Page 92 of Saint

“It’s for a paper.”

“I’m sure it is.” He plants his hand on my lap again, but this time, he wraps it over where I’m fidgeting my fingers. “What’s wrong?”

“Should we be doing this?” I ask, my eyes darting to the group around us, even if they aren’t paying attention. “Here?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Doesn’t it look suspicious?” I lean in. “Everyone knows I was dating Liam when he disappeared.”

“And now you’re not.” His tone is angry, as if he doesn’t appreciate the reminder, and I shouldn’t blame him.

“I know I’m not.” I lace my fingers through his, and he surprises me by allowing it. “I just don’t want to draw attention to you because of it.”

Kole stares at me. His dark eyes trace my face like his thumb traces the back of my hand. The pinch between his eyebrows hints he’s as confused to hear that as I was when I said it.

I want to protect him, whether that makes sense to me or not.

He brushes the back of my hand with his thumb. “You’re mine, Violet.”

“I know.”

“Then you should know I’m going to make sure no one will question that again. I don’t care about the rumors. You’re fuckingmine. And they’re going to have to deal with it.”

His grip over my hands tightens. The intensity in his gaze makes me lose my breath.

“Okay.” I nod, knowing there’s no point arguing.

There’s still so much about Kole I don’t understand. But he’s made one thing clear. Once he’s decided on something, he doesn’t waver. And deep inside, where all the things I deny fester, I don’t want him to change his mind about this.

“Did you mean what you said to me this weekend?”

“About what?” He tips my chin to face him fully. “I said lots of things.”

My gaze darts around, but no one’s paying attention. Declan is now battling with Patience and Mila over something on their socials while Maddox has abandoned the table to hit on some girl across the library.

“Violet?” Kole drags my attention back to him.

“When we were in the basement, you said you haven’t touched anyone since you first saw me.” The words rush out before I can stop them.

It’s not important, given all the other more pressing things I should be focusing on right now. But it’s those few words that burrowed the moment he said them.

“I wouldn’t lie to you about that.” Kole releases my chin but doesn’t take his eyes off me.

“What about before that?”

I chew the inside of my cheek because I should shut up now. These aren’t things I really want to know. But sitting here in his arms, knowing I’ve handed him everything, I’m a raw nerve.

“Do you really want me to answer that question?”

Against better judgment, I nod.

Kole is obsessive. He stalked me for a year before making a move. And I can’t help but wonder if it was because of his interest in me specifically or if his attention will fade now that I’m caught in his trap.

“That wasn’t my first time having sex,” he answers honestly, his expression passive. “I lost my virginity when I was fourteen. My stepdad said it was a rite of passage.”

“That’s young.” And disturbing, given it sounds like it might not have been fully his decision.

Kole nods. “And anything after was just sex—me trying to figure out why it didn’t scratch the itch like everyone said it would. Nothing did until you.”