moon glows over her like silver. Laken trusts me, she wouldn’t
go if I told her not to. A part of me doesn’t want to send Laken to
any more brainwashing ceremonies. God forbid they achieve their
purpose.
“I think it’s important you go.” I try to
sound casual like I weren’t secretly disappointed. “We’ll do the
movie another time.”
“Flynn says the Treasures are no big
deal—that I need to dig deeper.”
“He might be right. Probe Wes. Find out
where he’s getting the blood. Maybe play a mental game and catch
him reading your mind, call him out on it and tell him you want
those powers—so you can be just like him.”
Laken goes rigid. She holds a breath for
longer than a minute before exhaling and melting back into me.
“I will. I’ll make sure we get our families
back as quick as possible.”
Our families. Laken feels like family. She
feels like she was made just for me. As if this interstate
kidnapping—this horror that the Counts have brought upon us—was
meant to be.
An hour slips by with Laken writhing her
hips into my lap every few minutes. She pulls my arm under her soft
chest and my boxers spring to life. I try to move and hide the
evidence, but she follows me with her body.
“I think I’d better sleep on the floor.” I
pop up on my elbow and scoot back.
She twists to face me.
“Why?” Laken snatches my fingers and holds
on for dear life. A pale wash of moonlight rinses out her features,
soft as marble. I glance down and see her nipples protruding from
my sweatshirt like sirens.
“Because there’s only so much I can take
before I cave. I’m a guy, we’re weak.”
A soft laugh trembles from her. “Oh, I don’t
know—if a strong guy like you could take on a zombie or two, I
think you could handle sleeping next to me in a bed for a few
hours.” She looks at me from under her lashes, beckoning me to
stay.
I take her in like this, a platinum goddess
against the black velvet of my bedroom. She pushes back a notch,
and I can make out the silhouette of her body—a perfect hourglass
that I’d love to manhandle for the next few hours. And if she
grinds those hips into me one more time, I just might.
She licks her lips awaiting an answer, and
my hard-on blooms to life.
“Like I said”—I climb over her—“I’ll take
the floor.”
Wesley
Tuesday, while the skies turn an ashen sage
and the hillsides glow neon from the deluge of rain, I walk Laken
to her final class of the day, cheer.
“Do I wear anything special tomorrow night?”
Her eyes glow against the sodden backdrop. The Minotaur hovers
behind her with his overexposed bonze eminence and makes Laken look
like a Greek goddess from long ago. I could be the warrior who’s
trying to free her from captivity—the stronghold of her mind.
I brush my thumb against the high ridge of
her cheek. She’s so perfect it doesn’t seem believable. Every
person has a flaw to call their own, some more discernable than
others, but Laken remains unblemished—the perfect canvas, the
landscape of Eden.
“You’re amazingly handsome.” She winces when
she says it.
I give a little laugh. “I was thinking the
same thing about you. God’s a true artist. You’re living proof.” I
kiss her hand. “And, about the ceremony, wear whatever you want.
They’ll give you a robe when you get there. It’s already been
sanctified, so you can enter the chamber. Jen knows the way. I’ll
have her bring you. I need to be there early to help set up.”
“But I want to go with you. I can help set
up. I promise I won’t get in the way. I’d much rather be with you
than Jen.” She interlaces our fingers and gives a squeeze.
I glance past her as the fog rolls onto the
field. Some of the cheerleaders have already straggled out and are
warming up. In the distance I can see the football players,
Flanders looks away just as our eyes meet. Figures. I’m sure he
likes to keep an extra eye on Laken at all times. I talked to
Hattie—heard
go if I told her not to. A part of me doesn’t want to send Laken to
any more brainwashing ceremonies. God forbid they achieve their
purpose.
“I think it’s important you go.” I try to
sound casual like I weren’t secretly disappointed. “We’ll do the
movie another time.”
“Flynn says the Treasures are no big
deal—that I need to dig deeper.”
“He might be right. Probe Wes. Find out
where he’s getting the blood. Maybe play a mental game and catch
him reading your mind, call him out on it and tell him you want
those powers—so you can be just like him.”
Laken goes rigid. She holds a breath for
longer than a minute before exhaling and melting back into me.
“I will. I’ll make sure we get our families
back as quick as possible.”
Our families. Laken feels like family. She
feels like she was made just for me. As if this interstate
kidnapping—this horror that the Counts have brought upon us—was
meant to be.
An hour slips by with Laken writhing her
hips into my lap every few minutes. She pulls my arm under her soft
chest and my boxers spring to life. I try to move and hide the
evidence, but she follows me with her body.
“I think I’d better sleep on the floor.” I
pop up on my elbow and scoot back.
She twists to face me.
“Why?” Laken snatches my fingers and holds
on for dear life. A pale wash of moonlight rinses out her features,
soft as marble. I glance down and see her nipples protruding from
my sweatshirt like sirens.
“Because there’s only so much I can take
before I cave. I’m a guy, we’re weak.”
A soft laugh trembles from her. “Oh, I don’t
know—if a strong guy like you could take on a zombie or two, I
think you could handle sleeping next to me in a bed for a few
hours.” She looks at me from under her lashes, beckoning me to
stay.
I take her in like this, a platinum goddess
against the black velvet of my bedroom. She pushes back a notch,
and I can make out the silhouette of her body—a perfect hourglass
that I’d love to manhandle for the next few hours. And if she
grinds those hips into me one more time, I just might.
She licks her lips awaiting an answer, and
my hard-on blooms to life.
“Like I said”—I climb over her—“I’ll take
the floor.”
Wesley
Tuesday, while the skies turn an ashen sage
and the hillsides glow neon from the deluge of rain, I walk Laken
to her final class of the day, cheer.
“Do I wear anything special tomorrow night?”
Her eyes glow against the sodden backdrop. The Minotaur hovers
behind her with his overexposed bonze eminence and makes Laken look
like a Greek goddess from long ago. I could be the warrior who’s
trying to free her from captivity—the stronghold of her mind.
I brush my thumb against the high ridge of
her cheek. She’s so perfect it doesn’t seem believable. Every
person has a flaw to call their own, some more discernable than
others, but Laken remains unblemished—the perfect canvas, the
landscape of Eden.
“You’re amazingly handsome.” She winces when
she says it.
I give a little laugh. “I was thinking the
same thing about you. God’s a true artist. You’re living proof.” I
kiss her hand. “And, about the ceremony, wear whatever you want.
They’ll give you a robe when you get there. It’s already been
sanctified, so you can enter the chamber. Jen knows the way. I’ll
have her bring you. I need to be there early to help set up.”
“But I want to go with you. I can help set
up. I promise I won’t get in the way. I’d much rather be with you
than Jen.” She interlaces our fingers and gives a squeeze.
I glance past her as the fog rolls onto the
field. Some of the cheerleaders have already straggled out and are
warming up. In the distance I can see the football players,
Flanders looks away just as our eyes meet. Figures. I’m sure he
likes to keep an extra eye on Laken at all times. I talked to
Hattie—heard
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