Then he backs me up against the wall and continues his exploration of all the skin conveniently exposed by the strapless sweetheart neckline. My hands fall onto the crisp cotton of his dress shirt. The idea of stripping him out of his clothes grows more appealing by the second. Unfortunately, the sound of an engine roaring outside pops that balloon.

At the honk of the horn, Reed lifts his head from my upper chest reluctantly. “Your date’s here.”

“No kiss on the lips?” I smile, trying to catch my breath.

His thumb presses at the corner of my mouth. “Didn’t want to mess up your lipstick.”

“Mess away,” I invite.

His lips curve up. “There’s so much more of your body I’d like to have my mouth on right now.” His hand falls to the top of my breast, still damp from his kisses. I gasp as one long finger slides under the tightly corseted bodice to swipe across my nipple.

“Hey man, are you mauling my date?” Wade demands as he bursts through the front doors without knocking.

Reed sighs, removes his hand and rocks back on his heels. “I’m expressing my appreciation for my girlfriend’s rocking bod.”

I take a deep, calming breath before turning to face Wade. Thankfully, the bodice of my dress is thick enough that my excited state doesn’t show through the silk. “If you’re my date, you better have brought me an awesome floral arrangement. Someone told me you can tell the size of a guy’s dick based on the amount of flowers he buys.”

Wade stops short, his eyes falling to the long white box in his hands. “Really? They say that?”

Reed and Wade exchange alarmed glances, and I nearly die laughing at them.

“You’re an evil woman.” Wade marches past me without even handing me the box.

We all turn at the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Easton and the twins appear, each clad in his own tux.

Sawyer nods when he sees me and Wade. “Finally. Let’s get this show on the road. We need to pick up Lauren.”

Everyone marches out the door, with Easton and me taking up the rear. Smiling, he reaches out and flicks my skirt. “I thought you’d go for something slinky and sexy.”

“I’ve worn slutty clothes for a long time. I’ve never done princess.” I shake out the dress, which I fell in love with the moment I removed it from the box. The bare shoulders give me all the sexy I need, but even if it were high-necked and long-sleeved, I’d still be obsessed with the full skirt and the thousands of layers of chiffon that swish around my legs as I walk.

Easton grins. “You’re always doing the opposite of what anyone expects. The girls will be killing themselves.”

“I’m just doing what I want. They should, too.” I didn’t choose the dress because I wanted to tweak anyone’s noses at Astor. I picked this one because it looked like a dream—and if this is the only Winter Formal I’ll ever be attending with Reed, even though he isn’t technically my date, I wanted to wear the most beautiful gown on the earth.

“Doesn’t matter. If you wore a tight dress, they’d call you a slut, and now they’re going to call you something else, but I’m going to take care of you while Reed’s away.”

Easton’s declaration makes me feel warm inside. Not because I need watching over, but because I sense he’s growing up a little. In a burst of insight, I realize that Easton needs someone to watch over and take care of. I’m not going to be that person, but until he finds her, we can watch out for each other.

“And I’ll take care of you, too,” I promise.

“Deal.”

We shake on it.

Steve and Callum wander outside just as we reach the courtyard. “You kids taking off now?” Callum calls.

“Yup,” Easton answers.

Wade stops by Steve’s Bugatti. He smooths a hand above the hood, not daring to lay his palm on the steel. “I think you should let me drive this, Mr. O’Halloran. For your daughter’s sake.”

“I think you should stop breathing on my two-million-dollar vehicle, Mr. Carlisle, and take my daughter to the dance.”

Holy mother of Mary. I gape at my father. “Two million?” I echo.

All of the men look at me like I’m ridiculous for asking, but they’re the ridiculous ones. Two million bucks for a car? These people have way too much money.

“It was worth a shot.” Grinning, Wade jogs to his own sports car and holds open the door for me. “Your chariot awaits.”



“Hey listen,” Wade says fifteen minutes later, as we idle behind a long line of cars waiting to turn into the country club. “I want you to know that you can come to me if you have any problems.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Next semester,” he clarifies. “After, ah, Reed’s gone.”

“What problems do you anticipate me having? Like if I forget a tampon, will you have extras in your locker?”

His head jerks around. “Reed keeps tampons in his locker for you?”

“No, you dumbass, but that’s about how stupid your statement is. I can take care of myself.” His words remind me eerily of Easton’s, though, and a note of suspicion strikes me. “Did Reed put you up to this?”

Wade looks out the window. “Did Reed put me up to what?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

His shoulders sag. “Okay, maybe.”

“Is he going to dictate instructions from his prison cell like some mafia don?”

Reed’s over-protectiveness will probably only get worse when he can’t see me every day. I guess it should make me feel suffocated, and for some girls, maybe it would—but for me, it’s comforting. I’m not going to let him control my life, but I don’t mind the gesture.

“I dunno. Maybe?” Wade seems unbothered by this. He shifts and slides a sly glance in my direction. “So…conjugal visits?”

I roll my eyes. “What is it with you guys and conjugal visits?”

“Dunno,” he says again. “Seems kinky.” His eyes become unfocused as he engages in some fantasy regarding jail cells and sex games.

And because I don’t want to sit next to Wade while he’s playing some porno in his head, I ask, “Speaking of kinky, what’s up with you and Val?”

His lips tighten into a rigid line.