جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

(KAIRA'S POV) "Don't ever let anyone take what's mine?" His. The word echoed in my head, hitting me like a wave. Did he just mean the words he spoke? Since when was I his? Since when did he want me to be his? But I didn't ask. I couldn't even breathe properly at this point. I knew that if I dared opened my mouth to speak, I would find myself saying the wrong things. Slade's arm tightened around my waist. My hands flattened against his shoulders, feeling the heat radiating through his jacket as our bodies moved closer. I could perceive his cologne, the musk mixed with mint scent. So cool, so nice. I leaned in to him and he exhaled softly giving me a m good whiff of wine from his breath. I dared to look at him, to look into those eyes. Dark, thick.. His hand moved, lower and I gasped. Louder this time. "What are you doing?" I hissed at him, my cheeks were flaming. Slade leaned closer and my heart started thumping in response. "I'm making sure we don't humiliate our parents." He

(SLADE'S POV) Makaira's face turned pale and then pink color spread to her cheeks, her mouth slightly parted. She snapped her head upwards at Germaine who was holding the deck of cards. "I swear it's what the card says!" He said with his hands raised and the card shown out to everyone. She doesn't want to kiss me, I thought with a plunge to my chest. And you've had your two shots already so you can't avoid this dare." Matthew laughed cheekily. "I'll take the shots for her." I declared, sitting up. "That doesn't happen here, Mr. Novice." Jackie laughed at me. "You can't take shots for her, Slade. It’s a rule ." Penelope said with a shrug. I glared at the group. I hate these games! And I never play! If only Kaira had listened to me. "It's a damned make out! And you're not even siblings for real! Can we get on with it?" Shelly said in her familiar irritated tone. "You know what? Maybe we should skip this round." Germaine said, shuffling the cards again. "This is the only card w

(KAIRA'S POV) "Oh my God. I want to disappear." I heard Mum gushing from the room. "As you should." I called from the bathroom. I gave my face one last towel pat and then came out in my Mickey Mouse nightgown and my hair tightly in a bonnet. Mum's face was covered in her hands, her perfect hair updo was now a pretty mess of hair clips, pins and a lot of loose strands and she was wearing Tom's suit jacket over her beautiful ivory wedding dress. To be honest, we looked very much alike when we walked up the stairs and to my room together. Similar physical descriptions, oversized tux jackets, messy hair and a red-dipped embarrassed face. I looked worse with a broken heel, drenched dress and streaking makeup. Yes, I don't want to talk about how similar to a clown I looked and the front row seat I gave Slade Horton to that. "I feel so embarrassed." She said in a muffled tone, still not lifting her head up. "The word you should use is ashamed, Mum." I wagged my finger at her. She lift

(FIVE YEARS AGO) (THIRD PERSON'S POV) (DECEMBER 25TH, 2019) It was the first time in five years that there would be a Christmas party hosted by the Hortons. It was the first Christmas party since Margo Horton's disappearance. The house was beautifully decorated and the rooms were colorfully fully lit to celebrate the season. For a family with only two members currently present, the mansion was filled with many people. All workers and close relatives. Slade Horton, aged 12, was seated at the foot of the stairs, watching as the workers of the Horton household sang Christmas carols. He was barely noticed by anyone and was so carried away by the carols that when a gentle hand landed on his shoulder, he jumped. He calmed down when he saw that it was his nanny. "It's only me, Slade. I'm so sorry that I startled you." Shanice's gentle voice assured him. She squatted so that she now met him at eye level. "'S okay." Slade said, hugging his fitted leather jacket tighter to himself. Sh

(KAIRA'S POV) I was grateful that school was scanty because I didn't want to attract attention coming to school with Slade Horton. "What time?" He asked, parking the car without looking up at me. "Huh?" He turned to me and I swallowed a lump in my throat. "What time are you done from school today?" "Oh." I shrugged lightly. "I have the Ink Club meeting after school. I'll be done around 4 today. You don't have to wait for me, I—" "That's perfect. I'm done with football practice before 4 today. I'll see you later." There was no room for argument in his tone. It all sounded finalized so I found myself nodding at him. Eager not to get lost in those eyes as I easily seemed to do, I grabbed my bag and left the car like the seat was burning me. Then I walked quickly towards the school building. I let out a deep breath, soaking in the fresh air that welcomed me. It was obvious that I was breathing better now that Slade was nowhere around me. So why did it still feel odd without him ar