“Sorry. Force of habit.” I throw my hair back marveling at how natural it feels to have long flowing locks. I love the versatility, and I’ve become quite adept with various hairstyles.
“So, she’s still with the freak then.” Jarod swigs from his beer bottle.
“Afraid so.” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a good-looking blond-haired guy staring at me.
Jarod takes another hefty glug of his drink. He looks pensive. He inquires after Jenna a lot—more than most would consider natural. I’ve never questioned his motives before but now I wonder. “You like her.” I put it out there as a statement.
“I … yeah.” He looks sheepishly at me.
“How long?”
“Pretty much from the start,” he admits candidly. I punch him in the arm, and he stares at me dubiously. “What was that for?”
“Why didn’t you make a move on her? Maybe you could’ve gotten her away from him!” It’s unfair to pin that on him, but I can’t help feeling it might have worked.
“It was already too late by then,” he says ominously.
“You don’t know that.”
“Maybe not then, but trust me, I do now.”
I sense hidden meaning behind his words. I know he’s been continuing his investigation into the government’s shady activities, but he hasn’t shared anything new with me in weeks. Has he discovered something to do with Dante? I stretch up and he inclines toward me. “Have you discovered something?”
He nods.
Yanking on his shirt, I pull him down closer. “Sharing is caring.”
His lips curve up at the corners. “I was planning on asking you this anyway. I’m going on a fact-finding mission tomorrow night. Do you want to tag along?”
“I’m in,” I hiss, without needing to consider it.
“If we get caught, we’ll be in huge trouble. We could get expelled. You okay with those terms?”
He said pretty much the same thing the last time we snuck into the gala event in City Hall. Now I’m even more determined to go. “Count me in.”
Jenna and Dante show up ten minutes later, swiftly followed by Neve and Haydn. Logan steps into the room behind them, his arm draped over a tall girl with a headful of bouncy black curls. My instant good mood evaporates on the spot. To be fair, the minute he notices me, he puts some distance between them, but it does nothing to appease my splintered heart.
Jarod props a protective arm across my shoulders, and my heart mends a little. I haven’t had any male friends before and I quite like it. Jarod is the best guy friend a girl could wish for. Hands down. Logan scowls and that pleases me to no end. Childish, I know.
Neve appears in front of me, holding out a cup. “Peace offering?”
“I don’t drink,” I say curtly.
“I know. It’s non-alcoholic.”
Glancing at my empty cup, I reluctantly accept it. “Thanks.”
“Can we talk, please?”
She looks so forlorn. I take pity on her.
Jarod leans in to my ear. “Don’t let them suck you in again.”
“I’ll be okay,” I counter.
Neve and I move over to the window, placing our cups on the window ledge behind us. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Neve. But I can’t be friends with someone who is constantly concealing things from me.”
“If I could tell you, I would.” Her tone pleads for understanding.
“That’s the type of comment that drives me insane. It’s all I’ve heard from you, Haydn, him.” I swipe my cup and drain it.
She’s my friend. Forgive her. The thoughts drop into my head. Neve stares at me expectantly.
She is only protecting me.
My eyes widen in alarm. Did she …? This isn’t the first time it’s felt like foreign thoughts just landed in my head. But since I’ve kept my distance from Neve, Logan, and Haydn, this hasn’t happened. Surely, what I’m thinking now is outside the realm of possibility? Or is it? Several things start joining the dots in my brain.
Neve knots and unknots her hands.
Say you’ll forgive her.
“Enough!” I raise my palm. “Stop already.”
Now it’s Neve’s turn to rock the wide-eyed look. I’ve caught her off guard. “What do you mean?” she stutters.
“Stop putting thoughts in my head!” I hiss.
Neve steps back, a terrified look in her eyes. “How can you …” She trails off, her head whipping left and right. “Don’t go anywhere,” she implores. “I mean it. This … complicates things.”
“What? Any more than they already are?” I scratch my wrist again, noticing the light red rash ringing the medical chip for the first time. I frown.
