Page 71 of As the World Falls

I reach the tips of my fingers out to graze hers at her side. “Maybe it’s because you’re the first person to look into the darkest parts of me and want to go deeper into the shadows.”

She takes a step back, scoffing at me. “What are you saying right now?”

I grin at her, letting her have her space from me. “What I’m saying, Cecilia, is that maybe you should take a moment and look into the darkest parts of yourself because I think once you do, you’ll find that part of you wants me too.”

She sucks in a breath, not saying anything else as her gaze turns fearful as she stares back at me. I could tell it wasn’t fear of me but fear for herself that what I said possibly carried some truth.

“This is ridiculous,” she breathes out.

I close the distance between us again. “It’s wrong,” I agree.

Her eyes slowly trailed up my body until they met mine. The unashamed way she does it makes a burning need unfurl in the pit of my stomach, and my hands ache to touch her.

“I’m sure my brother has told you to stay away from me. He told me to stay away from you too.”

I pick up her little charm necklace, giving it a gentle tug. “Are you going to listen to him? I’m sure as fuck not.”

She swallows thickly and then takes a small step toward me like she wants to give in to whatever this crazy thing between us is. A presence makes itself known behind her, and I look over her shoulder, seeing that annoying little friend of hers.

She tracks my gaze, looking over my shoulder now, seeing him too. “Lance,” she says in a surprised tone, breaking apart from me. I can feel the anger rolling off his body in waves of heat, and he’s more than fifteen feet from me. She stands straighter now, and I think she can feel it, too.

I move to her side again, staring at…fuck what was his name again?

“I brought you coffee,” he grumbles, handing a sparkly purple cup to her.

She smiles a sweet fucking smile, and I want to kiss it off her face and make it mine only. “Thank you,” she gleams and opens the lid, smelling it. “Minty,” she says awkwardly.

I glanced down at the coffee that looked more like chocolate milk. “What is that?” I ask in disgust.

“It’s coffee,” she quips.

“It doesn’t look like it.”

“Well, I don’t drink mine practically black like you do.”

“How do you drink it?”

“I like thin mint coffee creamer in mine.”

“Thin mint…Girl Scout cookies?”

She nods. “That’s the one.”

I turn up my nose. “Mint and chocolate in your coffee?”

She giggles, and it makes me stand straighter, the sound of it like an electrical shock. I fucking loved it. “It’s really good, but I don’t think you’d like it.”

I stare at her cup and then take it from her. I take the lid off and sip from the edge. She watches me in shock, as does her friend, who looks like royally pissed off and annoyed. I can’t say that I wasn’t enjoying it because…I very much am.

The chocolate coffee floods my mouth and leaves behind a minty flavor once I swallow it. I wince, hating the entire experience, and hand her cup back to her. She laughs now, not a small giggle but a loud, throaty laugh, and I swallow quickly as a smile takes over my face.

“That was disgusting,” I hoarsely tell her.

She presses her lips together, but they fall into another smile. “I love it.”

“Strange,” I point out.

“This is a joke,” her friend snaps under his breath before stomping back in the direction he came from.

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