For Your Heart (Hill Dweller Retellings) by A.L. Davroe Read Free Book Online Page B

sweetly, as if she's teasing me with a faint reminder that I've lost my train of thought.
         Swallowing, I open my eyes and stare over Roxel’s head at the tapestry hung across the room.  A unicorn rampant among a thicket of wild roses.  Stupid roses.   “How much are they worth?”
         Roxel laughs.  Her hot summer breeze breath against my bare skin sends shivers down my spine.  She smoothes her fingers over my goose bumps as she shoves me backwards.  My knees buckle over the back of her bed and I collapse into the swan-feather stuffed pillows, goblin woven blankets, and spider-silk sheets.  I've been here many times, and normally Roxel’s bed feels luxurious and safe. But now, it feels claustrophobic, the embracing warmth asphyxiating. 
         She climbs over me, straddles my hips, and bends over my chest.  Between each word she kisses me.  “One.” Kiss on the lips.  “Very.”  Kiss on the chin.   “Perfect.”  Kiss on the neck.  “Human.”  Kiss on the collar bone.  “Heart.”  Kiss over the heart.  She looks up, smiles as me devilishly, then continues to silently kiss a trail down the length of my body.
     

Chapter 11
     
    Jeanette
     
         I slump into my seat in study hall and drop my head on my desk.
         “You look like ass.”
         I glower at Celeste, not even humoring her with a response.  It’s her fault the Green Man almost filleted me alive yesterday.
         “What the hell’s wrong with you anyway?  You’re all jumpy and looking over your shoulder.  You couldn’t even drink your coffee without spilling it all over yourself this morning.”
         I splay my hands over my thighs.  Still trembling –I shook all night.  I haven’t slept, haven’t eaten.  I’m too scared he’ll come after me.  I worried Dad; he must think I’m on drugs.
         “What?  Are you scared that Amber’s gonna be mad at you for missing her meet?”
         “It's not like I didn't try to go,” I snap.  Generally pissed at everything, but mostly at Celeste for being an ass-hat, I go on a tirade. “I left the house – even though I’m grounded – and got lost in the woods, ruined my uniform – which got me another month of being grounded, and- and-” my voice chokes and sudden tears spring into my eyes.  I cover my mouth to keep myself from sobbing.
         “Whoa,” Celeste exhales, her eyes and voice surprised.  She scoots over and puts an arm around me as the shivers get worse, wracking my body.  “Jesus, Netti,” she breathes in my ear.  For a minute she’s old Celeste – big eyed, warm, and caring.  “What the hell happened?”
         I lean into her, thankful she’s back.  Finally the girl I know and love.  I knew she wasn’t gone.  It takes me a long moment of trying to compose myself before I speak.  “I went into the park.”
         She’s quiet for a long moment, her eyes wide and uncertain.  “I thought you avoided the park like the plague.”
         “I do,” I insist, voice high and whiney as I mop up my tears with the edge of my sleeve, “but I was trying to get to Amber's meet on time so I took this short-cut I used to know – but I got lost.”  I take a harsh breath.  “I got attacked by the Green Man.”
         Celeste tenses against me and I sense old Celeste withdrawing and the doors closing her in again.  She pulls away and stares at me, expression blank.  “Seriously?”
         I give her an incredulous expression.  “Yeah, seriously.”  I can’t believe she’s even asking that.
         She wrinkles her nose and her eyes go hard.  “I don’t believe you.”
         I struggle for breath, confused.
         “I mean, joking about this?  It’s ridiculous…desperate.”
         “Desperate?” I squeak.  “What-”
         “No,” Celeste says, standing and collecting her bag.  “I’m not gonna listen to this.  I can deal with your