Page 5 of Embers of You
The compulsion is so powerful it almost knocks me back. I’ve been attracted to women before, obviously, I’ve dated in the past. But it has never felt so strong, so potent, and it makes me want to shut it down because it scares me at the same time.
“H-hi,” she stutters as I approach, and her voice is almost melodic, and wraps around me with just the one simple word.
“Are you okay?” I ask once I’m closer to her. Even in the dim light I can see that her eyes are green, the shade like a dark moss, so unique and perfect. Just like her.
“Yeah…well, okay no.” She sighs. “I locked my keys in my car.”
She sounds so defeated, and it makes my chest ache.
“Well,” I set my bag down on the ground, “it’s a good thing I’m a professional locksmith.”
Her head snaps up as she looks at me. “You are?”
I chuckle. “No, but I do know how to get keys out of a locked car.”
She looks at me skeptically. “Please don’t break the window. I know it’s an old car, but I love this thing.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t need to break any windows.”
“Is this some sort of trick and you’re going to rob or kidnap me?”
I’m taken aback at her question. “Is that something that’s common where you come from?”
“Considering I’m from Los Angeles…yes.”
I nod. Big city, impossibly high crime rate. Makes sense that she’s uneasy about a random guy approaching her claiming to help.
“Well, welcome to Amity, we tend to keep the robbing and kidnapping to a minimum.”
That actually earns me a light laugh from her, and I immediately want to hear more of it.
“I’m Jameson,” I introduce, mostly because I really need to know her name. I stretch my hand out for her to take, which she does. I try to control my reaction to the feeling of her perfectly small fingers wrapping around mine, and how perfectly our hands fit together for those few moments.
“Sutton.”
Of course her name is beautiful. Everything about her is.
“Nice to meet you, Sutton.” I test out her name on my tongue, and it feels so right. I want to keep saying it. I give her a smile before remembering that she needs my help. “Let me go get a couple tools, and I’ll be right back.”
She worries her lip, and I can tell she doesn’t want to be left alone, despite what I told her about being safe here.
“I’ll be back in less than a minute, there are tools at the fire station right there.” I point to the building.
“Won’t you get in trouble for stealing tools from there?”
I chuckle. “They can try.”
I leave it at that as I jog over to grab the tools I’ll need without getting the attention of anyone inside, knowing if any of them hear me, I won’t have Sutton all to myself anymore. Luckily, they all must be eating or cleaning or sleeping because I’m able to slip out again without drawing attention to myself.
Sutton has her jacket wrapped around herself tightly as she looks around nervously when I come back. The cool ocean wind is strong right now, and I feel bad for not considering how cold she must be standing out here.
Shrugging off my own jacket I hand it to her.
“No, thanks, I’m okay.” She waves me off.
“I’d feel better if you took it.” I hold it open for her so she can easily slip her arms inside.
She hesitates before realizing I’m not going to give up, and lets me slide the coat onto her small frame. She’s drowning in the fabric, and for some reason a possessive side of me rears its head at the sight.
