Page 111 of Beautiful Defiance

“Stargaze with me?”

“I’d love to.”

He is such a good guy. A romantic.

I take the curve slowly. He’s right. There is an open field to our right and nothing but trees to our left and ahead of us. I put the truck in park. We get out, and he picks me up and sits me on the hood.

“You did great, baby.”

“I learned from the best.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “As if.”

I laugh. “Seven Shanahan, you are stinking adorable.”

“I am?”

“You know you are.” I grab him by the collar of his uniform and yank him in for a kiss.

Mmm, he tastes good. Salty. Sweet. I slip my tongue inside his mouth and deepen the kiss. He groans. I suck on his tongue. Suck his bottom lip into my mouth. Nip on his lip. Tongue the corners of his mouth.

Needing him closer, I weave my fingers in his hair. The side of my face tingles. A nervous prickle slides up and down my spine. Cupping his face, I break off our kiss and look off to the side. Across the open field, my gaze locks with Sorrow’s dad’s. He’s on the back deck, and he’s holding a shotgun.

“Seven, we should go.”

He looks where I’m looking. “Shit. I haven’t seen him out in the open for a long ass time. Whatever he says or does, don’t ever go near his place.”

I cannot look away from the craze in his eyes.

“Leigh, did you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Promise?”

My defiance cost me my parents’ lives. I won’t let any harm come to Sorrow. I’ll listen to Seven’s warning and the worry in his voice.

“I promise.”

---