14. Camille

Chapter 14

Camille

D ante’s place was beginning to feel familiar to me, a sanctuary where I could hide and mostly forget about my troubles. I sat on the counter while he prepared a meal. The sizzle of vegetables in a pan and the aroma of spices filling the air created an atmosphere that was both comforting and intimate.

As we sat down to eat, the conversation flowed easier than I thought it would given how upset I’ve been. Dante was an attentive listener, his questions thoughtful, his laughter infectious. The meal he prepared was delicious, a perfect balance of flavors that left me both satisfied and impressed.

But it was the dessert that truly took my breath away—a decadent creation that seemed to melt on the tongue, rich and indulgent, a perfect end to the meal.

“Is this peanut butter and chocolate?” I asked him, as I slid my fork into the soft outer shell of the melting chocolate dessert he’d baked for us.

“Yeah,” he replied, flashing me a grin. “Vices, right? We all need them.”

My heart fluttered. Right now, he felt like anything but a vice – he felt like the only thing keeping me afloat in a raging storm.

I mentioned the upcoming Halloween party, explaining the concept and the competition. "That sounds like fun,” he said.

"Yeah, it could be a good way to take my mind off everything," I admitted, feeling a sense of relief at the thought of immersing myself in something wholly unrelated to the turmoil of my personal life.

“Let me know if you need help with your room. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that might come in handy," he offered, a mischievous glint in his eye.

The idea of collaborating with Dante, of spending more time together outside the chaos of campus life, sounded exciting. "I might just take you up on that," I said, a smile tugging at my lips.

After dessert we moved to the couch. Dante cuddled me as we talked. For some reason I brought up Ty’s overdose and asked Dante if he thought Ty was still using.

“Addicts don’t change overnight,” he said, his expression grim. “Sometimes all you can hope is they don’t end up dying from the very thing they’re trying to ease their pain with.”

I wondered if he was talking from personal experience or just his experience of having counseled so many students. In any case, his words caused dark memories to wash over me. As I stared at him, he shook his head and grabbed my hands. “Shit I’m sorry I don’t know why I said that... your mom…Ty. Fuck.”

I smiled weakly. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Let’s go back to talking about other things. Has work been busy?”

He gave me vague answers, obviously not breaking any confidences. I was telling him that I needed to meet up with Bianca when I realized Dante was looking right at me, but his mind had obviously wandered.

“You okay?” I asked Dante.

He blinked. “Sure I am. Why?”

I shrugged. “You seem distracted.”

“Nope. I’m totally in the moment.”

“Really?” I wasn’t convinced.

“Maybe you’re just really boring and I zoned out,” he teased.

“Oh, yeah?” I narrowed my eyes and climbed into his lap. “Let me show you just how boring I can be,” I murmured, pressing my lips against his. I sank into the kiss.

I hadn’t known it, but part of me had been craving this all day. All the tension between me and Ty, it had left me wanting in ways I needed to satisfy. Dante slid his hand to the back of my head, kissing me back with such force it left me dizzy. Then he pulled away sharply, leaving me to catch my breath.

“Yep, I’m so bored right now, I could fall asleep,” he muttered, groaning as I rocked myself against his growing erection. I bit my lip, loving the feel of his thick, hard cock beneath me. Oh, so he wanted to make this a challenge, huh?

“How about now?” I teased, lowering his zipper. I reached into his pants and wrapped my fingers around his cock.

“It’s like watching paint dry,” he grunted as I palmed his length, but his eyes drifted shut as he leaned his head back on the couch. After all the pleasure he’d given me the day before, I wanted nothing more than to get him off.

I slid my hand into his hair, drawing his face to mine, and kissed him again. My fingers slid up and down his shaft as our tongues clashed.

“I think you need a distraction of your own…” I whispered against his lips.

Unfortunately, we both jerked at the sudden pounding on Dante’s door. Both of us groaned loudly, and he locked his hand around mine, stilling it on his gorgeous hard-on.

“Hold that thought?” he asked me. I stole one last kiss and nodded.

“Want me to get that?” I asked, raising my eyebrow at his obvious erection.

