26. High Quality Games

High Quality Games

D erek and I head back to my dorm, the weight of the evening's chaos still buzzing in the back of my mind, but in the best way possible. As soon as we step inside, he flops down onto my bed, running a hand through his hair with a satisfied grin.

"That was epic," he says, his voice full of excitement. "Kyla's little explosion? I didn't think she'd go nuclear like that. And when Eva made her even angrier? Man, that was priceless."

I can't help but giggle as I sit down beside him, replaying the scene in my head. "I know! I thought Kyla was going to combust on the spot. Eva really didn't hold back, did she?"

Derek laughs along with me, but before I can get another word in, his hand slides around my neck, fingers tightening in a gentle, possessive grip that sends a shiver down my spine. It's almost a choke hold, but not quite—just enough pressure to feel the heat of control in the air between us. He pulls me closer, our lips crashing together in a long, deep kiss that's sultry and unapologetically demanding. His lips are firm but teasing, coaxing more out of me with every second.

His free hand begins to wander, tracing a path along my waist, then up my back, exploring with a purpose that leaves me breathless. My pulse quickens, my thoughts turning into a dizzying swirl of sensation. By the time we pull apart, I'm a mess—heart racing, skin tingling, and my mind completely scrambled.

Derek's lips curl into a smirk, his thumb brushing my jawline. "You okay there?"

I swallow, trying to gather my scattered thoughts, but all I can manage is a breathless, "Yeah... I think so. What was that for?"

He smirks, his fingers brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. "Just wanted to take advantage of having you all to myself for a bit before Sebastian shows up."

I narrow my eyes at him, mock suspicion creeping into my voice. "Uh-huh. So you're not totally fine with the whole sharing thing, huh?"

Derek chuckles and shakes his head. "No, you're misinterpreting what I'm saying." He leans in, trailing kisses along my neck, making it hard for me to focus as his hands find all the right places to touch. "There's no jealousy, Zaria. None. It's more like…" He pauses to kiss my collarbone, and I have to suppress a gasp. "Like playing a video game with two modes. It's always fun with more people, but sometimes, you just want to play solo for a bit."

I scoff, pushing him off with a mock glare. "Did you seriously just compare me to a video game?"

Derek grins wickedly, his hands still lingering on my waist. "A very expensive, high-quality video game. One worth playing."

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop the smile tugging at my lips. "Wow, I feel so flattered now. Top-tier entertainment, apparently."

"You are," he says, his voice lowering, eyes dark with affection and desire. "And I'm glad I get to be a part of your world, Z."

The door creaks open, and Derek and I freeze mid-moment as Sebastian steps inside, closing the door with a sigh that sounds like he just trudged through hell. He leans against the doorframe, his usual cocky demeanor absent. Derek raises an eyebrow, quirking a smile. "I could've sworn I locked that door behind me."

Sebastian chuckles, though it's tired and strained. "You're an idiot if you think a vampire with telekinesis can't unlock a door."

"Touche," Derek shoots back with a playful grin, but I'm not laughing. I can see it—Sebastian's stiff posture, the way his shoulders are tense like he's holding something in. It's subtle, but something is definitely off.

I stand, crossing the room toward him, feeling a knot of worry tighten in my chest. "Seb," I say softly, glancing at Derek, who also stands up, his casual smile fading as he moves closer. "What's wrong? Don't say ‘nothing,' because I can see it."

He hesitates, his eyes flickering between me and Derek, like he's trying to decide how much to say. For a second, all that bravado he usually carries around disappears, leaving him just… vulnerable. "I'm fine," he mutters, avoiding eye contact, but I'm not buying it. I step even closer, practically pleading.

"Seb, please. Don't make me force it out of you."

His jaw clenches, and finally, he lets out a long breath, his voice low, quieter than usual. "Kyla," he starts, then falters, like he's still trying to find the right words. "She's… she's a force. Wicked as she is naturally a brunette." Derek snorts in the background, but I don't even crack a smile. I meet Sebastian's eyes, urging him to continue. "She takes her anger out on the one person she thinks can't say no," he says, his voice thick with frustration. "That's me."

It hits me like a punch to the gut. Of course, Kyla would've lashed out at him after seeing the lipstick mark on his neck. Sure, she attacked Eva, but she wouldn't stop there. She would take it out on Sebastian too, knowing full well he couldn't fight back while pretending to be under her control. "Oh, Seb… I'm so sorry," I blurt out, guilt surging through me. "I never should have involved you in this. I didn't mean for you to—"

Before I can spiral further, he grips my shoulders, holding me steady. His touch is firm but gentle, his eyes intense. "Zaria, stop. If I couldn't handle it, I would've walked away. I chose this, okay? It hurts, yeah, but it'll heal. I'm fine."

I feel tears sting at the corners of my eyes, and I'm not even sure why—guilt, anger, frustration… it's all a mess.

Derek, ever the observer, steps forward and breaks the tension with a wry smile. "I think you two deserve a little alone time." He kisses my cheek lightly before walking to the door. "I'll be back later."

