Perfect Villain (Dark Lies Duet 1)

Finally, he’s seeing the light. Christian doesn’t strike me as being slow on the uptake—no, his brain moves at lightning speed to where he always seems to be a step or two ahead of me—so it’s surprising it took so long for him to catch up.

“It would kill me if anything happened to her because of me.”

“You’re a good person.”

If I were a good person, I would’ve told her about my safety concerns before we moved in. I won’t bother sharing that self-admonishment with him, since I don’t feel like bringing the whole argument up again.

“Have you considered moving out?” he ventures. “That way, she’d be in the clear. You wouldn’t be together anymore.”

I drop onto the couch and stare at the wall across from me. A wall I might not be looking at for much longer. Now that he said the words out loud, the answer is obvious. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. The only way to secure Kyla’s safety—and maybe get us back to being friends again, back to before she resented me—is to get out of here. To take myself out of the equation.

“You’re right,” I decide, and I feel the truth of my words settling into my bones. “I should move. I guess I could live on campus.”

“Could you? In the middle of the term? I’m not an expert on how these things work, but wouldn’t that be the sort of thing that has to wait until the beginning of the next semester?”

I’m sure he’s right. This isn’t the same as reserving a hotel room.

“I have a friend I could stay with.” I’m sure Cynthia wouldn’t mind having me, especially considering why I’d be moving.

“Not that I’m trying to dissuade you, but wouldn’t that put your friend in potential danger if he sees you living with her?”

“No. Not Cynthia. She knows everything there is to know about this person, whoever they are. She’s prepared for whatever happens.” And if I so much as hinted at what happened earlier, she would demand I come home. I have no doubt about that.

But I’ve already asked so much from her. We’ve moved around so many times thanks to me and this obsessive monster whose penis I evidently enjoy being forced to suck. Don’t think about that. You couldn’t help the way your body reacted. I wonder how many times I’ll have to repeat that to myself before I believe it.

“You know, there’s a simple solution to your problem.”

“What’s that?”

“You could move in with me. For the time being, of course. It wouldn’t have to be a permanent arrangement. Just until you find a new place to live. In the meantime, you’ll be safe. So will Kyla.”

Move in with him? My heart skips a beat, though not entirely thanks to the pleasure of knowing Christian will take this step for my sake. What man in his right mind would invite a girl he hardly knows to stay with him? Especially one with the sort of baggage I’m bringing along?

I sweep away memories of the alley in favor of another memory. A memory of pleasure so intense I wasn’t sure I’d stay in one piece, afraid I’d fall apart from the force. He knows how to touch me. He knows the right things to growl in my ear while he drives me to heights I never knew existed. Taj certainly never made me feel that good. Not even close.

I’d have to be out of my mind to ignore that in the face of his offer. There’s no doubt in my mind we have something special between us—like fate brought us together—but at the end of the day, men are always going to think a certain way. What if he takes my agreement as a green light to go as far as he wants, whenever he wants?

Would that be so bad?

“I don’t know,” I murmur while chewing my lip. “I’d only end up putting you in harm’s way. Would you even want to take that kind of risk?”

“Do I strike you as the type who shies away in the face of risk? Or have you already forgotten the way I encouraged you to fly around that track?”

Good point. It wouldn’t have to be permanent, either. He said so. I could live with him for the rest of the semester, then make other arrangements for on-campus housing. Right?

“Are you sure you want me to do this?”

“Siân.” Something about the way he says my name makes it sound like music, the melody rolling over my body. “I never make an offer I don’t intend to make good on. Don’t you know by now how important you are? How I would kill anybody who tried to hurt you? You’re safe with me. You will always be safe with me.”

He means it. I’ve never been so sure of anything. That certainty is what it takes to make up my mind. “Okay. Let’s do it.”