Killer: A Dark College Romance (Hillcrest University Book 5)

by Candace Wondrak

  “I know,” I whispered, knowing it was true. Ash was here for me, and for that, I couldn’t thank her enough—even if I’d been stabbed simply because her crazy ex was jealous. A weird type of murderous compliment. I felt her hand on my face, and she turned my head toward hers. I didn’t have the chance to say anything else before she gently pressed her lips to mine.

  Such a sweet, tender kiss. Soft and slow, the kind of kiss you had with a lover that you feared losing. It was the kind of kiss that made you remember all the good things in life and forget about the bad. I had Ash, and that…that was enough for me. No matter what happened with our father, we had this girl, and neither Declan nor I were willing to give her up. She had us wrapped around her fingers, and never had I found a more comfortable place to be.

  I reached for her, tilting my head to better kiss her back. My fingers weaved through her wet hair, and I felt her lips opening against mine, welcoming my tongue inside. We remained like that for a while, caught in each other’s embrace, time itself ceasing to matter.

  The moment Ash pulled her lips from mine, the moment those beautiful grey eyes stared up at me, I knew we had to take this someplace else. I knew I had to get her in the bedroom, fast. I knew, without a doubt, this girl was my everything.

  I stood up, pulling her with me by her hand. Together we walked to my bedroom, and I gently closed the door once we were both inside. Ash stopped the moment she stared at the floor, at the obviously replaced bits.

  “This was where it happened,” she whispered, her voice faint.

  “Yeah,” I said, a remnant, ghostly feeling rising in my gut. He must’ve come in through the window, even though I wasn’t on the first floor, waited for me to come back into my room to get me. To stab me, to warn me to stay away from Ash.

  Her bare feet stood on the new floor, and she turned to me, her eyes full of concern. “I’m so sorry, Will. I’m so sorry.” As if her words could take back what had been done to me. I’d almost died that night, as terrifying as it was. It was not a night I’d ever want to relive.

  I held onto her sides, stepping us back to the bed as I said, “Don’t worry about it, Ash. I’m okay. Let’s just focus on the now.” Easier said than done for the both of us, I knew, but I also knew we would both try our hardest to forget everything else currently going on. My lying father, and her psychotic ex.

  Right now, it was just us. Me and her.

  This time, when our mouths came together, it was not another slow and steady kiss. This time it was heated, passionate. This time a fire ignited within me, and I knew with my whole heart I needed to have this girl, needed to know what her body felt like when it was against mine…needed to know how she felt with her legs wrapped around me.

  I knew how her mouth felt around my dick, and that memory had gotten me through many lonely nights here, but this—this would end up being so much more.

  Ash sat on the side of my bed, our lips pulling apart as I remained upright. Our gazes locked, and I pulled off my shirt, dropping it to the floor behind me. My dick throbbed in my pants, aching to be released, to be let out. The moment I was shirtless, she moved a hand to my abdomen, lightly touching the scarred area on my side.

  It was honestly a miracle that I was still alive, still here. A miracle, and I was not going to waste this chance. I was going to live my life, and I was not going to hold back.

  “Will,” she whispered my name, a soft caress in the air, her voice falling upon my ears like velvet, smooth and sweet.

  I laid a hand flat above hers, feeling the warmth seep from her palm to my skin. “Shh,” I told her. “It’s okay. No one will take me away from you.” A promise, me swearing to her that try as the world might, it would fail in pulling us apart.

  She helped me out of my jeans, and once I was free of all clothing, I helped her out of hers. It was not a rush to the finish line, it wasn’t a race. We took our time in shedding our clothes, in exploring each other’s bodies as we went. Having those stormy grey eyes roaming my body was one of the best feelings in the world.

  I didn’t need anyone else. I never needed another girl again. Ash was it.

  We collapsed on the bed, me pinning her down, her head on my pillow. I kissed her, tasting her yet again. It was almost hypnotic, how entrancing she was—and it was damn near biblical, how badly I wanted to ravish every inch of her.

