Page 12 of Monster's Mystery

Unfortunately, none of the people in lane two or three had heard of the argument, the missing student, or the murdered one.

I rejoined Aiden in lane four. “Ugh, second years. Were we as self-involved as they are?” I asked bitterly.

He laughed. “Do you have any idea what the gossip is in year four? What second year students were caughtin flagrante delictothis afternoon?”

“I have absolutely no idea,” I admitted. “Do you know?”

“Maybe.” He picked up a bowling ball and balanced it in one hand. “If you beat me, I’ll tell you.”

“You’re on.”

CHAPTER4

“I don’t knowwho any of those people are,” I admitted after hearing all the gossip Aiden had to tell me.

We paused our conversation to thank Jim and Everly on our way out. “We had a great time,” Aiden said.

As soon as we stepped out the door, I continued, “But I can’t believe that couple hasn’t mastered the invisibility spell. It’s notthathard to seal it to an object so that you don’t have to keep your focus on the spell.”

Aiden chuckled. “Youwouldthink that. Personally, I think that they were just so into each other that they forgot to cast the spell entirely.”

“That’s highly unlikely,” I argued. “How could someone forget that they were naked and visible? I mean, you’re good, but you’re notthatgood.” We were walking along the street toward the forest, the buildings getting fewer and farther between.

“Challenge accepted,” Aiden said with a wider grin than usual. “I’d like to collect that favor you owe me now. Strip.”

My jaw dropped and I glanced down the deserted street in horror, fully expecting someone to have heard his outlandish demand. “Here?” I demanded. “I’m not keen on getting arrested for public indecency before the school year even starts!”

Aiden raised one eyebrow. “We’re on the absolute outskirts of town, there’s barely any light here, and there is nothing indecent about your naked body. I want to see it. Now.” He crossed his arms. “Either you strip, or I shred your clothing to pieces and you’ll be naked until you make it to your dorm room. Your choice.”

I swallowed hard. “I’ll strip,” I said, my voice shaking only a little bit. I started with the crop top, unwrapping it from around my body and then shrinking it down for Aiden to put in his pocket. I had forgone a bra, so I was already halfway done with just that one article of clothing. A light breeze caressed my skin and I shivered, nipples hardening and drawing in tight.

“Now the rest,” Aiden ordered, his nostrils flaring as he took me in.

Swallowing back my embarrassment, I wiggled my leather skirt down my legs and stepped out of it, leaving me bare but for my shoes.

“You’re so naughty,” he said, admiring me. “How often do you go commando?”

“Only occasionally,” I replied, resisting the urge to cover my body with my hands.

“Spin for me.” He spun his finger in a circle. “Slowly.”

Heart thumping in my chest, I obeyed. When I was facing away from him, he said, “Stop.”

It was almost more difficult to be naked in front of someone andnotbe able to see them, to not know where they were.

A wall of heat from Aiden’s body spread along my back. He wasn’t touching me, not yet, but he was so close that if I leaned back, I would be right against him.

“Bend over and touch your toes,” Aiden murmured in my ear.

His presence left and I bent as requested.

It wasn’t really a request.

“Stay down and spread your cheeks for me,” was his next order.

Flushing in embarrassment, I did it.

“Stay still.”

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