Page 85 of Slay Ride

I set my resolve and stand. “No, but it will be.”

With the grace of a drunk man on ice skates, I tumble out of the sleigh and pull myself to my feet. Bennett stops a few yards away, studying me as I dust snow from my ensemble, which doesn’t even match, since I’m wearing my decimated pink pants and Bennett’s tan coat.

“What are you doing?” he asks. “We can’t ride back together. That’s a suicide mission.”

“I know.” I turn to the driver. “Take the horses back to the barn. It’s cold, and they’ve done enough for today. We’ll walk back.”

A true coachman would have stood on ceremony and asked if I was sure, but this guy is a former criminal, and he’s more than happy to get back where it’s warm. Needing no furtherencouragement, he’s started the horses moving again before I’ve even finished my directive.

Bennett steps toward me, and I wait. I wanted to see something, and I definitely see it now. His posture is completely different. When the sleigh pulled away with me inside, he looked so defeated, with his shoulders down and his eyes on the ground. Now, as he’s walking toward me, his shoulders are braced back, and his eyes are up. On me.

I have affected him, just as he’s affected me. The shift is undeniable, and I feel it within myself. We may be a flame and a powder keg, but these things aren’t only bound for a path of destruction. If combined just right, we could be fireworks.

When he reaches me, he takes me into his arms and leans down. “You’ll be cold, kitten. Why didn’t you take the sleigh?”

“Maybe I wanted a few more minutes alone with you . . .” I stand on my tiptoes and lower his facemask so that I can kiss him. But a small peck isn’t enough for Bennett. He pulls me closer and kisses me fully, sending sparks of pleasure between my legs.

Or maybe that’s the draft, since I slashed my fucking snow pants to hell and back.

“A few minutes won’t be enough,” he says against my mouth. “I want to stay the night with you.”

My heart hammers through all fifty layers of clothing, and I’m sure he feels each terrified thump. “The night? Like, the whole thing?”

He rolls his eyes. “No, just the dark part.”

“It’s always dark.”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to stay there forever.”

I smack his chest and giggle as he smirks against my jaw and peppers my neck with kisses, the fear of what he’s asked forgotten. Surely he isn’t serious. It’s so risky.

Hand in hand, we start for the log mansion like two lovesick teens sneaking back from a midnight make-out session. My palms begin to sweat as porch lights come into view, and I’m thankful Bennett can’t feel my fear through the gloves. We’ll have to part ways, and he’ll need to sneak inside before anyone gets too close. On a shitty CCTV monitor, he can pass as Maverick, but if anyone gets within ten feet of us, the differences are obvious.

A large light at the front of the mansion casts a circle of discovery, which we’re careful to avoid. We stand just outside it, holding each other as snow begins to drift from the sky.

“I’m proud of you,” he says after a stretch of silence. “You no longer have to feel like an outsider. You’re one of us now, all the way.”

I smile against his—technicallyMaverick’s—coat. Maybe that’s where this sudden feeling of peace has come from. Though that orgasm certainly helped.

But then, as is often the case for me, the peace doesn’t last.

“You two lovebirds still at it?” Eve calls from the porch. “Come inside where it’s warm!”

“Shit,” I say under my breath. I look at Bennett. “You have to?—”

“I know, kitten. I know.” He sighs, shakes his head, places a kiss on my forehead, and retreats further into the shadows.

A pit forms in my stomach as I round the corner and step fully into the light. Not even Eve’s beaming smile and waggling fingers can ease the hurt I felt when I saw his face.

Because of me.I’mhurting him.

All this time, everyone was afraid Bennett would break my heart, but I’m the true villain here.

Eve and Kindra surround me and lead me inside. They cloak me in rapid-fire questions and high praises until I’m suffocating. I don’t even have a chance to respond to anything.

I hold up my hands as we enter the main hall. “Guys, I’m so grateful you’re excited for me, but I’m kind of tired. Any chance we can gush about this tomorrow?”

Their lips snap shut, and a worried glance passes between them. Kindra lowers my face mask and presses the backs of her hands against my cheeks.

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