Page 32 of Wicked Deceit
"No bullshit," he whispers, cocking a brow. "I'm terrified, but I have to go, Angel. I promise we'll be safe. Okay?" It's like he read the thoughts directly from my mind, reading my worry, and knew exactly how I was feeling.
I nod, sucking in a breath. "No bullshit? I'll miss you. Please don't die." I try to give him a reassuring smile when he walks away, giving me a small wave before disappearing into the tiny death trap and pulling away with more waves out the window.
Carter doesn’t utter a word when they drive off into the night and disappear down the long and windy highway. More anxiety spikes in my gut at the thought of them taking the same roads we did that fateful night we plummeted into the light pole at the hands of the Apocalypse. What if it happens again? What if they cut the break lines or something worse this time? I swallow hard, leaning into Carter’s embrace when he wraps his arm around my shoulders. A heavy boulder sits in the pits of my gut, but I have to shake it off. There’s nothing I can do but pray for their safe return and hope this wasn’t a ploy to get them away from school grounds. Something doesn’t sit right with me as we make our way through the maze and intrusive thoughts about them dying on the side of the road run through my mind. Or us dying inside the Maze House since we’re finally alone.
“Earth to Vixen,” Carter murmurs in my ear, stopping us outside the front door of the house.
I shake myself from my thoughts. “Sorry,” I murmur, for once keeping my crazy thoughts to myself. So, that’s a win for me, at least. For now, anyway. I can’t be held accountable for what my tongue says before my brain can process what it really should say. Is it inappropriate at times? Okay, all the time? Most definitely. But thankfully for me, I got enough sleep last night. I can keep my worrying thoughts to myself and pretend like this isn’t happening.
“Something is on your fucking mind. Now spill,” he says in a low, demanding voice, forcing my eyes to his. His warm palms cup my face, holding me still.
I could try to pull out of his grasp and tell him to leave it alone, but when I look into the depths of his eyes, something makes my heart pitter patter with emotions. My tongue loosens, and all my worries come pouring out.
“The Apocalypse has been really silent since the car wreck a week ago. I’m just worried that something bad is about to happen,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.
His dark eyes quickly dart around the maze before he leans in, sealing his lips over mine. His sharp teeth drag across my bottom lip, leaving me a shaking mess when he finally puts his tongue back in his mouth and keeps his claws to himself.
“It’s fucking normal to feel that way. They’ve been silent all around. We’ll make sure Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb check in every hour.” I wrinkle my nose at the name he calls them, but nod in response, licking my swollen lip.
“Now, let’s go tell Elf Ears he’s ordering us pizza–my treat, of course. And then we can give that asshole a proper goodbye before he has to leave tomorrow to swampville, USA,” he says, as a smile tilts the edges of his lips.
“Seriously with the Elf Ears, Grumpy!” Chase harrumphs, crossing his arms over his–wait–his bare chest. “You’re drooling, Sunshine. You act like you’ve never seen me half naked before,” he says, waltzing forward with so much swagger in his step, his hips move, and his smile grows. “I think it’s time to take advantage of the time we have left together. Don’t you?” His thumb swipes over my swollen bottom lip, and I can’t do anything but nod. Words? What are words when these two massively sexy men gang up on me and threaten me with sexy time? Plus, hello and goodbye sex are the best kind of sex.
“Pizza after?” I ask when Chase grabs me by the hand and drags me into the house with Carter eagerly trailing behind us. I peek at him when he lifts his shirt over his head and wipes his mouth off.
“Just cleaning off your fucking seat first,” he says with a smirk. I swear every ounce of my blood rushes to my pussy, and all rational thought falls away. Images of my fingers curling over the thick headboard and riding his face into oblivion as Chase fucks me from behind rushes through. And yup, I’m a damn goner.
“Right, my dick is the only working dick in that house,” Chase says, pumping a fist into the air, and we stumble into the bedroom and lock ourselves away into a passion filled bubble.
