Page 16 of His to Ruin

Do it. Fucking try it.

Christian doesn’t move. He just stares at the guy, shoulders squared, as if daring him to follow through. There’s somethingreckless about it, something that makes my hunger rise despite my rage. He’s been around me too long. He’s getting bold.

The bully smirks like he’s going to make good on his unspoken threat…

And then Kaleb steps in.

“Get the fuck out,” Kaleb growls, his voice like a low warning shot.

The bully sneers, looking him up and down. “And if I don’t?”

Kaleb doesn’t move, but there’s something dangerous in the way he holds himself. A coiled tension in his frame, like a spring waiting to snap. I like this dude. “You won’t like what happens next.”

The guy hesitates. For a moment, I think he might be stupid enough to push it further. To touch Christian. To force my hand even when I have nothing left to give.

But then he scoffs, like it’s all some big joke, and steps back. “Whatever, man.” He shoots Christian a final look, something ugly slithering behind his eyes. “Don’t forget, you won’t always have someone to save your ass.”

He’s wrong about that. He will always have me. And I will burn any motherfucker who comes near him. Except during the day. Fuck being a sleep demon.

He walks out.

The second the door swings shut behind him, I move. Not toward Christian. No, no. I’m too pissed for that. I focus on Kaleb, stepping up into the shadows behind him and pressing an invisible, ghost-light pat to his forehead.

Kaleb shivers, like a cold breeze just crawled down his spine, and glances around. His brows pinch together, sensing something he can’t see.

Christian mutters a thanks, but his voice is distracted. Tense.

Good. He should be concerned. Because I heard what he said. He needs to be reminded who exactly he belongs to. But first, I have to take care of this asshole as soon as fucking possible.

11

CHRISTIAN

“There’s no way I’m letting you walk home alone with that raging asshat out there,” Kaleb declares with his arms folded across his broad chest. He’s blocking the doorway out of the back employee office with his giant frame. His shoulders are nearly as wide as the opening.

As much as I appreciate his care and concern, I don’t really want him getting involved. He’s my coworker and one of the only normal and healthy relationships I seem to have going for me right now, I don’t want to fuck up his life with all my chaos. Kaleb’s dirty blonde hair is slicked back and perfectly styled away from his face, allowing me to make out the pure determination painted across his face. His square jaw is rigid with tension. He’s one of the good ones.

“Kaleb,” I begin as I spin to grab my bag off the hook. It’s still covered in dirt but at least it's dried out. Unfortunately, there’s no sign of my cell phone inside. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s not too dark out yet and I’ll stick to the well-lit path.”

“Nope, not a chance,” Kaleb says, unmoving. “It’s not a question. It’s a statement. I’m giving you aride home.” He levels me with a serious look. “That guy seemed like he was looking for trouble. You don’t need any trouble. I’m your friend. Just let me make sure you get home in one piece, alright?”

His offer is kind. He’s a good guy. I just don’t want him to feel like he has to take care of me. I hate feeling like a burden.

“What about Melisa?” I ask him, hoping that bringing up his very cute, very blonde and bubbly girlfriend will help him forget about his savior complex.

It doesn’t work.

“She’s working late tonight,” he responds with a quirk of his eyebrow. “I have plenty of time to drop you at home then make it over to her work.”

I’m not sure why I’m fighting Kaleb so much on this. I should be scared of this homophobic psycho that seems to have it out for me. But I think there’s some twisted and delusional part of my mind that’s holding onto the hope that my dirty nightmare about the demon fucking me in the woods might repeat itself. I know that’s ridiculous, demons aren’t real. It must have all been a dream or a figment of my imagination or something. I’m being foolish, I should take the ride.

“Alright, thanks Kaleb. That’s nice of you,” I concede.

With a pleased look, Kaleb moves from the doorway to grab his own coat from the hooks. The feeling of something rubbing against my ankle causes me to jump. I glance down swiftly but all that’s there are shadows. A sudden sense of dread washes over me as I watch the shadows twist and twirl around my ankles. I can feel it—the unmistakable sense of eyes watching me. The chill that creeps up my spine is eerily familiar, like long fingers teasingly stroking each one of my vertebrae. Goosebumps ripple across my skin. It feels like there’s someone behind me, their hands and eyes touching me like a phantom made of smoke luring me into the shadows.

“Ready?” Kaleb asks, causing me to startle. I jump backwards slightly, bumping into the table behind me. I could swear I feel strong hands wrap possessively around my core to steady me.

“Yeah,” I mumble, shaking off the feeling. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”