Page 66 of Crashing Tides

“I can’t even begin to explain what a bad idea that would be.”

“OK.” Am I being rejected or not? I frown down at my boots. “Is that, like, a wolf thing?”

“Yeah,” says Duncan. As if to prove a point, his eyes flash yellow behind lashes so long they cast shadows in the setting sun. He crosses his arms, averts his gaze like he’s afraid to look at me. “It’s a wolf thing.”

“OK.” I scowl down at the ground, drag the toe of my shoe through the sand. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

His hand flies out to meet my wrist, fingers hot as coals against my skin. I whip around to stare at him. He meets my eye.

“You have no idea what I want to do to you,” he says, stepping closer. “I don’t want to fucking scare you.”

Yup, his eyes are definitely yellow. I catch a glimpse of fangs in the dying light. We’re close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him.

I’m terrified and turned on at the same time.

And if I’m already terrified, why not go ahead and make things worse?

“OK,” I say, breathing raggedly. “Question: What if I’m into that?”

His answering laugh bubbles out of him until he’s doubled over, clutching at his middle and wiping his eyes. People glance over at us like they’re worried. I try to ignore them.

I’m sure this inspires confidence.

“I just—” He gasps for air. “I can’t tell you.”

“Tell me what? ‘No?’”

His fingers clamp tight around my wrist. Instead of trying to escape, I grit my teeth, glare him down.

“That’s not what I’m saying,” he hisses.

I yank my wrist free. “I’m not following.”

He shakes his head. “You’re perfect,” he says, and kisses me hard, right on the mouth.

It’s the best and most unexpected kiss of my life, fierce and desperate. I’m instantly weak in the knees, kissing him back with fervor, clinging to the back of his coat for dear life. Strong arms wrap around my waist, holding me close, but I clutch him like I’m afraid he’s going to run away.

It’s so, so good, the fire of his lips against mine, the slide of our tongues, the way his hand fists in my jacket.

I’m rapidly losing the ability to think, but it’s probably fine⁠—

A wave strikes against my calves. Freezing water fills my boots. I let out a shocked gasp and then remember that we’re in public.

We draw apart quickly, Duncan’s hand rests on the small of my back, guiding me out of the water. I’m elated, heart pounding, skin tingling where he’s touched me. All I want to do is kiss him again, but it’s too late. The magic is waning. My socks are drenched. With every step, I squelch like some kind of swamp monster. Duncan’s expression goes from excited to tormented in a matter of seconds.

Am I the problem, or is he also struggling with wet socks?

Then he looks at me, eyes hooded, lips kiss-swollen, and beams.

I beam back.

Chapter

Nineteen

We end up at a sandwich shop on the edge of town, sitting at a bar height table, swapping dipping sauces and arguing about divination techniques. The smells of sizzling meat and baking bread fill the air.

“I can’t believe you guys are still using marbles,” he says, stealing a slice of bell pepper from my napkin. “Professor Galvin had us move on to crystal balls after a week.”