My eyes welled up as I scanned the things: a fuzzy purple papasan chair and matching throw rug, lavender bedding, a new fridge and microwave, food and drinks, a bathroom kit with all the necessities, and a box of my clothes with a roll of quarters for laundry.
I wondered if she’d had it all delivered or if she’d brought it herself. I ached inside from missing her. Wiping my eyes, I unpacked everything and set up the room. It felt a little more homey, but I was far from feeling at home.
I set up my music station and put Marna’s romantic playlist on, then flopped onto the bed for a hopeful nap. As the music played, I remembered last night—the silly faces Kaidan made at certain songs, and his serious look when he was solely concentrated on my body. Each song was a memory, replaying our honeymoon through my mind in vivid recollection.
A naughty thought crossed my mind as I recalled the picture of myself I’d saved on my phone. I pulled it up and found it to be just as sexy as I remembered. Now that he’d seen every inch of me, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to send it. It probably wouldn’t even affect him.
With a nervous, half-delirious giggle, I sent it.
Right away the giggles disappeared and panic set in. What had I done? Kaidan Rowe had, no doubt, received hundreds of sexy photos in his day. Suddenly mine seemed lame. Would he laugh? I wished I could unsend it, or that there was a way to cancel a message if it had yet to be opened.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! I climbed under the covers and pulled them up to my neck. I must have been crazy from lack of sleep. What was I thinking? I rolled over and squealed into the pillow.
And then my phone dinged with a text message. I shut my eyes as my heart went into overdrive. Would he throw me a bone? Say something like, “Aw, that’s cute, luv—thanks”?
With reluctance I picked up my phone. Another text dinged. I opened it—both were from Kaidan. Another dinged. Sheesh, what was going on?
OH GOD.
What r u doing to me??
I can’t believe u rly took a pic.
Killing me. DYING.
My worry began to subside, and the laughter rose up again. Text messages poured in, one after another.
CANNOT STOP STARING.
Just wait little vixen.
F me. Ur so fn hot.
Ur in serious trouble when I see u again.
Serious. Trouble.
Whew, dang, it was hot under the covers. I kicked them off, feeling relieved, giddy, and so tired. When a minute passed with no messages, I texted him back.
Baby steps for your nerdy girl.
I smiled at his quick response: Nerdy my arse. All the cold showers in the world can’t cure what u’ve done to me.
Sorry, I texted, still smiling like an idiot.
U r not. Leave me alone. I’ll b busy 4 a bit.
PS . . . ilu.
I texted back, ilu2.
Letting out a long breath, I deleted the conversation and cuddled my pillow. Poor Kaidan. I hadn’t meant to work him into a frenzy, but I had to admit I was glad I could.
A knock at the door woke me from a hard sleep sometime later. I blinked groggily toward the window. It looked like early evening. Another knock sounded. I turned off the music and went to the door without opening it.
“Yes?” I asked through the wood.
“Anna Whitt? A delivery for you from the front desk.”
I opened the door a crack. A large, gorgeous blond guy stood there with a box—it looked like another box of my stuff.
“I’ll set it down for you,” he said.
“Oh, sure.” I stepped aside. “Thank you.”
Yes, I was married to a total hottie, and no, I wasn’t lusting after this guy, but it was hard not to take him all in. He was tall and broad like a football player, with an all-American smile and wavy hair. He carried himself with total confidence, like Kaidan, exuding a presence that drew people in.
And then the guy turned to me and my heart nearly stopped.
At his sternum was a bright red badge—the biggest badge I’d ever seen on a Neph . . . as large as a Duke’s. My heart banged a painful triple beat.
With one grand step he stood over me, looming, taking in a deep breath through his nose as if smelling something.
All at once, whisperers came in a dark whoosh down the busy hallway, weaving through parents and students. My room was at the end of the hall and nobody was looking my way. There were so many spirits, at least six of them. For one horrible moment I was shocked into inaction. And then the handsome Nephilim’s eyes shone red.
What the . . . ? A Neph’s eyes could not do that.
I made an involuntary sound of fear and ran for the open door, but the kid was faster. He actually chuckled as he caught me by the arm and closed the door, pressing himself against my back and nuzzling his nose into my hair.
“Don’t make a sound,” he warned in a calm voice.
He moved fast, capturing both of my wrists in one of his hands and holding them above my head against the wall while his other hand circled my throat.
Red badge. Lust. American accent. But Kaidan was Pharzuph’s only child. Who was this? Why did he feel so powerful? The room darkened as the spirits piled in, making sounds like hissing and scratching that echoed in my head.
He moved my hair aside with his chin and placed a warm kiss on the side of my neck. I shivered, but not in the good way.