Page 61 of Bittersweet Revenge

When he broke the kiss, he kept me in his arms. I looked at him, my body tingling, my lips parted. His blue eyes were so full of turmoil, looking right into me and filling me with a wave of warmth that engulfed me completely. It curled my toes, unfurled all of my senses, as his closeness managed to silence all my thoughts.

He pulled me in again, claiming my mouth, hungrily and intensely until my knees gave in and only his arms kept me up.

He broke the kiss, leaving both of us breathless, but he kept his arms around me until I could feel my legs once more. Again, I was grateful.

He finally let me go, walking backward to the door. “Goodnight, Esmeralda.” His voice was a bit deeper than usual.

“Goodnight,” I squeaked as he left the room

Yeah, right, like I’ll be able to sleep after that.

Chapter 13 – Esme

When I pulled into the school parking lot this morning, I was feeling lighter than I had since I’d come back from California. Maybe it was because we were finally making some progress on solving my mother’s murder or maybe it was because my relationship with Caleb had shifted some more. The hate and anger had been replaced by some connivance and a light, dare I say ‘friendship’. With his father gone and his mother holed up in her quarters, the house had become ours again. We dined together, even read last night in the library in a companionable silence. I even started to hope that–

A knock on my car window made me jump. I was about to bitch at whoever had scared me when I noticed the grim look on my brother’s face.

“What’s happened?” I asked, opening the door. Couldn’t I just catch a break?!

“Father’s summoning you and Caleb for dinner tomorrow night.”

I frowned. There was no lost love between my evil father and myself. I hadn’t heard from him since I came back and I’d only shared a couple of calls with poor Sophia.

“Why? The man has not talked to me in weeks.”

“I don’t know.”

I sighed. “Did you tell Caleb?”

He nodded. “Yes, but Father had already called him to inform him of the request.”

“And what did he say?”

Archie shrugged. “He said he’ll do what you want to do.”

I smiled at that. Yes, Caleb had changed since I’d given him the cufflinks. Who would have thought they would make such a difference?

“You two…” Archie trailed off.

“Yes?

“Are you…a thing?” He asked with a grimace.

“Don’t look so disgusted. It’s offensive, and no, we’re not a ‘thing’.”

Our phones beeped at the same time. I looked up and saw Caleb and Antoine reach for theirs too – that didn’t bode anything good.

Meet me in the council room. I’ve got news. T

“Oppenheimer texting me willingly? It has to be life-altering,” Archie joked, but I could see he meant it.

“What do you think she wants?” Antoine asked as we met by the council room door.

Archie unlocked it and gestured us in. “I don’t know, man. She’s your girlfriend. You tell me.”

Caleb looked at me and rolled his eyes. We exchanged a grin; this still-fragile friendship felt nice.

“So did Archie tell you about dinner with your father?” he whispered, coming to stand closer to me than necessary, but I was not going to complain. I shamefully had to admit I was somehow addicted to the earthy smell of his cologne.

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