Dark Vow (Blackwoods College)

“You’re moving onto campus?” She laughed as if that were insane.

And fair enough, it was. I could waltz into student housing like some second son of a hedge fund manager. I had a reputation to uphold.

“No, not on campus, but right next to it. I’m sick of secluding myself from the world. I don’t have to do that anymore.”

Which was true. For so long, I lived with one foot in this world and the other in my family’s business. I couldn’t commit myself to being happy at Blackwoods because I knew it could all go away at any moment. My father could rip me from here and shove me into the Solar company.

Not anymore. It wasn’t official yet, but it would be soon. My mother accepted my offer, and now she’d work her magic breaking the news to my brothers and to my father. There’d be a fight. There might even be blood.

But it was over.

She drifted closer. “I overreacted. Again. I’m sort of a mess right now.”

“I can’t blame you. We’ve been through a few fucked-up days.” I watched her carefully, my heart beating a wild hole in my chest. “I’m happy you came.”

“I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have said what I said back there in the church. I was just so mad, and so confused, and Calvin, you don’t have to give everything up for me—”

“Stop, Robyn, please.” I held up a hand and went to her. I put my hands on her hips and steered her back, pinning her to a bare wall again.

I loved the feeling of her hipbones on my palms. She was warm and soft and luxurious. She was sensual and kind and everything I wanted, but was never able to have.

She gasped when I kissed her but melted into my embrace. She moaned as my hands roamed her body and my tongue invaded her mouth. I held nothing back. I was tired of holding back. I wanted more, wanted better. I didn’t want to be the monster that ran the Solar empire. I could be anything at all now. The options were endless.

And yet all I wanted was to be Robyn’s husband.

She was breathless when I broke off the kiss.

“I love you,” I said, touching her lower lip with my thumb. “I’m giving up my place with my family so that I can finish college with you. Maybe you don’t want to stay my wife. I can’t force you to. But I won’t leave.”

She began to blink. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Calvin.”

“Oh, shit. What did I say? Don’t cry.” I tried to wipe them away.

She kissed me gently. “I love you.”

It was my turn to stare.

For so long, I’d dreamed of hearing those words leave her perfect lips. I’d imagined it, over and over.

This was better than even my most perfect vision.

“I love you too.”

“I don’t know when it happened, but I fell for you. I don’t want a divorce. I don’t want any of that stupid stuff. I want to be with you. I want you to stay.”

“Then I’ll stay. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Your family’s really going to let you go?”

“They didn’t have much of a choice.”

“And Matthias?”

I shrugged, kissed her neck. “Fuck them. Not my problem.”

She swatted at my arm. “You’ll have to help him, you know. You got him into this.”

I sighed and nodded. “I know. Can we just pretend we’re regular college students for one night?”

She grinned. “What do regular college students do?”

“They fuck all night. Or until you collapse in exhaustion, covered in sweat and cum. Either way.”

She slapped my arm, but grinned wider. “You’re disgusting. Tell me more.”

I laughed and dragged her to the bedroom.

Thankfully, I hadn’t begun to break it down yet.

“When I get my new place, I want you to move in,” I said as I undressed her, pulling off her shirt.

She yanked off mine. “I will, but not yet. I need to make sure my mom’s okay first.”

“Then you’re all mine.” I kissed her neck, her chest, her collarbone.

She looked into my eyes. “I’m all yours.”

I shoved her back onto the bed and followed.

29

Robyn

Several Months Later

I lounged back on the towel and stretched my legs out far. Campus was beautiful when it was empty, and I loved lying in the middle of the quad with nothing to do but feel the sun on my body. I watched fluffy clouds drift over deep blue sky and wondered when it would all disappear.

Nothing good ever lasted. I learned that the hard way, again and again.

At least, until I married Calvin.

For some reason, that was lasting, and it showed no signs of slowing down. My heart was heavy and full, and my days were lighter—because of him.

Calvin reached over and touched my thigh. “You okay?”

I looked at him over my sunglasses. “I’m good. Just thinking.”