Chapter Eleven
KYRA
I should be taking notes. This psychology class has been easy to follow all year, but now I can’t concentrate. All I can think about is the message on my phone, staring back at me.
It’s taunting.
Unknown:
Tonight. 8:00PM
There’s a map sent immediately after, with a pin marking a location. I find myself unable to open it up and zoom in. I’m not ready to open it and see. Without pulling it up, I can tell it’s on campus, but it looks to be on the outskirts near the forest.
They didn’t tell me how to dress. Do I dress in formal wear? Adventure? Casual? My finger slides across the screen to open up a chat with my best friend.
Me: What do you wear to an event where you’ve been given no direction? I feel like I should dress to impress, but not like I’m trying. Should I dress for adventure? What if there are tests?
Beth: Is it time?
Me: Tonight
Beth: Is he going with you?
Me: He said he would. I haven’t told him yet.
Beth: Girl, stop freaking out. Skip your next class, it’s just a review and I can give you a copy of my review notes. Ask him, maybe he’ll give you a hint.
Me: Maybe he can’t. Maybe it’s all part of the tests. I assume it is. I need this to be perfect.
Beth: Ask him, he’s not going to tell you no.
Me: You don’t know that.
Beth: You didn’t see the way he was looking at you at your party.
Me: What are you talking about?
Beth: The daggers he was trying not to throw at your now ex.
Beth: I’m just saying, you were out late yesterday evening.
Me: I was back at the house before ten. Not that late.
Beth:
Me: It’s not like that. He’s family.
Beth: So you like the forbidden?
Me: Delete these messages. You’re crazy.
Beth: Already done.
Beth: As your best friend, I will always have your back. But know this, in no universe do I see the two of you being “just” friends.
Me: I’m hanging up now.
Beth: Ma’am, this is a text thread, you can’t hang up on me.
Me: You’re wrong.
Beth: Prove me wrong. Pay attention to how he acts around you. Maybe nobody else noticed it. Everyone was drinking so much. I noticed because I didn’t want to drink too much in case I needed to help get you home safely.
Me: I love you for that, but you’re wrong.
Beth:
Beth: You forget, I remember the crush you had when you were a teenager.
Me: Delete the messages!
I clear our text message thread and know she’ll do the same. I’ve never had someone read my messages. It doesn’t mean I’m not paranoid about anyone else finding out my secret.
Nobody can ever know I had a crush on my stepbrother. I was just a kid; it was a silly little crush. It didn’t mean anything.
Right?
Me: Please leave your review notes on my desk, or forward them to me if they’re on your laptop.
Beth: Already done.
The last few minutes of class seem to drag on as I wait for it to be over. I’ve never skipped class and I don’t intend to make a habit of it. School is expensive, even if we have the money for me to take my time, I refuse to take advantage of my family like that.
As soon as the professor dismisses us, I’m running out the door. This building isn’t too far from the sorority house. I walk fast to get to my little car, throw my bag in the passenger seat and leave campus.
Fourteen minutes with no traffic. That’s got to be a record. I find a spot in the parking garage and take the private elevator up to the seventh floor. I walk down the short hall and knock on the door.
I hear a thud and cursing on the other side of the door. My hand grips the handle of my bag over my shoulder as I wait. I’m ready to smile and beg for help when he opens the door.
“Hey,” Ares’ voice comes out more gravely than normal. Husky, like he just rolled out of bed.
My eyes take him in slowly. Down. Up. And again. I swallow. His bare chest is covered with tattoos that connect and go down his arms and up his neck. Muscles that I find myself wanting to run my fingers along. Joggers hang dangerously low on his hips, showcasing the v. I’ve never had the urge to drop to my knees before, warmth spreads inside of me.
When my eyes are back up to meet his, he’s smirking. I’ve been caught. Oh my gosh, I was caught checking out my stepbrother. This is so wrong.
“I’m sorry. This was a bad idea.” I shake my head and turn to leave.
“Kyra.” His hand reaches out and grabs my arm. He pulls me into the condo and closes the door.
My back hits the door in my attempt to walk back out. I close my eyes. “I’m so sorry. I’ll leave and we can pretend that didn’t happen.”
I feel his breath at my neck, then my ear. A soft rumbling growl comes out of him. What is happening?
“Too late, princess.” His nose runs along my jaw. “I thought it would be easier after a night of sleep. But all I could think about was you.”
