Page 80 of When Annika Met Thom

“Under the metropolis,” she murmured sleepily. “Old subway stations and the best dumplings I’ve ever eaten.”

“I thought maybe Tessa had told you all my secrets,” Thom said as he slid into bed. To his satisfaction, Annika was naked. She coiled around him, her caress warm and welcoming.

“She was the soul of discretion,” she said, watching him with those witchy green eyes. Her smile was mischievous. “And I kept to the deal. I didn’t ask her a thing.”

“It must have nearly killed both of you.”

Annika laughed. “Maybe it did.” She snuggled closer, running one foot down his leg as she pressed against him. She kissed his throat. “You don’t seem tired.”

“I’m not.”

“Oh good,” she whispered, then that was the last thing either of them said for a while.

* * *

Annika stretchedon Sunday morning when she awakened alone in bed. The sun was shining, illuminating the closed blinds and she heard the door click as Thom took Cerberus out for a run.

No doubt about it: morning sex was her favorite.

She was tempted to stay in bed, but she was hungry. By the time she’d showered and dressed, harnessed Percival and fed him, then made some breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, she wondered why Thom hadn’t come back. She looked out the window but there was no sign of him in the park.

Leo had said that Thom worked on his motorcycle on Sundays. It had to be parked somewhere close by. She packed up the burritos, three for Thom and one for herself, then added some bottled water to her bag. She tugged on a fleece jacket and tucked Percival inside, then headed out in search of Thom.

Mrs. Moriarty was putting her trash in the chute and spared Annika a glance. “Where’s Leo?” she asked in an accusing tone that had to be characteristic.

“Gone.” Annika said. When the older woman waited, she continued. “He’s living with his girlfriend now.”

Mrs. Moriarty’s eyes narrowed. “I thoughtyouwere Leo’s girlfriend,”

“I was,” Annika admitted with a shrug. That relationship felt so distant that it might have happened to someone else. “Past tense.”

“Well, good for you,” the older woman said, giving her trash an ineffective shove. Annika moved to help her. “Some would say you jumped from one bed to the other, but a smart woman grabs onto a good thing when she sees it.”

Annika blinked in surprise.

Mrs. Moriarty laughed, which came out more like a cackle. “Thin walls in this place,” she confided. “And I’m thinking our bedrooms have a common wall.”

Annika knew she blushed crimson, because her face felt like it was on fire.

“It’s healthy,” Mrs. Moriarty said with approval. “And if I were thirty years younger, I’d give you a run for your money.”

Annika’s surprise must have shown, because the older woman smiled.

“Thom’s a nice boy,” she said, though Annika would never have referred to a man of Thom’s size as a boy. “He’s helped me with that ridiculous elevator more than once.” She cast a glare down the hall. “It’s as if that thing wants to crush us all.”

“Maybe you should talk to the super about the timing.”

“I have, but I will again. Good idea.” Mrs. Moriarty turned back toward her apartment door.

“Do you know where Thom parks his motorcycle?” Annika asked.

“Of course. He rents one of the garages out back.” She pointed. “You have to go out the front door, then down the alley at that end of the building to get there.”

Annika smiled. “Thank you.”

Right in the midst of a moment of mutual harmony, Percival poked his head out of the front of Annika’s jacket. Mrs. Moriarty’s gaze hardened as she stared at the ferret. Percival stared back.

“How long is theweaselstaying?”

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