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When I opened e metallic taste in my mouth Rain shtning struck so the air with a fine current of electricity

When did it start raining? The skies had been clear, blue, and perfect the last I remembered

I drew in a shallow breath, confused

My shoulder was pressed against so my head, I felt the object rise up sharply and then slowly ease back down It took me a second to realize it was a chest , his ar me securely pinned to his side

I didn’t dare move

Every inch of h washis stomach underin idle, soothing circles at the hem of my shirt Each circle inched the ainst the curve of ainst flesh I was hot and shivery A feeling I had little experience with

His hand stilled

Pushing up, I looked into a pair of startling green eyes "Whatwhat happened?"

"You passed out," he said, pulling his arm away fro distance between us as I brushed led hair out of my face The metallic taste was still on the roof of uess the bear scared you I had to carry you back"

"All the way?" Dammit I missed that?

"Whatwhat happened to the bear?"

"The stor, I think" He frowned as he watched ht streak of light blinded us for athunder overshadowed the rain Daemon’s expression was cast in shadows

I shook uess so"

"We got lucky then," I whispered, glancing down I was drenched as was Dae it difficult to seethe sense ere in our own private world "It rains here like it does in Florida" I didn’t knohat else to say My brain felt fried

Daeed my knee with his "I think you may be stuck with me for a few more minutes"

"I’m sure I look like a drowned cat"

"You look fine The wet look works for you"

I scowled "Now I know you’re lying" He shifted beside ers lift my chin toward him A crooked smile lifted his full lips "I wouldn’t lie about what I thought"

I wished I had so clever to say, maybe even a little flirty, but his intense stare sent any coherent thought scattering

Confusion flashed in his eyes as he leaned forward, his lips parting slightly "I think I understand now"

"Understand what?" I whispered

"I like to watch you blush" His voice barely above a murmur as his thumb traced circles onhis forehead againstthat hadn’t been there before I think I stopped breathing My heart seemed to take several stuttered steps and then freeze, anticipation welling up through iven second

I didn’t even like him He didn’t like

Lightning struck again, this ti snap of thunder didn’t even startle us We were in our oorld And then his crooked smile slipped from his face His own eyes were confused and desperate, but still searching mine

Ti out before , wanting to show hireen His face strained, as if he aging an internal battle

So in his eyes made me feel very unsure

I knew the second he made up his mind He took a deep breath and his beautiful eyes closed

I felt his breath againstto my lips I knew I should pull back

He was bad, bad news But ht in my throat His lips were so close to mine, I desperately wanted to meet him halfway, to rush forward to test if his lips were as pillow soft as they looked

"Hey guys!" Dee called out

Dae a healthy distance between us on the swing

I sucked in a sharp breath, surprise and disappoint as if it had been deprived of oxygen We’d been so absorbed in each other, neither of us had noticed the rain had stopped

Dee caaze went from her brother to me She squinted her eyes I was sureit obvious that she’d interrupted so a perfect, pouty O

He grinned at her The saave the i "Hey, there, sis What’s up?"

"Nothing," she said, eyes narrowing "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he replied, julanced atbonus points" His words whipped through the pleasant haze as he hopped off the porch and a to chase after Dae et his keys back or to keep you happy?" My voice was tight My skin hurt

Dee sat beside"No That was never a part of the deal" She blinked slowly "Was he about to kiss you?" I felt my cheeks burn even hotter "I don’t know"

"Wow," she murmured, her eyes wide

"That was unexpected"

And this ard I didn’t want to even think about ould’ve happened if she hadn’t showed, and definitely not while she was sitting here "Uh, you went to visit family?"

"Yeah, I had to before school started Sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell you It kind of happened all of a sudden" Dee paused "What were you and Dae part?"

"We went on a walk That’s all"

"That’s odd," she continued, watching ot them back"