  The moment she let out a soft moan into my mouth, I knew I could no longer hold myself back. I had to have her, now.

  I rolled off her, reaching towards the nightstand. My bedroom was pretty bare; all that was in it was my bed, a tiny nightstand, my dresser, and my closet, but it was enough for me. I bet it was enough for Ash, too. She didn’t grow up surrounded by money and wealth, extravagant things that were worthless, in the end. This, I bet, was much more akin to what she was used to.

  It was a good thing I’d had Ash on my mind lately, because it forced me to go to the store and pick a box up. I tore into the thin plastic wrapping, picking the first one I saw. Once the box was back where I was hiding it, I was about to put the condom on, but Ash stopped me.

  She stopped me by saying, in that sweet, deliciously enticing voice, “Let me.”

  If my dick could’ve gotten harder, it would’ve at those two words. Ash plucked the square wrapper from my hands, giving me a sultry look as she bit the corner and tore it open with a single yank of her teeth.

  Okay. Anything this girl did was ridiculously sexy. How the hell was I supposed to handle her?

  Ash rolled the condom on me, going painfully slow, so slow I felt my need for her in my balls. God, this girl drove me nuts. How the hell did Declan keep himself from her for so long? He deserved a medal or something, because I’d known from our first meeting that she was something else.

  Little did I know at the time just how badly I’d grow to need her, to crave her, to desire her in a way I’d desired no one else.

  Once the condom was on, Ash gave me a coy grin, spreading her legs under me, welcoming me to her body, to her most private place. I almost lost it right there, frankly, because I’d never seen such a gorgeous sight. Her thighs quivering below me, her sex already dripping a wetness, signaling she was ready for me, the pink folds of her skin slick.

  I wanted to touch her. I wanted to taste her down there, but I knew I had to have her first. I had to feel her body take every inch of me in, had to hear her moans as I buried myself deep inside of her. I needed to be with this girl in the way only lovers were.

  I guided the tip of my cock to her entrance, meeting her eyes before pushing in, watching her expression morph into one of bliss as I sank into her. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she let out the breathiest moan I’d ever heard.

  Being inside of her was like heaven on earth. It was indescribable how amazing it felt, how tight she was, how her inner core seemed to clench around my length, as if not wanting it to ever leave. We were one in this moment, and it was a moment I would remember forever.

  I started to thrust, withdrawing my hips just enough to feel her core drag along my length. My arms cradled around her head, and I leaned my face near hers, already breathing hard, already feeling that tingly, aching sensation in my balls. She felt so good, it was unreal. This had to be a dream—and if it was, I never wanted this sweet dream to end.

  My heart beat fast as I picked up the pace, pushing into her harder, deeper. I let my body guide me, let my instincts take over. This…I was finally making Ash mine. I was marking this girl as mine, and would remember this night until the day I died.

  Did that make me as obsessive as Travis? Maybe. Did I care? Not a single bit.

  Right now, all I could think was: Ash is mine.

  She writhed under me, her body hot and lithe, her back arching as I thrust into her. Her head was turned to the side, her damp hair a halo around her head. She was an angel, and I…I didn’t know what I was. I didn’t know whether I was an angel like her or a devil like Travis. If I had the choice, I’d be the former. I’d always choose
the light, as long as that was where Ash was.

  Her chest heaved against mine, both of us breathing hard. My lower gut burned with the need to release, and I felt it building inside of me until I couldn’t fight it anymore. Until pleasure washed over me in a wave of ecstasy, of pure bliss. My eyelids slammed shut as I let out a groan, pushing myself as deep into her as I could, filling her up with each hard inch of me. I erupted into the condom, the rubber catching my seed, not dulling the pleasurable sensation at all. This…her…it would never get old.

  I didn’t pull out of her right away, not wanting this feeling to end, not wanting to be away from her. Not being inside of her, it would feel like an immeasurable loss. My chest burned with heavy breaths, and I was slow to open my eyes and meet her pretty stare.

