“Unlikely to the first, impossible to the second.”
“Too late,” Baikal clicked his tongue. “No matter what you say, it’s already been decided. I want you? I’ll have you.”
“Why me?” It would make more sense if Rabbit had accidentally hit him over the head with that lunch tray, but alas…He’d gone from roaming the halls in his own little world, minding his own business, to suddenly being held against the most dangerous man at Vail, and he still didn’t fully understand why.
Baikal tilted his head, inspecting him. “You don’t believe me.”
“It’s kind of hard to.”
“Haven’t you ever seen something and just instantly coveted it?”
Rabbit didn’t pay enough attention to anything other than his music for that. Although…His hand absently pressed against the candy bar in his front pocket and when Baikal pulled back enough to recognize the shape of the item he snorted.
“You did not just compare my desire for you to wanting a piece of chocolate.” When Rabbit didn’t respond, Baikal sighed. “Fine. Why you? Because I need a new plaything and you happen to fit the bill. Does that satisfy your curiosity?”
“I’m not interested,” Rabbit stated firmly.
“Well then get interested, fast. You’ll submit, little bunny, or it’ll only be worse for you.”
“What will?” And why didn’t he like the sound of that?
“What happens once I have you on your back.”
Rabbit sucked in a breath and Baikal grinned wickedly, those damn teal eyes lighting up with glee. The door was locked, the room was soundproof, and Void had already proven to them both that he could physically overpower him. If he really wanted to, he could force himself on him. Rabbit had suffered abuse before, but notthatkind of abuse. No one had ever dared to try to touch him like that.
“I’m not scared of you, Void.” That was a lie, but it sounded truthful enough.
Hopefully.
“So long as you obey,” Baikal leaned in ever closer so that his mouth was a mere whisper away, “there’s no reason for you to be.”
“And if I don’t?”
The Brumal Prince grinned and then pulled back only enough to tap at his multi-slate. A second later, the sounds from the video changed. He jutted out his chin, indicating Rabbit should turn around and take a look.
Even though he didn’t want to do what he said, curiosity got the best of him, and he ended up listening, glancing over his shoulder.
Whatever was playing now wasn’t porn.
It was a video of Rabbit’s mother.
Chapter 6:
For over a year now he’d been content watching from afar, prowling the outskirts of Rabbit’s orbit, never crossing that line, sure to not be seen.
But Baikal wanted to be seen now and he wasn’t going to take rejection. The dynamics of this poignant thing between them had altered the moment Rabbit had casually told his friend he might get married. Now that he’d gone and done that, all bets were off.
“It was surprisingly easy to get,” Baikal said, watching Rabbit closely as his tiny obsession’s gaze glued itself to the screen. “Even after all that money she’s been making, she must have forgotten to cover her tracks and pay someone to delete the security footage.”
The black and white images were captured just outside Vail University’s main auditorium. Baikal had spliced footage from inside the building as well to track exactly when December had pulled the male victim from the auditorium and led him to the back where he’d been almost immediately jumped. He’d opted not to play the whole thing from the beginning, figuring the main event would be more than enough for Rabbit, but he had it on hand just in case.
“This is the best part.” He tossed an arm over Rabbit’s shoulders, and it was clear he’d caught the other man off guard with the video when there was no resistance to his clinginess. He seized the opportunity to turn his face toward the curve of his neck, breathing in deeply.
Mint chocolate.
Rabbit’s addiction to that specific flavor was endearing.
There was no sound but December’s mouth could be seen moving, and in the next instant she was waving the thug she’d hired off and taking part in the violence herself. She used the heel of her stiletto to smash down on the victim’s hand repeatedly, ignoring the way he jerked. It was obvious he was screaming even without being able to hear.
