Page 185 of The Villain We Tempt

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. I might not be spying on Galina in her room anymore. I really did remove the cameras the night she got dosed at The Reckless party. But I can still read her like at least a semi-open book.

Iknowshe wants more from this. I’m ready to give her that, and then some. I’ve completely fallen for Galina. Entirely, recklessly, and hopelessly.

But I can see that she’s scared, and I know why. She’s worried about what happens when this whole thing stops being a fantasy role-play. She’s worried about what’ll change or if I'll become “too real” once I lose the mask.

Right now, I’m her masked book boyfriend who breaks into her room at night or pins her in the shadows somewhere semi-public around campus and makes hershatter. After that, she can go back to her real world.

But if I take the mask off, she loses the separation. I won’t just be a BookTok fantasy. I’ll be her actual partner.

Iknowshe knows at this point. I mean, there’ve been some hints. But purposefully marking my neck the other day and then lookingright atthe concealer I borrowed from Selene was my confirmation.

But I know the reason she’s not telling me that she knows is the same reason she’s not telling me she wants more from us.

She’s scared of the bubble popping. Of waking up from the dream.

I just wish I knew how to tell her that she has nothing to worry about, because I’m already entirely hers.

I check my DMs again.

Nada.

I head down into the weight room set up in the basement of Kingsward Hall. Otherwise, I’ll lose my fucking mind waiting for her to DM me back. I end up getting joined down there by Nacho, which would normally aggravate the fuck out of me. But tonight, he’s not a terrible distraction.

Even when he tells me how bent out of shape he is that Velvet Villainess recently did a live stream where “some guy” was involved, grabbing her throat with a gloved hand from off-screen, I let it wash over me.

I’ve just stepped out of the shower an hour later when I hear from her.

Velvet Villainess

can you please come over?

It’s well past midnight and The Atheneum is sound asleep when I arrive five minutes later. I should use the window: it's how I’vegotten into her room most other times. But tonight, I don’t feel like sneaking around like I’m her dirty secret.

Tonight, I want to walk through the front door as her man.

Because she’s my girl.

Galina’s face is streaked with tears when she opens the door to my soft knock. Her face is scrubbed raw of makeup, her red eyes puffy, her hair in a loose, messy bun, her petite frame swallowed by an oversized hoodie and baggy sweatpants.

She’s honestly never looked more beautiful.

Her breath floods out in a choked rush when I step inside and immediately wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight.

“Whatever you need, baby,” I murmur. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

Her hitching breath devolves into full-on sobbing against my chest.

I just hold her and tell her it’s going to be okay. That I’m here. That she’s safe. That Wren is safe.

“Would you sleep with me?” she whispers, lifting her tear-streaked, crumpled face to mine. “Just…hold me, and don’tstopholding me while I?—”

She lets out a little gasp when I lift her effortlessly into my arms. I kick off my shoes and gently carry her over to her bed. Then we both slide under the covers, her back nestled against my chest as I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me, shielding her from the world.

Like I’ll protect her from any storm.

Like a real couple.

Like I’ve already figured out how to tell her that I’ve fallen in love with her.