Page 100 of Redeeming the Villain

“Heading back to your dorm room,” he murmurs softly. “We’re almost there.”

Resting my head against Malik’s chest, I bunch his jersey in my fist and squeeze my eyes tight. But the moment I do, I see Rupert’s face inches from mine.

“You’re safe,” Malik whispers to me. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll never get near you again.”

I want to ask how he’s so certain, but right now, I don’t care. I don’t want to think about him. I want to focus on the one who has walked almost a mile with me in his arms.

My heart grows a new soft spot for this boy. “You’ve carried me the whole way?”

He grins down at me. “Sunny helped.”

As the ringing in my ears fades away, I hear her pitter-patter on the concrete next to us. I chuckle. “Yeah, she seems to be carrying a lot of my weight. If you give me a second, I can walk.”

“No,” he states firmly. “I’m carrying you. You need to rest. I don’t care if I had to carry you a hundred miles, I would do it.”

And there he is—that warm, affectionate Malik that I’ve come to lov?—

Whoa. That thought came out of nowhere.

“Are you okay?” He looks down worriedly.

My eyes are wide, but I quickly fix them. “Yeah.”

We reach the front entrance of the dorm building.

“My keys are in my purse,” I tell him, seeing the strap looped over his shoulder.

He smirks deviously. “Don’t need them, remember? I have one of my own.”

I hear his keys jingle beneath me in his hand.

“I forgot you were batshit crazy.”

He winks at me. “Only for you.”

Unlocking the front door, he carries me inside, Sunny right behind us, her leash hooked on Malik’s wrist. When he brings Sunny and me into the elevator, I protest at his chivalry.

“I can walk, Malik. You can put me down.”

“I know,” he murmurs, tightening his hold on me. “But I can’t.”

Unlocking my door, he lets Sunny in first before carrying me through the threshold and setting me down on my bed.

Scooching up against my pillows, I see all of him and recognize that the shoes he’s wearing aren’t his—at least ones I’ve never seen. “Are those yours?” I point at the all-black tennis shoes that look too small for his feet.

He chuckles. “Nope. Borrowed them from our security guy.” He kicks them off.

I don’t want him to leave. I want him to stay here with me, but I also don’t know if that’s something he’d be comfortable with.

“Do you have to go back?” My voice is quiet.

His eyes lift, vulnerability twinkling in his gaze. “You want me to stay?”

Nodding, I scoot over in bed to make room for him.

A smile takes over his lips, revealing that perfect grin. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” I peel the blanket back. “I can change into pajamas if you want your sweatshirt back.”

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