The knowledge of who even came up with the idea has been lost, and only the old ghosts of the Sol house would have the answer.
But that idea has us creeping up the Sol staircase at the dark and quiet hour of 10 pm. The elder and younger Sol’s departed to their beds almost two hours ago. I glance back at the whiteboard and see the figure-eight symbols of Sofia’s older brother, Sebastian.
I’ve never really paid much attention to him; he’s just her older brother. But Sofia doesn’t care about him; no, she’s after something wilder. His best friend, who is also sleeping over tonight.
Devon Hart.
She’s going to go in there and steal something of his to make up for him doing something that made her feel like he didn’t care. Sofia might never admit her crush on Devon, but I’ve been in her room; there are hearts everywhere. Her obsession is next level, I’m not sure if Devon’s aware of it or not.
She is so obviously in love with him it’s not funny.
We get to the top of the landing. Sebastian’s room is the first door on the right. I stare at it, rethinking this plan completely. We should abort.
“Be right back,” I hear Devon say.
Sofia looks at me with panic. “Run!”
I fly up the hallway, but before I can get to her room, a door opens. I panic and dart into the first room on my left, which is the guest bathroom.
The shower, which has been running, turns off suddenly and alarmingly, alerting me to the fact that I’m not alone. I can smell bodywash, chocolate, chili, and roasted almonds.
I turn, and it’s like the world crawls in slow motion.
Through the foggy glass, I can see all this skin, these muscles that are just starting to define themselves. He’s got an alpha’s body, and he’s only seventeen.
Sebastian.
As if thinking his name alerts him, he turns, and his gaze finds me. He doesn’t yell; he doesn’t say anything. He just cocks his head to the side as if he’s trying to figure me out.
I can’t look away from him. He’s a work of art. I didn’t know boys could be so pretty. What is that smell?
I inhale deeply and realise the smell is coming from me.
Sebastian’s eyes darken, and he opens the door, stepping towards me. Before I can sweep my eyes down, he grabs a towel and hides his dick.
My eyes trace over every shadowed ab, over his brown nipples, the tanned skin stretched tight over bulging muscles, and finally up to his face, which is stark and almost frightening in its rawness.
He grunts, and even that sound melts my brain, rattles something loose, has me losing even more control than I’d lost before. My body shakes as I press myself back up against the door. He moves closer, taking up all that I can see.
“Cordelia,” he murmurs my name almost mockingly. “You shouldn’t be in here yet.”
Yet? What does yet mean?
My eyes lift to his. “Bas.” My voice breaks, all that comes out is his partial name, but he smiles widely.
“You look lost, little lamb.”
I shudder as he moves even closer. I catch his scent; it hits me hard. Chili, chocolate, and roasted almonds. It’s him. He is what smells so delicious. My mouth waters, and I lean towards him, swamped by this heat that flushes up and down my body.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I realise he’s being kind.
“I don’t feel great.”
I wobble, and he catches me, pulling me over to the sink. A moment later, a cloth is pressed to my forehead, and I’m staring into his eyes again as he sweeps my hair back from my face.
There’s a knock at the door. Loud, terrifying. I feel like I’m about to be busted doing something terribly wrong.
“Cordie?” Sofia whispers.
