Page 135 of A Wild Darkness

“I’m sure Ben has plenty of things packaged in the fridge that are easy for us to make.” Her hand falls into mine as we both stand.

“I know what you’re doing,” she says.

“What?”

“You’re distracting me with food…and it’s working.”

I laugh.

I have distracted her for now, but my goal is to keep her mind off it until tomorrow night.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

STEVIE

Tonight’s our first meeting with the Black Veil Society after taking out three of their members. The chance they’ve caught on to what we’re doing has clouded my thoughts. Will they suspect Sebastian and me? What would happen if they were to accuse us? What will they do? And how would Sebastian and the guys get us out of it?

Even after a good session with Sensei Clark this morning, I can’t shake the nerves or the overall feeling of being on edge.

I grab the shampoo bottle from the tiled nook in the walk-in shower. My eyes dance through the glass door and around the bathroom, searching for an answer we won’t have until hours from now. The lights are dim to calm my anxious mind, but it doesn’t seem to work.

Why do I feel more nervous this time than the first time? Is it because when we met with them that first night at the masquerade ball—or in the basement of the old library downtown—we had done nothing wrong yet? My conscience was clear.

Now I’m plagued with my own disturbances from the whole situation.

“How are you doing?” Sebastian appears through the hot steam, naked and smiling.

I run my fingers along the tattoos that span the length of his torso and arms. “A little nervous…I feel more nervous this time than I did before the ball and the library,” I admit.

“I’ll wash your hair for you.” Sebastian grabs the shampoo bottle from my hands and squeezes some into his palm. “I know the stakes are high, but I trust you, and I know you can do this—we can do this.”

His confidence warms me, but one word hits deep. “You trust me?”

Our bodies flush with one another—he glances down at me while massaging my hair. “I do. I trust you, Stevie.”

The water droplets fall into my eyes, but I stare at him with affection. “Coming from a man who doesn’t trust anyone…this is a big deal for me.”

He laughs, pulling me into his warm, wet body. “You should be grateful.”

Giggling, I shove him aside. “Me? You’re the one who should be grateful to have a partner like me.”

He leans down and gives one of my nipples a teasing lick. “You do think highly of yourself in this operation, don’t you?”

I cross my arms over my chest, playfully blocking his access to my breasts. “We’re partners.”

He gives me a side-eye, grabbing his soap and lathering up his skin.

“Sebastian,” I say his name like a warning.

The water cascades down his face and along his body. He runs his hands through his hair, rinsing off the soap. “Yes?”

He won’t admit it, but he knows it’s true. He needs me, and I’m going to make him acknowledge it. “Say it.”

“Say what?” He smirks.

“Say we’re partners.”

His brawny arms come around my waist, scooping me up. I wrap my legs around him. “You’re my partner, Stevie.”