Page 38 of A Wild Darkness

“Will do,” I reply, then end the call.

Stevie and I take the long, windy road up to the house as the sun lowers over the horizon.

CHAPTER TEN

STEVIE

Icannot believe Sebastian showed up unannounced again.

“I’m a strong, independent woman and don’t need or want a man to follow me around and act as if I’m a damsel in distress who requires protection,” I mutter, alone inside my bedroom in the East Wing. Plus, I’m the daughter of the lieutenant of homicide, and have learned how to keep myself safe from the self-defense classes he made me take since I was a child.

So, why did my stomach flip the second I stepped outside and saw him in the parking lot waiting for me? Casually leaning against his car, wearing boots, leather jacket, that made him look addictively dangerous. I thought I had matured from my teenage affinity for high school bad boys?

Guess not.

I’m anxious about tonight. It’s the masquerade ball, and we still don’t know much about the group.

As I slide myself into this beautifully tight dress, nervous energy pulses through my veins. Once I get it pulled all the way up, I maneuver my arms around to clutch the zipper hiding discreetly underneath the buttons at the back. But I can’t reach all the way up.

“Dammit,” I mumble.

I try again and still can’t reach. I sprint over to the intercom, prepared to contact Aunt Mae, but all I find are a bunch of numbers and generic labels like West Wing Room 1, and North Wing Room 2, Kitchen, and so on.

None of the buttons tell me who belongs to which room.

I’m going to have to ask Sebastian for help. He’s the only one who I know I’ll see soon.

Maybe I should wait until he comes to the bedroom to get me. Will he come to the door? Does he think I’m meeting in the foyer? It shouldn’t be this complicated. I don’t know why I’m overthinking everything. But what I do know is that I need help with my dress.

I’ll get myself fully ready and then at eight thirty, the time we agreed to meet, I’ll simply ask him to zip up the rest of my dress. No need to stress or make things awkward.

The next twenty minutes pass like a flash, and soon enough, there’s a light knock on the wooden bedroom door. I suck in a heavy breath, slip on a pair of black satin heels that match the dress, and head for the door.

“Hi.” Sebastian’s voice is soft as our eyes meet.

He’s wearing a black tuxedo paired with a matching vest and tie. Looking like something out of a fever dream, he also has a white rose pinned to his lapel and his own masquerade mask in his other hand.

“Hi.” I swallow dryly.

His eyes darkened as they drag along my entire body, leaving a heat sensation in their path. They smooth over me before his gaze is back on mine. “You look incredible.”

Shocked by his admission, because of how much he likes to bait me, I return the compliment. “So do you.”

“The Society said we need to wear white roses so they can identify us since everyone will be masked as well,” he tells me, slipping a rose from his pocket.

“Okay,” I say, reaching for the rose from his hand. But he drags it away.

“I’ll do it,” Sebastian says, leaning in to pin the flower onto the fabric of my dress. His fingers slide across the skin on my chest, causing goose bumps to form.

I clear my throat. “I can’t pull the zipper all the way up on the back of my dress.”

“Funny you should ask…” His voice sounds like he’s grinning. “I am very good with zippers, Stevie.”

“I should’ve known you’d say that,” I reply, rolling my eyes at his comment.

Sebastian lightly brushes my hair to the side, sending little tingles across my bare shoulder. I gather it to give him easier access.

As he guides the zipper higher, the dress tightens around me, and so does the air in my lungs. The soft scrape of metal against fabric fills the room, drawing out the moment longer than it should.