Page 49 of Where the Darkness Goes

I wrap my legs tighter around him. Now’s my chance to tangle my fingers through his hair, the curls I’ve always loved so much. He groans, kissing me harder, holding me against him with such fervor it’s as if he’s afraid he may never get the chance again.

When I feel like my heart may explode, I place a hand on his chest, pulling back and gasping for air. No one has ever made my heart race the way it is right now. I’ve never been kissed like that. Never been looked at the way he’s looking at me.

I can’t help grinning over the sight of his red lips, wild hair, and the faraway look in his eyes, both of us drunk on whatever is happening here.

It’s magical with him. All-consuming.

He smiles, resting his forehead on mine. “Well, we definitely should’ve been doing that in the closet instead.”

The way he’s looking at me is something unexpected. Fiery hot, but intensely captivating. Lust and admiration rolled into one. If I had a mirror, I’d imagine my expression is eerily similar.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look at anyone else this way, but at the same time, I’m realizing I think he’salwayslooked at me this way. I don’t know why it took either of us so long to notice.

“We should probably get back,” he says eventually. “While I still have enough willpower to say that.”

I tug on the collar of his shirt. “Please don’t use words that contain my brother’s name right now.”

He kisses me again, quickly this time, then turns to pick up our cups and hands mine to me, offering his hand to help me down from the gate.

“What does this mean?” I ask him, locking my hand with his as we walk through the snow and back to join our classmates. Without the warmth of his body on mine, everything feels somuch colder. “Like, are we just…people who kiss each other now?”

I expect him to say we don’t need to define it or that he’s not sure, like Brendan and so many other guys have. Instead, he squeezes my hand, his eyes drilling into mine with a boyish grin playing on his lips.

“I hope it means you’re mine. Because I’m sure as hell yours.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

GARRETT — AGE 18

That night, by the time I make it back to our room at the lodge, Will is already there, and it’s no surprise that he’s broken the rule about having girls over. As I open the door, two guilty heads whip around to face me.

Cassidy Cole is standing next to the bed, her blonde hair wild and messy, lipstick smeared. She looks at Will, who just shrugs with a deep frown and quick shake of his head that tells her everything’s fine and not to worry. She sets back to work buttoning her jeans.

“Sorry, bro. Were you waiting for us to finish?” Will asks, tossing a boot across the bed to Cassidy.

“What? Oh. No. I was…out.” I’d planned to tell him about Tessa right away to relieve the last remnants of my guilty conscience, telling me this is too good to be true, but that’ll have to wait until we’re alone.

Cassidy pulls her boots on, then stretches across the bed and plants a kiss on Will’s lips. “Text me, okay? And save me a seat on the bus ride home in the morning.”

He squeezes her boob, and she swats him with a loud laugh. “Okay, I will.”

Once she’s gone, I drop down on my bed and kick off my shoes. Will’s smile is bright enough to light a city. I smirk when his gaze finally drifts from the door to me, as if he just remembered I’m still here. “So, I guess that’s a thing now.”

He drops back on his pillow, arms under his head. “Yeah, something like that.”

I open my mouth, prepared to tell him about Tessa, when he speaks before I get the chance.

“Hey, you know that jewelry she’s always bragging about? The really expensive stuff from that director with the weird name?”

Everyone in school knows about Cassidy’s Hollywood necklace, because she’s brought it up every chance she could since around middle school.

“Sure. What about it?”

He props up on one elbow, his face serious. “We’re going to steal it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

TESSA — PRESENT DAY

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