I lie back down and stare at the ceiling for a moment . . . what was that evil smile for? What is he up to?
Claire.
I sit up in a rush and nearly run down the hall to her room. The door is shut, and I put my ear to it and listen.
Is he in there?
I swear, if he tells on me . . . he’s dead meat.
I can’t hear anything. I look left, and I look right. Nobody’s around. I slowly open the door, and I find Claire fast asleep. I slip in and close the door behind me and flick the lock.
I creep toward the bed. Claire is sleeping on her back, her hands above her head. I find myself smiling as I watch her. She’s like an angel.
She’s so beautiful.
I look around the room. Her presence is so strong in here. God . . . I just want to take her in my arms and kiss her.
But I can’t . . . can I?
I raise an eyebrow as I watch her.
Maybe?
I slink into her bed and lie on my side, facing her. I watch how her lips part as she inhales. Her dark hair is messed up, and her eyelashes flutter. My eyes drop lower, down over her neck, her perfect décolletage . . . down lower to her floral nightdress and the tiny patch of white skin that disappears beneath it.
I’ve never known a woman as beautiful as she is.
She’s perfect—everything about her is perfect.
Her eyes flutter open, and she frowns at me, as if trying to focus.
“Hey,” I whisper. I pick up her hand, and I kiss her fingertips. She watches me in some kind of dazed state. “How did you sleep?”
“Tris.” She frowns.
I smile. She’s back; my soft girl is back. “Yes, baby, I’m here.” I lean closer to her.
I hear a bang, bang, bang on the door. “What are you doing in there?” the wizard screams through the door.
She jerks back from me and seemingly comes to her senses. “Oh my God.” She looks around with wide eyes. “What are you doing?” she stammers.
“What am I doing?” I snap. “Shouldn’t you be asking what the fuck he is doing?”
Bang, bang, bang sounds on the door as he pounds it with his fist.
“Tristan,” she whispers.
“I nearly died last night, Claire, between the cement couch, the clock, the cat, and now the fucking crazy nut outside.”
She jumps out of bed.
“But it was all worth it . . . just to see you wake up,” I say.
She stops. Her eyes meet mine, and I smile softly.
“Tristan,” she whispers. “What are you doing here?”
I shake my head, lost for words because I don’t even know. “We need to talk.”