Breakaway - Sadie Jacks Page 0,3

One of the few who was actually taller than I was. I trailed my eyes down his body. Now see…I wouldn’t have minded having him at our new moon celebrations naked. Not an extra ounce of fat or flub anywhere. His belly looked like a ladder of muscles I kinda wanted to climb.

His black shorts hugged to his waist where his hip bones disappeared under said shorts. While he had some hair on his chest, it wasn’t a matted forest like the men from the Oaks. I grimaced as memories tripped through my brain.

“Not a fan of male chests?” he asked, a laugh highlighting his words.

I shook my head. Wanted to slap myself in the face. “I like yoursth. It’sth not too hairy.”

He snickered. “So glad it meets with your approval.”

I nodded. “You’re welcome.” I dipped my chin at him the way I’d seen Lucinda do to the men who wanted in her bed.

He laughed out loud this time. “What’s your name?”

“Hollyn. What’sth yoursth?” I looked up at him.

“Thane.”

“Greetingsth and sthalutationsth, Thane.” I made the greeting arc from left to right.

He at least tried to smother his laugh that time. “Thank you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Okay, fill me in. You sthaid I’m in Triport. Where isth that? And there are carsth. Are there any other differenthesth?”

He stopped walking.

I had to backtrack when I realized he wasn’t with me anymore. “Thane? Are you in a trancth?” I waved a hand in front of his face. He seemed to go out of his brain quite a bit. “You sthtill in there?” I reached out, about to knock on his forehead.

He shook his head and stepped back. “Triport. One of the biggest cities in North America.” He peered at me, his eyes narrowed. “How old are you?”

I crossed my arms. “That’sth kinda rude. How old are you?”

“Thirty-four.” He mirrored my stance, raised his eyebrows. “Your age?”

I glared at him. “Thirty.”

He nodded, a smile tugged at his mouth. “So you count years the same way, at least.”

Hmph.

I rubbed my hands up and down my arms. It was colder here in Triport than it had been in Alder Valley. I looked up into the night sky. Heaved a relieved sigh. At least the stars hadn’t changed.

“Let’s get you home. You can shower, warm up. I’ll call my brothers. We can brainstorm.”

I nodded. I just prayed to the stars that he wasn’t a bad man. I mean, sure, I could kill him. But he was so pretty. It would be a sin against the earth to destroy that beauty.

He picked up the pace a bit.

I kept up with him. The faster pace got my blood pumping, chased away the chills.

“So you still haven’t answered me. Not really, anyway. Where are you from?” he asked as we jogged down the pathway.

“Alder Valley.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shake his head. “I’ve never heard of it.”

I snorted mentally. Of course, you haven’t. You’re not a crazy person.

We continued on in silence.

At one point, I thought I heard him talking, but when I looked over at him, his mouth wasn’t moving. His gaze was bright and happy. Well, at least brighter and happier than before.

“What are you sthimiling at?” I asked him. It was getting a little weird.

He shook his head. “Just thinking.”

“About what? Maybe I need a laugh.”

He burst into laughter. “Maybe some other time.” He pointed at a building that speared up into the dark night. Lights at even intervals showcased the wonder of the accomplishment. “This is me.”

“You’re not a building. I don’t care how many timesth you sthay it.” I shook my head.

He snorted, the sound light in the quiet.

I looked around. There were no cars out. When had we passed away from all the stinking metal beasts?

“No, this is where I live.”

“I knew that.” Crap. I really needed to stop letting random thoughts just slide out of my mouth.

“No, you didn’t. But that’s all right. Come on.” He put his hand behind me. I could feel the heat of it even though he didn’t make contact with my body.

I sighed internally. Maybe he was a good person.

As we crossed through the doors, a man in a black jacket with bright golden buttons stepped up. “Good evening, Mister Ladon. Enjoy your r—” The man looked at me, his words cut off. “Do you need an ambulance, sir?”

Thane waved the man off. “No, thank you. Just an accident. It looks worse than it really is.” He ushered me through a