He rolls the cigarette between his pointer and thumb. “Quiets the voices.”
“Ah, yes, those pesky voices do hate the taste of ash.”
A full smile. It’s blinding like a comet— bright and fleeting. Leaning against the house, he dangles a foot over the ledge and blows smoke rings to the sky.
“Your stepbrother’s mixed signals are getting really fucking old.”
He snorts. Coughs. Smacks his chest. Mutters something like,tell me about it,and coughs again.
I glare at him. “I’m glad you find this hilarious.”
He clears his throat and shakes his head. “It isn’t remotely.”
“Yeah, real convincing.”
Thatstupidsmile. Our shoulders bump. My gaze drops to my hands as I fiddle with the drawstring of my hoodie.
“My dad wants Seba for something.” I don’t know why I’mbringing this up. Ok, maybe I do. The ominous conversation I overheard has been eating away at me ever since.
Cade’s eyes drill into me. “I take it, you don’t want that.”
I scoff. “He’s not the compassionate, benevolent pastor he pretends to be. He’s cold and cruel and controlling. And the people in his circle? They’re no better. Bottom line, from what I’ve heard, I’m worried about their motives for recruiting Seba. And with his current vanishing act? Yeah, none of it is sitting right with me. What if they saw us together and threatened him?”
He blows a stream of smoke out of the corner of his mouth. “As concerning as this holy cult is, I don’t think that’s the reason.”
I twist to face him. “Do you know something I don't?"
“When it comes to Sebastian…” He sighs. “I'm beginning to think I don’t know shit.”
“That makes two of us,” I huff, picking at my cuticle. I sneak a glance at him. He’s checking his phone.
“Your boy toy?”
“Nah, that’s over.”
I want to ask what happened, but his scowl makes me hesitate. Minutes pass in weighted silence: him smoking and me stewing while I trace the constellations twinkling above us.The same stars I laid under with Seba.A shiver slides down my spine. I shift closer to Cade’s warmth.
Fingers pinch my chin, turning my head. My heart pounds. The look in those piercing eyes is predatory, boring into me with unrestrained desire and luring me closer by the second. Smoky breath ghosts my lips, feather soft and laced with threats.
I should stop this. We’re both just looking for comfort. I’ve been cooped up too long. I’ve lost my mind.
I lean in.
The faintest taste of him awakens something buried deep in the recesses of my being. If I kiss him fully, I can’t go back. The line I’m toeing blurs. Hunger roars within me, voracious and desperate. It’s so overwhelming, I break away.
“Weshouldn’t.”
A challenge flares in his heady gaze. “You don’t want me.”
Oh God, how I want you.
I shake my head.
His thumb smoothes over my bottom lip. “Because you want him?”
Denials perch on my tongue but don’t break past my teeth. I watch him absorb the unspoken admission.
Another pass of his thumb. “What if I do too?”
