Edie
Iwake on Christmas Eve morning in Wren’s bed. Pale winter sunlight filters through the blinds, striping her bare shoulders in gold. The dragon tattoo curls across her chest, its head disappearing beneath the blanket, rising and falling with each slow breath she takes.
My phone on the nightstand blinks with seventeen missed calls and twice as many texts. Three from Nick. Five from my mother. Two from Heather Hall. The rest from mutual friends who’ve already heard about last night’s scandal. Small towns and their gossip networks move faster than rocket ships.
Wren stirs beside me, her arm sliding around my waist and palm spreading across my abdomen. “Stop thinking so loud.”
“My phone’s having a meltdown.”
“Throw it out the window,” she murmurs against my neck, her morning rasp making me giggle. The faint scrape of her chin sends a shiver straight through me. “Stay in bed instead.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. I have things to do.”
“Cancel them.” Her hand drifts lower, lazy but knowing. “I have better plans for you.”
Before I can protest, she rolls me onto my back, kissing down my body with unhurried intent. “Wren, I should really—”
“The thing you should do,” she growls, settling between my thighs, “is open up for me.”
My phone rings again. Mom, for the sixth time.
“Answer it,” Wren says, breath hot against my skin. “But don’t tell her to call back later.”
“You’re insane.”
“Answer it,” she repeats—and then licks me, slow and deliberate.
With shaking hands, I fumble for the phone. “Hi, Mom.”
“Edith Montgomery, where are you?” My mother’s voice is sharp enough to cut skin.
“I’m—” I bite down a gasp as Wren’s tongue goes places I’d rather not think about while on the phone with my mom. “I’m at Wren’s.”
“Still? Edie, the whole town is talking! Mrs. Henderson said your car was there all night. Do you have any idea what people are saying?”
Wren chooses that moment to slide two fingers inside me, curling them just right. I have to slap a hand over the speaker to smother my gasp.
“I don’t particularly care what they’re saying,” I manage, breathless.
“You should care! Your reputation—”
“My reputation was already ruined when Nick dumped me for not being perfect enough.” Wren hums her approval against me, sending sparks through my body. “At least now I’m ruining it with someone who actually wants me.”
“This is revenge, Edie. You’re acting out because Nick hurt you.”
“No, Mom.” I arch as Wren adds a third finger, her tongue relentless. “I’m acting like myself for the first time in years.”
“We need to talk about this. Come home.”
“Later,” I gasp. “I’ll call you later.”
I hang up and toss the phone aside, both hands clutching Wren’s hair as the world dissolves. “You’re evil.”
“You love it.” Her voice vibrates against me just before she pushes me over the edge. I come so hard I forget how to breathe.
When she crawls up my body, her eyes are heavy with satisfaction.
“Good morning, angel.”