  She said nothing, sluggishly lifting an arm and running her fingers along my face, the tender touch sending my nerves into overdrive. The small touch heated me up all over again, made my dick twitch inside of her. It was still hard—I bet I could go again if I tried. I bet I could have her again and again and never tire of her.

  But that wouldn’t be fair to Declan. No, this would have to be enough for right now.

  And it was, because I’d finally found where I belonged: in her arms.

  The night passed in a blur. Ash eventually passed out in my bed, and I left her. Declan was in my small kitchen, making some late-night food. I was hungry, too. I hadn’t eaten dinner, since I knew they were both coming over, provided they succeeded in capturing Ray. Too nervous, too antsy. I knew if Ash came over, things with us would progress.

  I didn’t regret what we did; I only regretted that I waited so long to do it, to be with her, to feel her tight core wrapped around me. Hell, it was impossible to keep my mind off her now that I knew how amazing she felt.

  Declan met my eyes. He was making some pizza rolls in the oven, and he’d put enough in for me, too. He leaned on the counter, giving me a dimpled smile. “She asleep?”

  I nodded, running a hand through my hair. Declan’s hair was a bit messy, its brown lengths sticking every which way, as it had been after he’d gotten out of the shower. It’d been a really, really long shower.

  “I really hope everything calms down,” Declan went on. “With Ray gone…I thought things would get easier, but then the police and Dad—”

  “You really don’t think Dad is capable of doing anything wrong, do you?” I asked, watching as Declan’s posture straightened. Our stares locked, and a sudden seriousness grew on his face.

  “And you do?”

  “I think,” I said, choosing my words carefully, “I think everyone is capable of anything. I think everyone just has different limits.”

  “And you think Dad has reached that limit? Dad’s…Dad.”

  I heaved a sigh. “There are things about Dad that you don’t know, Declan.” I heard his breathing stop for a moment, and I knew I’d said too much. Declan’s mouth was open, and he was seconds from asking me to clarify, and I wondered in that split-second what the hell I was going to tell him.

  I couldn’t tell him the truth. It would shatter him. I just needed Dad gone, my revenge had, without hurting my little brother. Was that so wrong of me?

  Luckily, a sound from the bedroom rose through the air. It almost sounded like…not exactly a scream, but something like it. Choking. Declan and I locked stares, and we both hurried to my bedroom, where we found Ash on the floor. She must’ve rolled out of bed, her bottom half naked, her body wearing nothing more than my t-shirt.

  One of her hands rested on her chest, balled up into a fist. Her mouth was open, and she breathed hard and loud, almost too fast. Her eyes were open and wide, and she looked at us, a look of fear on her face. Her whole body trembled, and she looked the very opposite of how she normally was.

  Was this a panic attack?

  Declan dropped to his knees in front of her, grabbing her by the shoulders, forcing her eyes to meet his. “It’s okay, Ash. It’s okay. Focus on your breathing, slow it down.” He breathed in through his mouth and out through his nose, demonstrating how she should breathe.

  The way Declan acted right now, it was almost as if he’d seen this before, that it had happened before. I stood in shock, watching as Declan went on.

  “It’s okay,” he said again, sounding genuine, totally worried over this girl—and I couldn’t blame him. She was everything to us, and to see her breaking down like this, even while knowing Travis and his weird family were taking care of Ray, broke my heart. “No one is here to hurt you.”

  Ash’s grey eyes had a difficult time in focusing on Declan. I knew she had to hear him, had to feel his hands on her, but it was almost like she wasn’t in her own head, like she was a thousand miles off, stuck in a land of anxiety and panic. I hated seeing her like this; I wanted to sweep her into my arms and tell her that everything was going to be okay.

  And it would be.

  Things would calm down after this, I would see to it. I would do anything and everything to make this girl feel safe again. It was something Ray had taken from her, and I knew it was something that would take a long time to reform. She probably thought she’d never feel safe again, that this would forever be the state of her life.

  Not on my watch.

