Free Demons Don't Always Tell The Truth (Kate Storm Series Book 3) by Meredith Allen Conner Page B

my clothes either.
    "Nothing." Amber began to melt in his eyes. "I mean something, not nothing." I frantically searched my brain for a rational response. "A surprise." Good. Great. That would work. "It's a surprise. For you." I needed something more. "For later." Perfect.
    "I like surprises. Why don't you show me now?"
    Not perfect.
    Ash began sliding his hands down the center seams of the sweatshirt I was desperately trying to hold together. His thick biceps were not just for show. I didn't stand a chance against his strength.
    "No. Wait." I pulled back and wiggled.
    His hands pushed mine down some more.
    I panicked and yanked as hard as I could.
    Ash wasn't expecting it. He let go and I stumbled back, arms flailing as I tried to prevent myself from falling backwards.
    I landed on my bed.
    Bounced once.
    My heels just touched the floor. My ass rested on the edge of my mattress. My fists gripped the comforter to prevent myself from sliding all the way to the ground.
    Oh shit.
    My fists gripped the comforter.
    I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see. Didn't want to know how bad it looked. How bad I looked. The blouse had twisted. I could feel the material slant across my breasts, pressing into them. Hard. Because the damn thing was too small.
    Or I was too big.
    Either way, I didn't want to look.
    So much for my perfect evening.
    "This is my surprise?"
    Sweet Spirits, I'd landed on my wand. One end dug into my left cheek. I couldn't even whip up a convenient hole to hide in.
    "No." I bit my lip, hoping the pain would stop the tears. "My shirt . . ." My voice wobbled. I didn't bother to continue. Ash could clearly see what was wrong with my shirt.
    I moved my arms, planning to at least hide my face. I didn't need tears to complete my pathetic state.
    I couldn't move my arms all the way up. The blouse was now utterly tangled and way too tight.
    My lips quivered.
    Ash stretched out next to me. His weight created a depression in the mattress and I started to roll into him. I tried to brace myself, but my hands and arms were caught in my blouse. The silky material had no give at all.
    I ended up squeezed against him. Hips to hips. Chest to chest. Between us we had a lot of naked skin showing. His heat  pressed into me. His hardness against my softness.
    My tangled, caught, exposed softness.
    I barely caught the sob before it escaped.
    "Kate?" One large hand gripped the back of my neck, pulling my head back while his thumb pushed under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
    I squeezed my eyes tight.
    "Talk to me." His words whispered warmly over my lips.
    What was there to say? I was caught in a too small shirt. Trying to fit into a size I clearly wasn't.
    Half bred witch. I didn't fit any where.
    Figuratively and now literally.

 
    11. Meltdown.
     
    "Kate? Look at me." Ash's deep voice beckoned me to respond, but I shook my head.
    I couldn't. I was clinging to what little composure I had left. Things had spiraled downward so quickly I could barely hang on.
    No witch wants to be humiliated by a stupid shirt.
    I wasn't handling the situation well at all. I knew that.
    I'd so wanted everything to be perfect for tonight. I could have dealt with not being able to fit into my brand new shirt on my own. Probably not well. And I may have attached an itching spell to the damn shirt when I returned it, but I would have maintained some sense of decorum.
    Having Ash witness my total embarrassment crumbled all my defenses.
    "Go away."
    Ah Spirits, how would I ever be able to seduce him after this? How would I ever be able to look at him without remembering this?
    "You seem to be caught in your shirt."
    I moaned. Maybe if I could get to my wand I could put Ash in a hole while I dealt with the blouse.
    "Did you want me to help you take it off?"
    His question would have made me mad, generally speaking I'm a capable witch, but there was genuine confusion in his voice. And I was too mortified to get angry.
    "I'm stuck."
    "I can see that. Would you