Page 24 of The 13th Daughter
"Don't stay out too late."
"That's it?" I asked incredulously. "Don't stay out too late?"
"I know the initiation is tonight, but you told me you wouldn't go near the Coven and I trust you. No more insane accusations. Have a good time."
Now I felt about as low as a piece of gum stuck to a brand new pair of Prada heels.
"Bye, Dad." Sorry, I mouthed silently to his back and slipped out the front door.
I sighed in frustration as I jogged the short distance to Kay's. He had to go and say he trusted me, didn't he? It's not like I'd lied, not really. I mean, I was going on a date. To the initiation. Crap, I'd lied to my dad. I hated lying.
The Martins were already gone to the Hall to get things ready for tonight, so I let myself in the back door. I did the one legged hop into the bathroom as I pulled my jeans and t-shirt off. Fifteen minutes later, I was dressed and ready. Thank the Fates I'd applied my makeup at home before I left. I'd have been so late otherwise. The only jewelry I wore was Emily's locket.
My tennis shoes stayed on until I sat down on the park bench. Then they went into the backpack I hid in the bushes next to the bench. The strappy heels took some careful maneuvering, but I managed to wrestle them on. My watch told me it was 6:52. I was early, but Ethan was earlier. I saw him leaning against one of the trees watching me, a smile on his face.
I stopped breathing the minute my eyes found him. Dressed in black trousers, a red shirt, and a simple black jacket, he looked like some dark angel come to tempt me. His hair fell around his face haphazardly and his smile turned wicked when he pushed away from the tree and walked towards me.
He took a seat and leaned into me. "Breathe, Cassie Jayne," he whispered.
I closed my eyes and forced air into my lungs. He knew exactly what he did to me. So unfair. I didn't think I had nearly the same effect on him.
"You look very nice," I managed to get out. He looked more than nice. In truth, he could have been on the cover of GQ Magazine and he was mine. My own personal M&M, I thought with a grin.
"Why are you grinning, Cassie?"
"No reason," I said and blushed. No way in hell would I ever tell him his nickname.
"You're blushing." His eyes glinted with a wicked light. "Were you having indecent thoughts about me?"
"What...NO!" My face burned scarlet. I could feel the heat of it creep up my neck and into my scalp.
"Hmm...that's a shame, Cassie Jayne Bishop," he whispered into my ear.
"It is?" I swallowed at the feel of his warm breath against my ear.
"Yes." His teeth grazed my earlobe and I shivered in response. "Do you want to know why?"
"Why?" I struggled to pay attention.
"Because I've been having indecent thoughts about you for days." He trailed butterfly kisses along my jaw and then down the curve of my neck.
"You have?" I gasped. My breathing hitched into overdrive and my heart galloped out of control. I felt a little dizzy. How could he do this to me, I wondered? I'd been kissed many times before, but no one had ever had this kind of effect upon me before. Ethan could make me forget everything except him.
"Days," he confirmed and pulled me to my feet. "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"
"No." His gray eyes grew darker and darker as he stared into my own. I could drown in those eyes.
His smile turned tender and his eyes flamed with an emotion I couldn't define. "No? Well, let me say, Miss Bishop, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever met in all my days." His hand cupped my cheek. "My Cassie."
His Cassie? My heart melted into a puddle at my feet.
His lips came down on mine in the softest, most gentle kiss I'd ever experienced. The truth struck me then and I stiffened up. I was falling in love with this boy. And that scared me.
"What's wrong?" He pulled away to look at me.
"Nothing." I took a shaky breath and buried my face in his shirt. "You make me feel things no one else ever has."
"I should hope no one has ever made you feel like this," he whispered into my hair and tightened his arms around me. "You're mine, Cassie."
