Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(26)

“Hey,” Beck said, slowing as he joined her. “Sorry about that.”

“You can have your coat back when we get to the school.”

He chuckled. “I’m not that bad, am I?”

She said nothing.

“Hold on.” He took her arm to stop her and moved in front of her.

Autumn barely held her tongue, anxious to get back for painkillers. His aura soothed her, as gentle as Decker’s was intense. Beck’s teal eyes scoured her face.

“Thought so,” he said. He held out his hands.

She glared at him.

“Asshole or not, I can take the pain away,” he said with a smile. “Trust me.”

Grudgingly, she placed her cold hands in his. His were large and warm. His earth magick floated through her, finding its way to where she hurt most while replacing the cold chill of air in her blood. Autumn sighed and wobbled on her feet, leaning into him. She rested her head against his chest.

“I’m good for something,” he said softly. He released one hand to drape his arm around her, steadying her. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“My brother scare you?”

“Not really. Made me mad.”

“He’s got that effect on me, too.”

Beck’s lightness was contagious. Her sour mood faded.

“I don’t think of you as a poor, crippled girl,” Beck added. “I’m sorry if I come across as kind of …I don’t know …insensitive?”

“Arrogant,” she supplied.

“Maybe that.”

“Thoughtless.”

He laughed. “Okay, okay, you win.”

Autumn smiled and leaned away, meeting his gaze. She’d resisted Decker only to fall into Beck’s subtle spell. He raised an eyebrow, as if asking if she wanted to lob anymore insults at him. His eyes were sparkling again.

“C’mon,” he said when she was quiet. He released her and held out his arm.

She took it. He wrapped his arm beneath hers and gripped her hand to keep from breaking the healing magick. As sweet as he was being, her mind was on Decker and the fire he stirred in her blood. The skin on her chin burned where he’d touched her, and she couldn’t forget the heat in his gaze. Fire and water, two elements capable of consuming …

She shook her head. Women that fell for bad boys rarely seemed to end up happy, if television was any guide.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“Who’d you knock up? Please don’t say Dawn.”

“You learned fast how pleasant she can be,” he said with a grimace. “Yeah, she’s the one.”

“You should’ve known better,” she mused. “But I guess the blond hair did you in.”

“I like me some pretty blonds.” He replied with a wink.

Despite his easy answer, she sensed he was troubled. She didn’t have to ask why; he wasn’t comfortable using his magick. He probably wasn’t comfortable with the idea of being a father. For once, she pitied someone else and didn’t press the issue.

“The snow is beautiful,” she said as they stepped from the forbidden corridor onto the gravel road.

“At first, until Amber makes me shovel,” he replied. “When the lake freezes, we can go snowmobiling.”

“Oh,” she groaned as they reached the edge of the Square. “I left my iPad on the picnic table!”

“No worries. If it doesn’t survive, I’ll get you a new one.”

“Um, those things aren’t cheap.”

“My dad owns the school. He won’t think twice about ordering a few more.”

His wink made her flush. Both twins were charismatic. Any other place and time, she’d be floored they gave her the time of day. With Beck’s gorgeous eyes and body, the subtle magick and his awkward attempts at being gentlemanly, he was a cross of sexy and endearing. His brother was right. In a normal world, Beck wouldn’t be anywhere near her. He’d be with girls of Dawn’s caliber: the kind beautiful enough to be models.

After a hesitation, she spoke. “I don’t get you.”

“I’m easy. What you see is what you get.”

She said nothing, silently disagreeing. He had the arrogance of a guy who only dated blond models. It seemed at odds with his kindness towards her.

“Okay, I have to tell you this,” he said, grinning. “When we’re touching, I can sometimes see what you’re thinking.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. It’s an awesome skill when you’re … ah” he fumbled “with someone. I’ll just leave it at that.”

Her face grew redder at the image in her thoughts. She tugged her hand away from him, not wanting him to see. The awkward silence lasted until they entered the main house. Beck paused in the living area.

Jenna waved from her spot on the couch with Adam and a few others. Autumn returned the gesture.

“I’m going to rest,” she told Beck.

“I’ll be around,” he replied. His eyes went to the stairs, and he rubbed the back of his head. “You … um, don’t take this the wrong way, but you want an escort? For the stairs. Not your room … just the stairs.”