Page 25 of The Invite
We drink quietly for a few minutes before I question, “Do you think I did the right thing?”
“Yes, Nessa. Don’t second-guess yourself,” he quickly says, jaw tight. “No one is untouchable and if they know what’s good for them, they’ll learn their lesson.”
“Thank you. I just want to live in peace here,” I share. “The last thing I want is to look over my shoulder.”
“You won’t and remember, it’s only a matter of few months. Those boys will be out of your life before you know it.”
We finish the rest of our coffees in comfortable silence. Ace insists on paying, saying he invited me so it’s only fair. It’s time to leave and even though I have a lot to digest after all the information Ace dumped on me, I’m hesitant to say goodbye and return to an empty house. So, before he can, I ask him, “I need a small favor, Ace.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“It’s a long story.”
His blue eyes shine. “I have time.”
CHAPTER – 8
Augustus
My shiny new toy thinks it’s over.
That she’s safe.
When the reign of her doom and my terror has only just begun.
Her only mistake—intriguing me.
A feat no one has ever been able to accomplish. Yet one single glance into her shiny and fear-crippled amber eyes, and I was hooked.
After she fell into my arms, her clothes tattered as though she had already been ravaged by a monster yet with such vibrant and feisty spirit burning bright on her face, I wanted to snuff it right out before breathing life back into her.
Even in the dark, surrounded by nothing but untamed wilderness and her heart rapidly beating, I became lost in her enchanting beauty. Her skin was so pale and silky smooth, thatit bloomed brighter than the moonlight. Long black hair framed a heart-shaped face. Soft catlike eyes, high cheekbones flushed bright pink, and naturally pouty and small lips that begged to be bitten, she was exquisite, holding an air of innocence and secrets.
Snow White come to life.
No woman has made me look twice, let alone ignited the desire to never look away, until her.
It should’ve clued me in to send her scurrying the hell away from me.
Nothing good—for her—could’ve come out of it.
When she ran, I was both mad and relieved it’d be the last I saw of her. I could’ve found her easily if I wanted to. This town belongs to me. There was no dark corner where she could’ve hidden.
I almost laughed, then pitied her, when I came face to face with her the very next day. In my school. As my teacher. She had gone white as a sheet upon our eyes crashing into one another.
I knew she recognized me. It was proven that the magnetic pull wasn’t just one-sided. As if her arousal soaking my hand wasn’t proof enough.
I don’t believe in coincidences. Or destiny. Or karma.
Just bad luck.
And it was the start of hers.
Getting me suspended from the school’s premises despite my warning—all it did was amuse me and grow my fascination with her.
That unfortunate night, I should’ve let her run at her first attempt.
Instead, I decided to play.