“Stay put. I’ll be back.” She walks right up to Logan and pulls him away from his date. The girl shoots daggers at the back of Neve’s head as they walk into one of the bedrooms. Logan doesn’t spare her as much as an apologetic glance and that pleases me much more than it should.
After a couple of minutes, I saunter back over to Jarod, and we chat intermittently while we survey the ever-growing crowd of writhing bodies on the makeshift dance floor in the center of the room. I’m hugely thirsty and Jarod is kept busy refilling my glass. I watch for signs of Neve or Logan, but neither of them reappear, and Haydn has also conveniently vanished.
Whatever. Like I care.
As the music pumps louder and the light fades, the room thickens and darkens. Feeling uninhibited, I tap a beat with my foot, and my limbs are loose. My whole body buzzes and I feel great. Amazing. Better than ever. Like I could fly.
“Are you feeling okay?” Jarod asks, peering strangely at me.
“Never felt betta.” My body is now swaying full throttle to the beat of the music and it feels good. I wiggle my hips and a girlish titter emits from my mouth.
“Ah, Sadie,” Jarod says, concern pinching his brow.
“Bud,” Mal says, appearing in front of us. “Bit of an issue. I need your help.” Jarod looks torn.
“Go. I’m fine.” I push him toward Mal.
“Don’t move. Stay right here. When I get back, I’m taking you home. All right?”
“Whateva’ you say Jaroood,” I slur.
He mumbles something incoherent before reluctantly leaving with Mal.
My favorite song blares out of the speakers, and I head into the throng of heaving bodies on the dance floor. Throwing back my head and flinging my arms out, I thrust my hips and dance in time to the rhythm. I’m carefree and happy, and for once, no hideous thoughts are infecting my mind. I likey this feeling.
“Well, hello,” a rich masculine voice says as a muscular arm wraps around my waist. I peer up at the blond-haired boy who’s been staring at me from the corner of the room most of the night. He presses his body flush against mine, and we move together in sync with the music. Despite the lack of invitation, he brushes my cheek with his lips. His mouth is warm and welcoming. Spinning me around so I’m facing him, he reels me in close. He smells damn good, and I sniff appreciatively.
He chuckles. “I’ve been dying to approach you all night. You’re gorgeous. I’m Drew, by the way.”
“Sadie,” I mumble, incoherently.
He laughs again. “Sadie.” He tips my chin up. “What a pretty name for a very pretty girl.”
I beam at him, flinging my arms around his broad shoulders as an idea suddenly enters my mind. Maybe the best way of expelling Logan from my mind is to kiss someone else. To exchange the memory of that explosive make-out session with a new version. Blondie is looking at me as if he wants to devour my mouth, so I doubt it’ll take much persuasion on my part.
“Kiss me.”
“Gladly, honey.” He lowers his mouth to mine. He tastes of beer and peppermint though it’s not unpleasant. His lips are urgent against mine and I don’t overthink it.
In fact, I don’t think at all.
Pressing forward, I kiss him hard as I grind up against him, throwing all caution to the wind. He gru
nts his appreciation as his hands roam greedily up and down my spine. Getting braver, he cups my ass in both his hands and I jump a little. Angling his head, he explores my mouth with his tongue, and I return the gesture. One hand moves to the hem of my dress, and his fingers start to inch up my bare thigh. I flinch, suddenly realizing I may be out of my depth here.
Before I can protest, he’s ripped out of my arms.
I stumble back, slightly disorientated, and try to focus my vision. Logan has Drew pinned on the ground, his fist hovering over his face. A crowd has formed in a semi-circle around them, and a few of the guys start jeering. Logan’s fist rams into the side of Drew’s face with bone-crunching severity. I stagger toward them on shaky legs.
“Logan, no!” The ground sways underneath me, and a wave of nausea attacks me. “Oh, God,” I moan, tottering dangerously from side to side. Someone grabs my arm to steady me.
Logan’s head flips up. He takes one look at me, and the naked aggression on his face dilutes. Climbing to his feet, he approaches me. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Wha?” I’m having major trouble focusing. When I blink, there are four replica blurry images of Logan in front of me.
