“Do it.” I turn the lock on the handle and shut the door behind me, locking myself out of my own house. It’s the only way. Now I have no choice but to pick my lock, or I can’t get back in. I’m adding pressure. Seems like a good idea, right?
I’ve upped the ante, and getting this done is my only option if I want to get in my house. There’s no giving up. After all, Toby’s in there! Likely full now and sleeping, but still. He’s in there. Alone and needing pets. It’s up to me to deliver.
I drop to my knees and start to fiddle with the lock. I’m at it for one minute, and I’m already getting hot. I should have put sunscreen on. When did this back porch wood get so hard? My knees are not okay with this. I could get a splinter.
I drop the lockpick for the fourth time. This time it falls between the cracks of the wood planks.
“Oh no.” I peer through them. I have to crawl under there if I want to get it back. There’s no way. It’s dark. Probably giant spiders nesting. The bug spray is inside! I shiver.
I should have thought this whole thing through a little more. Now I’m going to have to call a locksmith. It’s my only option.
This might not actually be the worst thing though. I can watch a professional do this. Ask all the questions I want. Turns out, I’m a genius.
I pull out my phone to try and find someone. My eyes drift over next door to Silas’s place, and I wonder what he’s doing over there. After my third failed attempt to get a locksmith on the phone, I sit down in front of my door. The sun is now beating me up. I blow a curl out of my face. “Well, this is bullshit.”
I’m going to have to call my dad. He’s the only other person with a key. I’ll never hear the end of this. I look around to make sure no one’s watching before I pull my shirt up and over my head to wipe my face. I’m going to melt out here.
“Jamie?” I let out a small scream and jump to my feet. At least that’s what I was trying to do. I really just face plant into a solid wall of chest. I don’t have to look up to know whose hard chest it is. Even with a shirt on, it’s unforgettable. It’s so broad and tasty smelling. There is no way I could forget how it feels.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” I ask as he pulls me up to my feet right up against his body. Gosh, he smells so good.
“It’s too hot for you to be out here this long.”
“It hasn't been long,” I lie.
“Twenty-two minutes.”
“Really?” I bite the inside of my lip. That’s it? I was sure it was hours. “You got a date or something?” Crap. Where did that thought come from? I should return that axe. I reach into my pocket and feel the receipt.
“Date?” He gives me a half smile. Is that a How did you know? smile?
“Got me one, too.” I rush to say and pull out the paper as I step back. “Have the guy’s number right here.” Then I look down. What I don’t have is a shirt. Again.
I sigh. “Well, shit.”
9
Silas
She reaches up to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I’m just … Well, I was …” She huffs. “What are you doing out here, eh? That’s the question!” She slides her shirt on, though it’s inside out.
I don’t mention it. “I heard your door slam earlier, so I peeked out.”
“Twenty-two minutes.”
“Right. Twenty-two minutes ago.” I’d been watching her the entire time with growing amusement, but when she took her top off, burning need took over. Not to mention that I need to get her inside. I can’t let her get a sunburn. Not on my watch. “So what’s up?”
She peers up at me, her lips slightly parted. I want to shove her against the locked door and get a taste, but I remain still. She has to tell me what she wants. And when she wants me? I’m going to give her all I’ve got.
I think she’s going to stonewall again, but then her shoulders droop and she says, “I was testing my lockpick skills, and it didn’t work, and then I dropped the pick--” She points to the deck. “Into a giant spider’s nest where there are fangs and a million hungry spiderlings looking for blood so I can’t go get it, and I didn’t think to bring the key out here in case of such calamity, so now I’m stuck.” Her eyes water on the last few words. If her chin trembles, I’m a goner. Oh fuck, there it goes.
I pull her into my arms and hold her tight. “It’s okay. I don’t think lockpicking is truly a necessary life skill, all right?” I stroke her back.
She sniffles. “I don’t know why I’m crying. It’s just a stupid lock. But all these bad things keep happening, and I have zero control over any of it, and I want to be able to figure this out, you know? I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. Especially you.”
“Stop worrying about me, dreamgirl. I’ll be fine.”
“Dreamgirl?” She pulls back.
Shit, I didn’t mean to let that spill out, but there it is. I shrug.
“I’m a dreamgirl?” Her eyes open wide.
I lean closer, the temptation of her lips almost overwhelming me. How can she be such a temptress? But she is. Always calling to me. In her inside-out David Bowie T-shirt and leggings, she is every bit as tempting as she was when I first saw her. Raw, real, and undeniably adorable. I’ve killed for her. I’ll do it again, too. Happily. She’s my guiding star, and I will never let her down.
I graze my lips across hers, her eyes dropping closed as I cup her cheek. Then I kiss her more fully, my tongue delving into her soft mouth as she clutches my sides. I angle my head, tasting her fully as she makes a high-pitched noise in her throat, her fingers fisting my shirt. Tangling my fingers in her hair, I pull just a little, and when she moans, I move her backwards until she hits the door.
I pin her there, feeling her body against mine. The need to claim her rises inside me like a primal tide. The thought of her mouth around my shaft, my hands in her curls as she licks and sucks, is only second to the idea of being fully inside her hot cunt. A heaven I don’t deserve, but one I’m fully intent on taking for myself.
We kiss until her lips are bruised and the back of my neck is tingling from the unrelenting sun. Pulling away, I give her room to breathe as I kiss along her jaw and down to her neck. I suck the skin below her ear, running my tongue along her flesh as she shudders, her breaths coming quickly.
“Silas.” She runs her fingers through my hair.
I nip her throat and kiss to her collarbone as I cup one of her breasts. Running my thumb over her nipple, I enjoy the breathy moan she makes. Her hard bud is begging for my teeth, just like her soaked pussy needs my cock. I push my knee between her thighs to test my theory and find her wet.
But I can’t keep going. No matter how badly I want to. She’s in danger, and someone could be watching us right now. I’m distracted, scattered, because all I can see is my dreamgirl.
I wish I could tell her everything. Every single bit of how much I love her and care for her. But I can’t. Not now. Not when the cops are still sniffing around about Trevor. And not when there’s someone after her. I have to keep my head on straight so I can protect her.