Page 11 of Casper
Because I didn’t know Casper very well and we were now alone in a room together, I opted to play it safe by being polite, hoping it would make him leave faster.
“It’s not your fault. You stopped that guy from hurting me, and I really do appreciate that.” I paused for a moment as a sudden thought hit me. “How did you know where I live?”
Codie.
I read my friend’s name off his screen. Figures. She was definitely meddling here.
“How did you get into the building?” I knew for a fact that Codie didn’t have access to the dorm. Only students that lived here could get inside.
He typed again.I know a guy who lives here.
All right. I could pretend that was true, although my instinct told me there was more to it than that. Trying to keep things from getting weirder, I pointed to my vodka cooler sitting on the desk. “Want one? I also have water and orange juice.”
Casper shook his head, waving a dismissive hand. His gaze wandered around my small room, lingering on the skeleton lovers tapestry. Did he think I was a freak? Maybe it would scare him off and he would leave me alone.
A small smile tugged at his lips.I like your wall hanging. You have a unique style. It’s refreshing.
“Thanks. Some people think I’m a freak. You probably heard that back at the party though.” Grabbing my cooler off the desk, I sat down in the desk chair. It didn’t put much space between us, but at least I wasn’t on the bed with him.
Casper’s shoulders shook in a soft laugh as he typed on his phone again.I don’t think that guy will make that mistake again.
I frowned at his phone screen. What did that mean? Then it hit me. The marks on Casper’s knuckles.
“Did you hit him?” I asked, both brows shooting up in surprise.
Fuck yeah I did. More times than I can count.
I didn’t know what to say to that. Nobody had come to my defense like that before. Although nobody had ever murdered a man for me either.
I regarded Casper with a strange curiosity. Who the hell was this man? I’d always known him as the silent one of the Graveyard Kings. The one who didn’t speak but still managed to be loud with his presence. I hadn’t known much about the Kings other than the rumors that spread. Not until Storm and Codie got involved with Rebel and Stray. I knew more about them and their activity now, although what I knew probably only scratched the surface. I still didn’t really know much about Casper.
“What’s going on here, Casper? You and I have never really spoken or spent time together unless our friends were gathered in a group. Other than walking down the aisle together at Rebel and Storm’s wedding, we’ve never even been one on one. Now you’re killing men to protect me and beating up frat guys for making fun of me. I don’t get it.”
I really didn’t. I may have caught him sneaking a glance at me here and there in the past. Nothing I would have read into or thought meant more than a simple look. Maybe I’d been oblivious to something more.
Casper studied me for several long moments before his thumbs flew over the keyboard on his phone. There was something about his piercing green gaze that cut right through me. It said more than any words could. In his eyes, I saw acertainty that I’d only seen when Rebel looked at Storm or Stray smiled at Codie. A possessiveness that knew no bounds.
I always thought it was sweet. Now I wasn’t so sure. My pulse began to race when he held the phone out for me to see.
I noticed you long ago. Back when Rebel first took an interest in Storm. You have this whimsical beauty that immediately caught my eye. I always looked forward to seeing what you were wearing each day. I assumed it was a silly crush that would fade. Then we walked down that aisle together, and I never wanted to let go of you. Tonight you were in danger because of me. I had to protect you. I will always protect you.
When I finished reading what he had written, I glanced up to find him watching me intently. Waiting for my reaction. My immediate reaction was to freeze. I’d had no idea.
I knew that I had to say something. To break the heavy tension that settled between us. Something terrible would’ve happened to me tonight if Casper hadn’t been there in the haunted house. I knew that. And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d gone from one danger to another.
“I appreciate what you did for me tonight,” I said, trying to choose my words with tact. “Really I do. But you don’t have to protect me from everyone and everything. I’m not yours to protect.”
I braced myself, not knowing what kind of reaction to expect. It wasn’t that I was trying to shoot Casper down or reject him. We didn’t know each other well enough for such claims to be made.
Biting down on his bottom lip, he nodded. Something so basic shouldn’t have held my attention the way it did. There was no denying that Casper was a badass tattooed hottie. However, he was also a criminal and a murderer. The phone call from Jace reminded me why that was a terrible idea.
Casper surprised me by leaning over, crossing the space between us to caress my face with a powerful hand. He simply held my gaze, his thumb stroking down my cheek and along the edge of my mouth.
A shiver stole through me. Racing down my spine. I fell into his enchanting eyes, swallowed up by the strange shift in the atmosphere.
When his gaze dropped to my lips, I thought he might kiss me. In that moment, I wanted it to happen, despite the knot of fear in my stomach. Instead, he dropped his hand and pulled back, typing once again on his phone.
You are though. Mine. You just don’t know it yet.
