A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled uncomfortably. “Now I don’t.”
    The rumors circulating about her since she’d moved to Manhattan always mentioned her pink streaks. That’s how the Siders found her. If the Bound were doing the same, maybe the dye would throw them off. Even Luke wouldn’t recognize her from the back, especially in a crowd. It might be enough to buy them one good night together.
    Az rose off the couch slowly.
    “Bad idea?” Eden brought her hand up to the back of her neck, catching a few strands of her newly cut hair. He swallowed hard and shook his head. “What, then?” she asked, hoping he hadn’t heard her in the bathroom.
    “Hair’s fine, but in that dress, everyone’s going to be looking at you.”
    “Nice, Az.” She snorted, dropping her pose in the threshold, stooping to pull a strap of her high heel around her ankle and buckling it. Her dress was black, the white frill of the underlayer showing through tiny lacey eyelets. It was one of her favorite thrift store finds, but more importantly it went with her most comfortable heels. Ones she’d be able to run in.
    Everything inside her told her it was a stupid risk, going out like this so they could pretend they were a normal couple. But as she watched Az grab his suit coat off the back of the couch and slip into it, the danger didn’t seem so terrible. They’d be in public. They’d be together. She felt okay again.
    Eden watched as he buttoned the blazer closed, mesmerized. She’d never seen him dressed up, hadn’t prepared herself for the way the suit made him look—sophisticated and fashionable. The sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones belonged in the pages of a magazine. On a movie screen. He looked up suddenly, caught her ogling him. His grin widened as he walked to her. And that smile, Az happy, made all the risk worth it.
    “You know,” she said, cocking her head. “I think we need to work more formal events into our schedule.”
    He smiled, adjusting his cuff links. “Yeah? You like me in a suit?”
    She laced her hands around his neck. “Actually, right now I’m a little caught up on the idea of getting you out of the suit.”
    He kissed the line of her jaw, slowly working his way lower on her neck. A soft sigh slipped out of her. He smelled so good, his normal crisp scent mixing with the musk of the cologne he wore. Her fingers tensed on his shoulders.
    “You’re not trying to blow off our date again, are you,” he whispered in her ear. She groaned, pulling back. Az caught her hand, lifted it until she moved closer again.
    “No, but for the record”—she slid her leg slowly between his, her voice low and sultry—“I’m taking a rain check.” She kissed his cheek, forcing herself to stop there, though every part of her wanted to keep going.
    “For the record, you keep that up you’re not going to need one,” he murmured back.
    She retreated to her room and grabbed the waist-length black coat she’d left on her bed, the silver gloves she knew she’d need in public. Out of Az’s sight, she gave herself a moment. Nothing hurt, the strange taste washed away. I’m fine , she promised herself. Everything’s fine .
    “Ready?” she asked.
    Az nodded as he hooked her arm, leading the way out the door and into the hall. He locked up behind them.
    “So can we take the subway to our mystery location? We’re already cutting it close on rent,” she said as they walked down the stairs.
    “Love on the cheap means I’m going to have to amp up the romance.” He threw the downstairs door open with a dramatic sweeping gesture, catching the tips of her fingers as if she were a princess climbing from a coach. “Your stairs await, m’lady.”
    She laughed and stepped through. Someone let out a sharp exhale and the stairs came alive with motion, legs and arms tangling in the frantic rush to stand, a small chorus of pleas. Eden froze as the three Siders formed a semicircle around her.
    “Don’t even ask her!” Az was in front of her