Page 14

Zoya

" W hat is he doing?" I mumble to myself, watching Jareth out of the corner of my eye as he strides toward the bench where my parents are seated, basking in the late afternoon sun. He flicks a glance in my direction, his lips quirking up at the corners in a way that suggests he's up to no good.

Crap.

I start to heave myself up from the picnic table, only to pause when Nadia laughs, her eyes coming to me.

"You can't keep your eyes off him," she says.

"What? Yes, I can."

"Oh, really?" Her smile grows. "Then how'd you know who I was talking about?"

"I…" I huff out a breath, plopping back down on the bench with a groan. I'm so busted. "He's the literal devil, Nadia. Why did you have to move the wedding here?"

"It was his idea."

I whip my head toward her, gaping at her in shock. "What?"

"It was his idea."

"I heard you the first time," I mutter, turning a dark look in Jareth's direction. He's chatting with my mom and dad now. My mom is laughing while Dad looks amused. And Jareth? He's still staring at me, as if taunting me to come and stop him.

I cannot believe moving the wedding here was his idea. Actually, scratch that. I can believe it. The man is determined to…what? I'm not sure exactly. Ruin me? Possess me? Make me homicidal? I think all three might be true.

"He's driving me nuts."

"Because you like him."

I don't deny it. Instead, my shoulders bounce in a shrug. "Doesn't matter."

"Why not?" Nadia asks and then narrows her eyes at me. "And don't give me any crap about being in love with Connor because no one except Dad is buying that."

I smile despite myself, glancing over at my dad. "He said something about me and Connor?"

"He's been complaining nonstop about you and Connor," Nadia says with a little laugh. "Did Connor not tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Dad made him go for a walk with him yesterday."

"He didn't," I groan.

"Oh, he did." Nadia's smile is savage. "Teo says he was asking Connor about his intentions before they even made it two steps."

"Oh my god." I tip my head back, staring up at the cloudless sky. "Our father is a crazy person."

Poor Connor. I owe him big time for this.

"Well…yeah." Laughter spills from Nadia's lips. "But you did it to yourself, baby sister. You're the one who decided to bring him with you."

"I panicked," I mutter.

"Because of Jareth."

It's not really a question, but I nod anyway, stealing another glance at the man in question. He's still laughing with my parents like they're old friends. I guess in a way, they are. He's been playing guitar in Nadia's band for a while.

He looks in my direction again, and our eyes meet. Like usual, I get sucked into his vortex. His expression heats, his eyes softening. He doesn't even hide that he's staring at me. He doesn't try to hide his dirty thoughts, either. They're written all over his face for everyone to see.

I narrow my eyes on him, trying to pretend I'm annoyed. The reality is a lot more complicated than that. I love the way he looks at me. I love that he doesn't care who sees it. I'm playing with fire, desperately trying to brand him onto my skin and keep from getting burned at the same time.

Why is life so fucking complicated?

I'm falling in love with Jareth Grayson. I think I was falling before I even left Los Angeles. And I still don't know what to do about it.

Let yourself fall , a little voice whispers. You know it's what you want.

I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself as I tear my gaze away from Jareth.

"He looks at you the same way Teo looks at me," Nadia says softly.

"He shouldn't be looking at me at all," I force myself to say. "I'm with Connor."

"Is that why you and Jareth were sneaking around in the middle of the night last night?"

"What?" I gape at her, shock running through me.

"I saw the two of you when I got up to pee."

"Oh my gosh, Nadia. I…"

"You don't owe me an explanation," she says quickly, shaking her head. "It's not my business. But if you're really dating Connor, maybe you owe him one?"

"He's gay," I confess in a whisper, shooting a furtive glance toward Jareth to make sure he hasn't snuck up on me.

I planned to confess the whole truth last night until he wouldn't let me talk.

And then he annoyed me out of it. Now, I don't know what I'm doing.

Or trying to do. But my story is falling apart faster than a paper house in a rainstorm.

