Defy the Stars by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online

me. I could just make out Cody pacing up and down on the grass.
    ‘Was someone there?’ He ran his hand through his hair. He swore. ‘I said his
name,
dammit.’
    ‘You go that way. I’ll look over here.’ Flynn set off at a run towards the trees where I was hiding. Cody ran in the opposite direction.
    I held my breath as Flynn entered the little copse just a few metres away from me. I could just make out the white flash of his shirt as he raced through the trees. I froze, hoping he would pass
without seeing me. I didn’t dare either move, for fear of him hearing, or leave the cover of the trees, in case Cody spotted me instead.
    A second later and Flynn tore past. He caught sight of me and stopped. He stood, blinking, in the dim light, staring at me for a second. Then he put his finger to his lips and walked over. He
bent down so his mouth was right next to my ear. I could smell his lemony aftershave and that other, Flynn-specific scent.
His
smell: sharp and male.
    ‘Wait here,’ he whispered.
    He raced away, out of the trees. A few moments later I could hear him talking with Cody.
    ‘It was just a cat,’ Flynn was saying. ‘I saw it jump over the fence.’
    Cody muttered something in a low voice.
    ‘I’m gonna take a leak in the trees,’ Flynn said. ‘I’ll see you back in the house.’
    Again Cody said something I couldn’t hear.
    ‘I’ve told you I’m quirting. I only even came out tonight because . . .’ He hesitated. ‘Look, it doesn’t matter. I’m not talking about it any more. If
he wants to have a go at me, let him.’
    I leaned against my tree. My whole body felt shaky. A few moments later, Flynn was back. He stood in front of me, looking suddenly uncertain.
    ‘Has Cody gone?’ I whispered.
    ‘Yeah, he’s back in the house.’ Flynn paused. ‘How much did you overhear?’
    I gulped. ‘Enough to know you’re mixed up in something bad,’ I said. ‘And that you’re working for someone called Bentham.’
    ‘You should forget all that.’ Flynn looked away. There was a bruise around his mouth I hadn’t noticed before. I reached out my hand and touched the damaged skin. Flynn turned
towards me. I whipped my hand away.
    ‘Sorry.’ I could feel myself blushing violently. Why on earth had I done that? I hadn’t meant to.
    Flynn was searching my face, his eyes gleaming in the darkness, as intent as I’d ever seen him.
    ‘I don’t understand, River,’ he said, his voice low and husky. ‘From the way you brushed me off earlier, you clearly think I’m an idiot and not worth the time of
day. Yet you’re out here listening behind doors, looking at me like I . . . as if you . . .’ He tailed off.
    I shrugged. My head was spinning. It wasn’t the beers I’d drunk or the shock of what I’d overheard. It was being in Flynn’s presence. I closed my eyes, suddenly
overwhelmed with a new longing for him. I didn’t understand. I’d felt so sure I was okay without him, that seeing him earlier had just been a bit of a shock, but being here, outside and
alone, felt so natural.
    ‘It feels right, doesn’t it?’ Flynn’s voice was even lower and hoarser than before. ‘That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? That you want it to be
wrong, but it feels right.’
    I closed my eyes. That was exactly it. I could feel the heat from Flynn’s face, so close to mine. He was waiting for me to give him the tiniest signal. He was a magnet, pulling me towards
him. There was no way to resist it. I tilted my face up.
    The kiss shuddered right through me. My legs buckled. I leaned back against the tree. I opened my eyes. He was right there, his eyes shining.
    ‘River.’ His voice cracked and he pulled me into a hug.
    I wrapped my arms around him, feeling his strong, muscular back through his jacket. We stood in silence, just holding each other.
    A minute must have passed. I became aware of my phone, which had slipped as Flynn hugged me, pressing against my ribs. I suddenly remembered