Page 222 of The Invite
I glance at Nessa, who’s gazing out the passenger side window as I drive us home.
She’s been quiet and lost in her thoughts ever since she returned from the teachers’ lounge. I got worried and went after her when she was talking so long. She met me in the middle of the hallway and said she got busy checking a few emails.
Did something else happen she’s not sharing?
Or is she worried about how Anonymous will retaliate?
Pulling the car over to the side, I cut the engine.
“August, why did you stop?”
I unsnap my seat belt, stretch the seat backward, and lean over to undo hers. Grabbing her under the arms, I pull her onto my lap. Tucking a loose strand behind her ear, I coax, “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
“Nothing.” She chews on her lip.
My insides twist because I know she’s lying. I free her lip with my thumb and caress the pink spot. “You’ll tell me if something was bothering you, right? I can’t fix it otherwise, Ness.”
Every second she stays silent is torture and I have the urge to set the world on fire. The wind is knocked out of my lungs when she does speak with a slight tremor in her voice. “I’m afraid I’m no good for you, Augustus.”
“What?”
“It’s true.” Her eyes go glassy with unshed tears. “Everyone in my life dies. We should part ways before I kill you too.”
My grip on her small waist tightens at the thought of her leaving me behind, and I growl, “You have it wrong, Nessa. Iwilldie if you’re not with me. My heart—” I lay her palm over it and press hard. “—will stop beating the minute you’re not near it. If that’s what you want, then sure, we can part ways.”
A tear rolls down her cheek as she whispers, “I’m not strong enough to survive losing you.”
“You’re not losing me,” I fiercely say and crush her against my chest. “Ever.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, little prey.” Tilting her face, I fuse my lips to hers. I pour everything into the kiss as I claim that sweet mouth deep and rough. I show her with every swipe of my tongue and little nips on her plump bottom lip that I’m going nowhere.
I can’t believe I wasted all these weeks not kissing her.
Motherfucking stupid is what I am.
She keeps humming and kissing me as I lay back against the seat and bring her with me. My dick roars to life, crying for action. But the moment is more than about fucking. It’s about deepening our connection. Binding us together. Eradicating her fears that she’s anything but my lucky charm.
I keep holding her long after the kiss ends, not giving a single fuck we’re parked on the side of the road in the middle of the day. Wrapping her hair around my fist, I tilt her head until she’s staring at me.
“Honey, I’m shit at feelings and I haven’t been in a relationship. You have to help out your man here.” I goddamn plead with her, laying out my weaknesses. “If you’re sad, tell me. If you’re happy, kiss me. If you’re angry, hit me. But don’t go quiet on me. It’s hellish because you’re right here, yet still so far away.”
She blesses me with a heart-stopping smile. “I won’t.”
I lay her back on my chest but we’re interrupted by my ringtone. Nessa slides off my lap and goes back to her seat after passing me the device.
I accept the call and connect it to the car’s Bluetooth. I mouthSeat beltto Nessa just as the new security guard’s urgent voice fills the space. “Mr. Grayson.”
“What happened?” I ask as I put the car into drive and pull onto the road after checking the rearview mirror.
“I was manning the gate when someone in a hoodie tried to deliver two black envelopes.”
Nessa tenses beside me while I go alert. “Did you catch him?”
“I tried but he slipped away.” I curse under my breath but shut up when he informs, “But I was able to catch his phone. It must’ve slipped during the tussle.”
I won’t get my hopes up until I check it’s of any use.