"He's just doing me a favor." I huff out a breath. "What am I going to do?"

"Are you asking for advice?"

"Maybe?"

"I don't know," she says simply.

"Well, gee, that was helpful."

She laughs at my snarky tone. "I just mean…I don't know what you should do. I don't know why you're so opposed to giving Jareth a chance. Maybe you should figure that out."

Isn't that the problem? I have figured it out. He isn't the problem here. I am. I'm always the problem.

"I don't want either of us to end up hurt. His life is here, and I'm going back to Tennessee soon."

"I think it's probably too late for that already, Zoya," she says, planting her hands on top of the picnic table to haul herself to her feet. "He's never been like this with anyone, and neither have you. Regardless of when it ends, it's going to hurt."

"Yeah," I whisper, glancing down at the scarred tabletop. I think she's right about that because the thought of leaving already hurts like hell.

How much worse will it be if I really let him in?

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to find out.

F ive minutes after Nadia slips away, Jareth strolls toward me, his shadow blocking the sun. I tip my head back, staring up at him. He's dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, his hair a little wild. He didn't shave this morning. The scruff on his jaw is damn sexy.

My stomach turns a flip as his lips curve into a wicked grin.

"You looked lonely over here."

"What were you talking about with my parents?" I ask.

"Hello to you, too, princess," he practically purrs, chuckling.

"I'm serious, Jareth."

"Worried?"

"No," I lie.

"Maybe we were talking about the weather. Maybe we were talking about you." He shrugs, his smile growing. "Can't remember."

I scowl up at him, tensing. "Are you always so infuriating?"

"Depends on the day."

My scowl slips, a tiny smile replacing it. "At least you're honest."

"What can I say? I was a good little Boy Scout."

"You are so full of it. You were not a Boy Scout!"

"I was. All the way up until I was fifteen."

I gape at him, shocked. He's serious. "I was a Girl Scout for five minutes."

"Five minutes, huh?" He chuckles, hoisting himself up onto the table beside me. "You get booted out?"

"I ran off to play with a dog." I laugh at the memory. "Our troop leader was not happy when she found me rolling around in the mud with a stray Rottweiler instead of picking flowers with the other girls."

Jareth laughs, his thigh bumping mine. "Why am I not surprised?"

"I liked the dog more than the flowers," I say, shrugging. "My parents decided volunteering at the animal shelter would probably be more my speed than Girl Scouts."

"Were they right?"

"Yeah," I whisper, smiling. "They were right. I want to open my own rescue someday." I sneak a glance up at him. "What were the three of you talking about?"

"Innessa."

I blink at him.

"Your Dad was trying to convince me that she needs a good man."

"He did not!"

"He did."

"Oh my god," I groan, shooting a look at my parents. My mom has her head resting on his shoulder while he plays with the ends of her hair. They look so happy. "He is shameless."

And that isn't jealousy seething through me. Nope, not at all.

"He just wants the best for his daughters."

"Innessa is in love with Maddox."

"Jealous?" Jareth teases.

"Of Innessa and Maddox?" I ask, intentionally playing dumb as I hop up from the bench. "Not at all. I already have a boyfriend."

A soft growl rumbles from deep in Jareth's chest, his eyes narrowing on me. "You locked your door last night."

"Yes, because I have a boyfriend."

He growls again, his eyes flashing holy fire. "Who are you trying to convince, Zoya? Me or yourself?"

"I don't need to convince anyone," I lie. "You can think whatever you want."

"Leave your door unlocked tonight."

"Don't tell me what to do, Jareth."

"Leave the door unlocked, princess."

"No."

"Fine." He smirks at me. "Then I'll find another way to get you alone." He pauses, his expression taunting. "Or maybe I won't even wait until you're alone to put my hands all over you next time."

"I…you…" I snap my mouth closed, scowling at him before I turn and stomp away, my heart pounding. There's no way he'll follow through on that threat…right?

Jesus. Why does part of me want to find out?

