Okay, this wasn't too bad. The bleachers filled in as the game started and by half-time, it didn't feel like I was even sitting alone. It didn't hurt that Greg was a pretty good quarterback. My football knowledge was limited but I could see that he was agile and had an impressive arm, despite being built like a linebacker. I even found myself yelling and hooting with the rest of the crowd as we scored touchdown after touchdown. At the final buzzer, my fellow spectators poured out of the bleachers. The old lady who sat next to me with her walker needed assistance so I waited with her until everyone was gone. Then I held her hand and guided her down to the ramp."Aren't you a sweet girl," she cooed at the bottom.I chuckled. "Less sweet, more sour."She patted my arm with a laugh. "Thank you, dear. My son is just over there. He'll help me to the car."Her son? That piece of shit wasn't here to help her down the stairs? My eyes followed her finger to the blue and white jacket hanging off

Caroline*****Yawning, I slowly roused from my sleep. A sweet smell lifted into my nostrils, beckoning me to get up. I sat up and pushed the covers down. My jeans were all tangled down around my ankles. I frowned as last night returned to the forefront of my mind.Marshall! I jumped and looked around but there was no evidence of him or his presence. No note or anything. Oh shit. He wasn't out there . . . in the kitchen . . . Was he? I sprang out of the bed and instantly tripped over my jeans. Huffing, I kicked them off and yanked on a pair of sleep shorts from my dresser. I moved the chair from the door knob and hurried out.Freya smiled at me from the stove. I glanced around the kitchen but it was empty.She chuckled. "Good morning to you, too, sleepyhead. Looking for someone?""I—" I swallowed. "Oh, I just wondered if, uh, Valentina was still here.""Yeah, she's worse than you. Still in bed."I relaxed and padded over to her. When my eyes locked sight on the golden pancakes in her

Marshall*****Los Angeles was a mad house even early on Sunday morning. Our flight touched down at five and Nuel and I rented a car. We were driving first to the address where his phone was tracked to. It wasn't one I recognized but I wasn't surprised he still lived in LA. This was all he ever knew.It was almost seven-thirty when we rolled up to a white stucco cottage with an orange tiled roof. I nodded and we got out, hands on the weapons at our waist. If I wasn't so impatient, we could've picked up some guns here. I had many connections to this city, the homeland of the Tare family legacy. I didn't want to make unnecessary visits or waste any time. So, we were making do with blades.Nuel went to the door while I circled the house. All the windows were dark. As I reached the back of the house, I slipped into the gated yard and crept up to the back door. I could hear the doorbell ringing through the empty walls.I had a feeling Atlas wasn't here. He knew better. I was pleased that h

Caroline*****My hands smoothed over the soft cotton short-sleeve shirt and distressed jeans I wore. The weather would be reaching the low seventies today, so I didn't have to wear a sweater today. I draped a light leather jacket over my shoulders just in case and grabbed my backpack.Freya had left for work already and I was confident that Valentina wasn't here, since she was always gone during the week. I poured some coffee into a thermos and doused it with half and half. I grabbed a bar from the pantry and turned to leave. My earbuds were already in my ears, blasting some nostalgic Parachute songs, so I didn't hear the presence of another enter the room behind me.When I turned to leave, I was blocked by a bright yellow hoodie in my path. I fell back a step and put a hand over my heart. Valentina snickered as I plucked the ear buds out of my ears. Knowing we were alone in the house unnerved me."Didn't mean to scare you there, Caroline."I backtracked a step to put space between u

Caroline*****This feeling was like being on fire with a fire-resistant cape on. My skin burned as bright orange embers on the verge of catching. It was all the deep-bone melting heat without any of the pain, the injury, the scarring.Scalding water tumbled down my naked body. I'd never stood naked in front of a man before. My hands itched to cover myself but I focused on bathing myself. I wanted Marshall like a drug. I secretly hoped I pushed him too far. He didn't think I was ready, but I'd waited for what felt like forever to experience this. For years, other people my age coupled up, found love, reveled in freeing their sexuality. I waited! Waited to meet someone I wanted to do those things with. Someone who didn't think I was a freak or a nerd. I never met anyone who made me want more until Marshall. He took one look at me and set my world ablaze. And I was dancing in the flames.You don't know who you're seducing. His words rang through my skull repeatedly. He wasn't wrong.I d