Page 13 of Fright Night
Well, that’s a positive start.
“When did you get back?” she immediately goes on to ask.
She never answered why she lied—again. Avoidance is a sign of fear. If she wants to drag this out for longer, so be it. More time to watch her squirm.
“Few days ago. Been staying at a friend’s place ’til I get the furniture to furnish across the hall. That empty spare room you have is mine. It’s always been mine, no matter how badly daddy dearest tried to kick me out of the family.”
“I’m not looking for a roommate. Though…” She trails off with another lick of her lip. A nervous twitch that has me leaning forward, elbows on my knees, to wait her out. “Glad to see you either way.”
Now that’s interesting.
Being up close to her the other night was one thing, but she was asleep. Awake is something else entirely, so I abandon the couch as well as the space that was between us and cross the room, eager for more of those emotions she’s teased.
Her eyes bug out comically and by my third step, she starts walking backwards down her hall.
Please, Trickster, lead the way to your room.
“What do you want?”
“I’m here to see you. Duh. I don’t go breaking into just any woman’s house to leave notes.”
Her skin pales at the reminder.
The end of the hallway is approaching, and it’s only a matter of time until her back hits it and she runs out of space. She gasps, realizing she’s fucked herself. The remaining two paces between us I eat up quickly, caging her with my arms.
She smells fuckingamazingand my dick instantly hardens.
Like a rainstorm on a cool autumn evening, when the water washes away the day’s heat and leaves behind a scent of freshness. A feeling of rejuvenation. She’s rejuvenation in human form. She’s a refresh—a restart.Myrestart.
I didn’t touch her the other night because she wasn’t awake and when I do, I want her conscious. I want her aware. I want her scared. Scared of me, of how she accepts my touch, of how shebegsfor it.
Right now is something else entirely. Right now, with her eyes wide open and her chest heaving and her nipples two rigid points poking beneath her shirt, she’s proving to be everything from my dreams.
With a hand on either side of her head, I bend to line our faces up, close enough for my lips brush against hers—the closest to a kiss I’ll allow for now. “Missed you, Trickster.”
“Liar.”
“There’s only one liar between us and it’s not me.”
Her throat moves with her swallow, and I can’t help but rest my fingers in that exact spot so the next time she gulps, I feel her panic for myself.
“You smell sweet. Believe it or not, I’ve been dreaming of you for two years.” Longer, technically, but time will reveal the truth.
“Keep dreaming.”
My finger strokes the spot between her pulse and her jaw, marvelling at the goosebumps that sprout.
“Why would I continue dreaming when I finally have the real thing?”
SIX
OAKLEY
My hands,sweating now, fist by my sides. It’s all I have; all I can do because I’m an idiot who backed herself into a wall with someone who, by all accounts,shouldn’thurt me. But the bonds that once existed between us dissolved with his arrest—my lie—and time apart. I don’t know who this man is anymore, or what he’ll do if angered.
“Feel that?” he murmurs, his head tilting to the side. Hair falls away from his eyes, revealing the pretence he’s losing breath by breath. “Your pulse. It’s rapid because you’re afraid.”
Obviously.“Is this the part where you try to reassure me there’s no need to be scared?”
