The confidence of Xane’s assertion didn’t seem to convince Spook.Shadows filled his eyes.When he realised she was looking right at him, he bowed his head so that it rested against her shoulder.His arms remained tight around her waist, and he pressed close as if he wished to melt right into her skin.
He was afraid and trembling, just as she was afraid and trembling.Only in Spook’s case, it seemed like he was four breaths away from a panic attack.
Alle hugged him closer, her eyes closing in order to block out the world around them.All that existed was them.All her ears needed to hear were the whispers of his hot breath and the thud of his heartbeat.All she needed to feel was the drum of his pulse and the heat of his body.
“I worried you’d never speak to me again.”Marshall had always done his best to sabotage her relationships when they were teens.
“Likewise,” Spook murmured into her skin.He nestled his cheek against the crook of her collarbone in a way that made his long hair tickle her skin.“I should have called you.”
Alle pushed him back a little, one hand upon his firm chest, so that she could look up at him.He was startlingly beautiful.Enigmatic.His blue eyes swam with secrets.Sometimes when she looked at him, it was like all the air got sucked out of her lungs
“Yes.”He should have.Instead of shutting down, and shutting her out.“I love you, you silly man.I was really worried, and your friend here isn’t exactly forthcoming as a go-between.You could be bleeding to death, and he’d tell me there was nothing to worry about unless you specifically gave him permission to do otherwise.”
Xane shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Alle.Things got seriously deranged.I wasn’t thinking logically about anything but myself.Can you forgive me?”
Could she?
He didn’t even have to turn those pleading baby blues on her to reach a decision.
“Mate,” Xane huffed.“She already did.She’s angling for a make-up kiss.”
“Oh.”Spook exhaled through his nose.“Is that true?”He used his thumb to trace the line of her cheek.“Do you want me to kiss you?”
He seriously needed to ask?Alle’s lips peeled back showing her teeth.“There’s never a time when I don’t want you to.”
They were okay.It was going to be okay.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
His gaze dipped to her mouth, while hers fastened on his lips.He had the most perfect lips, generous, soft, and incredibly giving.Her hand fastened in the front of his outfit pulling him closer as he pressed their mouths together.
It was soft.So gentle.It made her strain upwards for more.And caused her fingers to tighten fast around the cloth, as if she might, by pulling him closer, inspire him to deepen what was currently a flighty, whisper-light caress.
He was like glass.Like he’d been hollowed out by the week that had passed, and all that remained was a crystal shell.Strike the wrong note and he might shatter.
“Spook, I’m so sorry about everything… my brother.”
“Shhh!”He shook his head.
“It must have been frightening being arrested.”
His brow furrowed.“It certainly wasn’t an experience I’d hoped to repeat.”
Wait.Had he been arrested before?The question must have been implied by her expression.“Yeah,” he confirmed.“It wasn’t the first time, but can we not talk about it now?”
“Of course.”
God, she wanted to know.What the hell had he ever done that had warranted an arrest?She’d have assumed a band related prank if not for his insistence they not discuss it.A prank would cause him to bristle.
“Have you been arrested before?”she asked Xane.
Flashing crooked demon’s-teeth at her, he swayed his head.“Never.You?”
“No.God, no.I’m a good girl.”
