AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m going to take a steaming hot shower,” I tell the girls, heading to my bathroom.
“Fantastic idea, I’m doing the same,” Thayer replies. “Meet in the kitchen in thirty for hot chocolate?”
“Deal.”
Once I’m in there, I wrap the towel around my chest and ruffle my hair slightly, taking it and moving it to one side over my shoulder. Positioning the phone above my head, I look up into the camera and smile. It feels unnaturally big and not like me so I soften it. My skin is flushed from the cold and my hair is tangled from the water and matted in places. I don’t have a stitch of makeup on and am only covered in a towel. It’s not the type of picture you’d want to share with a guy you’re talking to, but my eyes shine bright, the dark color more vibrant than I’ve seen in a while so I send it anyway.
I don’t want to admit to the fact that I wait with bated breath for his answer. If he doesn’t answer or thinks I look terrible well…who cares what he thinks anyway? He’s the one who wanted a picture of me fresh from a swim in two-degree water.
My phone dings and my breath catches in my throat. I bend over the screen to look at the one word answer he sent back.
Gary:Beautiful.
I straighten, holding the towel against my chest as I look at his message. My eyes flick up to stare at myself in the mirror. I wish I could bottle the nameless emotion that alights my nerve endings and has warmth seeping into my chest. I’d put it on a shelf and keep it for when I need it.
When I get in the shower, I find myself humming along to a song in my head. I can’t remember the last time I did that.
???
Chapter 20
Tristan
My gaze tracks Nera as she moves about the room, my eyes never leaving her as she flits between groups of people.
There’s a tightness in my chest looking at her that I can’t explain. She’s sinfully wrapped in a gorgeous orange ball gown, the cut modern and bold and one that only she can pull off. I clench my fists, throttling the need to put a possessive hand on her waist so everyone knows who she’s going to go home with tonight.
I need to be careful about this. I need to be smart even amidst this folly of mine. Especially with Thornton’s keen, watchful eyes on me at this event.
We’re at the grand opening of the Mackley library, donated to the school by one of my students, Rhys, in honor of his parents who tragically passed away in a car accident a couple of years ago.
The entire school is here and dressed to the nines, including Thornton, the RCA headmaster and the warden of my metaphorical prison. I know he’s keeping an eye on me, even as he pretends not to. That’s why he mandated I chaperone this event with him.
But I’m done resisting Nera. All it took was a picture of her, bare faced and rosy cheeked, and I was done for. I want her and as fucking stupid as I know it is, I’m willing to put my future and my family on the line to have her, even if only temporarily. I know I’ll eventually have to fall in line with the plan my father has for my life, but for now I just want to enjoy her.
To enjoy all the things I plan to do to her.
As much as I want to, I can’t take unnecessary risks. That’s why I’m standing over here on the other side of the room, staring helplessly at her as she gets progressively further away from me.
She’s been mostly with her friends tonight, so I haven’t had to watch her dance with someone else, thank fuck. I’ve needed to get my hands back on her ever since she mentioned going skinny dipping a few days ago, and the thought of someone getting there before me does ugly things to my mood.
I take the flask out of the jetted pocket of my suit and take a large sip. My eyes don’t leave her as I tilt my head back and let the liquid pour down my throat, enjoying the way the bourbon burns on its way down. It feels like a punishment for not being able to control myself where she’s concerned.
I see her edge towards the end of the room and then she’s hidden from my view. Something twitches dangerously inside me when I lose sight of her. I step to the right, making my way nonchalantly through the crowd, shaking hands and nodding at people I know. On the inside though, I’m keenly focused on getting her in my sights again.
I move off the main floor and skirt the wall. That’s when I see her. She stumbles out from behind a large group of students that had been obstructing my view of her. There’s a man draped over her shoulder and she struggles to hold him up. She takes a couple of steps backwards and reveals Thayer who carries the other half of the guy’s weight.
My brow furrows, a protective part of me surfacing rapidly. I take a step towards her.
“Tristan,” someone calls from behind me.
I know who it is before I’ve even turned around. I roll my eyes as frustration tightens the line of my shoulders.
“What?” I ask, insolently.
Thornton flicks his tongue against his teeth, admonishing me for my ill-mannered answer.
“We haven’t had much opportunity to check in with each other since the beginning of the year. Be assured,” he says with a sly smile, “I have been watching.”