As the door clicks shut behind him, I stand there, still feeling the weight of everything that just happened. The boys have been so good with this arrangement, but now… now I don't know how to make Sebastian feel better. I hate that I'm the reason he's hurting.

I meet his eyes again, feeling utterly helpless. "I don't know what to say or do to make this better."

Sebastian shakes his head, stepping closer until there's barely any space between us. "You don't have to do anything, Zaria. Just being here… with you… is enough."

I want to believe him, but the heaviness in my chest won't let go.

"Please show me." I ask. Sebastian sighs, and I watch the tension in his shoulders as he reluctantly pulls his shirt over his head, revealing the full extent of what Kyla had done. Lash marks. My stomach churns just looking at them. They crisscross his back, angry red lines that make my heart ache. He sits on the edge of the bed, his usual cocky demeanor barely holding on by a thread.

"She didn't notice your name on the mark," he says with a forced chuckle. "Too busy being pissed about Eva."

I snap, my voice harsher than I intend. "Do you really think I give a fuck about that right now, Seb? Why the hell would you just let this happen?"

He turns his head slightly, his eyes flicking up to meet mine with a familiar bravado. "Zaria, you don't know how badly I want Kyla to suffer. If you think this is bad, you have no idea what I'm willing to endure to break her."

His words are laced with a darkness I haven't seen in him before, and I try to breathe through the anger and frustration boiling inside me. "Seb, what can I do? Just… tell me what I can do to make it better." I can see a thought flash across his face. His lips twitch into a smirk, and I roll my eyes, already knowing what's coming. "Yeah, I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

"Sorry," he mutters, though his grin widens just a little. "There is something. If you're willing."

"Anything," I say, without hesitation, though there's a nervous pit forming in my stomach. I just want to help him, and I'll do whatever it takes.

He shifts, his bravado faltering for just a second. "The marks… they'll heal in two days, maybe three. But the bruises, the pain—that lasts about five days. I'd prefer not to endure that if possible."

I nod, thinking about all the ointments I've crafted in my Cauldron Concoctions class. "I'm not sure if the stuff I have works on vampires, but I can try—"

Sebastian shakes his head, cutting me off. "That's not what I meant." His gaze turns serious, a little hesitant, before he continues. "I'm only half vampire. I don't need to live off blood… but it does make me heal faster. A lot faster."

It clicks. I know what he's asking. My heart skips a beat as I recall the last time I let him bite me, the intensity of it still fresh in my mind. But I don't hesitate, not for him. "Whatever you need," I whisper. "Just tell me what to do."

Sebastian stands, his usual bravado tempered with something softer as he steps closer, his hand brushing my cheek. "You're sure?" he asks, his voice lower now, almost vulnerable.

I nod. "I'm sure."

Sebastian's eyes darken with something that feels both intense and vulnerable as he steps closer to me. Before I can fully process what's happening, he lifts me effortlessly by my thighs, his grip firm but gentle as he lays me down on the bed with a controlled urgency. I barely have time to react before his lips are on my neck, trailing soft, lingering kisses that make my pulse race.

As his kisses move lower, he pushes the hem of my dress up, his touch gentle but purposeful. My skin tingles under the warmth of his lips, especially when he reaches the bare skin of my stomach. My breath catches when he moves further down, his lips brushing the edge of my stockings where they stop halfway up my thighs. It's a strange mix of tenderness and tension, like he's savoring every inch, building a connection between us that goes beyond words.

When he reaches my thigh, just above where the stockings end, his mouth lingers for a moment. I feel a sudden, sharp warmth as his fangs graze my skin, sending a jolt of sensation through me. My hands instinctively find their way to his hair, gripping tightly, not out of fear but out of the overwhelming need to hold onto something solid in this moment. His bite is deliberate, controlled, and though the sting is there, it's quickly replaced by a soothing warmth, like a wave washing over me.

The connection between us feels palpable, like something more than just physical. There's a quiet intimacy in the way he drinks—no rush, no aggression, just a deep, unspoken bond that neither of us could have predicted. I can feel him healing with every second, the pain he carried earlier slowly melting away.

When he finally pulls back, his lips hover near the bite, his breath steady as he looks up at me. There's something different in his expression—relief, maybe, or gratitude—but it's soft, almost unguarded. The strain in his face has faded, and for the first time since he arrived, I can see him relax.

"Better?" I whisper, my voice barely audible, the words carrying more weight than I intended.

He nods, a small, genuine smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Much better," he replies, his voice low and grateful. "You have no idea how much I needed that."

I smile back, my heart still racing, but this time with a strange sense of calm beneath it. "Good. I didn't want to see you like that."

Sebastian leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before settling beside me. "I won't forget this," he murmurs, his voice steady but laced with something deeper, something that feels almost like a promise.

I lean into him, my body relaxing into his, feeling the warmth between us. Despite the chaos that brought us here, there's a sense of peace in this moment, a quiet understanding that whatever comes next, we'll face it together. And for the first time in a long while, I feel like I'm not carrying the weight of everything on my own.