Page 42 of No Control

sixteen

Lydia

Duke whines at the door of my room, and I sigh, picking up my phone from the nightstand. I wearily look at the time, and see that I've missed a message from Emma. It’s only five o’clock in the morning—but that’s seven back at home.

How is it? Sorry I've been busy.

It's fine… And I think it's good?

I exit out of the message thread and gaze around the room as Duke's voice grows in volume. I reach for my black fuzzy robe, and climb out of bed. I’d rather risk going out looking like a mess than risk Duke waking anyone up.

“Let’s go,” I grab the leash and harness and fit it to my oversized hound, blinking away the sleep from my eyes. I reach for the door and open it, peeking out and looking both ways. It’s dead silent.

And pitch black.

My heart beats uneasily in my chest as I retreat, grabbing my phone. I turn on the flashlight function, and make my way down the hallway, holding my breath. Clearly, no one is awake and the last thing I want to do is disturb them.

Duke’s paws patter against the flooring—which I assume is some sort of bamboo laminate? I don’t know. My knowledge of luxurious, high-end living is minimal. I’m tempted to turn on the kitchen light as we enter, but I don’t see the switch. And even if I did, I’m not sure I could bring myself to do it. I feel like an intruder at the moment, though I did get the best sleep I’ve gotten in a few days.

My eyes shift to slits as I try to make out the lock on the door.

“If you open that, an alarm is gonna go off,” a deep voice startles me, sending me sideways.

Where the hell did he come from?

Henry chuckles as he passes me, moving so quiet he could be a ghost. He reaches up to a keypad beside the door and types in a code, a chime following as the system disarms.

“Thanks,” I choke out, as he turns to face me. It’s only then I realize he’s missing a shirt, and I can’t stop myself as my eyes pour over his muscular, fit chest and abdomen…covered in ink I can’t make out in the dark. However, all the tattoos stop before they reach his neckline or past where a short-sleeve T-shirt would end.

“Work prevents me from having any visible tattoos,” he answers the question in my head.

“Right.” I rip my eyes from him, fumbling with the lock on the door. My breath catches as his presence grows nearer, his looming figure casting a sudden warmth against my skin. His fingers slide past mine, and with a click, the door unlocks. My head grows light as he pulls the door inward, the cool morning breeze kissing my skin.

“It can be a little tricky,” he hums in a low voice.

The moonlight casts a glow across his face, and my heart stutters as his eyes are riddled with trouble, appearing dark and stormy, rather than icy.

And I’ve never been so mesmerized by the change.

Duke tugs the leash right out of my hand, taking off across the deck and ripping me out of the trance.

“Shit,” I cry out, spinning around to chase him.

“I’ll put up a fence,” Henry laughs from behind me as I chase after him, catching his leash just before he makes it to the stairs. “Nice reflexes.”

My face burns as I slow down, wishing I could melt into the sand around me. I’m not sure that I even heard Henry correctly when he said something about a fence, and I can feel his eyes boring into the back of me as I let Duke do his business.

I should’ve gotten dressed before coming out here.

Or at least brushed my teeth.

I inwardly cringe and make the promise to myself that I’ll take care of that as soon as I get back inside—and then never do it again. In order to keep from looking behind me, I cast my gaze across the beach, drinking in the view of the ocean waves. It’s calm and peaceful, working to lessen the way my mind is racing.

But then my phone vibrates in the pocket of my robe. I forgot I even put it there. I dig it out and throw a glance back where Henry was. He’s disappeared. It’s unnerving how he moves around without even a little noise.

But not nearly as unnerving as Mom lighting up my phone screen.

“Hello?” I answer, only because she never calls.

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