Instinctively, his arms went around me,enveloping me in a hug. I inhaled the smell of him and sighed.
“I’m sorry for freaking you out about the future,” he muttered into my hair as he kissed it tenderly.
“Then make it up to me by letting me meet your friends.” I giggled. He took a step away, letting me go. He stared at me for a long time.
“You’re way too cute for an undead girl.” He sighed deeply. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’m not going to forget,” I said,and he gave me a look before returning to the socks on the bed. Licking my lips, I rattled off a large string of numbers. He turned and cocked an eyebrow.
“What is that?”
I smiled at him smugly. “Dante’s phone number. I’m calling him.” I hurried for my phone and began putting in the number. He leaped off the bed and attempted to bring me back to the mattress by wrapping his hands around my waist.
“How did you—”
“It was on the back of the letter. Ssh, it’s ringing!” I wiggled under him. “Hello? Is this Dante? Desi’s friend? I saw your letter. I’m Scout.”
He snatched the phone from me and playfully pushed me away. He brought it to his ear and glared at me.
“Hello? Who is Scout? Is that D’s girlfriend?” The voice was loud,and I could hear it clearly through the speaker.
“Dante,” Desi replied curtly.
“D! I knew you’d call. Your lady has a nice voice. Did you like the cards I sent you?”
“Cut it,” Desi snapped.
“So? What say you?” The man on the other side asked. I could almost hear the grin in his voice. Desi glanced at me, sitting beside him on the bed. I leaned forward, letting my breasts spill out of my tank top. His eyes flicked to them with a look of yearning before going back to my face, at which he glared. The voice repeated the offer of invitation,and Desi finally replied.
“Give us a week,and we’ll be there.”
6
“Are you ready?” I askedwhile I skippedto Desi’s car to starttowardNew Jersey.
“I am, but I really don’t think you are.” He snickered as he jingled his keys and followed behind me at a much slower pace. He was less than enthused about taking me to meet his two Seven Sin brothers, Tully and Dante, and had been vocal about it all week. “Do you have everything you need?”
“I think so. You said one week, so that’s what I packed for.” I eyed him carefully, trying to see if he was hiding something. He’d been off since he had agreed to visit the pair. He wouldn’t tell me why, only that it wasn’t a good idea.
I went to my side of the car and reached for the handle. I tugged it only to find it still locked. I turned my head to protest and saw Desi still standing with me instead of onthe driver’s side. I grinned, but he didn’t smile back. In fact, he looked uncomfortable.
He shifted nervously on his feet, his hands stuffed inside his pockets.
“What’s up? Unlock the car, Loser.” I laughed lightly,and I watched his Adam’s apple bob before he pressed his lips tightly together.
“I want to give you something before we go.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You got me something? Desi, we packed enough fireballs to last me a lifetime. You a week.” I teased him,and finally,he relaxed slightly. A tiny smile spread over his face,and he shook his head. He then pulled his hand out of his pocket and shoved ittowardme.
I looked down at his closed fist and cocked my head to the side. He stepped forward, closing the small gap between us then. As soon as he was within reach of me, he opened his hand and revealed a small, white, folded square of tissue paper. I plucked it tenderly out of his hand and eyed the clear tape on it.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.” He urged me, nodding his head. I took it in both hands and carefully tore into the wrapping paper. A thin gold chain fell into my palm,and my heart stopped. Completely fucking stopped.
He took the paper from me as I lifted the chain to see exactly what the gift was.
“Oh,Desi,” I sighed, staring at the necklace in shock. “I love it.” My fingers went to the pendant. In gothic lettering, it spelled out DESI. “And there’s a bat underneath it!” I ran my fingers over the name and design fused to it.
