Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 65041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“You don’t look fine.”
“I thought you knew everything about me?”
He narrowed his eyes at me before looking at Gaby, who hung her marshmallow over the fire a few feet away from us.
She glanced back at him smiling, making me roll my eyes.
“You don’t like her?” he questioned, only loud enough for me to hear.
Shit! Could he sense my jealousy?
“She’s fine.”
“And you’re obviously not.”
“Stop psychoanalyzing me.”
When his stare became too much, I abruptly stood. “I’m going to bed.”
“It’s only eight.”
“So?”
Jesus, Cove… that’s your best comeback?
“You’re a night owl.”
“What the fuck?” I shook my head. “Are you secretly stalking me?”
“My bedroom was next to Haven’s, remember? You two love to stay up all night.”
“Is there anything you don’t know? You want to tell me when my next cycle is?”
“Based on your bitchy attitude, I’d say you’re PMSing right now, so it should be soon.”
My eyes widened.
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to, bunny.”
“On that note, I’m going to bed.”
“Cove—”
I should have kept my mouth shut, but once again, I couldn’t help myself. “FYI, Gaby has a boyfriend.”
He cocked his head to the side, arching an eyebrow, and I immediately regretted my words.
“Why is that my concern?”
I shrugged. “I’d hate for you to hook up—”
“She’s a kid. I’m a man. I don’t fuck high schoolers.”
“We graduate in—”
“We?”
Shit!
“You know what? You’re right. You could be our father.”
The expression on his face only proved he saw right through my bullshit. Feeling like I was literally under a microscope, I bowed my head.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I didn’t give him a chance to reply, getting the hell out of there instead. The elevator ride up to my room was slow and torturous for my state of mind.
What was wrong with me? Why was I jealous of Jace and Gaby? Why did I care?
It made no sense. Nothing did.
I hurried into my room, quickly shutting the door behind me to lean my forehead against it. Taking a deep breath, I felt overwhelmed by the turn in events.
I love Deacon, don’t I?
For what felt like the hundredth time that day, I was caught off guard when two strong arms wrapped around my waist. Not thinking twice about it, I threw my head back into their face.
“What the fuck, Cove?”
I immediately recognized that voice.
Eight
Cove
I snapped around. “Oh my God! Deacon, I’m so sorry.”
He held his nose as blood seeped through his fingers, causing me to feel much worse.
“Shit! Let me get you some ice.”
I ran to the bathroom for a washcloth before grabbing ice from the fridge.
He sat on the edge of the bed, angling his head back as I gently placed the ice on top of his nose for him.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was you.”
“I’d hope so.”
“I thought you were trying to hurt me. How did you get in my room?”
“Who taught you how to do that?”
“Haven’s brother Reid. He taught us a couple of self-defense moves when we grew boobs.”
He chuckled.
Thank God, his nose stopped bleeding.
“I don’t know whether to be mad or proud of you.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just my dignity that took a hit.”
“How did you get in my room?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“I get that, but how did you—”
Moving the ice away from his nose, he stood. “Don’t worry about it. Nobody saw me come in.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“How about you kiss me instead?”
I smiled, standing on my tippy-toes to peck him, but for the first time in my life, I envisioned Jace’s lips on mine.
What the hell?
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to wash up.”
While he was in the bathroom, I frantically paced around the room.
“She’s a kid. I’m a man. I don’t fuck high schoolers.”
I’d show him, throwing on a pink set of my bra and panties I grabbed my cell phone and pressed play on my sexy playlist I practiced my stripper moves to. I’d been taking a class for the past year, loving any dancing I could learn.
As soon as Deacon walked back in, I threw my arms around his neck. “Let me make it up to you.”
Our kiss quickly turned heated until he abruptly pulled away. “Beauty…” he warned as I tried to move him closer to me by his shirt.
“Oh, come on, you want to waste this room?”
It was nightfall. The bright full moon loomed over the horizon like a beacon. Slowly, I spun around until my back was to his front. Swaying my hips side to side, I slid my hands up to my head to run my fingers seductively through my hair as I lifted it off my neck.
There was a strong shift in the air, the space, the energy all around us. Every inch of my skin stirred with an awakening.
My breathing hitched.
My pulse accelerated.
My heart started pounding out of my chest.
I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. I got lost in the overpowering emotions about Jace that felt as if they were taking over me even though I was in Deacon’s arms.