Page 24 of King of Ruin

Before she could steady herself, Xavier stepped in, closing the distance until barely a breath separated them. One hand remained firmly around her arm while his other lifted and came down hard against the wall beside her head.

The sharp crack echoed through the corridor.

Elise flinched, her shoulders jerking instinctively at the sudden sound. Her fingers curled against the wall behind her as she looked up at him with widened eyes, her breathing already beginning to falter. She pressed her back against the cool wall, her fingers digging into the rough surface, her wide eyes shimmering with a blend of fear and anticipation as she looked up at him.

Her breath quickened, each inhale shaky, as if the world around them had shrunk to just the two of them.

Xavier’s dark gaze traced over her features, lingering in her eyes before drifting to her lips. His jaw flexed once, and his nostrils flared with a restrained breath before his eyes lifted to meet hers again.

Then, with a sudden intensity, he reached for her face, his fingers cradling her cheek as he closed the distance between them. He captured her lips with his, urgency igniting the air around them. His mouth moved over hers with insatiable hunger, devouring her.

He tugged gently at her lower lip, pulling it into his mouth, sucking hard before releasing it, only to dive back in, kissing and licking with fervor that sent her head spinning.

Each touch felt electric, shivers coursing through her body.

Finally, he broke the kiss, pulling back just enough to catch his breath. Elise gasped, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her lips swollen and glistening.

Warmth flooded her cheeks, and tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes—not from pain, but from the overwhelming rush of emotion and the desperate need for air.

A muscle ticked along Xavier's jaw as he clenched his teeth, his thumb unconsciously stroking once against her arm before stilling again.

"Why did you do that?" he asked at last, his voice low and dangerously controlled.

The question caught Elise off guard.

Her body stiffened beneath his gaze, her fingers unconsciously curling against the wall behind her. She could feel the frantic beat of her heart in her chest, yet when she looked back at him, her expression remained as gentle as ever.

"Do what?" she asked softly.

His brows drew together, his jaw tightening even further as though her innocent question had only fueled the frustration simmering inside him. He searched her eyes, trying to decide whether she genuinely didn't understand or was simply pretending not to.

"Why did you come here?" he demanded, his voice growing harder. "Why did you agree to take the fucking blame?"

He took another step closer, leaving barely any space between them.

"Did you even thinkoncebefore saying that? Would you have taken the blame no matter what?" His lips pressed into a hard line before he bit out, "Even if I'd killed someone?"

The last question came out almost like a growl.

It was rough with frustration, edged with something far more dangerous than anger.

Elise blinked, momentarily stunned by the harshness of his voice. She had never imagined Xavier would speak to her that way, yet instead of shrinking away, she quietly drew in a slow breath and lifted her eyes to his.

Her back remained pressed against the cold wall, one of his hands still caging her in while the other held her arm, but there wasn't the slightest trace of resentment in her expression. She simply looked at him with the same gentle sincerity she always had, her soft brown eyes meeting his without hesitation.

"Because..." she said quietly, her voice so soft it almost disappeared beneath the distant thrum of the music. "I care about you."

The words struck Xavier like a physical blow.

For the first time since pulling her into the corridor, the anger on his face cracked. Disbelief swept across his features, his brows drawing together as his eyes searched hers.

A dry laugh escaped him as he slowly shook his head.

"Did you forget that you and I aren't in love?" His eyes never left hers, the frustration in them growing with every passing second. "I don't want you to care about me, Elise. And I know you don't really give a damn about me, so don't stand here and lie to me."

"I do."

Her soft voice cut through his words before he could continue.