I think I see the glimmer of tears in his own eyes, but before I can be sure, he leans forward and kisses me. It’s not like the passionate kisses we’ve shared before. This one is tender, almost tentative, but my stomach flutters even more than it did during any of our previous encounters. I want to drown in the sweetness of his mouth, in the gentleness of his hands. I want to take on his pain and his grief and help him heal, but I don’t know how.
I pull away, but only enough so that I can look him in the eyes.
“Will you take me on one final tour? I want to see everything.”
He nods. It’s strange to see him fighting for words, but I take his hand and squeeze it. I’m here with him now. I can help him say goodbye to this place.
We spend the next few hours wandering from room to room. Most of the furniture and décor is gone, but Calder still has things to show me, stories to share. I hold his hand through all of it, and his grip on my fingers is tight, as if I’m anchoring him through this farewell.
Finally we head back outside to the gardens. He seems to brighten a little now that we’re out in the sun, and his hand relaxes.
“You know,” I say as he leads me up the path. “I still haven't seen the hedge maze.”
The corner of his mouth curls up, and the wicked expression makes my heart beat faster.
“We should remedy that,” he says, tugging me toward the back side of the house.
A few minutes later we're standing next to an eight-foot expanse of dark green shrubbery. The wall extends as far as I can see in either direction.
“Wow, you weren't kidding. This is huge.” I reach out and touch one of the spiny green leaves. The branches are so thick that I can’t see even a speck of sunlight from the other side.
Calder grins. “It's easy to get lost in there.”
“I imagine,” I say, tilting my head back and admiring the impressive height of the hedge. When I turn back to him, I find him watching me intently.
“I'd like to propose a little game,” I say.
His eyes darken. “Oh?”
I stroll ahead of him to the place where the hedge parts and the labyrinth begins.
“I'll go in first,” I say, “and then you have to come find me.”
His lips curl at the prospect.
“What do I get if I win?” he asks, his voice rough.
“I think you can guess.” I tug at the strap of my tank top, sliding it off my shoulder. Being back in this place is making me feel wild again.
The look Calder gives me in response is positively animal.
“Count to fifty,” I tell him, backing through the maze entrance.
He makes a sound of assent, never taking his eyes from me. I flash him my best “come and get me” grin over my shoulder and disappear between the hedges.
“No cheating!” I call back to him. And then I break into a run.
My heart is pounding in my throat as I rush down the dirt path. I don't know if Calder really means to count to fifty, but I want to give him a good chase. Toying with him is half the fun.
I'm out of breath by the time I reach the first fork.
I pause for only the briefest of moments, and then I turn down the left-hand path. Just around the bend, I stop again and pull my tank top over my head. There's nothing wrong with helping him out a little. I hook the tank top over a branch of the nearest hedge and continue on my way.
I follow the dark, curving walls of green. The thick hedge blocks out most of the sound from the outside world. A few birds sweep overhead, chirping and singing, but even they seem far away, part of another place. All I can do is keep going.
By the time I reach the next split in the path, I know Calder has had plenty of time to finish counting. He’ll be on my trail soon, if he isn’t already. I kick off my shoes and leave them in the dirt at the head of the path I choose.
At the following fork, I shimmy out of my jeans. I’m laying them down on the ground when I hear Calder’s footsteps for the first time. He isn’t far—on the other side of the hedge I just came around. I have to hurry.
The next time the path splits, I unclasp my bra and hang it from a branch. I'm down to my panties now, and Calder’s getting closer. He's moving quickly.
My legs are shaking by the time I round the next bend in the path, but I'm not sure whether it's because I've been running for so long or because my body has started to respond to this game of erotic tag. Goosebumps ripple across my skin. The cool air rushing past my bare nipples teases them into hard, sensitive points.
At the next fork, I slip my panties down my legs and throw them down on the path.
I'm deep in the maze now. I can hear the wind blowing across the tops of the hedges, and somewhere in the distance a bird calls, but otherwise we’re completely cut off from the outside. Anything can happen between these high, leafy walls.
Calder’s gaining now. More than once I've caught a glimpse of him over my shoulder, but I've managed to stay ahead of him so far. At one point I round a corner and lose him for a little while, but soon enough I hear his footsteps behind me again. He's close, and he doesn't seem to be tiring. I don't know how much farther I can run.
The next time the path curves, it doesn't lead me down another labyrinthine corridor. Instead, it opens onto a small circular clearing with a fountain at its center. This must be the very heart of the maze.
I jog to the fountain and stop at the edge of the pool. Behind me, Calder's footsteps are approaching fast. They stagger to a stop when they reach the clearing.
I take a deep breath and stare down into the clear water of the pool. My softly rippling reflection stares back at me, flushed and fully naked. My hair escaped its band somewhere along the way and hangs loose and wild around my shoulders.
Calder moves again, slowly this time, as if he's afraid to startle me. Each footstep behind me sends a shiver of anticipation through my body. I continue to stare down into the water, even as my nerves prickle at his approach.
