Like he had a right to dig his claws into Rabbit’s psyche and stir shit around.
What would happen once Baikal got bored? He’d leave just as quickly as he’d come, and Rabbit would be the one left tormented by the memories and the disorientation. When the time came, he’d have to adjust all over again.
Either he lasted until then, until the Brumal Prince was done with him, or he lost his mind. Neither option was appealing.
Rabbit made it to the Southside of campus and entered through the double glass doors that led into the massive building where his class was held twice a week. This section of the school had been constructed at the end of a large bamboo forest, and he could see tall stalks of it blocking out most of the sunlight on the other side as he made his way to the elevator.
The place was packed and he tucked himself into a corner as they rode up, pretending not to notice the way the short girl pressed against his side was staring up at him.
He’d always known he was attractive. His mother never missed an opportunity to tell him, since an entertainer’s face was his second most important feature. She’d always gushed about how he’d lure people in with his looks and then knock them out with his abilities.
She might be a controlling nightmare, but on some level, he understood that if he dug past the crazy, at the heart of it all she really did mean well. At least, she meant for him to have a better life than she’d started out with, in any case.
The lecture hall was half full by the time he got there. The room itself had several levels with rows of long tables at each. Two paths, one on either side of the center row, led straight down to the stage where the professor already stood preparing for the start of class.
Rabbit made his way down and slid into his usual spot in the center row. There were six seats there and whoever managed to snag one next to him rotated on a daily basis, but he never paid any of them any mind. He was here to take notes and leave. Right after this, his observed practice with Professor Ludo always took place, meaning he had no time to waste on other people and never engaged in any sort of conversation with them no matter how hard they tried to initiate one.
Which was why he didn’t bother glancing over when a large form landed in the seat directly on his left, keeping his gaze on his tablet screen as he pulled up a blank page and removed his stylus from the attached clip.
He began writing the date at the top of the digital page, and would have ignored the plastic cup slid in front of his part of the table, only his eyes caught on to the hand holding it. Those long fingers with the thick knuckles and the chunky silver and black ring with the V embossed into it.
Rabbit straightened and glanced over, catching his breath when he found Baikal seated next to him, already waiting to be noticed.
The corner of his mouth tipped up and he rested his head on a closed fist, elbow propped up on the table before he motioned his chin to the cup. “Mint chocolate latte.”
“What are you doing here?” Rabbit felt his lower muscles clench around the plug as if they had a mind of their own and he shifted uncomfortably in the hard plastic seat.
Baikal grinned at him. “Good, little bunny.”
It didn’t take a genius to know he was referring to the fact Rabbit had followed his order and kept the toy in.
But this wasn’t his kitchen in the middle of the night, it was a crowded room in the bright light of day, and for some reason that helped Rabbit feel emboldened.
“I’m sore, that’s all,” he lied, but he couldn’t catch the smug way his lips curved when Baikal hesitated, clearly unsure whether or not Rabbit was telling the truth.
“I went out of my way to buy you that,” he pointed to the coffee a second time, “to be kind. If this is how you’re going to meet said kindness, however…”
The threatening note in his voice had Rabbit tensing and he licked his lips to stall as he collected his thoughts. No matter what Baikal was planning, he had to dissuade him for the very same reasons he’d felt confident and cocky a moment prior.
He’d already forced Rabbit not to hide the hickey—which had thankfully faded—what if he—
No. No, he wouldn’t out him in front of the entire classroom, would he? Wouldn’t expose the fact there was currently a sex toy buried inside of his body. The humiliation alone would be enough to destroy Rabbit, and while he’d gathered Void didn’t mind pushing him past his limits, he didn’t think the guy planned on completely eviscerating him.
Right?
It hit him yet again how little he knew the other man, and he gulped, brow pinching as he stared at Baikal’s unwavering and enigmatic expression.
“Class is about to start,” he ended up saying, a poor attempt to defuse the situation.
“So it is,” Baikal replied.
“Aren’t you going to leave?”
He lifted a dark brow. “Why would I do that? I’m in this class, too.”
Rabbit blinked at him. “What?”
“I’d take offense you never noticed, except you hardly notice anyone so I know it’s nothing personal.” Baikal leaned in, eyes narrowing when Rabbit immediately shot back.
