Page 240 of The Villain We Tempt

I’m done waiting to “be ready”. I’m finished “trying to figure out what I feel”.

Iknowwhat I feel, and I’m ready to say it to his face.

Pure energy courses through my veins as I sit up and switch to my texting app.

Me

Are you home? I’m coming to you.

My heart skips when I see the three dots of him typing.

Lochlan

Meet me at The Garrison.

Lochlan

There’s something we need to finish.

I start grinning like an idiot.

Me

When?

Lochlan

I’m literally already on my way there.

I giggle as I spring out of bed and rush to my closet to pull on clothes that aren’t the PJs I’ve been wearing for like forty-eight hours straight.

Me

OMW!

At the last second, I end up jumping in a quick shower.ThenI get dressed and bolt out the door.

It’s late, and the moon is high as I cross the mostly deserted campus toward the woods and the cliffs beyond, my heartthudding so fast that I barely feel anything but the buzz of excitement tingling over my skin.

I stop at the stone archway leading into the ruins and take a slow breath. Then, I step in.

Whoa.

I mean,WHOA.

He’s the first thing I see, standing near the bonfire pit. No mask, no pretenses. Just Lochlan in a t-shirt and jeans, smiling at me.

Beside him are two chairs and a small folding table, set with two plates, silverware, a bottle of wine and two glasses, a Tupperware full of steaming food, and a flickering candle.

My heart skips as I stop and lift my eyes to his.

“What…what is this?”

He smirks and holds up a hand, beckoning me over with two fingers. I smile as I bite my lower lip and close the distance between us, until I’m standing right in front of him, looking up into his gorgeous blue eyes.

“This, little villain,” he murmurs. “Is the date we never finished.”

I groan. “You mean the one I ruined because I ran out like a psycho?”