When he's right behind me, he stops again. For the longest moment, he doesn't touch me, but his breath stirs the hair on my neck. I can feel the heat of his body up and down my naked back. When finally he reaches up and brushes his hands down the length of my arms, my heart is sprinting so fast I can hardly breathe. My skin trembles under his touch.
“Lily,” he murmurs, his lips at my ear.
His fingers slide down my arms to my hands, then move to my hips. I arch back against him, and that's when I realize that he's naked, too.
I twist in his arms so that I’m facing him.
He’s beautiful. His eyes gleam with something deeper than lust, and I want to lose myself in them.
Sometime later we’ll have to start thinking about the sort of relationship we might have outside this place, removed from the magic of this house, beyond the games and the sex that brought us together. There’s so much I want to share with him—meaningful things, important things. I want to take him to the Center, show him the changes my dad and I have made. I want to talk to him about Garrett and all the other events, good or bad, that have shaped me into the person I am today. And I want him to share other parts of his life with me, too.
For now, though, I'm content to just be here in his arms.
“I win,” he says, leaning down and brushing his lips across mine.
“No,” I murmur against his mouth. “I think I did.”
***
What happens when Calder and Lily take their relationship to the next level? Find out in:
TRUTH OR DARE
(His Wicked Games #2)
Amazon Author Page
About Ember Casey
Ember Casey is a twenty-something writer who lives in Atlanta, Georgia in a den of iniquity (or so she likes to tell people).
When she's not writing steamy romances, you can find her whipping up baked goods (usually of the chocolate variety), traveling (her bucket list is infinite), or generally causing trouble (because somebody has to do it).
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FIERCE
by Clarissa Wild
FIERCE © Clarissa Wild 2014
Fight for your dreams. Fight for your life. Fight for love.
Nerdy girl Autumn Blakewood is the prime example of a goody two-shoes. She studies every night, is never late for class, and always follows the rules. She has never felt the need to step out of her comfort zone. That is, until she meets Hunter.
Hunter Bane is a cocky, confident bad-boy, who's nothing but trouble. He’s a dangerous distraction to everyone around him. Sexy and strong, Hunter enjoys the swooning effect he has on women. Especially those who aren't used to attention, like Autumn.
Autumn finds it hard not to give into Hunter’s advances, even though it all seems like a game to him. Trying to understand him is impossible, because he shrouds himself in mystery.
What she doesn't know is that Hunter has more baggage than anyone should have to carry. When she discovers he's in an illegal frat club to save the one person that matters to him, Autumn realizes this could mean the end of her undeniable connection to him. Even their lives are at risk.
But it's too late to turn back now ...
Chapter 1
Embarrassing Moments
Geeks at new schools are like boats trying to sail on dry, uncharted land. They never fare well.
I draw in a huge breath and blow it out before stepping out of the bus. The driver behind me chortles at my reluctance to leave the comfort and safety of the bus. Of course, he isn’t used to people actually preferring his bus over the outside world. I’m sort of an exception to the usual people he deals with, and that’s not a good thing.
On the contrary; I’m chicken-shit, and it’s even worse that I know I am.
Seeing this gigantic campus and college in front of me is terrifying. My legs are shaking, my heart is pounding, and I wish I could just step back into that bus and get as far away from here as possible.
But that would be sad. So sad, I think I might cry from laughing at my own cowardice.
It’s really pathetic that these new things scare me so much. Most girls would love new schools, getting to know new people, experiencing the boys.
Just the thought of it makes my heart race.
Nope, that’s not for me.
But I have no choice, either. I want to do this. I always wanted to study. I need it. My family needs it.
I just have to stop whining, stop thinking about it, and just go for it. Just do it!
Shaking my shoulders a little, I take a deep sniff to smell the trees surrounding me, and march forward.
Suddenly, a cold jet of air surges toward me from the left and catches me by surprise. I shriek as the waft of air tangles my hair in front of my face and blows up my skirt. There’s a loud noise coming from the thing blasting air at me. Holding down my skirt so my panties aren’t exposed, I use my other hand to keep my glasses straight and try to see what’s happening.
“Sorry,” someone yells, and the turbulence is turned off.
I’m left gasping while catching my breath. A leaf blower had been pointed straight at me.
“Sorry about that,” he repeats as I pat down my skirt.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
Great. What an awesome start to the first day at college.
“You all right?” he says, directing his leaf blower somewhere else.
“Fine,” I say.
“Uh … You might want to take a look at your hair,” the guy says, clearing his throat.
“What?” I say, grasping for my head. Crunchy leaves are coiled up in my hair.
My eyes widen as I start plucking all the leaves out. I work to unravel the knots, trying to get it to go down again, but my frizzy hair never gives in.
Oh, why does this always have to happen to me?
Looking around I can see people staring at me, hiding laughs behind their hands. I feel like I’m in the center of attention, the focal point of the show. This is making me sweat like crazy.
My eyes narrow as they catch the gaze of one person in particular. A long, lean guy wearing a black leather jacket, who’s standing a few feet away from me with a couple of other guys. His flaring gray eyes narrow as I catch myself staring right back at him. I blush when his plump lips slowly curl up into a cheeky smile.
