Dead of Summer - Page 96

And, as per usual, I can’t get Kayde out of my head. It’s stupid that he occupies this much of my time, rather physically or just in my head, and I’m starting to think that I’m the one who’s fucking obsessed. Or at least, obsessed right along with him. But that’s a problem in itself, because I am nothing like Kayde Lane.

At least, I hope I’m not. If I am, then that definitely requires some closer inspection, and I curl my toes into my sheets at the prospect. Another peal of thunder rolls by overhead, and I can’t stop the way my shoulders stiffen, just a touch, before I relax again.

I really do like storms. But I can’t help the startle effect that thunder has on me when it’s loud enough to shake my entire being and I feel it in my very soul.

Somehow, the door opening doesn’t elicit the same reaction from me. I flip another page in my book, one knee up to my chest, as I see Kayde’s familiar shape striding through my cabin door before closing it behind him.

I barely even blink. Not when he locks the door quietly, and not when he slips out of his wet shoes and socks.

“Shirt too,” I sigh, thumbing past another page. “You’re fucking soaked, Kayde.” I’m not even surprised. How can I be? He’s been pretty clear today about his intentions, and whether they’re true or not, I can’t exactly tell.

But I know he tends to orbit my cabin at night, whether that’s with the intention of kidnapping me away to the boathouse or to just stay here and keep me pinned down on my bed.

Though my toes curl at both options, and I can’t help but glance up at him as he surprisingly acquiesces to my request without complaint. His shirt joins his shoes on the floor, and when I meet his eyes, he hooks a thumb in his shorts, obviously offering to take them off too.

But I just give him the most withering glare I can manage and let out a breath. “You want something. Is this where you tell me your grand, villainous plan? Your idea for The Camp Crestview Slaughter Round Two? It’s gotta be new and improved, right?”

“Wouldn’t really need to be,” Kayde points out, crossing the small distance and sinking onto the foot of my bed. He moves to sit against the wall, perpendicular to the way I’m sitting, and without warning, drags my legs into his lap.

I can’t help but watch him, my attention completely pulled from the book I could read with my eyes closed. Not that Kayde seems to mind my attention, if he even notices. He presses his fingers against my ankles, slowly moving up my calves before I realize he’s working his fingers into my muscles to relieve any knots or stress.

A massage was definitely not what I was expecting tonight. Not in any way, shape, or form. It’s enough to make me stare at him blankly, unsure of what to think or do. I definitely don’t have it in me to pull my legs away from him. Not when this feels so damn good.

“There wasn’t exactly a lot of opposition before,” Kayde points out, eyes flicking up to mine under his long lashes. “Just your desperation.”

“It worked,” I point out, twisting just enough to gently put my book back in the top drawer before I close the nightstand and settle back against my headboard once more. “You didn’t kill anyone.”

“It didn’t work because you were threatening.” Kayde’s voice is sticky-sweet, and he switches to my other calf, obviously catching my soft sigh of approval and appreciation. He’s way too good at this. Especially when he flexes my ankle in his grip slowly, carefully. “You were just desperate and really hot.”

“You think desperate is hot?”

“Nah.” His grin widens, going a little predatory. “I just think you’re hot, sweetheart.” Lightning forks outside of my window, followed closely by a long, loud crash of thunder that has me tensing on my bed.

“I’m not afraid of storms,” I repeat, refusing to look away from him. “I just jump easily.”

“I know,” Kayde assures me. “Seriously, you’re not telling me anything I wasn’t aware of before.”

But I make a face at him anyway, before mumbling, “You could at least pretend that you don’t think I’m a coward.”

“Oh, no. Not at all.” Kayde’s words don’t seem mocking, but that doesn’t really tell me anything. His mask is impeccable, and I doubt even I can see through it when he’s really trying. It’s only when it slips that I can actually notice. And that’s not very often. “I don’t think you’re a coward, babe,” he goes on, getting to his knees. “Want to lie on your stomach for me?”

“No,” I reply blithely. “That feels dangerous.”

He just snorts, his eyes rolling with fond exasperation. “Well, fine. But I wasn’t exactly asking. You’ve been clenching your shoulders and rolling your neck all day like it hurts. So roll over.” When I still don’t move, Kayde’s smile gets that mocking-sweet edge to it, and I know I’m in trouble. Sure enough, before I can go anywhere, he drags me down the bed, making me flail as I pull my phone out from under my leg and toss it onto the nightstand before it can be in any danger.

Kayde chuckles under his breath, and a moment later I’m flipped over onto my stomach, his warm weight resting on my lower back and hips.

It’s…hotter than it should be, in all honesty. I groan at him, trying to sound annoyed, but my heart flutters in my chest and I pull my pillow down to bury my face in it in order to avoid looking at him.

“Moan a little louder, baby.” Kayde laughs softly. “Let me know how you really feel.” He shoves my shirt up and up until he can manhandle me enough to get it over my head. “No bra? Does that mean you’re not wearing any panties for me, either?”

“I’m sleeping,” I remind him, voice muffled. “Why would I wear anything under my clothes to bed?”

“Don’t know.” His fingers skim down my spine, drawing a shiver from me that has nothing to do with the roll of thunder outside. He drags at the waistband of my shorts until it’s very clear that I’m not wearing anything under them. “I think you should stop wearing anything to sleep in period, if you want my opinion.”

“I don’t.”

“Well, you get it anyway.” Before I can respond, Kayde’s warm hands land on my shoulders, and he smooths them down my back, before pushing the heels of his palms into my muscles and dragging them back up.