Page 51 of Seren

“I sure as hell didn’t see you coming,” he mused. “I wish I had. I would’ve been better prepared.”

I cocked my head. “To push me away even harder?”

He shook his head. “To fall in love with you.”

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.Damn them. “You still don’t know me.”

“I know you, Grace. I’m just waiting for the day you’ll know me and trust me.”

“Trust takes time.”

He squeezed my hand. “I’m not going anywhere.” He sounded serious. He sounded like he hadn’t had someone he could trust in a long time and, somehow, I fit the part. “You gonna let me kiss you good night?” he asked.

“You’re gonna ask this time?”

He smirked. “I’m used to taking what I want.”

“But we both know that doesn’t work for me.”

“That’s why I asked.”

He was certainly trying. I heaved a sigh. “Well, not at the manor. Wouldn’t want anyone there seeing us.”

“Works for me,” he said, hopping off the hood and turning to face me. He fit himself between my knees and lifted his hands to my cheeks, cupping them gently as he gazed into my eyes. “Good night, Grace.”

I stifled a smile, realizing what he was doing. “Good night, Seren.”

His lips inched closer to mine, lingering for a long moment before they captured mine. He wasted no time. His tongue plunged between my lips. Our heads moved from side to side as our tongues fought for control, tangling and gliding against one another as if we couldn’t get close enough. As soon as I draped my arms over his shoulders, his hands dropped from my cheeks to my hips, pulling me against his chest. My legs wrapped around him. His erection pressed between my thighs, and I couldn’t stop myself from pushing against it as he devoured my lips. I felt him everywhere. I hated myself for giving in so easily, but everything about Seren—from his breathtaking looks to his vulnerability in telling me the truth—made me yearn to be closer.

Trying to regain some sense of balance, I pulled out of the kiss first. My breath was labored and my mind spun. Everything was happening so quickly. I needed to keep my wits about me before I did something foolish. Something I’d regret.

Seren dragged the back of his thumb along his bottom lip wearing a wicked grin. “Nope. Didnotsee you coming.”

Once we returned to the manor, we went our separate ways in the driveway saying nothing more thansee you later. But the look in Seren’s eyes told me he was thinking about our kiss. If I was being honest with myself, I was too since I was unable to get the feel of it out of my head. I’d never been thoroughly kissed in my life. I could feel his need for me to trust him. His need for me to believe him. His need for me to be the one person to see the truth like he did.

I wondered if I could be that person for him.

If I’d be able to see his mother as a murderer.

If I’d be able to let myself fall for him the way he seemed to have fallen for me.

CHAPTER 25

Seren

I tossed the football around the driveway on Saturday with Sawyer and Saint. We’d taken off our T-shirts and played ball in our shorts since it was such a hot May day. I wondered if Grace planned to come out of hiding or if she was worried my brothers might sense something was going on with us if she came outside. Or, maybe, I scared her away by spewing all my shit to her. I still couldn’t believe I told her so much. I guess I just needed to know if I could trust her the way everything inside of me was telling me I could. I wasn’t lying when I said she was easy to talk to. She was not like the girls I was used to. They were all about money and status. Grace just wasn’t.

Sawyer tossed a spiral that sailed over my head. I leaped for it, but it was out of my reach. It landed with a bounce ten feet behind me and rolled down the driveway and out of sight.

“Nice throw,” I taunted. “Now, go get it.”

Sawyer laughed. “I guess I don’t know my own strength. I should be the QB.”

“Fuck that,” I said.

Sawyer jogged past me in search of the ball.

“Where were you last night?” Saint asked while we waited for Sawyer to return.

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