“What a lush!” a snide voice says. My eyes are sputtering open and shut, and I think I might puke.
“Shut up, Dante,” Logan snarls.
That somewhat snaps me out of it. My eyes find focus. Logan reaches out and snags an arm around me, drawing me in possessively to his side. His masculine scent entraps me, circling me in a hazy swirl of longing.
I feel like crying.
And puking.
“You know, I do think the punch might’ve been spiked,” Dante says gleefully.
“Wha?” I mumble. He laughs raucously.
“You did this?” Logan snaps.
“Moi?” Dante holds his hands up in mock innocence. “Why would I do such a thing?”
Logan’s entire body strains toward Dante, his muscles bunching and hardening underneath me. “You will pay for this,” he says in a threatening manner. “Leave. Her. Alone. I won’t tell you again. She is off limits to you.”
Dante guffaws as Jenna appears in the frame. He pins her to his side, kissing her temple. Her dull vacant eyes scare me. That old cliché, “The lights are on but no one’s home” springs to mind. What’s happened to her? Though I’m clearly out of it, I take a step toward her, my concern for her wellbeing superseding any concern for my own welfare. Logan’s arm restrains me.
Dante bends over, putting his face right up in mine. “She belongs to me.”
“She belongs to herself,” I throw back.
“Back off.” Logan shoves him away.
Dante cracks his knuckles, obviously angling for a fight. Haydn suddenly appears on Logan’s left side and they exchange a look.
“Come on, Sadie. I’m taking you home.” Logan focuses solely on my face.
Even in my drunken state, I appreciate how much of an effort it is for him to walk away.
Logan’s date makes a play for him as we walk past. “You’re ditching me?” Her face contorts unpleasantly. It’s not a good look on her.
“Sorry,” he says flippantly. “Haydn will walk you home.” Ignoring her lurid protests, Logan guides me out the front door and over to the elevator.
I sway against his shoulder as the elevator quietly descends. My stomach heaves and I moan.
“Are you all right?” There’s a concerned quality to his tone.
“Gonna puke!” I shriek, dashing out the main entrance and off to the side. I throw my guts up over the fake gardenias lining the narrow flowerbed in front of the building. I lose count of the amount of times I heave. Logan holds me gently around the waist while his other hand knots around my hair. The whole time he’s whispering soothing words in my ear.
Eventually, when there’s nothing left to expel, I sag against him. He hands me a tissue, and I wipe my mouth as my eyes shutter. I’m too ill to feel anything even close to humiliation, but I’m sure that’ll come later. Logan gently turns me around and cups my face. “Better?”
“Kinda,” I rasp, opening my eyes. My throat is grainy and my mouth’s furry. “I’ve never vomited before.” I’m not sure why I felt the need to explain that. “It’s an experience I’d rather not repeat.”
“I’ll bet.” He sweeps damp strands of hair back off my forehead, his lips struggling to contain his smile. “Let’s head home and get some water and tablets into you. Can you walk?”
“I’m not an invalid.”
“No, only a lush,” he teases. This time the grin lets loose on his face.
“Jerk.” I attempt to elbow him in the ribs, swaying dangerously from side to side. “Whoa!”
The ground moves again and my stomach lurches. Then I’m swept up into Logan’s sturdy arms as he carries me home. Resting my head in the crook between his neck and shoulder, I sigh contentedly. How did I think that guy back there smelled great?! Logan smells awesome. All citrusy and woodsy, in a defined masculine way. I could sniff him all day long, and it’d never grow old.
I nuzzle into his neck and he shudders. I smile smugly to myself. “You smell awesome,” I mumble.
He chuckles. “I could say the same about you.”
I almost gag on my surprise. “I reek of vomit.”
He laughs again. “No, you don’t. Your scent is sweet like honey.”
Now, I gag. “Don’t tell me that’s another Will Smith one-liner?”
“What?” He stops and stares, his mouth slackened.
“I’ve been watching Men in Black. You stole all your best lines from Agent J!”
“Hey!” He scowls in mock indignation. “Not all of them! Give me some credit. Did you like them?”
“The movies or the one-liners?”
