The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

by Ally Carter

“It’s sexism, isn’t it? And the patriarchy. And—” “It’s because I’m taller and it’s my flashlight and, most of all, the first person through the creepy trapdoor should always be the person who knows seven different ways to kill a man with an ink pen.” “Oh.” For once, she looked defeated. “I only know three.” “Ha! There. I get to go first. Now hold this.” “Do you even have an ink pen?”

“I want to know what your hair feels like wrapped around my fist. I want to lift you up and press you against that wall until your lips get plump and your breath goes ragged and your legs wrap around my waist because, otherwise, you’d just melt away. I want to feel your hands on my shoulders and mine on your waist. On your ass. I want to feel you everywhere. I want to know you everywhere. I want to purge you from my system and I want to never let you go. I want you. And I want it to end.

“I know the world hasn’t given you a lot of reasons to believe this, but just so you know, if you were mine, I’d never make you park the car because my shoes are suede. If you were mine, I’d carry you through the storm. If you were mine, I’d fight the sky.”

But Ethan grew serious, thinking . . . remembering . . . deciding. “I thought you looked like forever.”

“Okay. The safe.” Maggie studied the book that lay between them with a focus that could only be described as unrelenting, and Ethan knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life losing board games to this woman.

“Dear Ethan. I have long been a fan of both your talent and your courage, though I must admit I was rather banking on the latter. I knew she’d be in danger. And I knew you’d keep her safe. Somehow, I felt certain you would not mind.”