Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
Why is it suddenly so hard to breathe?
His lips are so close to mine I can feel his breath on my chin. “No one’s ever done that for me …”
“All you have to do is point this knife at someone.” He slips his knife into my hand. “And I will end them.”
I rub my lips together, thinking about the idea of Jason dying at Kai’s hands. Even though I’d love nothing more than for him to pay for not supporting me and scaring the shit out of me just now, it still wouldn’t feel right to literally end his life.
“No. Let him live,” I mutter.
“Fine, I won’t kill him.” He leans in to whisper, “But I will take great pleasure in knowing he could never pleasure you the way I can.”
He smashes his lips onto mine, claiming my mouth with fervor. Even as cold snow showers down upon us, the heat in his kisses could scorch the entire sky dry. The kiss is intoxicating, completely overtaking every inch of doubt in my soul.
“What the … oh my God.”
I drag my lips away from Kai’s as we both look in the direction of the voice…
Only to come face-to-face with Crystal, who literally drops her books onto the ground when she sees us. “Him too?”
Oh fuck.
LANA
Panic seeps into my bones.
I shove Kai away, handing him back his knife.
She bolts off with widened eyes, so I chase her through the rose garden. “Wait!”
“No, I saw nothing!”
“Crystal, please!” When I catch up with her, I grasp her arm and force her to turn around. “Please, don’t run away.”
She’s the only friend I have in common with Penelope, and I don’t want to risk losing a friendship over this.
“You have to understand it’s not what it looks like.”
“That sure looked like you were kissing Kai fucking Torres,” Crystal replies, whispering, “Do you know what your brother would do if he found out about this? I mean, Nathan’s one thing, but Kai too?”
Kai comes running through the maze, but when she spots him, her face goes as pale as the snow falling around us.
“There’s no need to run from me,” Kai says from a distance. “I can find anyone, anywhere, anytime I want to. Ask Lana.”
Her eyes widen, and she gulps down her nerves. “He’s freaking me out.”
“He won’t come near you, promise.”
“Why are you even with him? And what about Milo and Nathan? You’re seeing all three of them?” she asks.
A blush creeps onto my cheeks. “It’s not really seeing them, more like … an arrangement.”
“An arrangement to kiss?” She frowns. “You’re not making any sense.”
“It’s not just—Never mind, what I’m trying to say is that I just want you to know it doesn’t mean anything important.”
“Yes, it does,” Kai says with a threatening voice, and when I turn my head to throw him a snooty glance, he’s simply staring at Crystal. “She means everything to me. And if you like her as your friend, you’d be wise to keep your mouth shut.”
“Kai!” I warn.
God, I’m terrified of anyone finding out what I’ve been up to, and now this.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Crystal says.
“Good,” Kai responds, finally tucking his knife back into his pocket. “Guess that’s settled then.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her and grab her hands. “Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. I’m just worried.” She squeezes my hands. “I just want you to be safe. Even though you only see me as Penelope’s best friend, I consider you a friend of mine.”
I pull her in for a hug. “Thank you. And you are my friend. You always will be, even if that fucker over there doesn’t like it.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but the killer smile he gives me throws me off.
I pull away as Kai approaches. He holds out her books. “You dropped these.”
We both stare at him sheepishly as she snatches them back and tucks them into her bag.
“I was just trying to find a quiet spot to study, and then I find you two kissing,” she mutters.
I snort. “Ha, same, except … I’m a boy magnet apparently.”
That came out a lot less funny than it sounded in my head.
“So like … what kind of arrangement do you guys have?” she asks, tilting her head to look at Kai.
“None of your business,” he says.
“Be nice,” I warn him.
He bristles. “Fine.” And he sticks out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
She grabs his hand, but when she looks under his hoodie and sees his scar and the icy white eye underneath, she visibly recoils. His mouth twitches as she swiftly retracts her hand, and he pulls the hoodie farther over his face.
“I … I’m sorry,” she stammers.
He clearly doesn’t like to be stared at. But he shouldn’t have threatened her either.
I grab her by the shoulder and pull her away. “Let’s just go.”