Ripper (The Morphid Chronicles Book 2) Read Free

playful expression turned into one of shock.
    “Wow,” he said in a low exhale. His clear blue eyes scanned the length of her body, stopping at all the right places.
    A feverish blush sent her cheeks into unheard-of heat levels.
    “You look . . . beautiful and . . .” Greg shook his head as he searched for another word, “ . . . and hot.”
    “Thank you,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant, then gathering her indignation at the fact that she was decked out in a sexy-little-devil costume, while Greg was wearing plain clothes. “Where is your costume?” she demanded again in a clipped tone.
    “I’m wearing it,” he said, reaching a hand toward her head. “Nice horns,” he added and wiggled her diadem.
    She slapped his hand away. “Answer my question, Greg.”
    “Are you wearing a tail?” he asked suggestively, as he tried to look behind her.
    Sam crossed her arms and scowled.
    “Chill out,” Greg said, putting his hands up, “I’m wearing my costume.” He pointed at several candy wrapper attached to his jeans, which she hadn’t noticed before.
    “What kind of lame costume is that?”
    “I’m a Smartie Pants. Get it?”
    Sam rolled her eyes. “Oh, how clever. Smarties’ candy wrappers and clothes pins is your idea of a costume?” She tried to hold a straight face but couldn’t help the snicker that ensued.
    “I knew you would like it.” He pulled her in for a hug.
    “You have a real costume, right?” she asked, sure he wouldn’t, couldn’t, do this to her.
    “Of course I do.” He let go of her and kissed the top of her forehead. “It’s in the car. The mask is stifling, so I took it off.”
    He wrapped an arm around her waist and walked her down the hall. Rose was curled up on the sofa, wearing a blue Snuggie and reading a novel.
    “Look at you!” Rose exclaimed. “That’s a bit . . . sexy, don’t you think? Don’t let James see you like that, or there’ll be no trick-or-treating for you tonight.”
    “I guess we’d better leave before he gets back then.” Greg walked toward the door.
    “Don’t stay out too late,” Rose said, going back to her book.
    After they got in the car, Sam looked in the back seat to make sure he indeed had a costume with him.
    “Just a mask?” She sighed. “It’s hideous. What is it supposed to be?”
    “Zombie guy, I guess,” Greg said as he cranked up the engine.
    “Very creative.”
    He winked and drove them to Brooke’s famous Halloween bash. Every year, her parents went all out with decorations and let their only child put on the wildest party of the year. The first time Sam was invited ten years ago, she’d gone as Raggedy Ann. It was a wonder how she’d now progressed to sexy devil. What had she been thinking when she let Brooke talk her into these red leggings and doll-sized satin dress?
    “Oh, crap. Looks like we’re the first ones here.” Greg parked on the empty street.
    “I knew we’d be early, but I didn’t want us to be first.”
    He cleared his throat. “We don’t have to be.” He snaked his muscular arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “There’s plenty we can do in here to pass the time.” He kissed her cheek lightly.
    “Is there?”
    “Mm-hmm,” he mumbled as his lips inched closer to hers.
    “Sounds very entertaining.” Sam turned her face. Her lips met his, and her heart started racing as it always did.
    Greg’s arms tightened around her as the kiss grew deeper and deeper. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt like she could die in his arms. His insistent mouth left her and traveled to her cheekbone and from there to her earlobe.
    “Greg,” she said, his name a hot breath from her lips.
    “Let’s get out of here,” he said. “Forget the party. Let’s go to my place.” He continued to kiss her, getting more daring by the second.
    “Brooke will get mad if we skip.”
    It felt overdue for their relationship to move to the next level. Greg had never said this much, but Sam could