Free Luminosity (Gravity Series #3) (The Gravity Series) by Abigail Boyd Page B

and almost protective, burning into me. We embraced briefly, and he cupped his hand to the back of my head and planted a kiss on my lips. I could feel his body trembling underneath his clothes.
    “What is your mother doing here?” I whispered. I felt paranoid just being in the same building with them, as if I’d been followed.
    He ran his hand roughly through his tousled brown hair. “She has this pet project she’s been rambling about for weeks. I don’t know why today of all days is when she decided to get around to it, but she just showed up.”
    “Do you think she knows about us?”
    “I don’t know. It’s possible. But I think she and my father would have blown up on me if so.”
    “What’s the pet project?”
    “She’s setting up a historical collection, like a little museum piece. There are artifacts from the settling of Hell and from its history. You know she’s a big patron of this library. She’s put all kinds of money into the redecorating.”
    Frustration made me feel instantly tired and winded. I leaned my forehead against the bookshelves, shutting my eyes and breathing in the scent of books. “Why didn’t you just text me and cancel?” I wanted to be angry at someone, and he was the only one in front of me.
    “I had no idea she was going to be here until I got here,” he said pleadingly. “I’m sorry, I only arrived five minutes before you. If it was just her, I wouldn’t be as leery, but it’s Roger, too. He has a hundred eyes and I know he spies on me every chance he gets.”
    So, my feelings of paranoia were justified. The thought made me shiver, thinking about Roger’s hollow eyes and tall, slender frame. He reminded me of an impeccable, modern Grim Reaper.
    “So, this is it?” I knew that, of course, but I stubbornly wanted him to confirm the bad news.
    He bit his lip, clasped his hand to my jaw and kissed me firmly. He pulled me close, the kiss full of longing, and turned me so that he could push my back up against the bookshelves. I couldn’t breathe, dizzy with him.
    In a split second he stepped away, leaving me floating, my skin humming again. My irritation had dissipated for the time being.
    “Feel free to answer all of my questions that way,” I said.
    A grin tugged at one corner of his mouth and he shook his head. “It’s not a good idea for us to stay here. She could send Roger around to snoop at any moment; I know they saw my car parked out front. We’ll figure something out.” He stroked my cheek gently with his thumb, his voice thick. “I’ve missed you so much.”
    He touched his lips to mine, then squeezed my hand and we parted.
    Seeing him only made my yearning worse. It was like one hit of a drug when all I wanted was to go on a binge. I watched him walk around the bookshelves and disappear, my heart falling with every step.
    I was already pissed off at Cheryl Rhodes, but I was also curious about the items she was going to put on show. I slowly went back through the glass tunnel towards the front, and positioned myself by the magazine racks so I could see what was going on.
    Three tall, cherry wood display cases stood in front of Cheryl and her two assistants. A stack of wooden crates were beside that, overflowing with packing peanuts.
    Cheryl was admonishing her meek new assistant, who looked maybe a year or two older than me. Her big glasses reminded me of Theo when I’d first met her, although otherwise they looked nothing alike.
    “The ceremonial objects should be front and center,” Cheryl instructed.
    “Should we group everything by size or color?” the meek assistant asked. A little spiral notebook supported her chin.
    “We’re not talking about crayons,” Cheryl growled. “I need coffee.”
    She looked pleadingly towards Roger, whose spindly form was totally still. Now that I had a chance to study him, he looked more like Ichabod Crane after a nose job.
    All three of them marched away, the assistant scampering to keep up. When they rushed