He laughs again. “The movies.”
“Yeah. They’re cheesy but good. Will Smith is funny.”
“Have you watched Independence Day? I am Legend? After Earth? Hancock?”
“Wow. You’re like his number one fan. How on earth did you get hooked on Will Smith?” I stare at him, curiosity trumping the sickness.
“My teacher loved all the classic alien movies, and we got to watch some of them in class. I thought Will Smith was brilliant, so I checked out some of his other movies too. Remember, I told you? The guy is a legend.”
“Your geekiness is kind of cute.”
He’s carrying me effortlessly despite the fact we must’ve walked at least five blocks by now. My face is so close to his, and it’s beyond thrilling. All my previous resolutions fly out the window. Poof. Gone. Just like that. If it wasn’t for my puke-stained mouth, I’d probably be brave enough to plant one on him. But even I’m not that gross.
Captivated by his beautiful blue eyes, I can’t help but stare. The whites of his eyes are a startling bright white, and the blue of his irises contrast starkly, shimmering and glossy. At this close proximity, I can identify the lustrous dark lashes that fan his eyes and the imperceptible black line that rims the edges of his eyes. Seriously, he has lashes that most girls would kill for. I could happily drown in his eyes for eternity.
This whole time he’s been staring back at me with the same hunger. It’s a wonder he hasn’t tripped and fallen. “You’re beautiful.” I’ll probably cringe tomorrow, but in this moment, I can only speak the truth.
“I think that’s my line,” he says, gruffly. “Oh, Sadie.” His voice is softer now, and as before, when he says my name in such a way, it sounds like a form of worship.
I melt inside. I am so weak, but I’m too far gone to care.
Tentatively, I run my fingers through his hair. It’s exactly as I remembered. Velvety soft and silky. My entire being pleads to be his. I want him, and I want him to want me too.
Conscious that these precious moments may be drawing to a close, I snuggle in close, clinging onto him for dear life.
***
Logan has gone to fetch supplies so I change into my sleep shorts and shirt and
rigorously brush my teeth. Snagging a comb through my hair, I head back into my bedroom.
Logan is sitting on the edge of my bed with a tall glass in one hand and two small round pills in the other. He scans me from head to toe and my cheeks redden. He pats the bed. I jump in and swallow the tablets in one go. Logan pushes me gently down and pulls the comforter up under my chin. “You need to sleep. You’ll feel much better in the morning.”
“I already feel much better,” I admit, ignoring the fact that my head is pounding like someone is going at it with a jackhammer. However, my stomach appears to have settled, and without the awful gunky taste in my mouth, I almost feel human again. “Thank you for looking after me.”
He hands me the glass of water with an accompanying silent instruction. I drain it in one go. “Don’t thank me. This is all my fault for sticking Dante on you.” He sighs.
“Hey.” I pat his hand. “You weren’t the one who spiked the punch or the one who happily downed glasses of the stuff. It’s not your fault.”
He stands and looks around.
Rampant panic jumps up and bites me. “Don’t go!” the words leave my mouth with embarrassing urgency.
“I’m not leaving. I was looking for a chair. You sleep. I’ll watch over you.”
He moves toward my desk, but I snag his hand and hold him back. “Sleep beside me.” My heart does a chugga-chugga motion in my chest while I wait for his reply.
His eyes search mine as he contemplates my suggestion. All the while, my heart is tripping over itself. He walks with purpose toward the bed and toes off his sneakers. My heart all but arrests. He removes his belt, and his fingers touch the button on his jeans. I scoot over to the other side of the bed and look away. I’m not sure I have the self-control to watch him undress and not jump him.
The bed dips slightly as he gets in. Lining up behind me, he drapes his arm loosely across my waist. “Is this okay?”
“Yes,” I whisper. The heat he exudes is soothing but not as concentrated as usual. My eyelids droop, and though I want to stay awake to savor every magic moment of being wrapped in Logan’s nurturing embrace, I’m fighting a losing battle.
“Sadie,” Logan whispers a couple of minutes later. “Are you awake?”
Saven Deception Page 25