Free The Progeny (The Progeny Series) by Ashlynne Laynne Page B

unable to close his eyes or sleep a wink.
    Sh auna tiptoed into the room with a smile gracing her ecstatic, but tired, face. He’d heard her fumbling around in her room all night. “Good morning.” She offered him a glass of orange juice. “I really enjoyed the movie last night.” Her chipper greeting contradicted the darkness under her eyes.
    “I can’t believe such a weak example of horror unhinged you. Some horror movie enthusiast you are. That zombie make-up was so poorly done.” He gave her a teasing smirk. “You lost the wager. Where are you taking me to pay your debt?”
    “Where do you want to go?”
    “You can choose. It’s your dime.” He’d never let her take him somewhere she couldn’t afford.
    “Since it’s my choice, I think we should eat here. I’ll cook for you.”
    “You can do that?”
    “Does that surprise you?”
    “No. You’re amazing. World renowned chef is just another thing I can add to your lengthy list of accomplishments.”
    “Smart ass,” she mumbled. “I don’t know about that , but I make great veggie lasagna.”
    He gave her an unenthusiastic nod of his head. “Yum, I can hardly wait.”
    * * * *
    Shauna chose crimson colored candles, hoping they’d evoke passion and desire. They sat at her tiny two-chair table having the loser’s dinner she’d prepared. The room was dark except for those two red candles on the table between them. The atmosphere bordered on romantic, but she hoped he’d find it a nice gesture.
    “So,” he began, “we were up to Jimmy and fifth grade.”
    She narrowed her eyes with confusion. It was hard to concentrate with his face so close to hers. He was gorgeous, and the candlelight did nothing to dispel that truth. Each flicker of the flame lit his face in a way that shouldn’t be possible. His skin seemed to absorb and bounce the light off his unique facial features. It both mesmerized and gave her the creeps.
    Ascher reached out, his fingers sliding across the back of her clasped hands. Flashes of fire prickled her skin, willing her occupied mind back to reality. “I’m sorry.” She swallowed hard. “What did you say?”
    “I see you’re having another bout of A .D.D. They have medicine for that…you know.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “The kid who used to pull your hair in class…”
    “Oh, you mean Jackson.”
    “Sorry. Yes, I meant Jackson . You know he only pulled your hair because he liked you, right?”
    “Maybe, but he could ’ve saved me a lot of worry if he’d just told me. School was bad enough without the added stress.”
    “What kind of stress could you have had at such a young age?”
    “I was a little different than most of my classmates.”
    “I’m sure you were cuter than most of your peers.”
    “I’m being serious, Ascher.”
    “Sorry.” He covered his smirk with an authentic look of concern. “What made you so different?”
    “The kids teased me because I looked different. My complexion wasn’t light enough for some, while it wasn’t dark enough for others.”
    “I don’t get it. I think your complexion is lovely.”
    “You do?”
    “Shauna .” Ascher speaking her name in his French accented English made the hairs on her neck stand on end. Stroking her cheek with the back of his hand, he murmured, “I think you are very attractive. Do you not know how stunning you are?”
    She shook her head. The smallest part of her knew that she was pretty, to some degree, but not gorgeous and never beautiful. She’d never see herself that way.
    “I know how you feel. My peers teased me — a lot . I was smaller than most of my classmates for a long time. I’d dare those creeps to try me now!” He growled through clenched teeth, flexing an impressive bicep. “At least Jackson got it right. He knew a pretty girl when he saw one.” Clearing his throat, he whispered, “I agree that he should’ve told you how he felt but you know us guys. We never do things the easy way.”
    “So I’ve seen.