Page 68 of Darkest Kiss

"That's a made-up rule." She gives me a tiny glare.

I respond with a teasing, "My shop, my book club, my rules."

The circle laughs. I have customers – people that will eventually be my friends, I hope – that don’t mind a little teasing. Imagine that.

Esther launches into her question, which is long and fairly labyrinthine. All I’m sure of is that it involves the phrase diegetic scaffolding. Then to her great excitement, she gets to explain what the hell diegetic scaffolding is. She’s a little stuffy, but Christopher jumps in.

“This is all very interesting, but I have to ask a question. Is Enoch a Highlander??”

The circle bursts into energetic arguing. Dr. Amunson and Sherrie realize that they both love to play devil’s advocate. Then Esther reads her favorite passage.

My knee stops bouncing somewhere around the time when Christopher pulls out a sheet of questions. That's usually how it goes. The panic doesn't leave, per se. It merely fades away when I’m giving something else my full attention.

Rian is quiet for most of the session. When I ask, “What were your impressions?” he sighs.

“It was… entertaining,” he hedges. “So long, though.”

“You should see the trilogy of books that follow it,” Esther says. She holds up her fingers to indicate how thick each book is. “They’re thicker than a snickers.”

Everyone laughs. I look around, feeling pleased. My parents would love this conversation.

Eventually, the club ends and the shop empties. Rian stacks the chairs and looks at me with a little smile. “Ready to go?”

“Yes, pretty boy.” Kissing his lips, I step into the coat he holds out for me.

His green eyes crackle. “Don’t tease me. We’ll end up naked behind the counter again.”

“That was fun, wasn’t it?” I sneak another kiss. His lips taste of mint and the woods. I have the urge to fist his shirt and deepen the kiss. It seems crazy that I could end up with someone who gets me on such a deep level.

“I have something better planned tonight.”

“Like what?” I start to laugh. “If this is us watching more 1990s action movies, you have to warn me. Too much Swayze in one sitting is bad for my health.”

Rian slides his palm against mine and tugs. “How about you, me, less clothes, a grilled steak, and skinny dipping in the Tara’s pool?”

My eyes widen and my heart skips a beat. “I could be convinced.”

“Is that right?” He chuckles and opens the bookshop’s door.

Slipping an arm around his waist, I revel in his warmth.

“That’s right. I want to go wherever you go.”

“Ah, pretty girl.” He kisses the top of my head. “Same. Let’s get you home.”

And so we do just that.

* * *

Ready to meet Beast properly? Noemi certainly is.

In this extended epilogue, she talks Rian into a night of primal play where she lets Beast hunt her down in the deep woods of Central Park. What he does when he catches her is not for the faint of heart.

Also included: a deleted scene about how Rian became a psycho in the first place. (Read at your own risk, because it’s quite murder-y.)

Enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen