Page 27 of In Between Darkness
“I’ll be there in a minute. Just going to get some fresh air.” I smile as he walks away.
My hand grips the wall for support as I clamber my way up the steep stairs. It’s almost one. I must go and meet Ryder. My heart is thumping like the bass, and my breathing is equally heavy. A surge of endorphins rushes over me, my nerves sparking like electric shocks. I look down at the hoodie still draped around my arm. It’s a little wet from the liquor, but hopefully he won’t notice.
Chapter Ten
The forest looks daunting and eerie, but I can’t help but feel drawn to it. I think about Ryder’s body on mine again, its hard ridges and immovable muscle, and the butterflies return. The forest is dark, and I stumble a little, steadying myself on a tree trunk. I think about him practically nose to nose with me up against the tree. His juicy lips taunting me. ‘Didn’t Mummy and Daddy warn you not to mess with the Moonkind?’
I let out a gasp as his words play on my mouth and claw at my skin trying to get a hold of myself. It’s just the liquor that’s making me feel this way. The crack of a branch snaps me out of my thoughts, and my heart begins racing again.
“You came.” Ryder emerges from the shadows. My heart skips a beat, and my mouth goes dry.
“You didn’t really give me a choice,” I slur my words a little and gesture to the hoodie hanging off my arm.
“Are you drunk?” His jaw tenses as he steps closer to me.
“No!” I lie, trying to compose myself but stumble a little more. He looks like he’s staring into my soul.
“Don’t lie to me.” His stare is now somehow more intense.
“Fine. So what if I am?” I defend, trying to suppress the heat surging through my body. He walks towards me and plucks the hoodie out of my grasp.
“You clearly can’t handle your liquor.” His eyes look me up and down, and a slight smile tugs on his lips.
“How do you know what I can and can’t handle?” I sass back, raising my voice a little. “You know nothing about me.”
“I know that you can barely stand up straight.” He gestures as I rest against a nearby tree. “Didn’t think drinking was allowed at the prestigious Sun Sovereign?” he says, his words laced with sarcasm.
“Spare me the lecture. Like you’re so used to following the rules,” I slur. “You’re the one meeting me, a Sun, again. It’s forbidden, you know!”
I stare back at him with frustration; he has a stubborn grin on his face, which is agitating.
“I’m not the one watching strangers in the forest at night…. Stalker.”
He leans up against a tree and tugs at his silky black locks. I fight the urge to moan at the definition in his upper arms.
“Oh, please, why would I want to stalk someone like you?” I counter.
He leans in. “Because maybe the Sun boys just aren’t doing it for you.”
His breath hitches on mine, and my heart skips a beat or two. “Maybe the sweet little Sun girl wants a taste of darkness.” He drags his finger down my lip, and I fight the urge not to push him away.
“And how do I know you’re not craving something a little sweeter?” I place my hand on his hard chest and feel the motion of his heart against my fingertips. I try to resist the desire to claw my fingers into his chest and pull him closer to me. My heart thumps in tandem with his. I wonder what his lips taste like. He leans into my touch and brushes his lips over mine before pulling away.
“Because, believe it or not, I have better things to do than involve myself in any of your fucked-up Sun shit.”
His demeanour changes, and his eyes narrow on mine as he pulls away from me.
“Don’t you ever just lighten the fuck up?” I back away from him slightly and stumble again, which makes his smirk return.
“I’m a Moon. We don’t tend to do that.” His hand runs through his blue-black hair. “You know, you should be more careful of how you talk to me.” He takes a purposeful step closer towards me.
“Why? Because you’re a dick?” I scoff, masking my feelings of lust.
“Because I can kill you with the click of my fingers.” He flicks his forefinger to thumb and shadow hawks swarm around behind him. I take another step back as he steps towards me, and the hawks surround us. I take a shuddering breath. He still has a smirk plastered on his face.
“Not saying too much now, are you, Stalker?”
I cringe at the new nickname I have acquired. He steps in closer again, but I cannot step back. Hawks are swarming behind me. I feel his warm breath on my face, but I stand my ground.
