Authors: Amanda M. Lee
“We’ll deal with it then.”
Aric glanced around the now vacated lawn, his gaze falling on Caitlyn’s body, which Blake was kneeling next to. “I don’t suppose you can wrap this up?”
Rafael nodded. “Leave it to me.”
Aric started walking and then paused. “I don’t think killing him is our best move right now. It’s too much to explain.”
Rafael didn’t look thrilled with the realization. “I know.”
“Can you … you know … glamour him?”
Rafael tilted his head to the side, an evil grin playing at the corner of his mouth. “That’s an outstanding idea. You just go and take care of her.”
Aric nodded. “Hey … um … thank you.”
“You, too. Take care of blue eyes there. I’ll be in touch.”
The first thing I saw when I woke up the next morning was Aric’s bare chest pressed against my face. I shifted, stretching as the previous night’s events flooded back. I bolted up straight in the bed.
Aric’s hand was on my back in an instant. “You’re okay,” he said. “It’s over.”
I glanced around, recognizing his bedroom, and sucking in a breath. “Are my eyes normal?”
After killing Caitlyn and ending Blake’s maniacal plan, Aric had carried me to my parked car. After settling me in the passenger seat, he’d driven us to his place where he’d immediately carried me into his apartment and piled me into his bed.
I’d been exhausted and overwrought, so Aric did the only thing he could and gathered me to him until I fell asleep, the steady sound of his heartbeat lulling me into dreamland.
Now, in the harsh light of morning, I was filled with dread. What if my eyes were still on fire?
“Let me see,” Aric said, cupping my chin in his hands and turning my face toward him. He let out a relieved sigh. “You’re back to normal.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him, but I had to see for myself. Aric remained in the bed, leaning against the pillows and watching me as I looked myself over in his full-length mirror. Other than a horrific case of bedhead, I looked okay. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to tame it. “Thank God.”
“Come here,” Aric said.
“What?”
“Come here.” He patted the bed next to him. I climbed back under the covers, letting Aric settle me in at his side. “How are you feeling?”
“How are you feeling? You were the one tortured.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I feel perfect. I’m worried about you.”
“I’m … I’m okay.” It was the truth. I knew I should be feeling guilty over what I’d done to Caitlyn, but I wasn’t.
“You were amazing last night,” Aric said, caressing the back of my head. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“I hope you don’t have to see it again,” I said, rubbing my nose against his stubbled chin. “I hope that was the end of everything.”
“It was an end,” Aric said, shifting so he could kiss the tip of my nose. “I don’t think it was the end of everything.”
“Can’t you just give me my moment?”
Aric smiled. “Take your moment. You’ve earned it.”
I snuggled into him again. “I’d forgotten how warm you are.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes.”
“Are … are we okay?”
“Are you asking if I forgive you?”
“Yes.”
“I still don’t agree with what you did,” I said. “I think you did it to protect me, though. I’ve decided to just … let it go.”
“Really?” Aric’s tone was hopeful as he tightened his arms around me.
“Really,” I said. “I’m never going to like the pack stuff. I guess I’m just going to have to learn to live with it.”
“You don’t have to worry about the pack stuff,” Aric said. “I’m out.”
I stilled. “What? You quit?”
“I’m still a part of the wolf community,” Aric cautioned. “I am not part of the campus pack. I told them last night before everything happened. I think that might be why they attacked when they did. Will was worried he was going to lose access to me.”
I leaned up so I could look him in the eye. “Why did you quit?”
“Are you asking if I quit for you?” Aric teased. “Well, I did. Partially. I also quit for me. That’s not the life I want to live.”
“What about your dad? He’s not going to like it.”
“I told him before I did it,” Aric said. “He’s not happy, but he understood. My mom was actually excited. She’s never been big on pack politics.”
I bit my lower lip. “Are you sure? I don’t want to force you into something you don’t want.”
“All I want is this,” Aric said, leaning up so he could give me a sweet kiss.
I relaxed back against him. “So, what happens now?”
“Now? Now I’m going to buy you breakfast. Your stomach has been growling for an hour. Then we’re going to go to the store to pick up some groceries, stop at your house to make sure Kelsey and Paris are okay and get you some clothes, and then we’re coming back here and locking ourselves in for forty-eight hours. I just want us to have some time together.”
A thought occurred to me. “You know, I already have a job lined up for the summer. I have to start next weekend. I’ll be going home.”
“Are you asking if I’m coming with you?”
“Does that make me sound pathetic?”
“If you’re pathetic for wondering, then I’m downright sad,” Aric said. “I’m not going to be separated from you. I’m going to stay at our place up at the resort. We’re going to have the summer together.”
I was relieved – and a little excited.
“In fact,” Aric said. “I was hoping that you would move in with me.”
I sucked in a breath. “You want to live together?”
“I want to cohabitate for the summer,” Aric said. “Although, if you wanted to move in with me here when we get back, I wouldn’t have any complaints.”
I was already shaking my head. “We already put down a deposit on another house – a bigger house – for next year.”
Aric shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the information. “Then we’ll just split our time between your house and my place. It’s your senior year, you’re going to want to party while you can.”
Senior year. I was going to live to see my senior year. That was … dumbfounding. There had been times I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. “I’m not sure my parents are going to be thrilled at the prospect of me openly fornicating with you all over town.”
“If they put up a fight, we’ll deal with it,” Aric said. “I’m not going to be separated from you either way.”
“Yeah, well, they’re probably going to have issues with me for a whole other reason,” I admitted.
Aric waited for me to continue.
“I think I need to have a certain talk with them,” I said. “You know,
the
talk.”
“You don’t know about the birds and the bees yet?” Aric teased.
I rolled my eyes.
“Oh,
that
talk,” Aric said. “I think it’s about time you had that talk with them. You need to know what they know. I’ll go with you, if you want.”
I considered the offer. “I might take you up on that. It’s going to be … intense.”
“I’ll be there for you,” he said. “I’ll always be there for you.”
“I’m starting to figure that out.” I rested my head back against his chest, happy to just absorb his warmth for as long as I could. “Wait, you’re graduating this weekend.”
“I am.”
“I’d forgotten.”
Aric kept his arm around me, pulling me with him as he leaned over and rummaged in the drawer of his nightstand. He handed me an envelope.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a ticket for the ceremony,” he said. “I was hoping you would come.”
“You want me to be at your graduation?”
“You’re the only one I want there,” he said. “My mom and dad are coming, but they’ll be in the VIP section so you won’t have to deal with them just yet. Unless you want to. We’ll all go out to dinner, but I’m not sure if you’re up to that just yet. I’ll leave that decision up to you.”
“I’ll come to the ceremony,” I said. “I think I’ll take a pass on dinner. Just for now.”
“I’m fine with that,” Aric said, brushing his lips against my forehead. “It’s going to take some time to get back into a rhythm together. We have a lot of catching up to do. I’m not going to press you.”
“Are you sure you want to? Get back in a rhythm with me, I mean. I wasn’t very nice to you this year.”
Aric spanked my rear playfully. “We’re starting over. We’re wiping the slate clean. Let’s just take it a step at a time.”
“Like AA?”
“You are my addiction,” Aric agreed, tickling my ribs. “Now, how about that breakfast?”
“I’m surprised you don’t want to do something else,” I admitted, disappointment warring with hunger.
“Don’t tempt me,” he said. “I want you nourished. You’re going to need your energy for what I have planned. You’ve got a full two days in front of you, missy.”
I rolled on top of him, pressing my lips against his as happiness found me again. “Bring it on.”
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that..
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Donna Rich for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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