Enemy Down - Cathryn Fox Page 0,30

cataloging his dresser and closet, which are beside the door to the hall. The wall behind the bed has a shelf with numerous medals and trophies. Across from me is a great big window with the curtains drawn for privacy and the fourth wall to my right has a door to the bathroom, a big comfy chair, a small two-seat table and a TV on the wall. It’s quite nice and comfy.

“Not much blackmail material here,” Kaitlyn says, and I laugh, hard, remembering how he teased me about my snoring. “It wasn’t that funny.”

“Yeah, I know. I think I’m nervous. This feels like snooping.” I glance over my shoulder. Maybe I should have locked the door.

“Open his nightstand.”

“No,” I say in a hushed voice. “That’s his private space.”

“Do it,” she insists. “You have to make sure you’re not sharing a room with a serial killer who keeps weapons or body parts in his nightstand.” I cock my head, and stare at her, incredulously. “What?”

“Are you for real?”

“Yeah, do it.”

I turn the screen back to me. “You’d say just about anything to get me to do it, wouldn’t you?”

She blinks dark lashes over not so innocent eyes. “I only have your best interests at heart, Maize, you know that.”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m in Christian’s room right now.”

She stands and walks to her dresser. She casts a quick glance at me after grabbing her yoga pants. “Is it that bad?

“Yes!” I blurt out, a straight up lie, and reverse the camera so she can’t see my face. Wanting her attention off me, and how I kind of enjoy being here in luxury, I pull open the nightstand drawer, and come face to face with a mega box of condoms—for her pleasure.

“Dear God,” Kaitlyn says. “Does that say magnum size? Bring me closer.”

I stifle a laugh, and slam the drawer shut, then glance over my shoulder again when I hear footsteps in the hall. I hold my breath, but they move down the hall.

“He even has his own bathroom,” I whisper.

“Ooh, fancy. Take me in.”

I tiptoe across the room, being careful in my boot, and push open the door. I do a quick scan and revel in the big tub and separate shower. “A girl could get used to this.”

“I would do anything for a bubble bath in that tub.”

“Me too.”

“Go for it,” she tells me.

“I’m not getting in his tub.”

“Why not?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Then again, he did say his place was my place.” I walk across the room and pick up a plastic bottle to examine the contents. “Grapefruit body wash.” I laugh. “No wonder he always smells like citrus.”

“You always did like grapefruit.”

I set the body wash back down, and take a big, rejuvenating breath, reminding myself who I am and who I’m not. One thing is for certain. I do not belong here, with Christian none the less, and I’d be wise to remember that.

“One week,” I say under my breath. “Then I’ll be back.”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you something,” Kaitlyn says her face twisted.

“What?”

She looks a bit sheepish when she says, “Your room kind of flooded.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope, we had all that rain, and you know the shingles are bad. Water dripped all over your bed and floor. Looks like you won’t be coming back here for a while.”

Son of a bitch.

10

Christian

I shouldn’t be nervous, or excited, as I park my Jeep and head back inside Wolf House. But no matter how many times I try to convince myself that I’m just helping Maize out, the thought of her in my room, my bed, does the strangest things to me. Watching her nap earlier, hearing her soft breathing sounds, her little sleep murmurs was enough to make me want to crawl in there, wake her with a hot kiss, and bury my face between her long, gorgeous legs.

Fuck me sideways.

I take the steps to the front stoop two at a time, and push the front door open harder than necessary. I catch it before it bangs against the wall, and shake my head to get myself together as I shut it quietly behind me.

Rumblings from the kitchen, along with light, breezy laughter from the girls who stayed over last night fill the front hallway. Honestly, I’ll be glad when I can get my own place and have a bit of privacy. I suppose I could have done it before now, but there was no pressing need, no girl like Maize that I wanted to keep in my