“Me?” My eyes open and I instantly regret it. He crowds me. My hands move to push him back and leave, but my hands freeze instead. I shouldn’t be touching him, not when every thought I have about him is of forbidden desire. But I’m frozen in place.
“You’re taking up space in my dreams.” His gravelly voice sends delicious shivers through me. It’s strained and gritty.
“I—”
“You woke me up from the best dream. I was pissed that the dream got cut short right when it was getting good.” His breath is still at my ear, his body leans in closer. “I was ready to give whoever was at the door a piece of my mind, but then I saw who it was. You can wake me up anytime.”
One of his arms caging me in drops, and his hand runs down my arm and back up again. His hand is gentle as it caresses up and across my shoulder, then neck. His fingers move to the back of my head and weave themselves into my hair, tugging my head to the side.
A whimper escapes me. “What are you doing?”
His lips press a kiss to my neck. “Why do you always smell like that?”
“What?”
“You smell like sunshine on a rainy day.” He groans. “It consumes me.”
“Ares,” I plead for him to stop. This is wrong.
“Fuck, Kyra.” His lips graze my jaw.
Ares pulls back slowly, searching my eyes. His thumb traces over my lip. With a growl, he takes a step back. Small. Followed by another. And one more.
“Why are you here?” He looks away.
“Um. I—” I hesitate as I pull out my phone and open the message. I turn the screen to face him. “Tonight.”
His gaze turns to my phone, and he nods. “I forgot how cryptic they are.” Ares laughs. “I’ll pick you up at a quarter til. We’ll walk over. Do you know what you’re going to wear?”
“That’s part of what I was hoping you could help me with.”
His nostrils flare. “Don’t you have class right now, Kyra?”
I nod. “I couldn’t concentrate on the one I even went to.” I slip my phone back into my bag and drop it to the floor. My eyes scan the space. He already had some stuff delivered? “When?”
Ares turns to look at the space. “I couldn’t sleep very well on the floor.”
My eyes scan over the rug I picked out to the sectional I picked out. I walk past and see a mattress on the floor with rumpled blankets and pillows.
“I had the mattress delivered late last night. I’ve got a delivery coming this afternoon with the actual bedroom furniture, built-ins, and that damn chaise you said I needed.” He steps up behind me.
I turn around in time to see his eyes scanning up my body. “Will you help me figure out what to wear tonight?” I repeat myself.
He nods. “Let me get changed and we’ll go somewhere. I know just the place.”
* * *
I pace my room while Beth snickers on her bed. She helped me curl my hair and pin it in place. My hands were shaking, I’ve been so nervous. I pause in front of the full-length mirror in our room and take in my dress. It’s a little long.
The corset style top isn’t as tight as I thought it would be at first glance. The design of the straps and the nearly open back probably account for this. Puffed sleeves fall down my arms slightly. It has a sweetheart neckline and thin straps that come across almost like a halter top to hold it in place. With the open back, I’ve had to forgo a bra. The entire dress is a light sage, almost forest green with scattered pale pink flowers and a darker greenery printed onto the many layers. It flares out slightly at my waist, ruffle style layers all the way to the floor. A high slit is up one side that is only revealed when walking or moving.
I normally have no problem wearing heels, but as nervous as I’ve been feeling about not knowing what tonight will be about, I wear some smaller ones that wrap across my feet and ankles more securely.
Ares assured me the evening wouldn’t be physically exhausting. It would be more mental games, and I’d be observed on my attitude and how I handled situations. Nothing he said helped; it was still vague. I thought the dress he picked out would be overdressed, but he insisted. Then I worried it wasn’t enough. Was there a dress code?
“Girl, relax.” Beth tosses a piece of popcorn at me. “He should be here any minute.”
My phone buzzes on the dresser. I walk over to it and pick it up.
Ares: I’m downstairs. Leave your phone upstairs and bring nothing. Trust me.
Me: Okay
I turn my phone off and leave it sitting next to my bag. I spin around to see Beth still curled up on her bed with her laptop open and a big bowl of popcorn.
“He said to leave my phone behind and not bring anything. But you know my passcode if there’s an emergency.”
“It’s going to be fine.” Beth rolls her eyes. “Have fun.”
“Right.” I nod. “I wanted this. This is the group I know I need to connect with.”
“Exactly,” she assures me. “Part of the reason you won’t be social chair next year.” She motions with her hand for me to leave the room. “Good luck and be yourself. You’ve got this.”
Easier said than done.