true with Chance. “Did you see the way she looked at Jake, Ender, and Jessie?” I waved my hand. “No, of course you didn’t. You weren’t there. But I was.” And here I thought she was a snotty, self-absorbed bitch. Meanwhile…
“Jake would never act on it, even if he felt anything toward her. And if he’s had any feelings all these years, he’s a damn good actor,” he said as he stood up. “Ender would kill him, and you know how the boys are about the band. It’s their life…”
I followed him, thinking on his words as they sifted through my brain, not bothering to respond. I tabled the conversation to do some sleuthing on my own. I mean, if Ender and Jake liked to share, and Ender’s sister was into Jake… I shuddered, that was even too much for my perverted mind.
“Hun, a word to the wise…let it go. You don’t want to stir any of this shit up. Let the chips fall where they may. You have a wedding in a few weeks. I’d be concentrating on fitting into my dress, not boy-meets-girl nonsense.”
I gave him a death glare and took my baby back. “I hope your perfectly long lashes burn off your face for that comment.” I took Bella into the house to nurse her. I’ve lost a few pounds, and the book said the nursing helped. But I was always hungry, and I did need proper nutrition for the baby.
Bella’s mouth worked my breast as I sat, rocking her in her nursery. Ever since that jackass mentioned food, I couldn’t think of anything other than how positively famished I was. I kept a few peanut butter cups in a small jar on her changing table. My stomach growled in protest as I walked over to grab one. To my surprise, it was empty and filled with golden raisins and almonds. A neatly folded piece of paper lay on top. What the fuck? Balancing Bella with one arm, I unraveled it between my thumb and forefinger and couldn’t believe my eyes.
You have a fitting this week
Signed,
Tough love…
It was fucking Chance’s handwriting.
Bastard.
What a little bitch. So I took the whole jar and dumped it into the trashcan. Raisins, I thought, shaking my head. Now, I’d plot all the ways to exact revenge. Everything he held dear would be fair game. You don’t fuck with someone’s peanut butter cups—ever.
In a half hours’ time, Abel loomed in the doorway. My body already aware of his presence. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” His voice was full of concern. “Is she sleeping?”
I nodded, not willing to verbally answer in the hopes he’d take the hint. My hands still soothed Bella as I walked through the space to her cradle. Following my lead, he kept quiet until I put Bella down.
“You look upset,” he said. But I wasn’t… I was livid. Not upset. He sat on the bed, drawing me to him. “Tell me what’s got you so upset? I came home early, figuring we could go out tonight for a bite to eat,” he said casually. I melted into him, and focused on his clean scent to calm me.
I may have come off sounding irrational or even unhinged, but I didn’t care. I just blurted it out. “Chance took my hidden stash of peanut butter cups. Replaced them with plump, ugly, yellow raisins, and I want you to kill him for me.” A sexy smirk of delight came over his face and I blushed because now I felt like an idiot. A pissed off idiot that wanted a bloody massacre.
“Fine, but you have to help. We’re a team; isn’t that what you keep saying? So, we will kill him together.” His voice rumbled as he focused on my lips. He hadn’t made another sound, but his warm breath made me hot and cold all over, making it hard to concentrate on the massacre of Chance. His power challenged me physically, mentally, and stopped all other thoughts. Mind-fucking me…
“I absolutely hate you. You know that, right?”
“Yet your eyes devour me.” He paused. “My lustful little beauty.” His lips were on the tender part of my neck before I could bat an eye. There was no pretending his words didn’t hold merit. Our passion was always so raw and undeniable. It would be a lie to deny it out loud. His colorful fingers kneaded my shoulder and moved down my arms. Transfixed by their beauty, I watched the colors bleed into my skin.
I