House of Strife (Poisoned Houses Book 4)
Page 26
He trembles, his thick lashes sweeping down to create shadowed crescents on his cheekbones.
I trace a light finger across them. "Don't hide from me now."
"You're going to undo me," he whispers as his head turns, lips hot against my palm. "I'm trying so hard right now to restrain myself."
I lean closer once more. "Why?"
His lashes lift once more, and he glances at me from the corner of his eye. "I've thought about this for a long time, and now that I have you in my arms, I'm afraid I'll scare you away with everything I want."
I turn his head until I find his lips, whispering against them, "I'm not running anymore. I want you. All of you. No games, no calculation, just you."
His breath catches, the last of his masks slipping away to reveal vulnerability and need. "Caitlyn, I lov—"
"Well, I guess that answers that question," a hard voice says from behind me.
Nikola flinches and spins, dropping me at the same time to make a barrier of his body between me and the intruder.
His door was locked, and with Garret gone, only Nikola and I should be able to enter his room.
Shocked, I place a hand on Nikola's back as I lean around him to stare at Declan.
The other man stands at the end of Nikola's bed, just past the short entryway as if he just walked in. No bruises mar his face from the fight last night with the blue guards, and he already wears APA's school uniform. Dominick must have put him on a shuttle within the hour of our conversation for him to arrive here so quickly.
Happiness pushes back my surprise, and I grin. "Declan, we didn't think you'd be back so soon!"
Angry, golden-brown eyes meet mine. "Yeah, I can tell."
My smile slips away as unease sets in.
Declan's attention shifts to Nikola. "Did you seduce Felix, too, and gain Connor's friendship? Did you completely replace me while I was gone?"
"Declan, it's not like that," I protest when Nikola remains silent.
He ignores me, angry gaze still fixed on Nikola. "I guess I should have expected it after I looked you up when you became Caitlyn's new secretary. Or should I say co-secretary? Not really sure how that works."
Beneath my hand, Nikola's back stiffens. "Excuse me?"
"Oh, didn't she tell you?" Bitterness coats Declan's voice as he throws a duffel bag onto Garret's old bed. "Looks like we'll be sharing everything going forward, here at APA and after we graduate, roomie.”
Nikola twists to stare at me, accusation clear on his face, and my heart plummets.
Behind him, Declan drives the knife home. “Our Caitlyn asked me to be her Secretary, too."
Also By
Books Under Lyn Forester
Poison World Universe
Poison World
Beneath a Holo-Sky
Ash in the Blood
When the Sky Turn On
Poisoned Houses
House of Glass
House of Artifice
House of Silence
House of Strife
Thread Reader Universe
Tales of Port Lapton
Bound to Be
Unraveling
Fate’s Will
Tied by Fate
Caught by Fate
Books Under Sophie O’Dare
Tails x Horns Universe
You to Me (Masa x Sota)
Just Not You (Taro x Ryu)
Kiss Me Please (Masa x Sota Novelette)
Heat Me Up (Masa x Sota Novella)
Lyn Forester with LA Kirk
Thelsa’s Story
Shifting Tides
At Water’s Edge
Hyde Verses Hyde
Mistidings
Kiss or Curse
Witches of Manberry
Spite
About the Author
Lyn Forester graduated with a Bachelor in English and an Associates in Graphic Design. She worked in the graphic design industry for ten years before deciding to pursue her other life long dream of becoming a writer. She grew up reading mostly fantasy books, though later in life found a love of urban fantasy and science fiction. She currently works from her home in Washington State where she squeezes in writing time around a busy schedule. When not working, she can be found experimenting with new recipes, reading, or playing video games and the occasional board game.
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