Page 263 of Ruin My Life

I’ve only added a few personal touches: a photo of me and Amie on the desk, a colourful desk pad, and a soft knitted blanket Rebecka gave me after I got out of the hospital.Something cheerful,she said,to remind you that softness doesn’t mean weakness.

I may or may not have also stashed an assortment of easily accessible weapons in every corner. Don’t tell my RA.

I drop my bag by the desk and set the diploma down, but before I can even exhale, the back of my neck prickles.

A presence. A shadow. A familiar heat at my back.

I don’t think. Imove.

My fingers slip under the desk, unholster the pistol strapped there, flick off the safety—

I spin on my heel and press the muzzle into a wall of black.

Andmuscle.

“Good to see Cambridge hasn’t dampened your reflexes,little rose.”

I release the breath I’d been holding.

“You scared theshitout of me,” I exhale, not lowering the gun. If anything, I dig it harder into his ribs. “I could’veshotyou.”

Damon chuckles—dark and low. “If you think you can take me down with that little thing—” He wraps an arm around my waist, yanking me flush to his chest, the pistol trapped between us as his other hand locks around my wrist. “—then maybe I need to remind you just how strong I am.”

In one fluid motion, he spins me until my back hits his chest, my arm pinned, the gun now pointed at my own chin.

“Impressive,” I huff. “But you forgot something.”

“Oh?” His breath ghosts the curve of my ear. “What’s that?”

I hook my leg behind his and drop my weight. We both hit the floor.

His grip loosens just enough for me to break free.

I scramble on top of him, knees planted either side of his waist. My forearm presses to his throat—firm, but playful—and I slide the gun to his temple.

“Monroe trained me for weeks once I got that boot off,” I say sweetly. “And I’ve been keeping up at the campus gym. I’m in the best shape of my life.”

He stares up at me like I just told him I’m the second coming of Christ.

Lust. Admiration. A stupid, reverent kind of awe.

“Just when I thought I couldn’t fall harder, you knock me on my ass.”

My pulse stutters. I flick the safety back on, toss the gun aside, and let my mouth crash onto his—hard.

“I missed you,” I whisper against his lips.

His hands slip under my thighs, lifting me easily as he sits up. “Fuck, Brie. I can’t even put into words how much I’ve missed you.”

I drape my arms around his neck, wrists locking loosely at the nape. “Is that why you couldn’t wait until tomorrow for me to come home?”

“Mm-hm.” He hums into my mouth, fingers sliding under my shirt. “Every time I left, I debated hauling your ass back with me. The only thing that stopped me was knowing how proud I’d be when you graduated.”

He lifts my shirt off, baring my chest to the warm air and his hungry gaze, then tosses it aside.

“And planning your graduation gift.”

I shiver as he undoes my bra clasp with one hand, freeing my breasts to the heat of his stare. “You didn’t have to get me anything,” I breathe, already flushed.