Once we’re all sweaty and satisfied, Chase orders our pizza, giving the poor pizza delivery man the instructions to find us. After several texts back and forth, and Chase reassuring the man we weren’t going to murder him, he finally found the Maze House. An hour later, we’re sprawled out on the living room floor in nothing but our birthday suits, eating pizza, and waiting for the twins to come back from finding their father. Turns out, the nurse located him right before the boys arrived, giving them time to settle him into his room and spend time with him. We will be going through the whole goodbye experience tomorrow when my brother picks me up for Thanksgiving break and takes me home, away from my boys. But that’s tomorrow Kaycee’s problem. For now, I’ll enjoy the cuddles and kisses until we have to leave each other’s arms and head in different directions.
Chasethrowshisarmsaround me, squeezing me until my breath seizes in my lungs. “Can’t. Breathe.” I hiss, trying to swat him away, but he only squeezes tighter. Oxygen? Who needs it? Certainly not me right now.
“A whole week, Sunshine,” Chase murmurs, somehow tightening his grip, and I swear small sobs escape him when he buries his nose in my hair. Through a deep inhale, his body relaxes, and he rests his chin on my shoulder.
“Dude, it’s just a week,” Seger grumbles from beside us, leaning against his Porsche.
“A week without all of you!” Chase cries out in his dramatic fashion, clinging to me more. If that’s possible. I swear we are about to mold into one person.
I sigh, letting him have his moment of neediness. The truth is, I’ll miss him, too. Thanksgiving break is only for one week, starting today—Sunday— and then we’re back to school for finals before East Point lets us out for a month for Christmas break. This week will be hard for him and me while he’s in Louisiana visiting his grandparents because his father is still in Veritas' custody.
As we stand in the emptying parking lot of the school, more kids emerge with their bags thrown over their shoulders. Most kids head home to enjoy their break with their families, while a handful of students stay in their apartments for various reasons.
I catch my bullies, Trent and Oscar’s, eyes as they meander towards their cars on the opposite side of the lot. Shivers work down my spine at the predatory look in their eyes. My heart pumps double time when Oscar licks his lips, locking his eyes on me—creepy bastard.
He’s always looked at me like I was his next meal. They’ve avoided us since the accident, giving the group a wide berth. Thanks to my doctor’s orders, I haven’t been back to classes since I was let out of the hospital. Blissfully staying in the Maze House, I’ve soaked up the boys’ attention. They’ve pampered me with breakfast in bed and lunch on the couch. Zepp reads to me every night. And Seger gives me a play-by-play when he plays Angel Warrior while I lay my head in his lap. We’ve made this whole—Kaycee can’t touch technology—work.
“You’ll have me,” Ainsley protests from behind Chase with a frown.
My eyes connect with hers from over Chase’s shoulder, silently pleading with her to pull him off me.
A smile works its way across Ainsley’s lips, and she lights up. Her health has improved since she confessed Magnolia and her were an item and how much she loved her. Her long, dirty blonde waves sit just past her shoulders in the bright fall sun, and color fills her cheeks, replacing her once pale face and giving her a healthy appearance for the first time this year. But most notably, the fake smiles have vanished, replaced by genuine ones, full of love and life. Ainsley has grabbed life by the horns, and she’s finally thriving again. I hope Magnolia is looking down from Heaven with a smile as she watches Ainsley come back to life and breathe for the first time since she was taken.
Chase blows out a breath and steps back from me—finally giving me room to breathe. The warmth of his fingertips bites into my shoulders as he holds me at arm’s length and looks me over with sadness in his eyes.
“I’ll miss you, Sunshine,” he murmurs, leaning in to take my lips. “You’ll Facetime me every day? Call me? Text me? Just don’t forget about me.” I furrow my brows at the last part and cock my head.
“I could never forget about you, dummy,” I mumble with reassurance.
