shirt off. Do you have scissors? ‘Cause I’m just gonna cut it off – it’s old anyway.”
“Christian probably does somewhere, but I’d need to find them,” I replied, stepping closer to her and taking the edge of her t-shirt in my hands. “Turn around,” I instructed and she gave me a curious glance, but obeyed, turning her back to me.
With one good pull, I tore the t-shirt straight up her back, turning the top into a smock.
“Better?” I asked.
“Uh . . . yup,” she replied with a breathless squeak.
12 Eila
I spent the vast majorit y of Saturday up to my eyeballs in guilt.
I hadn’t told Raef about Thor for multiple reasons, though none could ease how bad I felt about leaving him in the dark. But there was something about the man from the woods that nagged at me. I couldn’t place my finger on it yet and I needed a chance to figure it out.
If I told the guys that some giant had approached me in the woods, I would immediately be placed back in the horrible Buddy System. Additionally, I was certain that Raef, Kian, and MJ would try to track the hunter and spy on him, or worse.
So I kept my mouth shut, pushing Thor to the back of my mind, which wasn’t too difficult after the scorching kiss that Raef had given me.
Holy, ever-loving crab cakes.
Sure, I had kissed Raef before, but last night? Last night made every liplock I had swooned over in the movies look like a kindergartener’s crush. Last night I felt how much he wanted me, and it shocked me, leaving me with both a stratospheric high and a deep-set panic.
And then there was the whole shirt-modification move.
Dear heavens.
But he was also a complete gentleman when he checked over my back, putting ointment on the few small cuts I had from hitting the road. But all I could think about while he tended my bruises was that kiss and the nerves it brought with it.
Maybe I was freaking out for no reason - Raef would never push me into something that I wasn’t ready for. But that kiss wasn’t the end-of-the-road type kiss, but a turn in the road that led to a new place. A place I knew I wasn’t ready for.
Plus, Raef had lived for nearly two centuries, and had loads of experience with female soul thieves. While I had never met one, I could only imagine what they looked like. I mean, if the guys looked as insane as Raef, Kian, and Christian . . . yeah.
And it wasn’t like I picked apart my flaws in the mirror, but hell – Mortis females? The contrast between the women Raef was used to and me was like comparing a Stealth bomber to a paper airplane. For the first time in my life, I doubted how I looked.
Plus, I had no experience with guys and my idea of undie excitement was a plaid sports bra from the discount store. Somehow I doubted that is where the killer chicks selected their intimates.
Actually, I did kiss another boy once in second grade. He dared me over a bag of M&Ms and I had a chocolate addiction. That kid was so not worth the candy. Raef, I knew, was completely worth the calories. Me , however? I probably was more along the lines of artificial sweetener, which is never as good as the cane sugar.
By the time Sunday night rolled around, I had twisted myself into such a knot of stress that even Ana knew something was up. She eyed me carefully as we shared the bathroom mirror, getting ready for the football game.
“So are you going to cough up the details on what happened at Christian’s on Friday or not?” she asked, running her hands through her short cropped blonde hair. I had already given Ana the whole story about falling while riding, and how I went to Torrent Road to avoid Mae.
I shrugged, hoping I could deflect her questions. “I already told you. I just took a shower, had some dinner, and came back here.”
Ana twisted her body and hopped up onto the counter, leaning right into my line of sight, as a devious smile curled onto her pale pink lips.
I laughed, trying to push her out of the way, but Ana
“Christian probably does somewhere, but I’d need to find them,” I replied, stepping closer to her and taking the edge of her t-shirt in my hands. “Turn around,” I instructed and she gave me a curious glance, but obeyed, turning her back to me.
With one good pull, I tore the t-shirt straight up her back, turning the top into a smock.
“Better?” I asked.
“Uh . . . yup,” she replied with a breathless squeak.
12 Eila
I spent the vast majorit y of Saturday up to my eyeballs in guilt.
I hadn’t told Raef about Thor for multiple reasons, though none could ease how bad I felt about leaving him in the dark. But there was something about the man from the woods that nagged at me. I couldn’t place my finger on it yet and I needed a chance to figure it out.
If I told the guys that some giant had approached me in the woods, I would immediately be placed back in the horrible Buddy System. Additionally, I was certain that Raef, Kian, and MJ would try to track the hunter and spy on him, or worse.
So I kept my mouth shut, pushing Thor to the back of my mind, which wasn’t too difficult after the scorching kiss that Raef had given me.
Holy, ever-loving crab cakes.
Sure, I had kissed Raef before, but last night? Last night made every liplock I had swooned over in the movies look like a kindergartener’s crush. Last night I felt how much he wanted me, and it shocked me, leaving me with both a stratospheric high and a deep-set panic.
And then there was the whole shirt-modification move.
Dear heavens.
But he was also a complete gentleman when he checked over my back, putting ointment on the few small cuts I had from hitting the road. But all I could think about while he tended my bruises was that kiss and the nerves it brought with it.
Maybe I was freaking out for no reason - Raef would never push me into something that I wasn’t ready for. But that kiss wasn’t the end-of-the-road type kiss, but a turn in the road that led to a new place. A place I knew I wasn’t ready for.
Plus, Raef had lived for nearly two centuries, and had loads of experience with female soul thieves. While I had never met one, I could only imagine what they looked like. I mean, if the guys looked as insane as Raef, Kian, and Christian . . . yeah.
And it wasn’t like I picked apart my flaws in the mirror, but hell – Mortis females? The contrast between the women Raef was used to and me was like comparing a Stealth bomber to a paper airplane. For the first time in my life, I doubted how I looked.
Plus, I had no experience with guys and my idea of undie excitement was a plaid sports bra from the discount store. Somehow I doubted that is where the killer chicks selected their intimates.
Actually, I did kiss another boy once in second grade. He dared me over a bag of M&Ms and I had a chocolate addiction. That kid was so not worth the candy. Raef, I knew, was completely worth the calories. Me , however? I probably was more along the lines of artificial sweetener, which is never as good as the cane sugar.
By the time Sunday night rolled around, I had twisted myself into such a knot of stress that even Ana knew something was up. She eyed me carefully as we shared the bathroom mirror, getting ready for the football game.
“So are you going to cough up the details on what happened at Christian’s on Friday or not?” she asked, running her hands through her short cropped blonde hair. I had already given Ana the whole story about falling while riding, and how I went to Torrent Road to avoid Mae.
I shrugged, hoping I could deflect her questions. “I already told you. I just took a shower, had some dinner, and came back here.”
Ana twisted her body and hopped up onto the counter, leaning right into my line of sight, as a devious smile curled onto her pale pink lips.
I laughed, trying to push her out of the way, but Ana
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