Obsidian

Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.

Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice. "Everyone has to excel at something, right?" "Well, you're doing a great job.

My palms itched to have a close encounter of the bitch-slap kind with his face.

I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect." His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. "The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have? Their beauty is only passing. It's just a shell hiding nothing but shadows and emptiness.

Remind me," he paused, drawing in a stuttered gasp, "to never piss you off again. Christ, are you secretly a ninja?

I don't think he meant to kiss me," I said finally. "What? Did he slip and fall on your mouth? Those things are known to happen.

Daemon: I checked out your blog. Katy: Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order? Daemon: In your dreams, Kitten. Oh wait, I'm already starring in those, aren't I? Katy: Nightmares, Daemon. Nightmares.

Will you show me what you really look like? You don't sparkle, do you?

You look like you got more of a bath than the car. I never thought washing a car would be so hard, but after watching you for the last fifteen minutes, I’m convinced it should be an Olympic sport.

Thanks,” I muttered and added under my breath, “Douchebag.” He laughed, deep and throaty. “Now that’s not very ladylike, Kittycat.” I whipped around. “Don’t ever call me that,” I snapped. “It’s better than calling someone a douchebag, isn’t it?” He pushed out the door. “This has been a stimulating visit. I’ll cherish it for a long time to come.” Okay. That was it. “You know, you’re right. How wrong of me to call you a douchebag. Because a douchebag is too nice of a word for you,” I said, smiling sweetly. “You’re a dickhead.” “A dickhead?” he repeated. “How charming.” I flipped him off.

The day my internet was hooked up was better than having a hot guy check out my butt and ask for my phone number.

Swimming was the last thing I wanted to do. Drowning him? Maybe.

How long have you been standing there?" "Just long enough to see you give Daemon the middle finger." "He deserved it.

I didn't tell you this because I'm sure you would've changed your mind about the dress." "What?" I frowned. "Does it make my butt look big?" She laughed. "No. You looked stunning in it." "Then what's the deal?" Her smile turned downright mischievous. "Oh, you know, just that the color red is Daemon's favorite.

So the dickhead had a name. Daemon—seemed fitting. And of course his sister would be as attractive as him. Why not? Welcome to West Virginia, the land of lost models.

You don't look like an alien!' It seemed important to point that out. He arched a brow. 'And what do aliens look like?' 'Not...not like you,' I sputtered. 'They aren't gorgeous--' 'You think I'm gorgeous?' He smiled.

If she was mine, I'd cherish every inch of her. And I wanted to. Now

I didn't eat all of it." "Oh, so it ate itself?" Dee shrieked so loudly I thought I heard the rafters in the ceiling shake. "Did the spoon ate it? Oh wait, I know. The carton ate it." "Actually, I think the freezer ate it.

Ash is going to kick your ass, Daemon." Daemon's grin went up a notch. "Nah, she likes my ass too much for that.

Oh, yeah.” Carissa nodded. “They were googley-eyed in class on Friday. It was pretty steamy, the whole ‘I’m screwing you with my eyes’ thing they had going on.” I choked on my drink. “That was not what we were doing. We were talking!

And this is why you don’t want me to be friends with Dee, because you were afraid that I’d find out the truth?” “That, and you’re a human. Humans are weak. They bring us nothing but trouble.” My eyes narrowed. “We aren’t weak. And you’re on our planet. How about a little respect, buddy.” Amusement flickered in his emerald eyes. “Point taken.

I bet you think things through, right? Accept candy from strangers and get into vans with a sign that reads free Kittens?

You haven’t locked yourself in any rooms or rocked in any corners, right?” I rolled my eyes and began walking again. “No Daemon, but thanks for making sure I’m mentally sound and all.

For a moment, I pretended. Not that we weren't two different species, because I didn't see him that way, but that we actually liked each other. And then he shifted and rolled. I was on my back, and he was still on the move. His face burrowed into the space between my neck and shoulder, nuzzling. Sweet baby Jesus...Warm breath danced over my skin, sending shivers down my body. His arm was heavy against my stomach, his leg between mine, pushing up and up. Scorched air fled my lungs. Daemon murmured in a language I couldn't understand. Whatever it was, it sounded beautiful and soft. Magical. Unearthly. I could've woken him up but for some reason I didn't. The thrill of him touching me was far stronger than anything else. His hand was on the edge of the borrowed shirt, his long fingers on the strip of exposed flesh between the hem on the shirt and the band of the worn pajama bottoms. And his hand inched up under the shirt, across my stomach, where it dipped slightly. My pulse went into cardiac territory. The tips of his fingers brushed my ribs. His body moved, his knee pressed against me. I gasped. Daemon stilled. No one moved. The clock on the wall ticked. And I cringed.

I was feeling the height of bitchiness.

I hate you and your freaky alien powers.

Aliens—if they exist—are little green men with big eyes and spindly arms or…or giant insects or something like a lumpy little creature.” Daemon let out a loud laugh. “ET?” “Yes! Like ET, asshole. I’m so glad you find this funny.

But no matter where I went, what I was running from would still be with me—Kat. She wasn’t just back in the house, in that bed. She was with me now, inside me. And there was no outrunning that.

What's your deal?" I asked in the hallway after class. "I know you did that." He shrugged. "So?" ... "That was rude, Daemon. You embarrassed him." ... "And I thought using your ... stuff would draw them here?" ... "That was barley a blip on the map. That didn't even leave a trace on anyone." He lowered his head until the edges of his dark curled brushed my cheek. I was caught between wanting to crawl into my locker or crawl into him. "Besides, I was doing you a favor." I laughed. "And how was that doing me a favor?" ... "Studying math wasn't what he had in mind." That was debatable, but I decided to play along ... "And what if that's the case?" "You like Simon?" His chin jerked up, anger flashing in his emerald eyes. "You can't possibly like him." ... "Are you jealous? ... Your jealous of Simon?" I lowered my voice. "Of a human? For shame, Daemon.