Thorne: Consider it a kind gesture.
Elodie: From you?
He leaves me on read. Ass. So, I distract myself with the text message that Ocean sent thirty minutes ago.
Ocean: Hey, Queen! I hope you’re okay. I’m going to go for breakfast with Nathaniel. Want to hang out later with a movie and snacks?
Elodie: Hell yeah, you can give me all of the details then!
I frown at the text twice before I hit send. I was trying to channel my inner Ocean, but I don’t know if it’s too cringy or not. Tossing my cellphone aside, I shuffle to the edge of the bed and shiver when my feet touch the cool floor.
Padding toward the bathroom, I yawn as I stretch my hands over my head, but before I make it over the threshold, a knock sounds from the door. I consider ignoring it, but the curiosity of who it could be gets the better of me and I back track,unlocking the door before I open it just enough to see who is there.
My gasp is embarrassingly high-pitched when I lock eyes with the person in question.
“Thorne,” I breathe, frowning at the man before me as he gives me a pointed look. His pitch-black eyes are narrowed on my face as he takes me in, and like usual, I feel the weight of his scrutiny. “What are you doing here?” I mutter, and he shakes his head, his hair dusting over his eyes slightly as he does, but instead of answering, he lifts something toward me.
He has a cup holder with two paper mugs nestled inside, along with a small bag featuring the coffee shop’s emblem. I’m tempted to take it and shut the door in his face, running for my retreat, but I want answers.
“If you can’t use your words, I’m going to go now,” I state, silently counting to ten in my head to give him a chance to respond before I slam the door with a level of finesse I hope I’ve got.
Seven… eight… nine…
“Hazelnut hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant,” he grunts, nudging them closer toward me, but I don't move. All I can do is stand and gape at him for what feels like an eternity.
“Why?” I finally manage, earning a withering look from the shadow fae.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m mindful of the time,” he mutters, like that’s explanation enough, but he quickly sees that it isn’t. With a heavy sigh, his chin drops to his chest before he looks up through his lashes at me. “There is no way in Hell that mangy mutt is getting behind the wheel of my car. Are you coming or not?”
I almost climaxas I run my hand over the black hood of the prettiest car I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Well, almost. “This is hands down my second favorite car in the world,” I breathe, my voice whimsical and light as adrenaline fizzles through my body.
A scoff sounds from behind me where the dark-haired shadow fae stands, giving me the space to gush over his vehicle. It’s so out of character for him, the noise almost seeming to be beneath him, and I can’t stop myself from looking in his direction. I’m just in time to watch him push his hair off his face, only for it to fall right back into place a second later, but it’s enough for our eyes to lock.
“Second?” he clarifies, and I shrug.
“The Corvette Z06 is stunning, but I once saw a Corvette Stingray on the highway. It was the best four seconds of my life.” My eyelids fall closed as I recall the fleeting moment the fire-red beauty zoomed past us.
“Wow. If anything, I would have guessed last night in the pool room was the best four seconds of your life,” he retorts, and my jaw falls slack as my eyes ping open. The curl to the corner of his lip is enough to make my knees buckle.
How can the hot and mysterious quiet guy get any freaking sexier?
“A smile looks good on you,” I murmur, redirecting the conversation away from last night, but the moment I do, the sweet glimpse of his smile is gone.
“Let’s go before I change my mind,” he grumbles, and I scoff.
“Oh, so you can get personal with me, but I can’t mention that you look hot when you’re not so grumpy?”
His only answer is to roll his eyes before he climbs into the driver’s seat. I half expect him to lock the damn doors and drive off without me, so I kick into action and quickly hurry to the passengerside, gaping at the butterfly door that’s raised, ready for me to climb in.
My heart thunders in my chest with the fear of breaking something well out of my price range, but the pointed look on Thorne’s face makes it clear my time is running out. With a deep breath, I slip into the passenger seat, and the door drops before I can even reach for the seatbelt. Nerves ripple through me as it clicks into the buckle, and my pulse quickens as the garage door opens, letting the late morning light creep in. I startle when something lands in my lap, and I find another pair of gloves. Understanding washes over me and I slip my fingers into the soft leather without a word.
Before I can even get my breathing under control, he peels out of the garage like a man possessed, charging down the lane as a squeal escapes my lips. My fingers curl around my door handle as I hold on for dear life, The Vale coming into view. It’s mostly derelict as we head through town, and I try to relax in my seat.
Daring to look at the sinful driver beside me, my eyes widen in astonishment to find him peering at me instead of at the road. I wasn’t panicking before, but I am now.
I’m familiar with reckless behavior. Damn, I’m the queen of recklessness, but this is insanity.
“Thorne,” I croak, and my fear seems to earn me another half-smirk from the enigmatic man beside me.