I don't leave my door unlocked for him, and I'm not entirely sure if I'm defying him because I want to see how far he'll go or not.

But I do spend the next two days going to great lengths to avoid him, seriously worried he meant it.

He knows the property like the back of his hand.

I don't. I spend half my time looking over my shoulder for him as I race from one wedding-related activity to the next.

I try like hell to keep Connor at my side as often as possible, but my best friend keeps ditching me to make out with Huck. Considering what I've done with Jareth, I can't even be mad at him for it. I'd ditch myself too if I were in his shoes.

But by the time the third morning rolls around, I am stressed .

Jareth got my phone number from Nadia and started texting me last night. His filthy messages damn near tipped me over the edge.

I'm sleep deprived, horny, and slowly unraveling.

The sad truth is that I want him to follow through on his threat. I want him to chase me and fight me. I want him, anyway I can have him. It doesn't matter that I'm leaving soon. It doesn't matter that I told everyone that I'm dating Connor.

Jareth matters, far more than I'm prepared to deal with.

What is he up to?

My blood pressure spikes when I stumble into the kitchen in search of coffee, only to find him and Connor chatting at the island.

I draw to a stop, glancing between them suspiciously.

Why do they suddenly seem so friendly? Last I checked, Jareth was still being an ass to Connor.

"What are you doing?" I blurt when they both turn to look at me.

Humor dances in Connor's eyes. "Ah, there's my adorable girlfriend," he says. "I guess speaking of the devil does still work."

My eyes narrow further, my gaze shifting between him and Jareth. "Why are you talking about me?"

"Someone woke up cranky this morning," Jareth smirks at me. "Trouble sleeping, princess?"

If superpowers were real, I could murder him with a single look. He knows damn well that I didn't get any sleep last night. And he knows why.

Do you have any idea hard it is to sleep when Jareth Grayson has just told you, in lurid detail, how badly he wants to spread you out and keep you coming until you pass out on his cock? Because, gotta tell you, I know. And it's impossible!

I contemplated unlocking my door just to strangle him, but I wasn't brave enough to try my luck. I already knew that would end with us making that fantasy a reality, and I was just unhinged and sleep-deprived enough to refuse to let him win.

I'm stubborn like that.

The man is hell on my peace of mind. He's hell on my sleep schedule.

Jareth Grayson was sent straight from Satan himself to torment me. And dammit all, but I love every minute of it.

"I slept like a baby," I lie, batting my lashes at him. "Didn't even dream."

He grunts, hiding his scowl behind his coffee cup.

Finally, a point for me in this lopsided match!

"Why are you two talking about me?" I demand, still curious. And worried. God only knows what Connor said. Satan only knows what Jareth said.

"I was just asking your man," Jareth says, emphasizing the words in a way that has me bristling, "if I could steal you away for a while this morning. There's an issue that requires some attention."

"What issue?" I ask, not buying his bullshit for a second.

"Catering," he lies with a straight face. "I had the most delicious dessert the other night, and I need an opinion from someone in the wedding party on whether it should be added to the menu."

Oh, I'm not going to kill him. I'm going to do whatever comes after willful murder.

"You should ask Nadia and Teo," I say flatly. "It's their wedding."

"I'm not sure this dessert is to their taste. I'd rather not bother them with it." His eyes actually glitter with self-satisfied humor. "Connor said he didn't mind if I stole you for a taste."

I squeeze my eyes closed, counting to three. It doesn't really help. Especially when I open my eyes again to find Jareth still smirking at me and Connor hiding a smile behind his coffee cup, like he knows damn well what Jareth is talking about.

"We can do it here if you prefer," Jareth says, his tone polite. But I see the challenge in his eyes, and I know precisely what he's threatening to do here. Me. Probably on the freaking island.

"Fine," I growl, giving in gracelessly as I turn for the door. "Just let me get dressed, and we can go."

"Have fun!" Connor calls after me.

I'm killing him, too.