Serpentine Walls Read Online Free PDF Page A

contain herself. “Ohmigod, Pete! Sorry. Go on.” She clamped her hand over her mouth, eyes big.
    “Calm down.” John rubbed her back.
    “That’s it,” Pete said. “Nothing more to tell you at this point.”
    Cleo had a strange expression on her face, almost like she disapproved.
    “What’s up, babe?” John asked her.
    “Nothing.” She heaved an exasperated sigh and turned to Pete. “Look. I feel like I need to warn you about Aidan. I’ve known him for years, and yes, he’s gorgeous, but he’s also a real operator. I’ve been to tons of parties with him, and he picks someone up and leaves with them every time. And it’s never the same guy twice.”
    “Okay,” Pete said, somewhat at a loss. He didn’t care about Aidan’s past sexual exploits, not when he was the one going home with him.
    Angie protested, “You never know, though. Even if he is an operator, he might be ready for something more. He might even be The One!”
    Pete held up his hands. “Slow down! I’m not looking to marry the guy. All I’m doing is going home with him. We’ll probably hook up and that’s it. I’ve got a condom. Okay?”
    “Yeah,” John said, while Cleo and Angie frowned. “Back off, ladies. Let Pete have his hookup in peace.”
    “God. Okay, I’m outta here. Don’t wait up for me.”
    “Have fun,” he heard John call as he stalked away.
    Thankful to escape his friends, Pete opened the front door and stepped out onto the front porch, where Aidan slouched against the railing, his long legs crossed at the ankles, his arms folded over his broad chest. As soon as he saw him, Aidan straightened up with a smile, and Pete felt a wave of attraction so intense it was like a sucker punch to the gut.
    “Ready?” Aidan asked.
    “Ready.”

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    A IDAN opened the door and ushered Pete into a large studio apartment. Very large—it must have stretched the entire floor of the building, and was easily as big as his and Angie’s two-bedroom. It reminded Pete of those loft apartments he’d seen in the movies, like the one in Hannah and Her Sisters ,where Max von Sydow and the sexy sister lived.
    “Wow. This is all yours? No roommates?”
    “Yep.” Aidan threw down his keys. “Come on in. I’m going to work on the ambiance.” He walked over to a sideboard, grabbed a book of matches, and began to light the candles that were located in different spots around the room.
    Pete took a few more steps into the apartment. Aidan’s place was amazing. The furniture was all sleek lines and dark wood, and Pete was pretty sure none of it came from Ikea.
    “How long have you lived here?” he asked, surveying the abstract art and vintage photographs on the walls. And why are you living in a movie set?
    “Since second year.”
    Second year? Pete tried and failed to picture himself or any of his friends living in a place like this. Aidan’s parents must be wealthy or interior decorators, because, seriously? The only sign that a college student lived here was the mess of books and papers piled next to a laptop on a large table in the corner.
    “Was this—I mean, did your parents used to live here or something?”
    Aidan gave him a funny look as he blew out the match. “My parents? No. They live in McLean.”
    “Oh.” Pete decided to shut his stupid mouth before he put his foot in it even more.
    Aidan paused by a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that held a set of speakers. “What kind of music would you like?”
    “Just not Barry White,” Pete said, glancing around the room at the flickering candles.
    “Ha, ha, very funny.” Aidan pushed a few buttons on a console, and the room filled with some slow, moody electronica. “You want to smoke a bowl?”
    “Uh, sure.” Getting high might be good. This seduction scene with the candles and music, along with gorgeous Aidan and the fucking movie-set apartment, was making Pete feel awkward as hell. What am I even doing here? Some suave devil along the lines of George