18. Brody

EIGHTEEN

I've never been patient. It's not a trait that has ever been bestowed upon me, but it seems waiting for Addi is an exception. Leaning back against the wall opposite her room, I tap my fingers on my arm as intrigue keeps me rooted to the spot.

There's something about her. I don't know what it is, but it has me tied up in knots.

I grin as I recall the look on her face when she opened the door. It'll be etched in my memory forever. I knew she would think I wasn't going to show. That was my plan; to catch her off guard, and it seems to have worked.

I really do need to get her out of my system. It's driving me insane. The sooner I convince her that fucking me is a good idea, the quicker I'll be able to think clearly again. She's consuming every part of me, on a level higher than I've ever experienced, which will only make my release that much sweeter.

Her bedroom door opens, pulling me from my thoughts, but when only her head peers through the gap, I don't get my hopes up that we're ready to leave.

"Where are we going?"

I grin. I've been waiting for that question, and it's taken her longer than expected to ask it. "Out."

Her bright green eyes narrow at me. If she thinks it's a stern look that will make me fall in line, she's mistaken. It just makes her look hotter; a fact I opt to keep to myself. Otherwise, we're never going to get out of here.

"That's not enough to go on," she grumbles, and I sigh, relenting…a little.

"What else do you need?"

"The location."

I shake my head. "It's a surprise."

Her jaw tics, the sternness in her eyes darkening. "A surprise that could be dangerous? Do I have to be alert? Is it casual? I don't know what to wear or if I need weapons."

It's my turn to be surprised. Those aren't the kind of questions I usually get. The clothing, yeah, maybe, but danger and weapons? That's not something girls usually ask about. Although, I've never taken a fae girl on a date before, so maybe it's common with them. I don't know.

"You can wear whatever the fuck you want, but we're leaving campus, so do with that what you wish," I offer, not really sure what situation would require her need for weapons, but as intrigued as I am, I keep my mouth shut.

She somehow manages to narrow her eyes further, muttering under her breath before she slams the door shut. She is feisty. I like it.

Glancing at the clock, I wonder whether I should have arrived earlier. As if sensing my thoughts, the door whooshes back open, stealing my next breath along with it.

Holy. Fuck.

She's…understatedly stunning.

Blonde curls float around her shoulders, with a braid still keeping her hair off her face. A black jacket sits open on her shoulders, revealing a cropped white tee underneath with a fitted bodice cinching in her waist. It's draped in silver, leaving my fingers itching to reach out and gloss over it. Fitted black combat pants make her ass look like Heaven, and they're tucked into heavy, heeled boots that lace up the front with a shimmer of silver at the sides. My head inches closer, a thought coming to mind as the silver seems to dance in the light.

Flicking my gaze back to her bodice, I notice it's the same there. The silver isn't just detailing; they're…daggers.

She's practically fucking draped in daggers.

"You are no cupcake. You're a goddamn dagger queen," I rasp, meeting her gaze in time to see her roll her eyes at me.

"So dramatic," she grumbles, stepping into the hallway and shutting her bedroom door behind her.

"And you're hot as fuck."

The smile on her lips is hard to miss, but she still tries to tamper it down. "That's almost flattering. Now, magic my room. Please."

"No way, Dagger, we'll do it when we return."

"You can do it now," she insists, and I shake my head. She has me doing it so much that I'm going to end up dizzy.

"And have you step back in and leave me all alone? I don't think so," I retort, knowing her thoughts, and when she sighs, she only confirms it. Before she can try to continue her argument, I take a step toward the stairs. "Come on, we're going to be late."

"For what?"

"For our date."

She falls into step with me, and as we reach the stairs, I take a step back, letting her lead the way, which she does with a heavy dose of reluctance.

"The date I wasn't aware of," she points out, not looking back at me, so I wait until we're at the front door before I respond.

"When are you going to get past that? Now, or later? It'll be more fun now, but that's just my opinion."

She searches my eyes for what feels like an eternity before she gulps. "Fine."

"Good," I reply with a grin, reaching for her hand, but she whips it out of my reach before I can feel her skin against mine.

"That's not necessary."

I grin, stepping around her and through the front door. She follows a moment later, but the second I turn to her with my palm up for her to take, she pauses.

"It is."

She shakes her head, disagreeing when she doesn't know what we're doing next. I take a step toward her, and she mirrors it, edging backward from me. My dick stirs to life. I love a good cat and mouse chase. She's only making me more eager with every step she takes.

One inch forward for me, a whole inch backward for her. All the way until her back hits the wall beside her front door, giving me the opportunity to crowd her space. Her gulp is audible as I come chest to chest with her. I don't move any closer, acutely aware of the metal that clings to her waist and boots.

Lifting a hand, her eyes move to my wiggling fingers, tracking my moves as I lower it again. This time, I grasp her hand. When she doesn't protest, I kick into motion, not wanting to give her a chance to reconsider.

Her breath fans over my face as I chant the incantation under my breath a few times before the world shifts around us. Once I'm certain we've fully transitioned to where we need to be, I let my words trail off and take a step back, despite the need to press further into her.

"You guys need to stop doing that," she rasps, breathless.

"Doing what?"

"Moving me without asking," she snaps, her eyes settling on mine as irritation swirls in her eyes.

"You'll get used to it," I say with a reassuring smile, and she scoffs, shoving at my shoulder with more force than I expect. It's not harmful, almost playful, and I like it until she speaks.

"There won't be any need for me to get used to it."

Maybe not from me, but I get the feeling Raiden hasn't even started with her yet. That's why I need to make my moves now, so I have a chance before he spoils it for all of us.

"Whatever you say, Dagger."

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

I smirk, taking another step back as I offer her my hand again, but she bats me away. "Because Cupcake doesn't really suit you when you have so much silver dancing all over your body."

"Addi is just fine," she insists, and I shrug, not really caring.

"You really are, but Dagger suits you better."

She blinks, looking around for the first time as she takes in where we are. Somewhere I know she won't be familiar with, but it will be worth it. The music starts to filter around us as we let the outside world in.

"Where are we?"

There's no use in hiding it now. We're already here. "We're at the Kenner Compound."

"Kenner Compound?" she repeats, still confused.

"Yeah, my friend's wolf pack."

"Why are we here?" Her fingers ghost over the daggers at her waist as she looks at the building a few steps away.

"Because they make the best fucking food, and I swear you're going to love it. The dining hall at the academy is fine, but one whole week without this stuff has me realizing real quick that I'm addicted to it," I admit, noting the small smile on her face, even though the sun is setting through the trees, darkening the space around us.

"I don't know if it's safe for me here," she murmurs, and my gut clenches, making me start to doubt my decision. But I never doubt myself. Why start now?

I shrug, offering my hand again as I speak. "You're never going to know if you don't live a little."