Free Deciding Skies (Fate's Intent Book 2) by April Bowles

not like the women around here. I could tell by the look on your face when you first saw me.”
    “What do you mean?” I took another bite of food and eagerly listened on, wanting to know more about this.
    “You’re strong and independent. I could tell you weren’t fiercely intimidated by me which I can tell you is something I’m not used to.”
    “I bet. Well, I find first impressions to be very important. It’s how people connect for the first time.”
    “Well, don’t worry. Considering the circumstances, I’d say it was a very good one.”
    “For all of us really. I mean, I knew what Adele was thinking when she saw Zayden and Jaylyn, well, her innocence always gets the guy and she has no problem with getting right to the point like just now when she left. She’ll never change that but I guess when people have always done things one way, it’s hard for them to change if they even can at all, you know what I mean?”
    “Yeah.”
    We were put into this weird silence between us that I didn’t really like. I would have rather kept him talking but I didn’t know what else to say and apparently, neither did he.
    “Well, I guess I’m done.” I put down my fork with hopes to end this awkwardness. “I better get upstairs and get this dress off before I ruin it.”
    “It looks good on you.” I followed his eyes follow me as I stood up.
    “Awe, thank you but black isn’t my thing. It’s Adele’s. Too dark for me. Like I need another reason to look evil.”
    He laughed. “You don’t look evil.”
    “It’s probably hard for you to understand but I don’t get that a lot. My real hair with the unique color of my eyes tends to freak people out as it is.”
    “Not me. I think it’s beautiful.”
    I smiled and touched the hideous light brown locks of my hair hanging down over my shoulders. “Well, sorry you can’t see it right now. I know Adele wouldn’t allow it to be exposed here.”
    “I understand that but I will eventually.”
    It just sunk in a little deeper that he truly was serious about coming. The only place I could have my red hair again would have been home and he seemed ready to see it. It made me smile and I had to lean into him for another kiss. “So, would you like to be the gentleman and walk this lady in disguise to her room so she can get out of this dress that’s too good for her?”
    Muscles smiled as he put his napkin up on his plate and got up. “It’s not too good for you but I’ll do you one better. How about I walk you passed your room and bring you to mine to get you out of it myself?”
    My legs shook under me as my smile grew, thankfully he couldn’t see them do it in this dress but that wasn’t stopping me from getting excited about what was to come. “Ooh! You’re so forward and right to the point. I love that. Is this how you get every woman to go up to your room?”
    Something changed. Something I said. His eyes got wide and he shook his head while moving ever so carefully a step away from me. “Oh, no. No. No. I never brought any of those women to my room, ever.”
    That wasn’t what I was thinking he would say but I’ll take it and regained the space between us while taking his strong, monstrous and completely perfect in every way muscular arm with both my hands. “Really? Well, lucky me to be the first.”
    He smiled. Maximum excitement reached. I was ready for our night to finally begin.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
     
    Adele
     
    I headed to the stairs swiftly with my mind on one thing; getting away. I couldn’t take being there anymore and seeing Zayden only seemed to make things worse. I was ready to go up to my room when he caught up to me out of nowhere and took my arm. “Hey, Love! Wait! What’s wrong?”
    I didn’t say anything. I turned and looked into his eyes, seeing the wonder but it was only making mine water. I couldn’t speak. My breaths stopped for a moment and I fell back on the stairs and started breathing again but