“I thought you said a shower wasn’t going to change the way I smell now?” I say, frowning at Rafe.“It’s going to help,” he says, turning back to me and raising his eyebrows. “Seriously, Ariel, you…you smell like you took a bath in eau d’Jackson. It’s not a bad thing but it is…a statement cologne.”
“Can I ask you…maybe an unfair question?”He smirks at me, and turns his head to the side, inviting it.I grin, and nod towards the door, where Luca left. “If it were the other way around. And…you had a big night, and I left early and…you found me in his bed in the morning. Would you…do you think yo
Daphne.Daphne, the gorgeous, clever, talented, funny redhead my brother is dating. The girl he’s absolutely going to have to break up with the moment his mate comes on the scene.I lift my hand and press my face miserably against it. God, how could I have been so callous, so unthinking to make a jo
“No problem, babes,” she murmurs, hugging me back. “I’m Team Ariel, all the way.” She rocks me back and forth for a long moment. “Now let me go, before you mark me with Jackson’s scent too.”I burst out laughing and pull away, grinning at her. “Is it seriously that strong?”“Go!” she laughs, shoving
“Ella!” my dad calls again, pounding on the door. “What’s going on!?”“It’s nothing, Dominic!” mom snaps back, turning to glare at the door that she’s got her back pressed against, like dad can see her expression through it. “We just need a minute! For girl stuff!”There’s a long pause outside of th
And by the tension in his shoulders, I can tell that he’s working very, very hard to embody that.“Come here, Ariel,” he murmurs, standing by the door and beckoning with one hand, the other resting on his hip.I send one last desperate glance at Daphne before walking to stand in front of my father.
I look seriously up into my father’s green eyes, my stomach turning over with anxiety.“Never, ever,” my father growls, “let a man raise his voice at you like that again. Do you hear me?” I can hear the anger rolling in him now – anger that I can tell he’s been tucking away for my sake.Tears spring
My eyes go wide when I see how packed it already is with our family, and our closest friends, and all of dad’s advisors including, of course, my grandpa.A smile bursts onto my lips when I focus on the group of young men in the back corner – all of them dressed in Cadet black.“Ohhh, that’s a sight