“Thanks, but a student answering my door probably isn’t a good look,” Dante muttered, walking awkwardly for the door.

“And answering the door with an erection is?” I called after him, suppressing my laughter.

Dante, with an amused glance back at me, tucked away his erection and opened the door.

When I saw who was on the other side, my eyes nearly popped out of my skull.

It was Kage.

His presence here, now, was both shocking and terrifying. He was pale, a shadow of his usual self, leaning heavily against the doorframe. He looked on the verge of collapse, but he was alive, and he was awake, and before I knew what I was doing, I leapt to my feet and rushed towards him, throwing my arms around him and pulling him in close – inhaling his scent, reminding myself he was alive. He had made it, we had both made it.

When I pulled back, however, I had to fight the urge to land a slap on his cheek for the shit he had put me through.

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"What the fuck are you doing here? You should be in the hospital."

Kage's gaze flicked from me to Dante, a storm brewing in his eyes. "I needed to see you," he said, his voice strained.

"You need to leave," I told him.

“That’s not happening,” he said.

Dante stepped forward. "Kage, you're not well. Let me take you back to the hospital."

But Kage was having none of it. He straightened up, anger flashing in his eyes. "So, this is how it is, huh? I'm in the hospital bleeding out, and you're moving in on my girl?"

"It's not like that, and you know it."

"Plus, I’m not your girl. Not anymore," I interjected, my voice cold.

Kage narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re wrong,” he snapped back.

I was furious. "You're engaged," I said, the words like venom.

He didn’t deny it. Didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed. Kage's gaze shifted to Dante. "I want to talk to Camille alone."

“I don’t want to be alone with you.”

Dante sighed. “Peaches, maybe you should hear him out. If only to get some closure.”

Kage scowled. “We don’t need your fucking permission to talk.”

I took in a shaky breath. “Fine,” I snapped, my heart a heavy stone in my chest. “We’ll talk. And then you’ll leave and leave me alone for good.”

Kage cocked a brow, as if reminding me he didn’t take orders from anyone.

Dante touched my shoulder, and his lips briefly pressed against my forehead in a silent promise of support. "I'll be right outside if you need me," he murmured. Then he said to Kage, “Watch yourself, O’Hare. Say your piece then if she wants you to leave her alone, you’re going to leave her alone.”

Kage snorted. “Or you’ll throw me out of here? I dare you to try.”

Dante shook his head. “You're hurt. I wouldn’t touch you. But if you make this harder for her than it needs to be, when you’re better, I’ll fucking put you back in the hospital myself.”

Once Dante was gone, the room felt smaller. Kage and I stared at one another but then I caught it – the slight sway of his body. He was struggling to stay upright. “For God’s sake, sit down before you fall down, Kage.”

He sank onto Dante’s couch, deliberately put his feet on the coffee table, and examined the place. Then he stared at me while I remained standing, pacing like a caged animal, my thoughts a chaotic storm I couldn't quiet.

“How could you not tell me you were fucking engaged?” I asked. Seeing him in front of me made everything hurt so much more.

Worst of all was the look in his eyes.

Behind his stubborn confidence he looked like he felt sorry for me. The last thing I wanted was his pity.

"Because I’ve been distracted by you, Rebel,” he shot back.

“No, you don’t get to just play this off! You’re engaged! And your mother – the way she talked to me…”

“Hear me out..."

“Here you out?” I repeated with a laugh. “So you can lie to me again?”

He stood and took a step towards me, the electricity crackling between us. I didn’t move. I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me.

“You told me you loved me,” he reminded me. “I don’t get a chance to plead my case before you judge me?”

“I said that before I knew you were lying to me.”

“I never lied to you,” he growled. “I just left some things out?—”

“Like there’s a difference,” I exploded. “You’re fucking engaged!”

Kage’s features darkened. “It’s not like that?—"

“Oh, so you mean you’re not engaged?” I said, sarcasm dripping off my voice.

“You know damn well things aren’t that simple, not in our world,” he growled. “Shit!” He sat down again and dropped his face into his hands.

I watched him, wanting to go to him so badly. But I didn’t.

He’d fooled me once by acting like he cared. He wasn’t fooling me again.