Page 59 of Toxic Temptation
“I… I?—”
“Be honest. You weren’t sure before.”
“I wasn’t sure before, maybe,” I whisper. “I am now, though. You love him. Anyone with eyes can see how much you love him.”
He raises his hand slowly, his fingers hovering just above my shoulder. He taps my birthmarks, all three of them, each in turn, one by one by one.Tap. Tap. Tap. Soft, gentle, loving touches.
“Beautiful” is all he says. I don’t ask for an explanation and he doesn’t offer one.
When was the last time I felt this way? With anyone? I’ve never had any use for romance or love. I was a doctor, like my father. There wasn’t room for anything else in my life.
Now, I find myself wondering…Should I make room?
“I should go,” I manage, even though every cell in my body is screaming at me to stay.
“Should you?”
The question is barely more than a breath, but it flattens me with all the possibilities it contains. Because suddenly, I’m not sure of anything anymore. Not what I want, not what I’m afraid of, not what the hell I’m doing with my carefully ordered life.
All I know is that walking away from Kovan Krayev might be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But even as I peel myself from him, even as I get in my car, even as I drive away and the distance between us grows and grows until I can’t see him anymore, Ifeelhim, as if he were right next to me.
Not even distance can drive him from my mind.
21
KOVAN
“This is your school?” Vesper gapes, practically tumbling out of the passenger window like an overeager golden retriever with its tongue lolling out of its mouth.
“Get your head back in the car before you fall out,” I snap, grabbing the hem of her white dress to pull her back inside. “You’re going to break your neck.”
She doesn’t budge. “It looks like something out of a fairy tale.”
“It’s pretty awesome, right?” Luka points to the stone tower rising from the east wing. “That’s where I take astronomy.”
“You takeastronomy?” Vesper’s voice hits a pitch that probably has her fellow goldens barking three blocks away.
Christ. No wonder the kid was bouncing off the walls this morning when I told him Vesper was coming with us to drop him off. She acts like everything he says is the most fascinating thing she’s ever heard.
Though even I have to admit that Cordingly Prep is impressive.
“Usually, only fifth graders get to take it,” Luka explains, “but Uncle Kovan talked to Dean Thomas and he let me join.”
“‘Talked to,’” Vesper mutters under her breath. “I bet he did.”
“What was that?” I ask her.
She slaps on a fake grin. “Nothing!” Then, turning around to face Luka in the back, she winks and asks, “Are you sure this isn’t Hogwarts?”
“No!” Luka giggles. “They don’t teach us magic here.”
“Well, they should. Life’s too short not to believe in a little magic.”
Something tight loosens in my chest at the sound of her laugh mixing with his. I could listen to them chatter all day.
After I park, we climb the eighteen marble steps to the entrance. The hallway stretches out before us, all black-and-white checkered floors and soaring ceilings.
“How big is this place?” Vesper asks, her head tilted back to take in the architecture.
