Page 222 of Depraved Boys

My heart pounded so hard, my ribs rattled with impatience. I wanted all of him. Wanted to taste more of his full lips. I leaned forward and brushed my mouth against his, reveling in the feel of the gorgeous boy I’d longed to see for weeks.

“Guys?” said Leopold. “As much as I’m enjoying this reunion, we have an audience.”

Prakash drew back from the kiss, and I turned around. Everyone in the dining room—including the teachers at the head table—stopped eating to stare. Mrs. Benazir strode toward us with her brows furrowed.

Sebastian stepped through the doors into the hallway. “Let’s take this somewhere else, shall we?”

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Leopold and Sebastian remained at the dining room doors, blocking Mrs. Benazir from following Prakash. Maybe the wretched woman wanted to make him leave the premises. She had used the Board of Governors as an excuse to refuse his bail and keep him in the juvenile detention center.

Prakash and I rushed through the hallway, our feet thudding on the parquet floors. My gaze lingered on his high cheekbones, strong jaw, and beautifully shaped lips. The entire effect was made magical by hair the color of ink.

I looped my arm around Prakash’s thick bicep, enjoying his newfound bulk. Pushing away thoughts of bulging muscles encased in beautiful, dark skin, I picked up my pace to keep up with his strides. After spending weeks locked up, he’d probably just wanted to sit down and unwind with a cup of his Kashaayah special tea blend.

As Mrs. Benazir’s screeching voice got closer, we ducked into the nearest stairwell and took the stairs two at a time. By the time we reached the fourth floor, my heart hammered against my ribs, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the climb.

He opened the door to his room, ushered me in, and locked us inside, presumably in case the headmistress stormed up the stairs to make a fuss. When he turned around and fixed me with those glittering, ebony eyes and smiled with those full, sensual lips, my heart did a happy somersault.

Prakash was finally free. The part of me that felt responsible for Ashley’s actions reminded me that his liberty was no thanks to me.

“I’ve caused you so much trouble.” I rushed at him and wrapped my arms around his broad body. “And I’m so sorry for everything you’ve endured.”

He drew back, holding me at arms’ length. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“My stubbornness.” It was a difficult thing to admit, but he had suffered so much, I had to force out the words. “Everyone told me to leave Brittas Academy, but I wouldn’t because I needed the bursary to pay for the upkeep of a house I barely use. And I unleashed my psychopathic sister onto you.”

He shook his head. “You’re wrong.”

“Huh?”

“The police would never have arrested me if I hadn’t gotten into trouble last year. This is my karma. Something I must suffer to atone for what I did to Corrine.”

My nostrils flared. After hearing the passage Ashley read out where Corrine had likened the way they had started their relationship as rape, I’d been reluctant to read more of the dead girl’s ramblings. She had taken her revenge too far, just like Ashley had by poisoning Jarrett Riley and Bruce Wilmington.

I couldn’t stand for Prakash to continue torturing himself when Corrine had punished him enough for his mistake. It reminded me too much of Sebastian’s guilt-motivated protection of Miss Claymore.

“You didn’t kill Corrine,” I snapped.

“I didn’t.” His brows drew together.

“Then why do you speak like you should be punished in perpetuity?”

He glanced away, but I held his jaw and turned his face back to force eye contact.

“Have you seen the third years in this academy? They’re practically toddlers. If one of them made a mistake, would you want them to suffer for years afterward?”

“Of course, not,” he replied, sounding utterly confused, “But—”

“But nothing,” I said. “It’s time to forgive yourself and move on. I doubt that even Corrine would approve of Ashley’s actions.”

He blew out a weary breath. “You make it all sound so easy.”

I grabbed him around the back of the neck and pulled him down to my level. “Maybe you need me to kiss some sense into you.”

“I’d like that very much.” He lowered his lips onto mine in a gentle caress that brought back memories of him standing above my hospital bed after having driven out into the mountains to search for me.

My eyelids fluttered closed, and I relaxed into the kiss, each touch filling my chest with affection. This was the boy who had opened his heart to me and revealed his darkest secrets without fear of judgment. He had trusted me with his past, just as I now trusted him with my heart.