Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“I’m thinking pizza?” Maddox said. He looked odd without Caleb at his side, his boyfriend arriving tomorrow morning. Those two had become inseparable since they’d become official. It was really nice. Madds never had anyone for too long. He’d been a serial dater before Caleb. Seeing my brother find someone so perfect for him gave me hope there was a chance for me.
“Hold on.” Blake looked around and scrunched his brows. He had a thinking face that made me chuckle. Never out loud, though. I’d come to realize after these last few weeks that Blake didn’t have the highest self-esteem. For being one of the most powerful and connected twenty-six-year-olds in America, he had quite the confidence issue.
Something that wasn’t exactly difficult to relate to. For anyone.
“Where are we cooking this pizza? Or are you talking about getting delivery?”
“We’ve got the ingredients to make one from scratch,” Madds said. I realized then that maybe I had missed telling Blake about one big part of this trip.
Blake scanned the campground. There were six tents circling a sitting area around the campfire. Someone had brought comfortable beanbag chairs and a small wooden table, where a stack of cards sat.
“I’m not seeing anything.”
Dawn pinned me with a glare. “Did you make him think we were really camping?”
Damien chuckled. Robby appeared to squeeze his hand. Damien winced and straightened up.
“I forgot to tell you. We own a house here. Right around that rock formation, actually.” I scratched the back of my neck. Smiled. Blake cocked his head and looked at me through narrowing amber-golden eyes.
“But, but, I had to watch a long-as-hell YouTube video on how to pitch a tent.” Blake blinked a couple of times. “I spent an hour and a half on mine! We’re not using them?”
“It’s tradition,” Warr answered with half a grin. “Our mom used to get pissed every time we’d come as kids and ask to camp out halfway through the trip. So she had us all make a camping ground first and then decide. That way, if anyone does want to camp out while we’re here, it’s all set up. Plus, it’s just a nice time to be outdoors and working together on something.”
A cold shiver down my spine battled with the gentle warmth of the setting sun.
“I guess that makes sense,” Blake said. He gave a sassy eye roll.
That was cute.
“Do you want to come in and get settled?”
Blake tipped his head in a nod before seeming to change his mind. “Actually, you know what, I think I’ll camp out the night.”
Interesting. What had caused that quick shift?
My job had me naturally observing people and supernaturals, sizing them up as threats or not. I could usually tell when a shifter was about to swipe a taloned hand or a Marvel was about to access their threads of mana. There were twitches in the face, body, and general demeanor. I enjoyed doing it—people-watching.
With Blake, I found myself observing him just for fun.
“Suit yourself,” Madds said. He twisted the heavy silver chain on his neck so that the clasp was to the back. “Want me to bring out some pizza?”
“Sure,” I said.
Dawn stroked her braid. “Alright, well, if you guys need anything, we’ll be inside.”
My family started heading toward the house, the structure appearing to blend directly into the beige stone it was built against.
“Oh, you don’t have to stay out here,” Blake said. A loose strand of dark brown hair fell to his forehead. “I’m sure nothing’s going to happen to me out here.”
“And I’d like to be extra sure of that. So I’m staying.” I crossed my arms. His eyes darted down toward my bicep. Was I flexing them a little? Sure. Did it seem to have the desired effect?
“Yeah, yes. Stay.”
“Great. Now, come and help me unpack our shit. The tents are up, but we still have to make them nice.”
“I thought you were my bodyguard, not my boot camp instructor.”
“I could be a lot of things for you.”
Blake stumbled on a rock. I grabbed him by the elbow to stop the fall. “You know, for a shifter, you aren’t very agile.”
“And for a dragon, you aren’t very, uh, scaly.”
“Want to see them?”
Blake rolled his eyes. “I can already see the ones on your bicep.”
“Not the ones I’m talking about.” I lifted my shorts so that they bunched up around my crotch. Blake dropped his head, and then I noticed his jaw twitch, like it was going to drop just the same. His attention bounced off my crotch and onto the slash of golden scales that wrapped around my thigh.
He started a series of slow nods. Licked his lips. I could almost see the strain in his face from trying to keep his eyes on mine.
“That’s, uh, actually really beautiful.”
I winked at him. “Thank you. Maybe you’ll get to see all of them one day.”