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"I love kissing you," he rasped

"Me, too Iyou Not myself"

His chuckle brushed her cheek aroose bumps broke out from there to her neck "While we’re at school, I won’t be able to think about anything else Just this Just you"

With a ues excited her as nothing else ever had The feel of hiirls ht look at him and crave him, but it was Mary Ann he turned to with desire in his eyes

Yeah, but because he really wants you or because you calm his wolf?

Stupid fear

She stiffened, and Riley pulled away fro, little beads of sweat on his brow

"What’s wrong?" he de"

"I don’t believe you, but you’ll tell me the truth later, after the flames have died and I can think properly Won’t you?"

He couldn’t think properly? She alrinned "Yes" Maybe

"And anye needed to stop"

The sa trouble catching her breath or she would have sighed "Yeah I know" Disappointing, but indisputable "If we don’t, we’ll be late for school"

"Or on’t make it to school At all"

Plus, she didn’t want her first time to be out in the open Not that she would tell hiear, heading toward Crossroads High She couldn’t help herself She reached up and traced her fingertips over her lips They were swollen Probably red Definitelywith only a glance?

Twenty e of the woods and stepped onto school property, thea half-moon of three stories In several places, the roof pointed toward the sky Salold banners that read Go Jaguars

The laas reen to yellow to off-white Cars sped through the parking lot and kids rushed up the concrete steps, bypassing the flagpole without a glance

In front of the closest set of doors stood Victoria Alone She was pacing, hands wringing together in agitation She wore a black T-shirt anddown her back A bea the blue of her eyes to practically glow

The younger the vampire, the more time they could spend in the sun, Mary Ann knew The older they got, the ly sensitive skin, since it was so thick and hard, like h it

Victoria was still at an age--eighty-one or so like that--where the sun didn’t bother her Like wolves, vaht upset her Victoria and Riley would age at the sa Oh, God How irl around a bit, just on principle

"Have you seen Aden?" Victoria asked the moment they reached her Normally she was pale, but today she was chalk white

"No," Mary Ann and Riley said in unison She recalled the last time she’d seen him They’d snuck him into his room at the ranch and he’d flopped onto his bed He’d been pale, shaking, sweating, breath shallow as he fought for every inhalation

She’d thought he would rest, and rest would heal hi," Victoria rushed on "But he was supposed to be there so we could walk to school together"

"Maybe he’s inside," Riley said

The va became more insistent "He isn’t I checked And the tardy bell will soon ring You know he can’t be late He’ll get into trouble, be kicked out, and you also know he’ll do anything to avoid being kicked out"

"Maybe he’s sick," Mary Ann said, not believing her oords If that were the case, he would have been at the ranch, still in bed And Victoria was right Aden was never late to school Not because he feared being sent away, but because he never missed an opportunity to spend tiirl

"I’ll hunt hilanced at Mary Ann before she could tell hi with him "You’ll stay here with Victoria"

"No, I--"

"I can ht Fine Just be careful"

"Riley," Victoria began "I--"

"You’ll stay, too," he reiterated

With the many creatures that noled the streets of their suard His protectiveness was as fine a quality as the six-pack on his stomach