Page 57 of By His Play

“Ready?” I ask.

“Nope.” But that doesn’t stop her from reaching for the fence. “Kieran,” she shrieks when my hands slide to her ass.

“What? I’m just helping,” I say innocently.

“Just because everyone thinks we’re getting married, it doesn’t give you a free pass, you know,” she teases.

15

EFFIE

My lungs scream and my legs ache as I try to keep up with Kieran as he runs down the sidewalk.

Each raindrop hits the ground with a splash. It’s torrential, and we’re both soaked through.

He’s nowhere close to moving at full speed, but even still, I can’t keep up.

Spinning around, he smirks at me.

“Shut up,” I pant.

“Didn’t say a word,” he says innocently.

As I roll my eyes, the world around us lights up with another crack of lightning, closely followed by booming thunder.

We really need to move, but I’m not sure my legs can take it.

“Go without me,” I say, sounding way more dramatic than necessary.

A violent shiver races down my spine and my teeth begin to chatter.

“You think I’m going to leave you here alone?” Kieran asks in disbelief.

I already know he’s not, but I’m slowing him down.

Reaching up, I try to drag my hair back from my face, but it’s soaked and sticking to my skin, just like my clothes.

He does the same, but because he’s Kieran freaking Callahan, he looks like a god as he drags his fingers through his soaked hair. His muscles ripple beneath his skintight, long-sleeved t-shirt.

Water runs down his face and drips from his chiseled jaw. He looks like he should be on some TV commercial right now, whereas I look like a drowned rat.

Suddenly, he moves forward, and before I know what’s happening my feet have left the ground and my ass is up in the air.

“Kieran,” I scream as he takes off running again.

I bounce around upside down with his arm locked around the backs of my thighs.

My hoodie and shirt ride up, exposing my back to the ice-cold rain that’s lashing at us.

My teeth chatter violently as rainwater runs toward my shoulders.

I attempt to wrap my arms around him, but I don’t stand a chance. His body is too massive.

“I’m not going to drop you, Ef,” he shouts back when I settle for twisting my fingers in his soaking wet shirt.

By the time he slows, all my blood has rushed to my head, making it feel like it’s seconds away from exploding.

Glancing to the side, I discover that we’re on Grams’ street and I let out a sigh of relief.

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