I grip both sides of the book, ready to beat the shit out of the person withEnglish Grammar For Dummieswhen they step out of the shadows and into the moonlight.
Boots. Black jeans. Leather jacket. A row of rings.
I leap up and throw my arms up, waving the book around and roaring childishly. Then I drop my arms and look at Kohen blankly.
“You could at least have the decency to look surprised or evenslightlyshocked.”
He says nothing, but the barest hint of a smile curls his lips. This can’t be good.
I scream just as he wraps his arms around me, catching me as the entire building shudders and a loudbangdetonates and lurches myheart into my throat. I whip my head toward the noise just as a giant plume of fire explodes through the broken windows and shattered roof.
Sirens blare across campus as I stare at the violent dance of copper and gold.
The science building just fucking exploded.
“That’show you make a bomb.” Kohen’s voice comes from behind as he releases me. “Next time you try to start a fire, make it as destructive as you are.”
Inch by inch, I turn my head toward him. “You built a bomb?”
He sits on the table's edge and tugs me onto his lap. “The instructions are on Google. They had everything I needed in the lab.”
“You built a bomb?” I repeat.
I’m crazy. I must be crazy. There’s no way he’s saying what I think he’s saying.
Ludicrous. He’s absolutely batshit insane. It’s the only explanation.
The golden light from the fire outside flickers across his face, reflecting off the greens in his irises, kissing the arrogant pull of his lips. “Happy belated birthday, Thief.”
The reality of what’s happening hits me all at once. The heatemanating through the window, the sirens, the dark room, Kohen’s hardness pushing against my ass. “What”—and I cannot stress this one enough—“thefuck?”
Any hint of smugness or pride falls from his face. “Don’t you like it?”
My lips part, opening and closing, entirely at a loss for words. “Am I meant to beimpressed?”
Kohen’s brows draw together, andhehas the audacity to look offended by my question. “I think I deserve a kiss as a thank you,” he says with complete seriousness.
Wait. Holy shit. He’s serious? He… did he really do that for me?
This is the sweetest, most fucked-up shit anyone has ever done for me. My cheeks are burning hotter from the grand gesture than the fire.
I snap my mouth shut. This would be cute and all if it weren’t for this oneteeny weenyfact. “You burned my house down—a little on the nose, don’t you think?”
The muscle in his jaw flickers. “I didn’t burn your house down, Blaze.”
I throw my hands in the air, then point at my chest. “It sure as shit wasn’t me.” I point at him. “So it’s gotta be you.”
The pyromaniac’s nostrils flare with a sharp inhale. “It was an accident. None—" He runs his hand down his face, looking more distressed than I’ve ever seen him. “None of that was meant to happen. I didn’t mean to set your house on fire.”
I gape at him. I’ve heard some bad excuses in my time, but I have never heard something this messed up. “How did you accidentally drive several blocks to my property, walk down a long-ass driveway, thenaccidentallylight my house on fire?” I’m bad at math, but thisisn’t adding up.
“I was—fuck, this sounds so stupid.” Kohen hangs his head back to stare at the ceiling, massaging his temples like he might be able to avoid the consequences of his actions.
“Stupider than accidentally burning someone’s house down and letting them take the fall for it?” I narrow my eyes, pushing off his lap to lean against the window behind me to ease the pressure off my throbbing ankle. “Try me, buddy. I’m all ears.”
He takes a deep breath and looks at his hands lying in his lap. “I was there.”
“No shit.”
