Page 19 of Poison's Kiss
The lines of his stomach and chest look even better than the ones on his back. I stare, unable to look away or even blink as tiny trails of the lake run down his still damp body.
Hurting even more now.How frigging awkward can this get?
"Um... it hurts. Any aspirin?"
Just ignore it happened, and it'll be like it never did.
"I'm immortal. We don't usually have aspirin on hand, but I do have something that'll help."
He doesn't acknowledge anything either, which makes Thad act all the more interested. His dorky grin is etched all the way across his face as his eyes go back and forth between Gage and me. I half expect him to grab a bag of popcorn to better enjoy the show.
Gage grabs a cup and then he pours something in it before sticking it in the microwave. He keeps his back turned to me and watches the glass inside as though it's far more fascinating than the awkward tension in the room.
Thad continues on with his cereal, his shit-eating grin never budging as he watches in silence.
Finally, the microwave beeps its climax and Gage pulls out the piping hot contents. He crosses the distance between us, since I'm struggling to move. I can smell it from here, and my nose wrinkles up.
"It's not as bad as it smells," he chuckles out.
I sip it warily, hoping he's telling the truth, and I'm pleasantly surprised as the unknown nectar slides down my throat with a far less bitter taste than smell. Gage watches me, his body tensing from our close proximity, but I keep my eyes on the dark, tea-like liquid in front of me.
"Oh," Thad chirps. "I forgot to mention I grabbed these on the way out."
I glance up with Gage as Thad pulls out a silver pair of panties and starts waving them around like a lasso.
I spew my drink through my lips and drench the floor as Thad cackles again. Gage covers his laughter with his hand as he walks off shaking his head.
I glare at the taunting changer as he tosses my panties to the bar and gives me a wink. I rip my underwear away from his mocking gaze and close them in my fist before rushing away from the humiliating morning.
Gage is sipping on acup of coffee when I emerge from the safety of my room. I've hidden out for as long as I can, and now night has descended upon us. I have to face him sooner or later. We can't live in the same house if we let this hang over our heads.
"Hey," he says as he looks up.
"Hey, can I join you?"
He motions to the open spot next to him, and I very slowly make my way to his side, my whole body tense with uncertainty.
"I assumed this was coming," he murmurs softly, stifling a grin.
"Um, I just wanted to apologize," I mumble while sitting down. "I know I sort of... Well, I didn't exactly-"
"Hey, it's all good. It's not like I was in control either. It took more strength to stop it than I care to confess. Just forget about it."
Seeing his lip ring makes me think of how good it felt in my mouth. His lips felt so good, and his tongue... oh, his blessed tongue. I don't even know where to start with that.
His eyebrow cocks up as he catches my scandalous thoughts darkening my already jaded aura, and my eyes widen in realization.
"Don't make me jump in the lake again. That water is like ice," he jokes while glancing back down to his tablet in his lap.
My cheeks stain red, so I focus my attention on his screen as he shifts from page to page. I realize it's Sierra's journal, and the page he's reading draws my attention.
Amy is struggling with adapting to our world. Her sire was apparently very strong, and his darkness is embedded deep within her. She only responds to Kane, and he's done helping her out.
After losing Alyssa, he's been focused on one thing, and that's killing Castine before she can touch him. That foolish witch is good with trickery, I'll give her that. In all the many years I've known Kane, he has never been duped until now.
Deke is worried what will happen with Amy if we don't keep stopping her rampages. The day she finally kills someone, we could possibly lose the sane girl we love. She'll never forgive herself, and he believes the darkness will consume her.
The rest of us accepted our fate long ago, but Amy is still clinging to her mortal values. She doesn't realize we've all made terrible mistakes, and she's not in the frame of mind to handle such a thing.
