Page 25 of Smoke and Mirrors

I need a distraction from the chaos that’s wracking my brain, so I pick up the television remote, looking to Molly, who half-smiles obviously needing the distraction as well. I press the on button as we both take an end of the sofa, lying down in exhaustion even though it’s only eleven o’clock.

***

A knocking sound wakes me from my sleep, and as I sit up, my back is aching from the position I was in on the couch. Molly’s sitting up opposite me, rubbing her eyes.

The knocking comes again. Three sharp blows against my door, so I jump up and head over.

“What if it’s them?” Molly whispers. “What if they’ve found us?”

I peek through the small peephole, making out Kace’s figure standing outside the door. My body slumps. “It’s just Kace,” I tell her before flicking the lock.

I open it a little and slip through the gap, pulling it closed behind me. He’s staring at the floor, but he steps back, allowing me some room. When he looks up, I see the gash over his eye and a smear of blood across his cheek from where his lip has been split open.

I inhale a sharp breath, my hand automatically reaching out for his face, wanting to examine him and make sure he’s okay. He moves his head before my hand can touch him, his eyes moving to the side so he can see me.

“It’s fine,” he says as though he can read my thoughts.

“Doesn’t look fine,” I whisper, withdrawing my arm and wrapping it around my body.

He scans the hallway before returning his intense gaze to me. “Just wanted to make sure you girls got home okay.”

“Is there a reason we might not have?” I ask nervously, biting my lip.

It draws his attention, and I see his jaw clench tightly. “No,” he answers.

“What happened? What’s going on?”

He shakes his head. “The less you know, the better.”

“No,” I snap. “That’s not how this works. I need to know. I don’t like not knowing because it means I can’t prepare. Please just—”

The crush of his mouth against mine stuns me momentarily before I melt into his arms. Something stirs in me—an energy, a surge, something I haven’t felt before. It’s like a spark of electricity ignites a fire inside of me. A passion that only Kace can pull from me, and it sends a shiver down my spine. The kiss is intense even though it’s not madly passionate, but the chemistry is off-the-charts sizzling while his arms cradle me against his body, one hand winding up my waist and over my shoulder. He rests it against the side of my neck, his thumb tracing along my jaw.

I grasp his shirt, twisting my fingers in the fabric and pulling our bodies flush. His hard body pressed against mine only making my body temperature rise as my skin prickles in goosebumps as his lips caress mine so tenderly.

It’s sweet and sensual, but at the same time, it’s like he’s commanding my body, controlling my movements. Passion stirs in my stomach, wanting more, needing him to give me more but knowing he’s holding back.

He pulls back, disappointment settling over me like I’ve been hit with an icy blast. His breathing is heavy, brushing over my lips as he holds his mouth only an inch away, tempting and teasing me.

“Hated seeing that guy touch you,” he whispers, his voice deep and scratchy.

I don’t have an answer for that, my heart still beating rapidly.

“Go back to bed, Lily.”

His words shake me back to reality, and I take a step away from him. “You can’t do that and expect me to forget everything that’s happened tonight.”

He sighs deeply, his head dropping down. He shakes it before looking back up at me. “I know it’s confusing you, and I hate that. But believe me when I say sometimes being in the dark is just… better.” He takes a step forward and brushes his lips against my cheek in a soft kiss, exciting my body once again. “Sleep well.”

Then he’s gone, walking down the hallway.

“Kace,” I call after him, but he doesn’t turn around. Instead, he opens the door to his apartment stepping inside, and I’m left standing in the hallway alone and confused.

Chapter Eight

KACE

Why did I do that? Kissing Lily was everything and nothing like I thought it would be. Her lips so supple and soft, just like I’d imagined, but the spark, the energy, the raw emotion I felt when our lips touched—that, I didn’t expect. Sure, I know something is stirring inside me, but that sort of thing can’t happen. It’s too dangerous—for me and especially for her. So I walked away before anything further could happen because I’m not sure what it felt like for Lily, but for me, that kiss was intense, and I wanted more. I wanted to taste every inch of her, kiss every section of her silky skin, but I can’t do that. It would be a bad move, even though my head is spinning.

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