Page 34 of Love Me

“We won’t disappoint you,” I assure them.

“It’s also our way back into the Family.” Cillian’s eyes light up. Every one of us has a different motivation; his has always been reclaiming the Prescott family’s rightful position.

“Prepare yourself. We need that piece of the puzzle,” my father says.

“I’ll fully search the perimeter,” Hunter replies.

“You do that. Now, both of you leave. You have classes tomorrow. I am proud of you, Celine,” Cillian says.

“Thank you.”

After I change in the back of my car and put my gear in the trunk, Hunter and I lean against the hood, watching the stars blanket the night.

Sky… my sky.

A sigh heaves my chest. I’d need a damn lobotomy to forget about him.

“What is it?” Hunter asks.

“Nothing.”

“Yes, that nothing really sounds like nothing.”

“Nothing I won’t be able to handle.”

Back at the house, I park behind Kaden’s car.

Oops. I might have overestimated how much room I have in the front. When I step out, I see a small dent on his fender.

He will lose it, the neat freak. It would be better to do what I came back for and ignore him, especially for my composure. But that would be impossible. My pulse races thinking about his reaction. I already live dangerously, but chasing that feeling only he can give me is even more dangerous.

Closing the front door behind me, I hear liquid sloshing in a glass. My head whips to the living room from where the sound came. A lamp in the corner emits a dim light. Kaden’s back rests against the wall. I make out half his profile, the other is cast in darkness. He stares at the drink, his long fingers wrapped around the glass. I gulp, remembering what those hands could do. He’s so damn appealing––he’s the flame and I’m the moth. I thought I got burned the first time and learned my lesson then. I guess I am addicted to the pain for those few seconds before I turn to ash.

I shake myself off his hypnotic allure. Focus, damn it. I take a step when his eyes find me, pinning me to the spot, trapping me.

“Interesting night?”

“I had a blast.”

“I believe you.”

His voice, laced with insinuation, sends chills down my spine. He pushes himself off the wall and places the empty glass on the fireplace. Once again, we dance to the same tune of seduction. He cages me in. I could escape, but my weak, pathetic, and needy heart stops me.

“Celine, Celine…”

His tone pours cold realization down on me. This is not the usual situation when we’re enslaved to this cursed need. Now, he’s controlled and thoughtful. Assessing, chilling me from within.

He plays with a strand of my hair, and the sweet gesture unbalances me. That’s all he needs to trap me in his poisonous web.

His breath hits my neck and I strain every muscle in me not to react. Goose bumps pebble my skin.

“Your neck is still sensitive,” he rasps.

A curse dies on my lips. He caresses the vein of my neck with the pad of his thumb—a ghost of a touch that ignites a fire to spread through my insides, melting a layer of the glacier around my chest.

I squeeze my eyes shut when I should push him aside, knock him off his confidence. He has no idea what I am capable of. How could he? Here I am, mush, while he plays at every string of my heart and body.

He runs his hand over the curve of my waist. “How’s my dip doing?” Kaden’s favorite spot to touch, kiss, caress.

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