Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,65
feel uncertain. Even with the hint of muscle I never had before, I’m still skinny and pale. Not to mention, it’s impossible to look sexy in government-issued underwear. They were once white, but are now sort of grayish. And on me, they’re baggy. The elastic has long ago given up. Will’s eyes stop at the underpants and a smile tugs at his lips.
“So that’s what the girls are wearing these days?”
I swat at his arm, but he catches my wrist and holds it.
“Not by choice – you know that.” Nothing here was by choice. Except us. That’s why this feels so right. We’re choosing each other.
He uses the hold on my wrist to pull me a step closer. I stumble toward him, weak in the knees. He slips his hands down to my waist, holding me steady. “Don’t worry. Even in those granny-panties, you’re still turning me on.”
Heat floods my cheeks. I reach up on my toes and kiss him. I toy with the edge of his shirt and put my hands under it, sliding my palms up his chest. He’s firm, yet smooth, and his heart is pounding just as hard as mine.
He lets me explore the contours of his chest and stomach, his eyes falling closed at my touch. After a second, he pulls his shirt over his head and drops it to the floor. I take a step back, and take in the sight of him. His body is long and lean, and cut with hard muscle. He is the most beautiful, most whole thing I have ever seen. He brings me close again and presses me to his chest. The effect of skin-on-skin wraps me in warmth and suddenly it’s much too hot in here.
He picks me up, easily lifting me off my feet and holds me against him. I forget about everything else but Will. Will’s kisses. Will’s heartbeat. Will... Only Will.
***
He wakes me in the morning, playing with my hair. I blink my eyes open, and suddenly I’m self-conscious about how must look, about what happened between us last night. He wraps me tighter in his arms, pushing any awkwardness away. “I’m not going to let you go today,” he whispers, closing his eyes, drawing me to him.
I wish I didn’t have to argue; that I could pretend this was my real life, and I could stay in his warm arms. But I can’t. My real life is death threats, brutal training, and a looming fence that leads to the world unknown.
I wiggle out of his arms and sit up. I’m wearing one of his T-shirts. I don’t remember putting it on. My memory of last night is a little fuzzy. I remember kissing Will, undressing with him, and then we crawled in between the sheets. That’s where my memory stops. Oh God. I must have fallen asleep.
I turn to him. He’s wearing a playful smile on his lips, so I know he’s not mad. “You’re remembering last night, aren’t you?”
I drop my eyes. “I am so sorry about that.”
He shakes his head. “Eve, don’t apologize. I’m glad you’re comfortable enough around me to relax. You obviously needed sleep.” He winds a lock of my hair around his finger. “Though I am a little self-conscious that I bore you that much.”
I grab his shoulder. “You do anything but bore me. Trust me.”
His face lights up. I can tell he wants to ask more, to hear me tell him how I really feel, but I can’t let that happen. There will be no happy ending for us, and the longer we pretend, the harder this will be.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and climb out. I pull on my pants. “I better get to breakfast.”
He nods, but doesn’t say anything as I dress. I turn and leave the room without looking back.
Chapter 24
Two days left. That’s all I can focus on during training today. I hope no one can read my mind, because it’s all I think about as we run endless laps around the perimeter of the compound. I think of Will, and it pushes me harder.
Sam runs next to me, Jake on her other side, of course. She still hasn’t spoken to me since I told her, and I still haven’t asked Will about the tracking chip. I’m almost afraid to hear his solution. It must not be good if he hasn’t told me yet. I sensed that he was only giving me the information I needed in that