Page 24 of Satan's Son

Chapter 9

The night slowly faded into dusk, and Ethan and I had guided several more people.

“Addison, are you ready to go back to Hell?” Ethan asked me, staring at me like a sane person would stare at a lunatic, making me think this wasn’t the first time he’d asked that.

“I, well, just no.” I frowned.Oh, yes, Addy, that was smooth.I didn’t like being seen as weak or, well, to be honest… I don’t like anyone seeing my emotions.

So right now, being nervous and stuttering was killing me.

Ethan frowned. “Does that ‘no’ mean you aren’t stupid or that you don’t want to go back? Addison, it isn’t a hard question. Do you want to go back to Hell now?”

Sure, it wasn’t a hard question, but it was hard to answer when he looked so damned attractive. Why hadn’t I noticed how good-looking he was before? His enchanting features were throwing me off balance. I had been struggling to talk to him all night.

The more I thought about him, the more I lusted after him. This was flipping insane!

“Addy!”

Ethan was gripping my shoulders; he looked frustrated. “Would you stop spacing out!”

“Sorry,” I stuttered.

“Okay, that’s it. What is wrong?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and for some reason, that made my stomach flutter even more.

“Nothing,” I choked out. I really had to pull myself together. “Um, yep, let’s head back.”

“Say that without sounding like a choked-up monkey.”

“Hilarious,” I bit back at him. Not knowing what to do, I started walking in long strides up the footpath. The sooner we got to Hell, the better, because Ethan would want to get away from me, and I would have some time to calm my nerves.

“Addy, where are you going?”

I spun round to look at Ethan, who had one eyebrow arched.

“Last time I checked, we don’t walk back to hell?” Ethan studied me closely, then slowly reached a hand out in my direction. “Come on.”

Well, that made me look even more stupid. “Right!” I muttered under my breath and walked shamefully back to him. I gritted my teeth when I took his hand; this was just my luck.

“Don’t look so happy to be touching me.” Ethan’s tone was bitter. I looked up into his eyes and noticed the hurt in them. I opened my mouth to explain, but the space around me twisted and turned before I could.

I landed in Hell, my butt hitting the floor hard. I looked for Ethan, but he wasn’t here. I noticed the doors swinging slightly. Shit! I got up quickly and ran after him. He was already halfway up the corridor by the time I opened the door.

“Ethan, wait!” I shouted after him. Like the stubborn man he was, he didn’t. He most likely thought I didn’t care about him, or worse, that I was angry with him or even worse than that… disgusted by him.

“Ethan!” I panicked and sprinted after him.

I gripped his arm as tightly as possible and made him stop. “Ethan, would you just—”

“What?” His face bore no expression.

“I, well, before.”Stuttering Addy is back. I gritted my teeth. I wasn’t making this situation better. “Ethan, I am sorry.”

His expression didn’t change, although he crossed his arms, which I took as a bad sign. His defensive attitude was killing me.

“I’m not like… you know?”Really, Addy!I slapped my forehead. “Ethan, look, I will be straight with you.”

That was going to be hard to do.

Ethan shook his head, looking hurt. “You are so scared of me that you can’t even string a sentence together!”

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