Page 78 of Against the Autumn Pines
“Got CC?” I asked.
“Yeah, can you grab my bag?”
“Of course.”
Her black backpack with her overnight clothes—clothes that wouldn’t be leaving this house—was thrown over my shoulder as she slid CC back into his carrier. I led the way up, checking behind me every few steps to ensure she was okay. It wasn’t a long walk, but sometimes the concrete slabs were easy to get caught on when it was dark outside and you hadn’t walked the path before.
“Do you normally leave your house so bright when you aren’t home?” she questioned as we walked in, her gaze taking in the dark wood floors and the exposed stone accents around the entryway.
I smirked as I locked the door behind us. “No, little flame.I did, however, turn on a couple from my phone before we left your apartment. It’s all controlled by an app on my phone, as well as light switches around the house, but I wanted to be able to watch you seeing the place for the first time when we pulled up.” I set her bag down on the beige couch and turned to watch her again. “Still not hating it, right?”
She did a slow spin, her eyes now above, on the high ceilings, the open concept living area, the beige, dark browns, and greens everywhere.
“Can I let CC out?” she asked once her spin landed her back on me.
I nodded, thankful I once again thought ahead for him. “He’s already got a litter pan in the laundry room down the hall and a food bowl in the kitchen on the opposite side of the island.”
I watched her as her throat bobbed with a rough swallow and she set his carrier on the ground, unzipping it and letting him do as he wished. She would clearly be here for a bit, so I didn’t want her worried about him at home.
“So what’s the plan, Carragan? Is this the kidnapping part? You use your fancy app and lock all the doors and windows? Force me to the bedroom until I fall madly in love with you and never want to leave?” I watched as her fingers ran over the frayed edges of her jean shorts, and I took a leisurely few steps, walking towards her. I stopped in front of her, the heat from her curvy body radiating off of her, my hand coming up and cupping her jaw.
“I don’t need to lock you in my bedroom for you to fall in love, little flame,” I whispered.
She licked her lips, a habit I’d noticed she only did when she was nervous and trying to buy time not to speak or maybe even say something she didn’t want to say.
My hand dropped down to the base of her neck, her pulse point below my thumb. I felt her watching as I leaned down—my lips brushed along her jaw, and then I whispered in her ear, “I told you the plan tonight. I hope those are good shoes to run in.”
Her eyes dropped down to the pair of Nikes she’d slipped into on her way out the door, and I knew she was thanking whatever fates had been listening that she hadn’t slid her feet into the flip flops that had sat next to them.
“I guess they’ll do,” she said as her gaze turned back up towards mine. “Will your shoes do?”
“Are you trying to prolong me telling you to run, Ember? Because you and I both know these are running shoes,” I replied with a smirk. She shrugged and took a step back. “Such a brat.”
She licked her lips again. “Are there rules?”
“Word still applies. Feel free to use your phone flashlight if you want to. You get a two-minute head start.”
“Is there anywhere I shouldn’t go? Like”—she bit her bottom lip and shifted on both feet before letting out a breath—“is there anywhere dangerous?”
“You won’t make it that far, little flame. Anything dangerous is a solid five miles out. Don’t worry.” I glanced down at my watch and started humming before my eyes landed back on her. It only took a second for her eyes to widen, and she launched herself for the front door, stumbling over the handle being locked.
“Fucker! You do this shit on purpose!” she yelled over her shoulder as she unlatched the lock and threw the door open, not even thinking to close it behind her.
“Twenty seconds gone!” I yelled back as she bolted down the pathway and turned left towards the woods. I looked over at CC, who was sitting on the island countertop. “Shedidn’t even think to close the door and hide her path. Her self-preservation skills need work, CC.”
The orange fluff ball stared up at me and flicked his tail a few times across the countertop.
“Yeah, I know. I also feel crazy talking to you,” I muttered. Glancing down at my watch, she had another thirty seconds left. “Fuck I can’t wait to get ahold of her.”
I jumped up and down a few times, shaking out my arms and touching my toes for the last ten seconds, and then I was out the front door—closing it behind me. Didn’t need CC getting any brilliant ideas.
Taking a left once I was down the front path, I took a second to look over the woods. I knew that was where she went, and she wouldn’t be stupid about this. Ember was too damn competitive, so she wouldn’t use a flashlight. She’d get into the woods and then take it slower. The first time we’d done this, the moon had lit up the forest enough that we could see a bit easier. Tonight, there was only a crescent moon above, so while it wasn’t pitch dark out here, it was still really damn dark.
She wouldn’t want to risk falling and giving her location away. As I sprinted into the woods, I forced myself to slow down to a jog once I crossed into the denser patch of trees.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are, little flame.” My voice echoed through the trees as I walked over limbs and crunched fallen leaves beneath my feet.
Our first time together had been about stealth. The excitement and fear of it all created a provocative cocktail between the two of us.
