Page 23 of Dark Daze

"I'm going to—" I moaned. "Come with me."

He nodded and bucked harder, driving us both closer and closer until we tumbled over the edge of slick, sweat coated blissful oblivion. I left my body for several minutes, my whole world shattering into shards of light and fireworks, nerve endings singing as they pushed from pressure to release.

I came down with a rush of air, trying to catch my breath from the high.

"Holy fuck, Daze," he whispered.

"Yeah," I agreed. That was very different from the last time we were together, as clueless sixteen-year-olds. So much fucking better.

"You can tie me up any time," he said. After a moment he added, "I love you, Daze."

"I love you too," I said softly. Right now, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or if I should still run like hell.

8

"I have something to say and you're going to listen to me." I jerked my head towards the sitting rooms.

"You're sounding more and more Dusk Bay by the day," Ric said. He narrowed his eyes at me and for a moment I thought he’d tell me to piss off.

Finally, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind us.

I only walked a few steps when he lashed out. He grabbed me by the throat, shoved me against the wall and brought his face right up close to mine.

"You think you can tell me what to do?" he growled. "Have you fucking forgotten who's in charge here?"

As calmly as I could with a racing heart, I said, "Caleb. And in his absence, Hilton."

I refused to panic, even when I saw it in his eyes he was tempted to keep on squeezing.

His grip tightened slightly. "And then me. Not you. What the fuck is this about?"

Still unflinching, I said, "I want to know who told you about Nova. Who was it?"

He shook his head. "Not you. What does it matter who did?"

"It matters," I insisted. "Tell me who. The. Fuck. It. Was."

He growled, but then said, "My sister, Hayley. I didn't believe her at first but she convinced me. And then you confirmed it." He pressed his erection into my hip. Of course this would get him hot.

His hand around my throat was doing the same to me. I was turned on so hard it hurt.

"How did she know?" I asked. I made no attempt to move away.

He shrugged his shoulder. "I dunno. Who the fuck cares? She overheard someone talking about it or something. Seems everyone knew but me."

He squeezed a little tighter. "You know, if I kill you now it'll make the whole custody shit a lot easier."

"Why don't you then?" I asked.

"Maybe I will."

I slipped a hand into my pocket, pulled out a folding knife and flicked it open. I had it pressed to his ribs before he knew I had it.

"And maybe you won't," I said. Did he really think I would walk around here and confront him without being armed? He should know me better than that.

He looked down. All I had to do was push, and the blade would slide straight between his ribs. It wouldn't kill him, not quickly anyway, but it would make him let me go.

I thought he'd get angry, but instead he chuckled.