I tried to laugh it off, but he leaned in so close, my breasts swelled against the pressure of his heart beating within an inch of mine.
He laced his fingers through my hair as he stared down at me, eyes glistening, lips parted. “Resist me,” Dane murmured.
I felt drunk with the promise of his mouth. With each breath in, I imagined pulling him closer. His scent wrapped around every inch of my skin, caressing me. He was so close, if I just arched my back I could reach his lips, but I wanted him to be the one to do it—the one to break. His fingers spread out in my hair as he moved closer. The tension was excruciating. The heat unbearable. When he finally pressed his lips against mine I thought I might burst into flames. There was nothing innocent about the kiss; it was dark and deep, something I wanted to dive into and never return from. I ran my hands down the sides of his body, his muscles tensed beneath my touch, and then he pulled away, smiling down at me with that sexy dimple that destroyed me.
“Sleep tight,” he whispered as he left me alone in my bed, gasping for more.
Breathless.
33
CONDUIT
“LET’S GO,” RHYS SAID as he tossed some clothes on my bed.
I pulled the sheet up tight under my chin. “Where?”
“We’re going to see the conduit.” He jerked open the drapes.
“Teresa?” I squinted at the sun shining through my window. “Why?”
“Beth thought it would be a good idea,” he said as he headed back toward the door.
“You know that’s Dane’s mom, right? Shouldn’t we be asking him first?”
Rhys gripped the doorframe. “It’s been arranged. He should be here any minute.”
“What?” I grabbed the clothes and started putting them on under the sheet. “But I thought you didn’t tru—”
“I don’t,” he said as he left the room.
Pulling my hair back with the ribbon, I brushed my teeth and raced upstairs.
Beth was wearing the same type of undergarment I’d mistakenly worn to the games. She grinned and waved as if last night had never happened. I knew what she was trying to do by getting us all together. It was sweet, but I’d never seen my brother as upset as he was last night. He was going to need some time.
I peeked around the living room, the loft, the kitchen.
“He’s not here yet.” Rhys sighed. He still wouldn’t look me in the eyes. “You should eat something.” He slid a plate of warm, honey-drizzled biscuits toward me.
“Not hungry,” I lied as my stomach growled in protest. “I’m going to wait outside.”
I couldn’t stand the tension between us. I shouldn’t have lied to him. I kept telling myself it was to protect him, but maybe I was just protecting myself. I couldn’t bear to have him blame me for all this. Sometimes I wondered if I’d just spoken up about the dead girl in our kitchen—if I’d told them she looked exactly like me, maybe none of this would’ve happened. Maybe Mom would’ve known something was coming—we could’ve run. But there was no running from what was happening to me now.
I went around the back of the house and walked across the prairie grass to sit in front of the corn. I still didn’t understand why the memories or feelings came on when they did. All I knew was that they were getting stronger, clearer, more frequent. Maybe seeing Teresa would help me understand myself a little better, what was happening to me, how much longer I had left.
I collapsed back onto the grass, letting the cool dark blades press into me. It reminded me of my mother, and the last time we were together in her studio.
I heard the brush depress behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Dane—his scent, the rhythm of his breathing.
“Sleep well?” he asked as he settled next to me.
For a moment, I wondered if I’d imagined our kiss last night, but he glanced down at my lips like he owned them.
“Did you . . . sleep well?” I asked, desperately trying not to stare at his mouth.
“It was interesting.” He smiled, edging his hand closer until he laced his fingers through mine.
Rhys cleared his throat, and Dane stood up like a shot.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” I shielded my eyes from the sun to gaze up at him. “My brother? Your mom?”
Dane held out his hand, pulling me to my feet. “Beth said Teresa knew something about your protection marks. Maybe she knows why they’re not working anymore . . . how to fix it. I’ll do anything to help you.”
It took everything I had to let go of his hand. As Dane and I walked through the tall grass toward my brother and Beth, he whispered, “I’m happy I get to spend time with you, even if it’s under the watchful eye of your brother.”
I looked up at Rhys and almost burst out laughing. Not because it was funny, it was just so uncomfortable; the four of us being together like this, on a doomed double date.