I smash my lips together to prevent a squeal from escaping. He’s hot, but I look like a mess. No, correction, I am a mess.
I’m like a fully decorated Christmas tree in the middle of fall.
Embarrassing. I can’t believe this is his first impression of me.
Well, it’s not like I have a chance with guys like him. They don’t go after nerdy types like me.
Straightening my glasses, I try to ignore everyone looking at me. I put up a horrible smile as I walk toward the dorm halls, trying to pry the last pieces of leaf from my hair that just won’t come off. It’s like they’re glued to my head or something. I couldn’t have imagined a worse time for my hair to turn into its usual giant magnet, attracting and attaching to all kinds of strange things, because it’s as sticky as spider legs.
Sometimes I think I’d better just cut it off and be rid of it. Maybe I could donate it to science, so it can become the new-and-improved Velcro.
I smirk from my own jokes, which are terrible, I know. Still, they make this day a little better after that scene.
My dorm’s at the end of the campus, a ten-minute walk from the bus stop. I’m glad my parents helped me move in my stuff last night so I wouldn’t have to do it alone today. As I enter the door, a deafening squeal makes me plug my ears.
“Autumn!” Evie yells.
She throws herself against me and wraps her arms so tightly around me that I can’t breathe. Wheezing, I wriggle myself free from her hug so my lungs can expand again.
“I can’t believe we’re going to be roomies,” she says, squeezing my arms.
She bites her lip and looks at me with big eyes, like she’s about to explode into her usual happy dance. “Isn’t it awesome?”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to make myself at home here,” I say, nodding, trying to make it sound genuine.
“Wow, you sound excited,” she says with a sarcastic undertone.
“Sorry, I do like that you’re my roommate. Honestly, I do.” I sit down on my bed and she sits down next to me. “But I think I just made the worst and most laughable entrance ever.”
“What happened?” she asks.
“Oh … you know … a leaf blower … my hair … the usual crap.”
She snorts. “Well, that’s just you being yourself.”
I shake my head and smile. Evie nudges me with her shoulder and winks. “Oh, c’mon. It’s not like they’ll remember you for it. Who’d remember girls like us anyway? We’re the nobodies. The ‘invisible.’ Nobody’s going to blink at us.” She makes quotation marks with her fingers.
I laugh. “You got a point there. ‘Not being anyone’ makes life a lot easier.”
Evie lets her head rest on my shoulder and I sigh.
“Dork for life and proud of it,” she muses.
And then we both burst out into laughter. We fall flat down on the bed and Evie puts her arm around me like she usually does when it’s just the two of us. I don’t remember her any other way. We’ve always been this close. Ever since I met her in high school she’s been my best friend. Both teased, we sought comfort in each other’s presence. Dorks have to stick up for each other. That’s the only way to make it through that thing called puberty.
I’m so glad we’re both past that now. I expect college life to be different. A lot better, maybe.
Someone clears his throat, and I immediately push myself up on my elbows.
“Am I interrupting you guys? I can come back later, no problem.”
“Brody!” I scream, and jump up from the bed. He’s standing in the doorway. I run to him and wrap my arms around him.
“I get that you’
re happy to see me, but no need to crush my ribs,” he says, almost choking on a laugh.
“Sorry,” I say, releasing him from my grip.
“So, had a look around campus yet?” he asks.
“Yeah, I did the tour yesterday. I can’t believe how huge it is!”
“I know, right?”
We look at each other, and I can’t help but squash him between my arms again. I haven’t seen him in such a long time. It feels like it’s been forever since we were at the same school together. I never liked that he was three years older than me, but when he left to go to college, I was even more distraught. Suddenly, my best friend was gone, and I had to fend for myself.
Luckily, I met Evie not long after. She’s been my only friend since. I think I can safely say I have two best friends. Although I don’t really know if it’ll be the same now that I’m here. Brody looks so different now, I can hardly tell it’s him. I hope things will be the same like always, though.
“Hmm …” he mutters. “Seems ages ago since I was last a newbie. Wasn’t the greatest experience.”
When he sees my scaredy-cat face, he chuckles a little. “Relax. You’ve got me to back you up. I didn’t have anyone to show me around, to help me out when I needed it. But you two have me now.”
Evie rolls her eyes when he looks at her. “Don’t go thinking you’re a mogul now.” She walks up to him and pinches his cheeks. “Still little Bro-bro to me.”
He scowls at her, and she laughs.
“And now for the formal introduction: Autumn Blakewood and Evie Carder, I hereby welcome you to campus.”
“Why thank you, generous lord.” Evie makes a bow, and I muffle a laugh behind my hand.
“It’s tradition. Well, it’s not like you understand any of that,” he says, snorting. “Evie Peeved.”
She frowns and nudges him forward. “Okay, that’s it. Out.”
“What? Can’t take a joke?”
“I hate that name.”
“Exactly. That’s why it suits you perfectly.”
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