Page 108 of The Hunt of Night

“What can I say? I’m the best dancer. He said so,” I insist, pointing at the professor. “And I’ll dance the best with my favorite partner,” I add, watching Adrianna’s cheeks turn pink as she rolls her eyes at me.

“Trade,” the professor calls, before turning away to watch the other students.

“You owe me for this,” Cassian mutters as he shoulders past me, and I nod.

“I do.”

I don’t glance back, my eyes trained on Adrianna as I approach. Her hands immediately lift to my chest when I’m close enough. I place one hand on her hip and the other reaches for hers as I lace our fingers together.

“Hey, Dagger.”

“Hey,” she says with a smile that instantly makes my chest ache. “This is great. Now you can tell me what’s going on,” she states as we start to follow the steps of the rhumba. The professor likes to set the bar high with little time to practice, but it just means I get more time up close with my girl.

“Nothing’s going on,” I murmur, turning us, and she follows my lead perfectly.

“Bullshit,” she says with a scoff, giving me a deathly pointed look, and my shoulders slump.

“Obviously, you know me too well. I can’t discuss it here though. But more than anything, I just can’t take my eyes off you.” It’s the truth, and even though her features soften, she sees right through my crap.

“You’re a sweet talker.”

“For you I am,” I reply with a wink, and her rich laugh wraps around us.

“We both know that’s bullshit too. Your charming player ways?—”

“When I was trying to play you, did I say anything like that?” I interject, my turn to give her a pointed look, and her eyes narrow.

It takes a moment, but she quickly shakes her head. “No.”

I walk us through the steps of the dance slowly, our gazes focused on our feet, before I look back at her. “Exactly my point. I never pretended it was anything other than what it was.”

Her eyebrows crinkle with confusion. “But?—”

My hand slips from her waist to press a finger against her lip. “I’ve never felt what I feel for you about anyone else. I told you that already. I’ve told you from the first moment I was inside you that once wasn’t enough. It never will be.”

I don’t know who moves first, and I’m not entirely sure I care when our lips meld together. My body ignites at her touch. I tilt her head back, desperate to deepen the kiss, and just as my tongue slips past her lips, a huff of frustration vibrates down the back of my neck.

“That’s it, Brody?—”

“Okay, okay. I’m good,” I insist, leaning back from Addi with a sigh. She smirks at me as the professor saunters off once again, and we fall into step with the box moves.

“So,” she starts, searching my eyes for something, anything, and even though I can’t go into detail on my father, there is something Icanoffer her.

“So, while you were gone, I was doing some research.”

“Research?” she questions, eyebrows raised as I nod.

“It’s a lot, want to help?” I ask, and she tilts her head at me.

“What’s it on?”

I clear my throat, nerves quickly creeping up my spine, but I manage to mutter the words. “Spells used to suppress a wolf.”

She gapes at me, eyes widening as she nods. “I’d like that,” she rasps, our steps faltering again as she smiles up at me.

“Good.” My chest warms, leaving me pleased with myself, when she presses her lips to mine. It’s quick, fleeting, and over way too quickly, but not too quickly for the professor it seems.

“Again?”

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