Page 43 of Pretend
Time to play.
14
DAEGAN
I did not expecther to call me, but I’m finding the little games I play with her are paying off. Graves is making sure any calls to 911 from her phone are being screwed with.
I find my little valentine one mile away from her car. She’s on the side of the road, trying to wave down a truck that’s in front of me by a couple of feet.
If that truck driver wants to live longer than tonight, he’ll keep on driving. Alessia keeps waving at them and mouthing something like “Please stop,” and to my satisfaction, he ignores her.
What a shame.
Her shoulders slump, and she removes her wet curls from her face, unblocking her vision. She’s still around three miles away from the closest gas station, her clothes stuck to her skin, hugging her like glue. I slightly pass her, parking my challenger a couple of feet in front of her. The roaring engine slows down, and all I hear is harsh rain pattering my window. It’s almost as brutal as hail.
She halts, pausing like she’s afraid. Perhaps she doesn’t know I drive a challenger. She bites her lip nervously when I don’t get out right away. Her chest heaves up and down, and she turns on one foot like she’s going to run.
I would love to play a game of hide and seek.
God, I would love to chase her.
But not tonight…what am I saying? Not ever.
Not with the Admiral’s stepdaughter.
I grab the umbrella I always keep in my car in case of weather like this and get out. Quickly spreading the all-black umbrella open so I have cover, I stand tall and wave her down. She squints through the rain, trying to evade the raindrops in her eyes. Even through the storm, she gives me a shy smile that has my heart twitching and chest tightening.
“Mr. Hannibal?!” She shouts over the thunder.
“Valentine. Get inside, let’s go.” I command.
She gives me a frantic nod and walks faster to my car.
Sliding back into the driver’s seat, I tuck my umbrella away in the back seat. Before she can get a chance to get in, I close my door. I race to the other side and wait for her to catch up. I hold the passenger door open and close it once she slides in.
Seconds later, I’m back in the driver’s seat, wondering what the hell I’m going to do with Alessia and questioning my decision to pick her up.
“Thank you for coming. You were here so fast. How were you able?—“
“I live ten minutes away.” I cut her off, deadpanning.
She’s all wet. Her white t-shirt is completely soaked. She’s wearing a very thin pink-laced bra. I know this because I can see her hard nude brown luscious nipples poking through the wet fabric.
Jesus.
God, give me strength and stop me from not ripping that off her body right now.
I silently pray to myself, hoping it’s enough not to act on my impulsive desires, flooding my senses and nerves.
The urge to put them in my mouth is overwhelming. I want to suck and bite on them.
She doesn’t realize I can see more than just her wet shirt…until I tear my gaze away from her so quickly. It was so quick but long enough for her to notice. I furrow my brows and clear my throat, putting my car into drive and lightly pressing on the gas.
She catches onto her little pointed situation. “Oh…” she crosses her arms over her chest, hiding her nakedness, like she’s embarrassed.
Yeah. Oh. Oh is right,but it’s nothing to be embarrassed of.
A red hue paints her cheeks. Her skin is almost pale from the cold rain, and her olive-toned skin is textured with harsh goosebumps. She reaches for the button to turn on the heated seats, adding to her urgency to get warm.
