Because the Night (The Night Songs Collection) by Kristen Strassel Read Free Book Online Page B

Callie in Las Vegas Bandwagon. Now, if I could only pull it off. Could I do it? If I went home and announced that I wanted to move, my parents would never let me, no matter how hard I begged. It didn’t matter that I was technically an adult, they kept strict rules. I knew they were just trying to protect me, but they smothered me. The little bit of freedom I had this week felt
good
.
    Blade headed south on the strip and pulled into a strip mall that housed a pizza place. We both headed inside and perused the menu board.
    “So, what do you think?” he asked, an adorable furrow appearing between his eyebrows.
    “You’re the expert.”
    “Alright. Anchovies it is,” Blade threatened as he went up to the register to order. He ordered a cheese pizza, a sausage pizza, mushroom and onion pizza, and an order of chicken wings.
    “That’s enough food for an army!”
    He grinned. “I figured I’d get a little of everything since I wasn’t sure what you wanted. My brother will probably want some when he gets home from work, too. And pizza makes a pretty rad breakfast.”
    “Pizza for breakfast?”
    His eyes widened. “Seriously? You’ve never had pizza for breakfast? You’ve lived a really sheltered life, Callie. Pizza is the best breakfast ever. That and birthday cake.”
    “How could cake possibly be bad?” I asked, moving in closer to him so he’d put his arm around me, before changing the subject. I knew Blade’s brother was a bartender. “What time does your brother get home?”
    “Not until like five AM. But it’s okay; I’m allowed to invite girls over.”
    “Where does he work again?”
    “The Bloody Heretic Hall,” Blade groaned. “Vampire schlock at its finest.”
    “Sounds pretty terrible.”
    The aroma of the food filled the mustang and made my stomach rumble. Blade again headed south until the road quieted down to a few lonely dirt paths wandering away from it. We turned down one of them and he pulled into a rocky driveway in front of a sun baked ranch.
    “Welcome.”
    I followed Blade inside the house. He told me that he and his brother inherited the house from their uncle, and things looked like they hadn’t changed much since they took over. The living room had a warn hardwood floor, an orange and brown plaid oversized couch and chair, a dark wood coffee table and end tables topped with lamps with large shades. There was an orange shag area rug in the middle of the room. Built ins overflowing with DVDs framed the fireplace. Besides the modern technology, it was like a museum piece 1970’s Middle America home.
    “Wow, this isn’t what I expected.”
    “Well, I like old things, as you’ve probably figured out by now. And it’s kind of nice to have my uncle’s stuff around. I liked coming down here when I was a kid.”
    “It’s really homey.”
    “I’m glad you like it.” Blade placed the food down on the gold kitchen counter and turned to face me. His eyes had darkened as he studied me, a faint smile playing on his lips. He moved closer, leaning in to kiss me, sliding his hands around my waist gently.
    The feeling of his hands on my hips was nothing like Tristan’s rough touch the night before.
    I was not going to think about Tristan now.
    Instead, I leaned into the kiss, getting lost in the feel of his soft lips moving against mine. Blade’s thumb softly stroked the skin right above the belt loop of my jeans and I shivered as warmth surged through me.
    “I’m so glad I went to that party,” he said as he pulled away slightly, his thumb still stroking the small of my back.
    “Me too.”
    “I’m glad you’ve spent so much of your vacation with me.”
    “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend it with.” But I knew that wasn’t exactly true. My heart squeezed itself inside my chest. Why couldn’t I forget Tristan?
    I’d been asking myself that question ever since he walked into my life.
    Blade kissed me again, deeper this time, his hands moving up the sides of my