Read Online Collide (Entangled Teen) (The Taking Book 3) by Melissa West - Free Book Online Page A

bed, Jackson pulling me on top of him, his arms around me as I listen to the rhythmic beating of his heart.
    “I love you,” I say, because there is nothing else. I’m not even sure what the nightmare was about, but I know that no one could have brought me back to center this quickly. No one but him.
    He lifts me up so we’re face-to-face and tucks my hair behind my ears. “And I love you.” Then he leans in to kiss me at the very same time that the adjoining door to Mom and Dad’s room slides open and they both rush in, followed quickly by pounding on my door and shouts from Vill and Gretchen.
    “Ari, are you okay? We heard—” Dad stops, Mom narrowly crashing into his back, and then they’re both staring at us, and I’m suddenly very aware that I am still their teenage daughter. And I’m lying on top of a boy. A boy without clothes on.
    Forget the war, I’m going to die right here and now. Death by parental glare.
    I jump off Jackson and jerk my T-shirt down to cover more of my bare legs. “Um, hey. We were just…Jackson, he’s…”
    Mom swallows, then nods to her room. “I’m going to make tea. Grexic? Why don’t you join me?”
    “I’m fine right here,” he says, his teeth grinding with each word.
    “Grexic?”
    He turns to look at her, and I can tell it’s taking every bit of his willpower not to scream at Jackson. Or maybe shoot him.
    My cheeks warm, and I give Mom a pleading look, because at the very least she understands how broken I was without him. She nods to me and reaches for Dad’s hand, leading him away while he mutters under his breath, the words “my little girl” the only thing I can make out.
    The adjoining door closes and I slump against the bed. “Well, that went spectacularly well.”
    Jackson sits up and laces his hand with mine, kissing my cheek. “I love when you blush.”
    I shoot him a look. “You’re taking this very mildly for someone who nearly died.”
    He starts to answer when the pounding continues at my main door, and with a sigh, I throw on some pajama pants and hit the open button.
    Jackson doesn’t bother putting on a shirt, so as soon as Vill and Gretchen rush the room, their eyes land on him, scanning the messy bed, him shirtless, and they both look like they wish they could disappear.
    “Oh, we didn’t mean to interrupt you doing, well, you know, that ,” Vill says. “We can come back. Or not. Not. I mean, there’s, um…you’re, um…clearly busy .”
    Groaning, I cover my face with my hands. Little did Kelvin know, if he wanted to torture me, this would have been a much better exercise.
    “Why don’t you two meet us in the cafeteria?” I suggest, hinting with my tone that we need a moment.
    Gretchen takes Vill’s arm, like Mom had Dad’s, and then Jackson and I are alone again.
    “Are you hungry?” I ask.
    “Starved. But I’m not ready to share you yet.”
    I kiss him, enjoying the moment, but I know time isn’t our friend. “There are communal showers down the hall. I’ll grab you some clothes and a towel.”
    He smiles. “All right. But I need a warning if you plan to join me again.”
    I laugh, remembering his face when I stepped into the shower with him back on Loge. “I make no promises,” I say with a wink. And then I kiss him once more before leaving to grab what he needs, my heart full and healthy, though I can’t help wondering for how long.
    …
    We walk into the cafeteria hand in hand while I try to close off my thoughts. Or rather, try to ignore the thoughts of those around me. I know what they are all thinking without having to search them out—they view Jackson as dangerous. And me, a traitor.
    A part of me wants to turn back, hide out in our room until we leave for the West Coast base, our first stop on Kelvin’s schedule for us, but then my eyes lock on Emmy and the smile on her face is so bright that I’m no longer concerned over the judgment all around me.
    “You look good, child,” she says, wrapping