Page 88 of Zone
“I wouldn’t be surprised at all.” I trace my finger along the line of the oversized pumpkin pillow on the couch.
We really get into decorating for the seasons, and I love Halloween. I’m just having a hard time getting in the party spirit.
My friend walks over to where I’m sitting on the couch,hiding from the onslaught of negative vibrations targeted at me online.
“A distraction would do you good.” She gives me an encouraging nod. “How often do you get to hang in the former residence of a woman who wrote erotic literatureandBible fiction?”
I look down at a new message on my phone. It’s from Knox, and my muscles tense.
“Two sides of the same coin,” I answer absently.
She steps closer, kissing the top of my head. “Stop reading those comments. It’s not good for your mental health.”
Lifting my chin, I shrug. “It actually helps me to see what they like and don’t like. I’m making mental adjustments.”
“Every comment says more about them than it does about you. They don’t even know you.”
“It’s true.” I do my best to give her a reassuring smile.
Her phone buzzes, and she jumps, pulling it out and glancing at the screen. “Gotta run. Only ten more minutes on that thing, then it’s time to put it away. Okay?”
My nose wrinkles, and I pretend to consider her admonition. “Hmmm… “
“Mellow…” A warning is in her tone.
It makes me smile. I stand, pulling her into a hug. “It’s a deal. Have fun tonight. You look like a true Fireside Lady in that getup.”
“The palm is sacred!” She holds up her broom and skips out into the cool night.
A light breeze blows through the sweet olive bush in our yard, filling the air with the heavy, sweet perfume. I glance up at the gibbous moon, thinking about his last text…Stroke your kitty til she purrs.
My toes curl, and I rub my legs together. I wonder how ill-advised it would be to go against everything I know to be right and sneak over to his place tonight. I do miss the baby.
Who am I kidding? I miss him.
A dark figure beneath the live oak tree on the corner makes my heart jump to my throat. My lips part, but my breath freezes in my lungs. Someone is watching me from the shadows, not moving.
This time of year makes people do crazy things, things they wouldn’t normally do if it weren’t for Halloween. I’m pretty sure no one knows where I live, no crazed fans are stalking me.
The breeze blows, a cloud moves away from the moon, and the silvery light touches his cheeks, illuminating him like a perfect marble statue.
“Knox…” I whisper, my voice lost in the wind.
Somehow I can see his blue eyes glittering in the shadows. It’s some kind of witchy Halloween magic, as if my body is so attuned to his, I can read every vibration of his skin, every twitch of his facial features.
I want to go to him, but instead, he comes to me. The hood over his head hides his face, and he walks quickly, straight to where I’m standing in my long-sleeved tee and thin, cotton shorts.
“What are you doing here?” My voice is a hoarse whisper, and I’m sure all of my lust is plain in my tone.
“I told you.” His voice is thick, drenched with confident desire, laced with desperation. “I need you tonight.”
I take a step backward, into my home, and he closes the space, entering the house as our mouths collide and seal. Desire rises in my chest so fast, I can barely breathe. Large hands grip my ass, and he lifts me off my feet, carrying me to my bedroom and kicking the door closed.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I gasp, tracing my mouth over his cheek, to his eye.
He pushes me to the wall. “This is all we should be doing.”
His mouth covers mine again, pushing my lips apart,tongue curling and claiming mine. Our breaths are low groans, rumbles of need. He turns us, dropping me back on the bed and jerking my shorts and underwear off in one swift movement.
