Page 28 of The Book Reader
I turn the page to read more, but the entry cuts off there; that’s all it says. I frown. “Drake said the book is looking for me, too,” I say out loud. It sounds impossible. I close the book, running my hand across the cover.
So, would that make my family sorcerer daemons?I laugh because a few months ago, that would have been a ridiculous thought—I’d never even heard of them—and now, with Aunt May turning to dust and all the daemons that are suddenly in my life. It’s all a little too real.
I shake my head, setting the book down. Late, yet it seems like every answer leads to more questions. I start getting ready for bed when my phone pings with a message.
Gaelan
Are you still awake?
My heart thumps, and all thoughts of sorcerer daemons and books with one reader leave my mind.
Yes
I hit send, and a second later, my phone vibrates in my hand. For a moment, I just stare at his name flashing on my screen, too nervous to do anything, which is ridiculous. I push my nerves down and hit the answer button.
“Hello,” I almost whisper into the phone
“Ari? Hello, my apologies for not texting you back. I was just in a meeting.” Gaelan’s husky voice sounds even sexier on the phone.
I look over at my clock. “It’s almost midnight. You’re working late?”
He laughs. “No rest for the wicked, isn’t that what they say?”
I giggle and lie down on the bed.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” I hear a car door slam shut in the background.
“No, I was just getting into bed. I’ve been… reading.”
“Anything good?” he asks.
I can’t tell him what I wasactuallyreading, so I lie. “Just a romance book.”
He chuckles, which makes my stomach fill with butterflies. “Does it end in tragedy? It’s been a while since I’ve read for pleasure.”
The way he says the word ‘pleasure’ has me biting my bottom lip. How can one word literally make my pussy ache? “Tragedy? That’s Romeo and Juliet,” I laugh. “No, I prefer a spicy romance.”
“Spicy? About curries and ghost peppers?”
I laugh hard, and it takes a second before I can answer.. “No,” I say, still laughing. “Spicy as in sex. That’s what they call the sexy parts in books nowadays.”
“I see... This is all new to me, but I’m intrigued. I may have to read one.”
“I can recommend you a couple, but be warned, they’re of theextraspicy kind. Gags, whips. and some kinks.” I smile and settle deeper into the bed, my whole body alive with excitement. It feels like Gaelan and I have been friends for years, even though this is only the second time we’ve spoken.
“I think I can handle that, Ari,” he says, his voice now thick with darkness that turns me on, making me wish that we weren’t on the phone and he was here, whispering dirty things into my ear. “Ari, I’d like to take you out for dinner. Does Friday work for you?”
I sit up in bed fast, Friday is tomorrow. As in, less than twenty-four hours, and I’ll be seeing him. Nerves bubble in my stomach. I nod my head.
“Ari?”
Shit. Realizing I’ve been quiet and he can’t see me, I take a deep breath. “Sorry, Friday? Like tomorrow?”
“Yes, are you not free?”
“I am.” I look over at my closet door, where a brand-new, black and gold dress hangs, knowing that I will look stunning in it. “I would love that.”
He’s silent for a minute, and I can hear him take a deep breath. Was he nervous, too?
