Page 25 of Trick Me
My mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
No guy has ever done that.
Not one.
He finishes and stuffs the cloth into a pocket of his pants. Then he helps me to my feet before pulling his jacket on me and buttoning it up. It swallows me, long enough to cover me past mid-thigh. The fabric is warm from us lying on it, and it smells intoxicating like him… delicious.
I stare at him, stunned.
“Okay,” I mutter. “Who are you?”
He grins and leans in like he’s about to kiss me, but instead he whispers against my ear, “My real name is Cassius. But everyone calls me Ash.”
My mouth drops open.
He winks, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
“No way.” I blink. “No. Freaking. Way.”
“Told you,” he says, standing and stretching. “You never listen.”
“Cassius,” I repeat, testing the sound.
He smirks.
“That’s just unfair,” I say. “You’re hot, mysterious, cursed, and prophecy-approved?”
“What can I say? I’m the whole damn package.”
I snort a laugh.
“And you’re glowing,” he says. “Which is impressive, considering you’ve got pine needles in your hair.”
I smack his arm, and he just chuckles. He pulls his pants up, zipping them up, then grabs his shirt. He dusts it off before putting it on.
In no time, we’re walking, laughter trailing behind us. The jacket shifts with every step I take, brushing my bare legs. The night feels beyond surreal, and I’m convinced I’m dreaming it all.
We move slowly, the distant pulse of party music threading through the trees. If I weren’t barefoot and half dressed, I could almost pretend we were just another couple sneaking off for some fun.
But the wolf is quiet in my mind now, lulled and watching.
Still, I can’t ignore the way the night hums around us.
A branch snaps ahead of us.
We stop.
From the shadows between the trees, two shapes step into view. Not drunk. Not playful.
They’re armed. Dressed in dark leathers. Faces mostly hidden.
One of them points directly at Ash.
“You fucker,” he growls. “There you are.”
Ash doesn’t flinch.
But I do.
