Page 97 of Corrupt Me

The driver parks in front of the estate, and Samuel welcomes us inside. He leads us to the formal dining room, where Cassandra stands in front of the fireplace, sipping from a glass of wine. Her eyes find mine, and her expression is thoughtful as she holds my gaze for a long beat before she plasters a smile on her face.

“How was your vacation?” she asks, gesturing for us to take our seats.

“Too short,” mumbles Blake.

“And all of you were complaining you didn’t want one,” she smiles, appearing pretty proud of herself.

“Anything new?” Kaden asks.

She waves her hand in the air. “That can wait. I want to hear all about your vacation first.”

“Eye-opening and thoroughly satisfying,” says Hunter, smirking. Heat crawls up my neck and cheeks, and I pinch his side. He’s so relaxed he doesn’t even react. He just places a hand on my thigh and leans back.

We move into easy conversation about the trip as dinner is served. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pluck it out inconspicuously. An avalanche of texts from Eric floods my screen. When we went on vacation, I made sure we were untraceable, making the signal ping-pong from one city to another. I also made sure that we were the only ones who could communicate with each other and Cassandra.

“What the fuck does he want?” Hunter asks, and I put my phone away.

“End it, or I’ll end him,” he says, cutting into his steak with more force than necessary.

While the others engage in conversation, I can’t shake this nagging feeling when Cassandra glances my way. Whenever she looks at me, she frowns as if she doesn’t know what to do. The whole situation makes me squirm in my seat.

I force my food down, glancing at the grandfather clock, wishing time would tick by faster. This is definitely a first.

After dinner, we go to say goodbye, and once again, Cassandra’s gaze lingers on me, unsettling my nerves. “Is there something wrong?”

“I need to talk to you. I’ll let you know when.” She dismisses me and worry coats my insides, making me jittery.

Outside, Hunter leans against the Sprinter van, waiting for me. “What is it?”

I shrug, clutching my necklace—it brings me instant comfort. Strange how that piece of jewelry has such a powerful impact on me.

We’re all quiet on the drive back to campus. Everyone unloads their bags and makes their way into the house. As Hunter carries our luggage inside, I open my bedroom door, and he places mine down. Insecurity descends over me. I want him to stay but don’t want to come across as clingy. He cups the back of his neck, opening and closing his mouth several times.

“See you,” I blurt out.

Incredulity flashes in his eyes. “What the fuck? See you?”

“You look like you’re about to freak out, so I spared you,” I say, the hurt clear in my voice.

“Fuck. No. Bailey, look at me.”

It takes everything in me to hold his silver gaze.

“I’m moving in,” he states. His serious tone brooks no argument.

I blink in total disbelief at this development. “What?”

“What did you expect, kitten? Ah, right. You thought we’d go back to how it was. Forgive my stupidity. That was before accepting that I covet you. I don’t know what I am doing, but no more fucking around.” His feet eat the distance between us, and he kisses me, blowing my doubts to smithereens.

He brings back to life every molecule in me.

“Okay,” I say with a bright smile, reflecting how I feel inside—relieved, overjoyed, and excited.

He takes something out of his luggage, and turning over his palm, I see a small snow globe with two crystal human forms melting into each other in their embrace. It looks precious and unique, with golden snow and the bottom recreating the night sky.

“Another present?” I ask, emotions getting the better of me.

“I want you to remember when we gave into each other. Like the globe protects its precious insides, I will protect what we have with everything in me. Never doubt me or us. I’m yours. And you’re mine.”

---