  There were two people in this world I would do anything to protect—Declan and Ash. They were my world, they were everything. It wasn’t hard to imagine throwing everything I’d ever known to the wind for either of them. Ash would never ask me to do something like that, but still, it didn’t change the fact that I would, without hesitation.

  After a while, Ash’s breathing calmed down, and she was once again in control of her body. I’d knelt beside her and Declan, knowing if I reached for her, it would be too much. Declan had her in his arms, and I simply watched as she turned her face into the crook of his neck, burying herself away. Declan and I locked eyes, and I knew this girl needed patience, love, and kindness, among a whole horde of other things.

  Travis was not the kind of man who could give any of that to her. I was. Declan was.

  So it was settled.

  After our father was out of the picture, I’d help Ash see the truth. I’d help her realize how awful of a person Travis was, and that he was no good for her sanity or well-being—and should that fucker Sawyer ever show his face here again, I’d do the same thing.

  Sawyer and Travis had spent so long making Declan’s life miserable. Once I walked that campus, I’d make sure to return the favor.

  Chapter Fifteen – Ash

  Monday came all too soon, and when it did, when Declan and I returned to the room to get ready for class, I refused to think about it. That man…he was dead, and he would no longer dominate any part of my mind, or my memories. I would lock them away with a key I would promptly lose, and never think of them again.

  Easier said than done, though. I knew Ray would never truly be gone from my life, even if he no longer walked this earth.

  And he didn’t. He didn’t walk these streets any longer. Travis assured me of it.

  Lincoln and Markus had left in the middle of the night, taking the body with them, doing whatever it was they did to such things. I didn’t want to linger on it, didn’t want to think that Travis came from a family that had a routine to get rid of bodies. Thoughts like that made me realize that I hadn’t gone too far from my psycho after all. Ray might’ve been gone, but Travis was here, and I was currently trying to ignore the harsh truth of his family all because I felt more than I should for him.

  All of these guys, I liked more than I should.

  Like, love, whatever. At this point I wasn’t some happy-go-lucky girl who loved love and all the rainbows and fuzzy feelings that came with it. I was cynical, disillusioned, and totally done with the drama. For once in my life, I just needed everything to press pause and go slow. I needed to take it easy from here on out, focus on my classes, on my upcoming exams, all that fun shit.

  Okay, that shit wasn’t really fun, but it was at least nor
mal, compared to everything else.

  Of course, that’s what I thought, what I wanted, but would it be what I got? Probably not. I mean, did a normal girl have to make a quick stop at the local police station before her classes to talk to an officer about her murderous ex?

  No. The answer to that was always no. Normal girls had boy problems, and those boy problems usually didn’t involve calculated, premeditated murder.

  The police station wasn’t too far from Hillcrest’s campus, so with my backpack around my shoulders, I chose to skate there. I had a small jacket on, zipped up, frayed jeans pulled down over my high tops. My beanie sat on my head, stopping my hair from whipping around too much. The wind slapped my face, a bit too cold, but from what I heard, this weather wasn’t quite normal for this area. This area usually stayed pretty warm, even during the winter.

  Hm. Maybe the weather had taken a clue from the current state of my life and decided to match it, turning cold, chilly, and windy.

  The only thing that made me unsure about what I was going to do was that Markus wasn’t here with me, advising me on what to say. He’d said I could always contact him, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I didn’t want Travis to have to owe his family more than he already did because he’d gotten Markus and Lincoln to help.

  I had to take responsibility for whatever happened next, whether it was me walking free or the police arresting me for accessory to murder or something. I would do it without Markus’s help; my life would get better now that he and Lincoln were gone.

  It wasn’t like I planned on admitting everything to the police. No, just a few things. Just a few things that I hoped would link Ray to everything that had happened at Hillcrest and the surrounding area these past few months.

  Months.

  God, was that all it had been? Felt like years since I first stepped foot on Hillcrest’s campus, wide-eyed and smug, thinking I owned the world and everything in it, ready to play whatever juvenile games Sawyer threw my way.

  How foolish I’d been. How utterly stupid and naive.