Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
I point to the door but then reconsider when I think back to the many clothes I dropped to the floor as I was looking for the perfect outfit to wear tonight. A half-eaten sandwich surely still sits on my desk, and I can’t be sure if Lady wasn’t allowed in my room while I was away. I twitch in his arms in a sudden state of panic. “Actually, no! You need to wait.”
When he frowns, looking almost hurt, I rub his chest and correct myself. “I’m not prepared for guests. Let me just tidy up before you come in.”
“Sweetheart, I once had the contents of a dragonling’s stomach burst all over me after I killed it. I’m not afraid of a little mess.” But his wings pull back and he lets me down gently.
I have no idea what he’s talking about, but it does sound dreadful. “Maybe, but I was raised to put my best foot forward. It won’t even be five minutes,” I promise, stepping away from his warm, fragrant arms.
I expect more pushback, but he offers me a little bow, and then lowers himself to kiss my wrist as if it were some precious thing.
"In case you get lost, I'll know where to find you," he says, and I'm not sure whether that's a threat, or just insanely romantic.
I’m so overcome by emotion I almost trip on my way to the entrance, but when the key finally slides in, I step in and close the door behind me, because none of it feels real.
Heat washes over me as I take several deep breaths, but I can’t make him wait forever and head straight for my apartment. I walk in soundlessly in case Viola is already sleeping, but then I see a light in the living room as I pass, so I walk in to check on Lady.
“Oh, my God! Nate! Did you forget how to knock?” Viola yells, grabbing a blanket off the floor while my chaos-riddled brain takes in the scene.
A half-naked guy lifts himself on top of her and scowls. “What the fuck, man?”
I spin around, then close my eyes, because I can still see the reflection of Viola’s boobs in the hallway mirror.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
“Well, you can now leave and close the door,” the guy says.
“Just so you know, I also have someone over.”
“Shut up,” Viola shouts, gasping and clearly no longer annoyed. “Wait, I’m coming,” she says, climbing off the couch.
“Seriously?” the guy asks, but she shushes him with a loud kiss.
“I’ll be a minute. Don’t go anywhere.”
He groans, but soon enough, Viola joins me in the corridor, closing the door of the living room. I peek through my fingers, but she’s now wrapped in a blanket.
“Lady is asleep in my room, I fed her and everything. Now tell me how Richie took it. And where is the rebound guy?” she lowers her voice, glancing at the door to my room. Clearly, she doesn’t care much for her hookup, so I take a deep breath and meet her gaze.
“The rebound guy is waiting outside. He helped me wreck Richie’s car and dueled him for my honor. I am not even joking.”
Her face, still painted into the tiger mask she was working on earlier, twists, and she utters a choked laugh. “Girl! Sounds like a keeper! Will he be your new mister?”
I cup my face with both hands and I am burning just as hot as I feared. “He also brought me here on horseback. I know it’s too early to talk about love but—”
“Your grandparents literally fell in love at first sight,” Viola argues and squeezes my shoulder. “You deserve for someone to fall head over heels for you too!”
I drag my hands down my cheeks. “Viola. He’s so swoony. It’s insane. Who am I kidding? You’ll meet him if you’re around in the morning.”
She dances in place with a squeal. “So exciting. Death to shitty Richie. All hail…”
I sigh. “Prince Tristan Bloodweed?”
Viola laughs so hard she has tears in her eyes. “I love everything about this guy already. See you!” She sends me a kiss in the air and disappears in the living room.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
This is so reckless. So crazy. What if he lied and there are actual consequences to what we’re doing right under Gloombane’s nose? But I still dash into my room and start kicking stuff under furniture, and tossing fallen clothes straight into my closet, without any consideration for the state they’ll be in tomorrow.
I know Tristan is persistent in his interest, but I still feel an ever-growing fear that he might give up on me and leave, if the wait is too long, so I return to him as soon as I’m ready.
“Um… come in?”
He’s already tied the horse to a nearby tree and rushes my way. “Have I mentioned yet how pretty your beauty spots are? I want to kiss each one,” he says, staring at me intensely. It’s as if he can see into my soul and touch it.