Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
But the spell broke.
He scrambled away from me like his ass was on fire while I put as much space between us as I could in an effort to clear my head. The others sensed something was wrong, but none of them dared to intervene. When Rey saw what he’d done to me, she was upset, Judd was concerned, Ewan was visibly shaken, and Finnick couldn’t look me in the eye.
My phone buzzes, and once Harrison leaves, I check it. Cash sent me another selfie. That was his birthday present too—the only thing that took my mind from what went down with Cy.
Cash: Tell me you miss this mug.
I grin and reply back almost immediately with a selfie of my own.
Cash: I like your hair like that. It was cool spiked but this makes me want to run my fingers through it.
A flash of heat burns through me. I shove my pack out of my brain because it’s awkward as fuck when they know anytime I get turned on—which is a lot lately, it would seem.
Me: You’re gay?
Cash: Dude. I’ve been dropping hints like bombs.
Me: Yeah, I guess it’s pretty obvious.
Cash: So coy, Rem.
I send him a few middle finger emojis.
Cash: Seriously. I’m coming over tonight. I’ll text you when I reach your property. Sneak out.
Me: Right. My guardians are overprotective. You have NO idea how much so.
Cash: Wyatt’s overprotective too and Van thinks I’m a troublemaker. It’s okay. We’ll be careful. They won’t know. I’ll bring liquor.
Liquor?
I gnaw on my bottom lip, wondering just how much shit I’ll get into if Cy catches me sneaking around at night.
Cash: You’re eighteen, dude. Technically, you could move out. They can’t keep you prisoner forever.
He inspires false bravado.
Me: Okay. Midnight. They’re all usually in bed by then.
Except on the night of the full moon, when they don’t come back home until dawn. Thankfully it’s not a full moon.
Cash: I can’t wait.
My heart stumbles all over itself, and it’s an effort to keep my thoughts locked away from the others.
Me: Me either.
I pace my room, restless and bored and a bit nervous. I’m dying to spend some time in the flesh with Cash. While texting is fun, I want to see him. And smell him. I’m desperate to touch him or have him touch me. Would he run his fingers through my hair like he joked about? He’s bold and flirty, so it’s hard to tell what’s just words and what’re promises.
By the time midnight rolls around, I ease up on my walls, seeking out the bond of my packmates. It’s serene and quiet, which means they’re all sleeping. I carefully wrap myself back up in an invisible mental cloak. After throwing on my coat since the temperature has dropped dramatically in the past few days, I slip quietly out of my bedroom. The floorboards squeak, and I pause, trying not to breathe too heavily. When I’m sure no one is coming to drag me back to my room, I continue on my trek. It’s forever until I actually make it out of the house. The cold air is refreshing and freeing.
I tiptoe down the road toward Cash’s house. In the distance, I see a pale figure with moonlit blond hair waiting for me. As soon as he sees me, he waves. I feel goofy, but I wave back. We both walk toward each other until we’re just a few feet apart.
“Come on, let’s explore,” he says, taking my hand and tugging me off the road into the dense forest.
His hand is warm in mine. It’s difficult to keep my heart steady and my breaths from being shallow. I’m holding hands with someone. It’s incredible.
But is it as incredible as it felt when Cy poked his claws into your skin?
I ignore that twisted thought and follow Cash through the trees. We walk slowly and carefully, sidestepping any fallen limbs we encounter. He weaves us through moonlit patches between the trees, taking us deeper and deeper into the woods that are alive with the sounds of nature at night. Finally, we come to a small creek. The water rushes by quickly and falls over a short ledge. It’s just loud enough that it masks sounds. He leads us to a big rock and sits on the side that’s blocked from the wind. I take a seat on the earth beside him.
He turns his head and flashes me a flirty grin that makes my skin feel alive. “Drink?”
I give him a nod. He unscrews the bottle of liquor, takes a swig, and then hands it off to me. Our fingers brush together, making me shiver. His grin lights up the forest. I bring the bottle to my lips and sniff it. He stifles a laugh at the sour expression I make, slapping his hand over his mouth.