“Sometimes your cheeks turn pink when you read them. I want to see why.”
I let out a small gasp. I know the parts he’s talking about, and he’s right; they make me blush. “It doesn’t matter. I said what I said.”
“If chasing you is working for it, then I’ll chase,” he says, cutting me off. “In fact, I’ll give you a head start.”
“What does that even mean?” I ask, confused.
“Ten.”
“Ten?”
“Nine.”
“You’re not serious. It’s not like you’re really going to chase me.”
“Eight.” My heart starts to race. “Seven.”
I bolt from the study, taking off as fast as I can because Keaton is crazy fast. He’s on the track team and is the best one. He should have given me thirty seconds or something.
The Lone home isn’t small. I wouldn’t even call it a home since it’s a whole estate. I think I asked once and Shelly, Keaton’s mom, said there were twenty bedrooms the last time she counted. How does the count change?! Then again, Keaton’s father is Dr. Nash Lone. Who knows what goes on around here.
I turn one corner and then another. I should know this place by heart, but really we stick to the front of the home where the study is. I start grabbing on door handles, and one after another is locked. Finally, a door opens and I can hear Keaton’s footsteps fast behind me.
I rush into the room and shut the door like a dork. He knows I’m in here. He’d been too close to not have seen me slip inside. I glance around the room to see if there’s a place to hide but freeze when I notice it’s some kind of lab.
The door swings open, and I spin back around to face Keaton. “You really thought you could outrun me?” he says as he slowly approaches. I take a few steps back until I bump into a table.
“No.” I’m breathing fast but smile up at him. “I didn’t, but it was fun.”
He moves to stand in front of me, and his body barely touches mine. I reach up and brush the hair on his forehead to the side.
“I’m going to kiss you, Elsy Harbor, and that means you’ll be my girl forever.”
“Queen,” I correct, fighting a smile as he grins at me.
“Queen,” he agrees, bending down, and I close my eyes.
Then his mouth is there, gently touching mine. It’s soft at first, but then he licks the seam of my lips, and I part them for him. His tongue delves into my mouth, and I do the same. My fingers grip the front of his shirt as our bodies press flush against each other. His hands grip my hips, and he lifts me and sets me on the table.
I’m lost to the sensation of being kissed by the only person on earth I ever want to kiss for the rest of my life. It’s beautiful and perfect until a loud shattering sound breaks us apart. I must have pushed a box back when he’d lifted me, and now the box is leaning against a tall glass tower. The glass is filled with liquid and who knows what, and I hold my breath as it teeters. I pray it’s not going to fall, but I have no such luck. The glass tower swings one way then back toward us before it topples over.
In a flash, Keaton pulls me off the lab table and shoves me across the room so I’m out of harm's way. I stumble back and trip over my feet before I fall on my ass. Then I watch in horror as the glass tubes and liquid come crashing down right on top of Keaton.
I scream as it takes him down to the ground and he’s pinned under the structure. There’s glass everywhere, but I don’t think about that as I jump to my feet to rush over to try and pull it off him.
Before I can reach Keaton, arms wrap around my waist, stopping me, and then my feet leave the floor.
“Get her out of here!” Keaton’s father yells before he practically throws me over to one of the many security guards that are always around.
“Keaton!” I scream as they pull me kicking and screaming from the room. Keaton’s eyes open and then lock with mine. This time they’re not the normal dark blue I’m used to. They’re bright blue and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The air in my lungs freezes.
Suddenly Keaton rolls over and shoves the tower off him with one hand. At least that’s what I think I see as the door closes in my face. There is debris flying across the room, so I must be mistaken. It’s impossible.
Before I can say another word, the guards carry me from the home and put me into the back of one of the many black SUVs that are always out front.
I had no idea this was the last time I'd ever see Keaton.
At least the Keaton I’ve known and loved.