“A lot wild.”
I grin. “A fighter. Ornery. A sass mouth, my mother used to say. She and Dad were killed by zombies. We knew nothing about Blood Lines, and three undead were able to enter our home. They sensed me, but reached my parents first. I heard screams and raced into the living room. My parents didn’t know why they were in pain, patches of their skin turning black, but I did. I could see the monsters. For the first time, my hands lit up, which is the only reason I survived.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. My aunt and uncle raised me after that, but they were even less equipped to deal with someone like me. An outsider. A weirdo. And wow, look at me, complaining. I was never beaten.”
“Like that matters. You shouldn’t compare your pain to mine. You suffered, plain and simple.”
I trace the shell of her ear. “You make me wish...”
A shiver dances over her. “What?”
I caress her jawline, the line of her neck, the rise of her shoulder, reveling in the softness of her skin. The goose bumps rising in my wake entrance me—and once again I’m hard as a rock.
“What?” she repeats softly. “What do you wish?”
Not going to hit and run, remember? I force my arm to my side and roll away from her. “Nothing. I’m tired. Good night, Milla.”
There’s a slight pause, a crackle of disappointment before she responds. “Good night, Frosty. Sweet dreams.”
Awareness erodes my delicious lethargy, and I blink open my eyes. I’m warm, toasty and relaxed...and I’m in a room I don’t recognize. Before I can work up a good panic, memories flood me. The Z-battle and near defeat. Tiffany. Wrestling with Frosty—being caressed by him, sharing stories with him. Sleeping next to him.
Tingles raze each of my nerve endings. As I scan the layout of our bodies, I realize I’m not next to him anymore. I’m freaking on top of him!
His heart thumps against my temple, and his luscious heat envelops me. One of his arms, firm and sure, drapes my lower back, while the other nestles in my hair. My legs straddle one of his. Hello, Seabiscuit.
I’ve never woken up with a boy. Mace always took off before sunrise, not wanting River to see us together “until we’re ready to share our love with others.” Liar! The rest of my losers took off soon after they’d gotten what they wanted, leaving me confused and just plain sad.
I like this. I like it more than anything ever...which is the very reason I gather the strength to stand and tiptoe to the bathroom.
Sore muscles scream in protest as I brush my teeth and hair and take care of business. When I exit, Frosty is still sleeping, thank God; I’m able to sneak out of the bedroom undetected.
I take a few wrong turns and end up back where I started, bumping into Chance as he quietly shuts Love’s door. Of all the people in all the mansions in all the world...
I sigh. “Kitchen?” I ask, not really expecting an answer.
“This way.” He waves me over, shocking me to the depths of my soul when he wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Thank you. For what you did last night. Without you, Love would have died.”
I stop, utterly floored. “You really care about her. Like, seriously care.”
I didn’t ask a question, but he stops, too, and gives me a nod.
“But why...?” Am I really going to do this? Put myself out there? Make myself vulnerable to a guy who hasn’t spoken to me in four months? Who has every reason to spurn me? Whom I have every reason to spurn? I might have put him in danger by working with Anima, but long before that, he hurt me by leaving me the morning after we hooked up. “Why didn’t you care about me?” Yes, I’m really going to do this. I deserve answers. “Why did you cut and run after one night?”
Remorse darkens his eyes. He presses his forehead against mine, an action I’ve missed, something he did long before hooking up with me. “I wanted it to be you. My forever. But wanting something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. And yes, I should have talked to you about it, should have opened up, but I took the puss way out and I’m sorry.”
That’s something, at least. An answer. “I guess I forgive you,” I say, remembering the way Ali forgave me. Can I do any less now? Besides, Chance wants what I want. A love to last the ages. Something powerful and unstoppable.
What Kat and Frosty had.
Frosty claims he doesn’t love her anymore. Is he just fooling himself?
Could he ever love me?
Do I want him to?
“Enough mush. Let’s get some breakfast.” Chance urges me forward. We’re about to snake the corner when Frosty’s voice snaps behind us.
“Milla.”
Chance and I turn in unison.
Frosty is scowling, but—shocker—it’s not directed at me. “Here’s your new phone.” He tosses the device at me, but his aim sucks and I have to dive to catch it. “Don’t leave the house.” He slams the bedroom door, and if there’d been portraits on the walls, they would have fallen.