What do you say we play a little game, Harper? (Harper's POV)

Ellis didn't answer my question. He picked up his books, turned around, and walked away without a word.

I stood there watching his retreating figure, my mind full of questions. I'd just saved him, hadn't I? Fine, maybe he didn't feel the need to thank me — but that look he'd given me. What was that about?

I remembered I had craft class that afternoon, so I pushed the thought aside and hurried off.

It was a free-form session — make whatever you want. I made a cake.

After class, I carried the cake straight back to the Student Villa.

The moment I walked in and saw Vaughn, my good mood evaporated. "Vaughn," I said quietly, "good afternoon."

Vaughn's lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. He crooked a finger at me. "Bring the cake over here."

"I — "

"Save it." He cut me off, his gaze lazily amused. "I said bring it over."

There was a threat in his eyes that I didn't miss. If I didn't comply, there was no telling what he might do. I walked toward him slowly, cake in hand, and set it on the table in front of him.

"Vaughn," I said carefully, "did you want some? I'm not sure the baking is very good — "

His hand shot out and seized my wrist. One sharp pull, and the room tilted around me as I was yanked off balance and sank heavily into the couch cushions.

Vaughn braced himself above me, leaning down until his nose nearly grazed my forehead. He let out a low laugh, his breath warm against my face. "Harper, I saved you this afternoon. Aren't you going to thank me for that?"

The heat of his breath made my whole body go rigid. I turned my head to the side instinctively, trying to put some distance between us — but his fingers caught my chin and turned me back to face him.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was low and rough, carrying the faint edge of a smile. "I'm not going to eat you."

Before I could say a word, he dipped his head and pressed his lips to mine. His tongue pushed past my teeth, curling around mine, and the soft, wet sound of it filled the space between us. I brought my hands up to push him away.

He caught both my wrists and pinned them above my head.

His other hand traveled slowly up my side, climbing from my waist to my chest. Even through the fabric of my shirt, the touch made my body go soft and unsteady, a tingling warmth spreading through me like an electric current I couldn't control.

A moan slipped out of me before I could stop it, my body shifting against him without permission.

No. This wasn't — I couldn't —

Vaughn felt it. He drew back from my lips slowly, the amusement in his eyes deepening. "Looks like you're enjoying yourself."

I was still catching my breath. "I — I am not."

His dark eyes stayed fixed on me. "What do you say we play a little game, Harper?" he said, his voice rough at the edges.

Something uneasy stirred in my chest.

Then I watched as Vaughn reached over, took a piece of the cake, and began spreading it across my face, my neck, my chest — until my entire upper body was smeared with cream.

The sticky, cloying sensation made my skin crawl. I wanted to wipe it off, but my wrists were still locked in his grip above my head, and I couldn't move.

Vaughn looked down at me, his throat moving as he swallowed. Then he lowered his head and dragged the flat of his tongue slowly along my collarbone, licking the cream away.

The sensation rolled through me like a wave. My back arched off the couch, my toes curling tight inside my shoes, and a sound escaped my throat that I couldn't hold back.

He lifted his head. There was still a trace of cream at the corner of his mouth, and he smiled at me with deliberate laziness. "Tastes good."

"Vaughn — that's enough — "

"Enough already?" He dropped his head and bit down lightly on my chest, then worked the spot slowly with his lips. "I don't think I'm close to done."

I gasped, my head falling back. "Let go — let me go — "

"Ask me nicely," he said against my skin.

I fought through the sensation cresting through me, my legs shifting restlessly against the cushions.

"Please — please let go — "

He released me.

But before I could exhale in relief, he began working his way back up, mouth tracing the path the cream had left, tongue moving in slow strokes up toward my collarbone. Every so often his teeth would close lightly on my skin — a brief, sharp sting — and then his warm lips would follow, smoothing it over.

I squirmed, and my thigh brushed against his hip. He made a low, stifled sound, and the arm bracing him above me went taut for a moment.

"Stop moving," he said, his voice badly frayed.

I could see something dark shifting in his eyes. My heart was pounding, my thoughts in disarray — and my body felt as though every ounce of resistance had been drained out of it.

Vaughn released my wrists. His fingertips grazed the inside of my elbow, and the touch sent a shiver straight through me.

I pressed both palms flat against his chest and tried to push him off.

He didn't move.

Panic edged in. If this kept going, he was going to find out. I started struggling in earnest, twisting and pushing against him.

"Stop," he said sharply.

I didn't. I kept moving, and then my leg shifted — and I felt something hard press against me.

Heat rushed to my face so fast it made me dizzy.

Vaughn —

"You know something, Harper?" His voice dropped low. "Has anyone ever told you that when you blush like that, you look just like a girl?"

My whole body locked up. "You're the one who — I'm a man," I shot back, my voice cracking. "A man."

"Is that right?"

He gave a quiet laugh and slipped his hand beneath the hem of my shirt, his palm settling flat against my bare skin. The cool touch of his fingers made me go completely still.

His hand didn't stop. It moved downward in a slow, deliberate path — fingertips brushing the edge of my navel, circling idly — and then paused, hooking over the waistband of my pants.

"Vaughn." His name came out of me broken and unsteady.

If his hand went any further, everything would come out.

His dark eyes held mine, leaving no room for argument. "Harper. Let go."

"No — "

He bit my lower lip. The sharp pain made my grip loosen for just a second, and his fingers slipped inside.

Then he stopped.

I saw the look on his face — startled, disbelieving — and my heart dropped straight to the floor.

He'd found out. He had to have found out.

I shoved him with everything I had. Caught off guard, Vaughn fell back against the cushions beside me.

"Harper, you're — " he started.

My heart was in my throat.

"Why are you wet down there?"

The breath I'd been holding came out all at once.

He hadn't figured it out. Not really.

And just like that, a plan began to take shape.