The Bad Guy

His touch started a chain reaction. Desire sparked inside me and flowed out to the edges of my senses. My stomach tightened, and I wondered what happened to all the air in the room. His pupils expanded, the black swallowing up the indulgent green until only a slight rim of color remained. There was something animalistic in it, as well as the way he loomed over me. My breath quickened as he let his fingers trail down the side of my neck to my shoulder.

I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I got the acute feeling that some part of me had just cheated on Link. The part that longed for Sebastian’s fingers to rove farther, to explore more than was allowed on school grounds. His cool smile hid a darkness, one that I could feel seeping from him and caressing me with terrible promises.

Gregory cleared his throat. “We need to finish the tour and get back to the headmistress’ office.”

The spell broke, and I stepped away from Sebastian.

“It was a pleasure, as always.” He gave me a small nod before turning to follow Gregory, who gave me a wide-eyed look before disappearing down the hall.

I sank into the chair at my desk as my door clicked closed. My heart still thundered, beating to a frenetic rhythm. How did he do that to me with nothing more than a simple touch?

Veronica’s warning whispered through my mind. “Stay away from him.”

Maybe she was right.

10

Sebastian

My hands balled into fists as I watched Link kiss her goodbye on her front stoop. Him and his fucking pink Polo shirt and khaki pants with the pleats, daring to touch my property as if it were his. My need to annihilate him rose up and crashed down like a heavy ocean wave. I was still toying with the idea of killing him, though I’d decided against it…mostly. The enjoyment I’d get from watching him squirm would be worth it. What little joy I’d found in my life usually came at the suffering of someone else.

Anton loaded Camille’s bags into the back of the limo as I waited impatiently for my new toy to arrive. Link finally released her, and she strode down the sidewalk of the small cottage only a few hundred yards from the entrance to Trenton. Her hips swayed in her simple jeans, and her jacket hid most of her curves. I almost salivated at the thought of having her naked and under my control.

She was so close, but then he called something to her that made her step falter, and she stopped. Impatience swelled in me, right along with curiosity. What had he said?

She winced, then turned and waved. Her response must not have been what he expected, because he crumpled a bit as she reached the car. I grinned and imagined how heartbroken he’d be in a few weeks when he received the report of her fatal accident in the Amazon.

I turned my head to look out the opposite window lest Link get a view of me as Anton opened the door. The car shifted, and a cold draft of air brought her sweet scent to me. Once Anton closed her door, I turned to her.

“Sebastian?” Her eyebrows shot up high on her forehead. “What are you doing here?”

Anton got into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb. The trap was closing around my Camille, but she didn’t sense the danger. Fear didn’t pass across her eyes, only confusion.

“I’m close friends with Dr. Williams.” Only half a lie. I was well acquainted with Timothy, my servant who played Dr. Williams on the phone a few times. “So I figured I’d see you off.”

“Oh.” Her fingers tangled together in her lap and she fell silent for a moment. Then she pinned me with a sharp look. “Are you the reason I got invited to this expedition?”

I smiled. “You could say that.”

Her eyes brightened, her whole demeanor opening up to me. “That is so…oh my god…so generous of you!” She took my hand, her warmth flowing into me. I greedily accepted it, as if I were a vampire leeching away her life.

“Think nothing of it. I was impressed with your dedication and knowledge. It seemed only natural that I pull what strings I had to get you on the right path.” The one leading to me.

“This is too much, really.” She pulled her hand from mine. “Sorry about that.”

“You can touch me.”

Pink flared in her cheeks and she inspected the floor of the limo. “I just had no idea.” Her forehead wrinkled. “And I thought I got the spot on my own merit.”

“You did.” Pride was an emotion I actually understood. It was part of self-preservation, a series of protocols at the monstrous core of every human. “You are uniquely suited to this expedition. In fact, no one else will do.”