Page 47 of Corrupt Me

I’d eat you alive.

I’d corrupt you until you’d be unrecognizable.

Stay away, Bailey.

I stayed away until the attack, and then he couldn’t stay away. The line is so blurred; no wonder I am confused.

When it’s time to go to classes, I change quickly. Plucking an apple from the fruit basket, I head to campus, ignoring that we have to come and go in pairs.

Long after the class ends, I am still going through digitizing the Family’s archives when the door shuts and Hunter stalks inside.

“Don’t do that again.”

“What? Go to class?”

“I can’t chase you around 24/7, Bailey.”

“Then stop,” I say, knowing full well he won’t. He didn’t come back last night, which made everything worse in my Hunter-sick brain. I don’t know why I thought things between us would change after that kiss. But no, let’s keep ignoring whatever this is.

This is his damn problem—always my safety. That’s his only motivation. It’s not about me. Never was. I shove my laptop into my backpack and stride over to him.

“You’re a control freak.”

“And you just figured that out now?”

I push a finger into his chest, but he remains an unmovable stone. At least become a freaking hot stone and bury me under your heat.

“We should go back to ignoring each other,” I snap.

“Fine,” he snaps back.

We glare at each other. Neither of us wants to be the one who ends the staring battle. For once, I want him to be the one who loses and gives in. It will never happen, so I turn around, but not before saying, “You’re a game I keep losing. One day, I’ll have enough, though.”

“Oh, kitten, I’ll make sure that day will never bloody come.”

We’re trapped in chaos, the two of us. The world could fall into entropy, and we’d still be fighting.

My mood takes a deep dive over the next few hours. Eric hasn’t been to classes today, but my luck ends as we have a date.

In my room, I slip into a long cashmere dress. It molds to my body with a high slit up the side. I add high heels and run my fingers through my hair for some volume. I went extra tonight so I can get a reaction out of Hunter. I want him to eat his words. Fine. I’ll show him fine. The rational part of me whispers it’s for the best, but my heart screams, wanting its pound of flesh. Rationality vanished once he crashed into my life.

“Is that a revenge dress?” Abi asks from the edge of the bed, doing her manicure. “You know Hunter is your shadow tonight, right?”

“No, it’s… He makes me crazy, Abi. This is my pathetic attempt at getting his attention.”

“I did worse things to get Dane’s attention.”

“That guy was obsessed with you since the beginning.”

“And Hunter has been conflicted about you.”

Yep, what a fairytale love story.

But I am done. Because of our proximity, the boundaries have shifted. It won’t be a problem to stay away if we’re not in each other’s space all the time.

When I walk into the living room, Hunter has a glass in his hand, and he sputters the drink. “Go change.” His intense gaze could set me on fire.

“Excuse me?”

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