancing at my watch, I try to plan things so I can stick to my schedule. Time is closing in.

It irks me that I couldn’t find the definitive proof I need before Red Night and had to make my play for Marissa now. Hopefully, all the details will work themselves out later. There’s enough evidence for me to ruin her life already. I just need to confirm it all.

As long as she obeys me like a good pet, I won’t go public with anything. Maybe she needs a little bell for her collar.

My dick twitches at the thought of her, so innocent, frantic to be accepted and loved, needing to be wanted. It’s all too easy…yet it makes my skin hot to think about touching her again. Just watching her has never been enough.

Capturing her body tonight was more than I thought it would be. The memory of her curves held in my hands, her vanilla scent coating my skin, and her nail marks still dug into my back, makes me feel like I’ve been hit with lightning even now. When her big green eyes finally latched onto me tonight, I didn’t have a powerful rage like I thought I would. No. My knees got weak at seeing the desperation of her desire. And it was like she called to me for help. She inhaled some part of my soul while I was inside her. And I’m not sure I even want it back.

A war of wills wages in my mind until I can’t stand it. I’ve never been this way before. It’s easy for me to choose a path, make a clear decision. Until now.

Maybe her indecisiveness rubbed off on me the longer I was inside her.

Huffing out a breath, I know what I need to do: decide for the both of us. She is mine. That is a solid fact she needs to learn. Once I reveal the truth to her, she’ll crumble, and I’ll be there to pick her up after she’s destroyed. Broken apart by me. Rebuilt by me. She’ll be my greatest creation. Tailor made to suit me.

And a girl like that, so insecure, one who has no idea how breathtaking she is? All I’ll need to do to win her over is a flood of attention and praise. Show her our future. The one I’ve crafted for us.

But first, I need to make sure her gay boyfriend doesn’t interfere.

Banging on the door of the pool house, it creaks open, and Jackson’s light brown eyes narrow with a sly smile when he sees me. “You busy?” I ask.

“He just got in the shower.”

I glance around him to see steam rolling out of the bathroom. “Good. Keep him busy all night. Maybe take some pictures.” Jackson’s lip tucks under his teeth as he darts his eyes to the side like he’s unsure. Slapping a hand on his bare shoulder, I lower my voice to its sincerest. “For your feeds. This is the start of something beautiful. I told you, he really wants you. He’s all in. He just needed a little encouragement.”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, then nods, a little grin forming on his lips. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Have fun!” I say, spinning on my heel.

That’s done for.

Sliding into my Maserati, I whip over to campus, hoping Levi won’t catch me. When I peek in my girl’s window, though, she’s not there, and a slight bit of worry crinkles my brow. My pulse rate climbs at the thought of not knowing where she is. It gives me some time, though, to pop inside her room and set up a new hidden camera in her air vent, as well as plant a tracker on her laptop. And every purse she owns. And her backpack. Hmm…her art bag is missing. Which probably means she’s at the studio. A flood of relief washes over me.

The overwhelming scent of her invades my nose, causing my erection to rage. Giving it a few tugs, I hunt out a pair of used panties, holding the fabric to my nose like a bouquet. Like a man in a trance, I’ve already unbuttoned my jeans, wrapping it around my cock and using it to stroke myself. When my legs weaken from the sensation, I sit on the edge of her bed, then grab her pillow, and huff it as I erupt within the silky fabric before stuffing it in my jeans pocket.

Fuck! That was just what I needed. Hopefully, it will tide me over until I can be with her again.

I catch up on my latest reading at her desk, using my phone’s flashlight. It doesn’t take long before the itch to lay my eyes on her rises like a hunger that’s never fulfilled. Well, it was until tonight. Now, that minor annoyance in the pit of my stomach feels like starvation.

With one last scan of her room, I ensure everything’s in its correct place before slipping outside into the cool night air, my nose already missing her smells. My body aching for her touch. But my mind must know everything about her.

I move my car down to campus, so no one recognizes it in the parking lot at Marissa’s, then jog over to the art building. With only a blurry glance through her studio window, the longing in my heart quells for a moment at the vision of her. Long dark hair tied up in a messy bun that my fingers itch to unravel and tug on. Heavy breasts popping out of her tank top and apron. Thick thighs barely contained in her sweatpants. Ass bouncing every time she turns to get more paint.

I could just waltz in there and take her. Throw her up against the wall, paint her body with my cum. But I’ll pretend to be a gentleman.

For now.

Besides, it’ll be so much sweeter when she’s begging for it.