Page 32 (1/2)

At least she could stare her fill, because the Second One had faded almost completely It was the ales the Second One had left behind, the ones that were part of hihtly fuller lower lip, eyes that seeer, a little more beautiful than before Cassie tried not to dwell on the consequences if he continued to kill

For five days she’d gotten up and dressed right before dusk and then waited for him to awaken

That had been the best time of the day because he’d had time to talk with her A lot He’d explained how they werea systematic search of the city Until Garrity was eliminated, she had to stay hidden She’d reminded him that she was the one who had saved his varateful, but no, she couldn’t hunt with theuments ensued She’d enjoyed them a little too much

And they’d spoken about other stuff About his human life as a horse trainer and how he soht rides About her life as a consultant, a life that seeressed

Cassie had also unburdened herself about emotions she normally would’ve felt hesitant to share--her randfather she’d bottled up inside for a very long time, and her attacks of conscience over the s they didn’t talk about How she came alive when he was near How the need to touch hi obsession as the days passed How she knew if he disappeared fro ti at her with an intensity that ht was the sixth night Tonight would be different

She heard the door open Cassie didn’t hear him enter She never did He moved so silently that she didn’t knoas in the shower until she heard the water running

She pushed aside her usual fantasy, the one where she watched the ater sluice over his powerful back, thighs, and perfect tight butt The one where she moved up behind him and molded her bare body to all that heat and sht would be different She opened her eyes

After what seemed an eternity, Cassie saw the bathroom door open She watched him move quietly across the room, his face in shadow When he reached the bed, she saw that he wore his sunglasses

He’d killed She almost closed her eyes Almost But she wouldn’t allow the Second One to destroy her hopes tonight

She felt him slide into bed He was naked

Ethan broke the silence "You’re awake"

She sht"

"I know"

Okay, that shocked her "How?"

"Your heartbeat It was too fast for nor her "I stayed awake listening to it every night until the day sleep took lanced at his face from the corner of her eye and then away "I never knew" Now that the moment was here, Cassie fu" Fine Now he’d think she was some kind of creepy voyeur

"And what did you think about while you watchedall of the desires she’d kept carefully hidden for the past five nights Noas the ti love with you" She held her breath Only desperation would drive her to say those words What if he didn’t feel the sahts to hter wrapped her in warht"

"Why didn’t you say so? She turned on her side to face hi

He reached out to touch her then, just a slide of his fingers along her jaw But that si her nerve endings, awakened her in ways she’d never i and new opened its eyes for the first tiht of her anticipation

"You kept your eyes closed No ht you wanted, Cassie, you weren’t ready to see me yet" He leaned closer "The real er over her heart

That tap felt like the boom of a kettledrum and her heart leaped in response "Are we finished with the deep stuff yet?" Her breaths were corown into an io