Page 13 of Intangible
“Will you stay until I fall asleep? Please?” Hearing the fear in her voice, he walked back over to the tunnel, sliding to the floor.
“Of course. Lie down.”
“Can I say something… about last time?”
“Shoot,” he said, situating himself against the doorway again so he could watch her while keeping an eye on the tunnel.
“I’m sorry I panicked. You shouldn’t have had to do what you did. I’m just glad you were here, so I didn’t freeze to death. I have to admit, I’m a little embarrassed about turning into a basket case.”
He smiled gently at her as she watched him with her wide blue eyes.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It was quite a shock to your system, plus I’m sure me jerking your clothes off didn’t help much either. I’m sorry about having to do that. I didn’t see anything if that helps.”
“How did you not see anything, you were on your knees pulling down my pants?” She chuckled slightly when Memphis’ face turned slightly pink. He prayed it didn’t do that back in the hotel room or Knox would know something was up.
“I wasn’t paying attention. I mean, if I was taking your clothes off, normally I wouldn’t have jerked them off that fast.” He grew redder when she cocked her head at him, knitting her eyebrows.
“Well, yeah, I might jerk them off quick if I was desperate to get to what was underneath, but then I would pay attention to what I was seeing. Umm, not that I couldn’t tell you were stunning, but yeah, slower would be better.” He clamped his mouth shut with wide eyes as Thayer tried to hide the smile that was threatening her face.
“Fuck, I’m…” He stood, walking back into the dark corner before sliding down the wall. He was such a fucking idiot.
“Memphis? Are you still here?”
“Yeah, I’m still here.”
“You didn’t have on glasses the first time you appeared.”
Thankful that she had changed the subject, he jumped to answer. “I lost my contacts somewhere in my cabin. Knox dragged me to the airport so fast I didn’t have a chance to look for them.”
“You mentioned a cabin before. Where is it?”
“Small town in Minnesota. I live there with my dog, Murphy. I’m the local veterinarian.”
“No wife or girlfriend?”
“Nope, just me.”
“That’s good. I’d like to meet Murphy.” Thayer’s voice was starting to slur as she crept toward sleep. “I also like your glasses. They give you a Superman look when he’s Clark Kent.” Memphis could feel the red spread back up his face.
“So in a nerd kind of way.”
“No, I think in more of a sexy superhero kind of way.”
Memphis couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. “Now you’re just trying to tease me. Pretty sure there is nothing sexy about a country vet wearing a pair of glasses.” He laughed, watching her eyes slowly close.
“Then you haven’t looked in the mirror.” He felt his heart thump hard as he stared at the small body in the cell with a stupid grin on his face. “You’ll be here tomorrow? I can do this if you’re here with me.”
“I’ll be here,” he said quietly.
“I think you can go now. You looked tired. I need you to get your rest so you can rescue me.” Memphis stood up, crossing to the light.
Reaching toward it, he paused. “Good night, Thayer.”
“Good night, Memphis.”
He unscrewed the bulb, leaving it how he had found it.
“Memphis?”
