the hand rail on the porch and kept climbing, not looking back at me now. “I should have realized you’d already be several steps ahead of me, instead of trying to come up with my own plan for this.”
“It’s based on experience. I’ve got experience dealing with this shit, and you don’t. But you obviously have talent. Have you considered law enforcement?” I was serious when I asked her.
She paused again once we reached the screen door. I hadn’t bothered to shut the storm door.
“I did, early on. I thought about the CIA, FBI, and forensics, and even the military. But my parents flipped out. So I figured investigative journalism was the closest I’d get and not have to endure their wrath. So I made that my goal, and got sidelined for a year, writing about fashion.”
I was certain my face was incredulous. “Fashion.”
“My dad got me the job.”
“Ah.”
She looked back at her car. “What about my bags?”
“Leave them. We’ll get them in the morning.” I wanted to get her back in the house, and get it locked up again. Once she was safely inside, I reset everything. This time I wasn’t leaving her alone. She’d probably find a way to get into even more trouble.
She walked forlornly to the edge of the stairs. No matter how much she’d pissed me off, I didn’t want her to be sad. I grabbed her hand. “If you’re interested, I’d like for you to come to bed with me.”
“To sleep?”
“Your call. We can sleep, or we can do other things.”
She slipped her small hand into mine. “I think I’d like either one of those options.”
Despite what happened tonight, my body didn’t know to be annoyed. Once I felt her hand in mine, my cock was hard in an instant. That’s all it took. The promise of her in my bed, and the touch of her skin, even from something as innocent as her hand was enough to send me reeling.
Not bothering to turn on the lights, I tugged her toward my bedroom. I needed her in my bed, and soon.
Sadie had been shadowing us this entire time, but I pulled her bed out of my room into the bathroom. “Sorry girl. You’re going to sleep in here tonight,” I said, closing the door. She whined at me once, but then laid down on her bed. “Good girl.”
I turned my attention back to Ava, who stood in front of the window. Moonlight streamed in, interrupting the shadows surrounding her.
She still smelled like vanilla, from the baking she’d done. I walked up behind her slowly, but not quietly, not wanting to startle her. I recalled my sister saying she was jumpy. Abigail’s observant nature had picked up on that. I supposed Ava had been looking over her shoulder non-stop for the last week.
I lifted her hair up off her neck, and kissed the nape. She shivered at the feel of my lips on her skin.
“Stop thinking about what’s going on. Just relax.”
She twisted around to look at me. “That’s easier said than done.”
“Maybe this will help.” I walked away and flipped the light switch on. “I have guns. Knives. Ammo.” I showed her my cache of weapons. Then I showed her the security panel I had that would alert me if any door or window was opened. “Feel better?”
She nodded.
“Do you want to lie down? And sleep?” If she wasn’t in the mood, I wasn’t going to force it.
“No. I want to keep going.”
“Now where was I?” I gathered all of her thick hair in my hands and held it in a loose ponytail. I ran my mouth along her jaw, and over her ear, and back down to her neck.
With a moan, she dropped her head backward, letting it rest on my shoulder. I stepped closer, slotting my hips against her backside, letting her feel the intensity of my arousal.
She shifted her body backward, pressing her bottom directly into my erection. “Looks like you’re ready to go,” she said.
I rolled my hips, savoring the friction as I pressed my cock against her body. “With you around, that’s always going to be the case.” I ran my hand down her arm, and then up again, before letting it skim the edge of her shirt. I slowly worked my hand under her shirt, until I felt her heated stomach. With as much dexterity as I could manage, I popped open the clasp on her bra. Once the garment fell away, I let go of her hair.