Dark Nebula (The Chronicles of Kerrigan) by W.J. May Page A

I’m just trying to look out for you and your crazy tatù. Don’t want you to get in trouble.” She relaxed her shoulders, s uddenly gla d her sunglasses were large . Hopefully , t hey hid some of her embarrassment .
    “Nicholas! How’s it going , mate?” Julian clap ped him on the back.
    “Rae, how’re you?” Devon ’ s hands rested casually inside his back pockets , stretching his chest muscles and showing off his physique .
    Better now. I hope Desiree doesn’t catch on. “I’m good. How was training?” S he grinned back. Screw paranoia. He really did look delicious.
    “Cool. I ’ll tell you more about it later. I just got a call from Carter. H e wants to see you in his office. He asked me to take you. ” He scratched the stubble on his chin. “ Maybe it’s about tutoring ?”
    Rae knew it ha d nothing to do with tutoring. Carter would not call them in to his office for that. It ha d to be something bigger .
    Trying to think of some casual response, she was glad Kraigan stepped forward.
    “Hello . ” Kraigan held his hand out.
    Devon straightened and turned to him in surprise. He hesitated a split second before accepting the handshake .
    “ Kraigan , right ?”
    “Yup . ”
    Devon ’s head nodded towards Julian. “This is Julian. I hate to be rude and leave, but Carter needs to speak to Rae , and me.”
    “Sure, no probs.” Kraigan smirked.
    Devon gave Rae’s shoulder a friendly pat . They walked towards the school buildings, in the direction of the Oratory. She did not even say good - bye to the group. She had lost her breath and ability to focus when Devon touched her.
    Once out of earshot from the group, Devon squeezed her shoulders and quickly released her arm. He bent forward , speaking quietly. “I missed you, too. Took every ounce of restraint not to hug or kiss you in front of everyone. I don’t even want to remove my arm , but people are going to start to wonder what’s going on.”
    “Glad to know I’m not the only one fighting for restraint. I almost took that Desiree-girl down for her comment about you .” Rae ’s cheeks start ed burning again. Too bad she couldn’t recapture what she had just let out of the bag.
    “What’d she say?” H e grinned like the Cheshire cat.
    Rae puffed out a breath. “Nothing really. I don’t know why I even brought it up. She’s got this sex-lust tatù , and she mentioned she wouldn’t mind trying it out on you or Julian.” Specifically you, but I’ll conveniently leave that part out. Rae flipped her hair behind her shoulder, refusing to look at him . She caught his grin in her peripheral vision .
    “Jealous?”
    “No!” She wrinkled her nose at how vehemently she denied it.
    “You sure about that?” The sexy dimple appeared.
    “Well…maybe a little.” She he ld her thumb and pointer finger half an inch apart.
    “Good .”
    Rae’s eyes and mouth popped open. Should I zap him?
    Devon laughed and stuck a hand up in defense . “I don’t mean good Desiree’ s interested, I mean good you’re mad and ready to beat her up. Makes a guy feel good to know his gal’s protective of him -- even when she’s not supposed to let on.” He nudged her shoulder with his.
    “Fine. I’ll admit I m ight be the ever-so-slightly jealous type.?” Change the subject, Rae. She rolled her eyes . “What’d Carter say to you?”
    “Not much, just that he’d like to speak to the two of us sometime when I got back.”
    “Sometime? So there’s no rush?” Rae noted Devon ’s cheeks were a bit pinkish now.
    “No. I guess … not really.”
    “Then why the rush to leave the group?”
    “Did you see the way that new guy wouldn’t stop staring at you? I could see it all the way from the parking lot ,” he huffed.
    Rae laughed as she punched him lightly in the ribs . “Glad I’m not the only jealous one. Your vision’s obviously better than everyone else’s, since no one else notice d or said anything . B een using your tatù, Mr.