Page 27 of Ghostface Killer
“Baz, can I ask you a question?”
He flicks his eyes up to mine. “Anything.”
Here goes nothing.
“Why did you follow me last night? Why didn’t you just let me go?”
The way he scans over my face makes me feel put on the spot. Makes me feel vulnerable. What exactly does he see? No one has ever looked at me the way he does.
“When a beautiful woman sits down and strikes up a conversation with you, you don’t just let an opportunity to get to know her go to waste.”
I press my chin into my shoulder shyly and gaze back at Baz. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“Stevie, I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever encountered.”
I swear I swoon. I’ve been called beautiful so many times I’ve lost count. But when Baz says it, the word suddenly takes on a life of its own. And for the first time, I actually believe that I am beautiful.
Whatever reservations I’ve had about Baz, and however fucked up our situation may be, the simple truth is, I want this man. I want to see where that smoldering look will take us. And what will happen if I allow myself to cross the line. If I allow Baz to kiss me just as he’s about to do. Leaning in so slowly, so spellbindingly, I forget about the whole world. About my present and my past and who I really am.
“Stevie, say it again,” he whispers, his lips a breath away from mine.
“Say what?” I question, mesmerized.
“My name. I think that’s the first time you’ve ever spoken my name.”
“Baz,” I breathe seductively, and he purrs like a lion. So does my pussy. Fuck, I want him. No, I need him. Right fucking here and right fucking now.
Kiss me, Baz, so we can shatter the glass ceiling. So we can be together.
Something cold suddenly touches the tip of my nose, then my cheeks, then my shoulders. I snap out of Baz’s spell long enough to realize what’s happening. I look up as big, fat, wet snowflakes fall from the sky.
“Oh, my god. It’s snowing.” I look around at the wintery scene unfolding.
It’s a surreal moment to be submerged in the warm spring as the snow rests on the trees but evaporates on the ground and the surface of the water.
“I think Mother Nature is showing off for you,” Baz remarks as he catches the fluffy crystals in the palm of his hand.
“I’m definitely impressed.”
“Your trip was well worth it then.”
I regard Baz guiltily. “I think it was.”
I’m so fucking screwed.
We cuddle together as the snow falls, flakes accumulating in his long, dark hair and soft beard. We watch the flurries a few minutes more before Baz turns to me. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
“Of course I will.” There’s no other answer I could possibly consider.
Baz’s face lights up with a grin as wide as the Cheshire cats. As mischievous, too.
“I think we should go soon,” Baz suggests. “It’s not cold enough for the snow to accumulate, but it’s going to be cold and wet on the hike back.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
“There’s one thing you’re going to learn about me, Stevie. I’m always ready.”
I leer at him. What a coincidence, so am I.
