Page 17 of In Between Darkness

“Are you done?!” I push at him. “Now that you’ve deemed I’m not a threat, you can let me go.” I motion to his hand that is still gripping my forearm and go to walk past him again, but his grip tightens. I think about my training and pull him in towards me whilst sweeping his left leg from behind him, shifting with the weight of his body so I land on top of him, keeping his armsclose to his chest and straddling him on the forest floor. My face is now inches away from his. He looks startled.

“How did you do that?” he questions. The golden glow of the lantern perfectly highlights his flawless features, and it’s hard not to feel some sort of attraction to him, even if he is a dick.

“What?! You’ve never met a girl who can fight before?” I remark, but before I can finish my sentence, he spins me around and reverses our positions. Now he is on top of me, and for some reason, I don’t hate it. My cheeks redden as the weight of his body increases on mine, and butterflies swarm in my stomach.

“Don’t flatter yourself, darling. I’ve fought tons of girls tougher than you.” He pauses for a moment, as if trying to find the words to say. “I couldn’t predict your moves.” His eyebrows tense in confusion. “I am a foreshadower. I can always predict the next move.”

“Well, maybe your Gifts aren’t as powerful as you thought,” I prod, blowing a curl away from my lips.

“No, you don’t get it…First the dream, now this.” His stare intensifies. “There’s something off about you…” He cocks his head as if trying to read me. “Unless?”

“Unless what?” I ask, my eyes tracing the intense lines on his face.

“You just became a whole lot more interesting, little Sun.” The edges of his lips curve into a dangerous smile as he places his thumb under my chin and tilts my head slightly.

“Stormwood?” a male voice calls out from beyond the trees.

His hand rushes over my mouth, and he whispers in my ear, “Shhh, if they find you here, they will kill you.”

His whisper ripples through my eardrums like silk, causing my body to crave more of his touch. But I quickly shake this thought off and nod my head in agreement. He lets go.

“Really, your name is Stormwood?” I whisper as a chuckle escapes my mouth. His hand reclaims his grip over my lips as he shushes me again.

“Give me a minute,” he calls back to the distant voice.

“Okay, second meals in ten,” the voice calls back, and I hear his footsteps retreat.

He turns back to face me, his eyes lock on mine.

“And my name is Ryder, idiot. Stormwood is my last name,” he whispers into my ear as his hand still traces the softness of my lips. There is a moment of silence between us where neither of us knows what to say. His deep brown eyes search mine, still trying to figure me out.

He takes a minute, then stands up and brushes the crumbs of the forest floor off his dark trousers. I watch his muscles flex in all the right places and feel my cheeks reddening.

“Are you just going to lie there all night?” He offers me a hand and smirks whilst eyeing me up and down. I bat his hand away and get myself up, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.

An icy breeze whooshes past us, and I can’t help but shiver again; my arms hugging my body for warmth. A chuckle escapes his lips.

“Not really dressed for the occasion, are you?” He bites his bottom lip and stares down at my pink pyjama shorts.

“Shut up.” I begin walking away from him.

“No, they look good on you.” He follows for a moment, and I fold my arms in annoyance. “You don’t wanna go that way.”

“Why not?” I question not bothering to meet his gaze.

“Because your dorm room is that way.” He smirks and points in the opposite direction.

I turn around, trying not to acknowledge him, and begin walking the other way.

“You know I can’t let you walk back like that.”

He takes his black hoodie off and holds it out to me. His abs glow in the moonlight.

“You don’t have toletme do anything!” I say, ignoring his offer.

He stands in front of me. “Just shut up and take it.”

I do as he says, not feeling like I have much of a choice, plus I am freezing. The dark black hoodie swamps my small frame and falls just above my knees. Why is he being nice now?