Page 53 of Intangible
“I would like a cape though,” he said with a grin, walking backward so he could watch her laugh. With a mighty tug, she pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.
“I think you would look amazing in a cape.” Threading her fingers through his hair, she pulled him down for a kiss. Memphis knew he should be more diligent about watching their backs out on the sidewalk, but he wouldn’t give up even one kiss from Thayer willingly. Besides, isn’t that what her father was paying the men in the shadows for?
He parted her lips, sliding his tongue inside, capturing her moan. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he also realized they would have to pry her fingers out of the death grip they now had on his hair. He would kill the first person that attempted that.
His hands slid down around her hips, squeezing a moment before pushing back.
“We need to stop before I take you against the front of his building.” Memphis looked at her, her blue eyes glowing with lust. Why had he decided to wait until after this was over before making love to her? He had to hold the world record for the bluest balls in history. Fuck, he was a complete idiot!
“Sounds like a solid plan,” Thayer whispered into his ear, placing one more quick kiss on his lips before starting back down the sidewalk. Memphis watched her for a second, shaking his head before readjusting his now insistent erection to follow her.
They settled on a soul food restaurant for lunch; Memphis explaining that it would be similar to what she had eaten at Miss Beulah’s. She argued with him that in no universe did chicken and greens always have to go together. He had the good sense to just smile when she moaned at the first bite of her lunch.
“How do you make every meal we eat sound like a soul-changing experience? I’m starting to get a complex since it sounds the same as when you come against my tongue,” Memphis asked before slapping Thayer’s back when she choked on her tea.
“Memphis!” She gave a wave of her hand to the other diners sitting near them.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, looking around.
“Don’t apologize, son,” someone from one of the other tables said. “Take ownership of that.” Thayer turned bright red as they listened to the man laugh while his wife scowled at him. She covered her face with her napkin as her shoulders shook in laughter. When she slowly lowered her napkin, Memphis grinned at her.
“Oh, hell yeah, I’m owning it alright!” They both burst into laughter again, only corralling themselves when the waitress asked if they would like dessert.
Choosing to share a piece of pecan pie, Memphis felt the knots in his shoulders loosen. Something about her always made him relax and forget everything but just being in the moment. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing as she let out a soft sigh.
“You’re thinking about something awfully hard,” Memphis said, startling her out of her own reverie. “Anything you can share?” She looked up, spearing him with her soft blue eyes.
“I was just thinking…” she started.
“You were thinking…?” he asked when she grew silent. There was something important on her mind, and he wanted to hear it.
“I was wondering what it would be like to stay with you. I mean, for a while. After this is all over,” she groaned. Glancing at him through her eyelashes, he was positive she could feel his heart fighting to escape his chest. Had she just asked to move in with him?
“What about school?” he asked, barely believing there was hope for them to be together in the end.
“I think I can do a lot of it online. I don’t know until I talk to my advisor.” He reached over, cupping her cheek with a hand. Gently running his thumb under her chin, Memphis pulled her face up until their eyes met.
“I guess I’d better start working on getting internet.” He pulled her over into the most amazing kiss he had ever felt. It wasn’t raw or rough, it was one of longing and promise. Sitting back, he continued to hold her face in his hand.
“It wouldn’t have mattered if you didn’t come home with me, I’d chase you across this whole fucking earth to be with you.” Memphis smiled when Thayer turned red hearing the “awwws” coming from the tables near them.
“Son, you’re making the rest of us look bad.” They started laughing again when they heard the same man from before. Memphis stood, pulling Thayer up with him.
Winking at the couple that had been close to them, he added, “You think that’s good, wait until I propose.” He grinned at Thayer when her mouth fell to the ground. Walking out through laughter, they headed toward more shops.
“Have we done enough for today? He’s obviously not going to show himself,” Thayer asked several hours later as they stood looking down the street.
“I think so. Let’s go find Knox and see if he’s heard anything.” Taking her hand, Memphis led her back down the street toward the lot where they had parked. Suddenly, Memphis stopped, pulling her into an impromptu hug.
“Memphis, what are you—” Thayer began.
“Shh,” he broke in while looking over her head. “I think we’re being followed.” She started to spin around to see where he was looking when he tightened his arms around her. “Don’t do anything to give us away.”
He felt Thayer try to relax as she stood in his arms. Soon, he released her, keeping one hand on her waist as he smiled. He kept his focus over her shoulder, but tilted his head down slightly as if they were talking.
“Do you see him?” she asked softly.
“Not yet,” he answered, growing silent again. He had only noticed someone shadowing them when he saw the same sweatshirt that had been in at least two of the stores from earlier duck behind a doorway a half block away.
