Sterling (7 page)

A raw need was behind every hungry stroke of his tongue, and he was a hell of a kisser. No aftershave or cologne, just the natural spice of how a man should smell. The whiskers I could have done without as they scratched against my chin.

A perfect kiss blindsided me—there was something in his touch and the lean of his body that was overpowering. Did Adam really care for me the way his body told me he did? His hand slipped around the nape of my neck, cradling it, as his kisses slowed to a torturous linger.

When he moaned unexpectedly, deep and pleasured, a spark lit in me. It tingled in the center of my chest becoming a surge that pushed through to my fingertips; I felt like a sponge dripping with power.

My right leg slid down his side but he was busy nipping at my bottom lip with his teeth.

“I’m going to touch you,” he whispered.

Adam announcing his intent was so unexpected that I stopped kissing him. His mouth moved across my neck and when his fingers ran over my shirt, my body sprang forward, arching for him.

“Zoë you’re so soft,” he breathed, tracing his skillful fingers down to my stomach where they slipped beneath the shirt and stroked my bare skin.

His tongue lapped across my neck and my hand reached out to stroke his cheek, circling my fingers around the rough stubble. I heard a low decibel hum, increasing with frequency—that’s when Adam catapulted off the sofa and yelled out.

I could still feel his lips on mine and my hand was suspended where only seconds ago it traced along his jaw and hairline. I was horrified by my willingness to yield to him.

Sex always ruins friendship, and I didn’t know that I was ready to give that up. I needed a friend and couldn’t afford to lose him. Although sex would have been nice.

“What was that?” he hissed, pushing the skin of his cheek around with his hand.

“I guess a mistake?” I threw my feet on the floor and glared at his disheveled shirt. Adam ran his hand through his hair and stared down at me like I were a freak of nature.

“Do you know what you just did to me?”

I didn’t like his accusation, or his tone. “Don’t turn this around on me, you’re the one who kissed me first. Why are you looking at me that way?”

Adam sat down and lifted my hand by the wrist, like he might have picked up a dirty dishtowel that had been soaking in urine. There was no warmth in his touch as he flipped it over stroking his finger down my palm.

I shivered and pulled it away.

“Something weird just happened with your hand. You didn’t feel that?”

I didn’t want to admit to the fact that there was something fundamentally wrong with me. I felt it since the night of my attack.

But I sure as hell didn’t want to be called out on it.

“You haven’t noticed anything odd about yourself?” he added.

“Odd,” I said defensively. “Weird. Thanks for all the compliments.”

“You’re hiding something from me and I want to know what it is.”

I was already in his debt and I didn’t like that feeling of entitlement he had over me.

Moving briskly towards the front door I pulled at the handle when Adam muscled it with his strong arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“None of your business,” I spat.

When I pulled again he leaned harder and that pissed me off.

“Let go, you can’t make me stay here. You don’t own me so quit treating me like property. I have a life I need to figure out and I can’t keep hiding.”

He shouldered the door and wrapped his fingers around my wrist, pulling it away from the knob. I jerked free and scowled.

“Look you aren’t the boss of me.”

Adam didn’t budge.

“Fine,” I said, backing away from the door. “Whatever.”

I locked eyes with the back doorknob and took off in a dead run. I was halfway out on the porch when he caught my arm.

“Get back in the fucking house! I’m not letting you leave.”

I struggled, trying to pull free but he reeled me in like a fish until I was inside. I looked at him with defiant eyes and he locked his arm around my hips.

“You’re not a prisoner, that’s not what this is about. I want to help you but you have to let me, you have to trust me.” When his voice softened, I considered his sincerity.

“Did I hurt you?” I asked.

“Not exactly.”

I swallowed down my relief. “Then what was it you felt?”

“So you know what I’m talking about?”

I nodded. “I’m not really sure how to answer that. I haven’t been right since my attack, and that was…” I shook my head. “I’m protecting myself because I don’t want you to think I’m crazy. I don’t want you to judge me. I don’t want you to leave me.”

And there it was, in a neat little nutshell. Adam using words like
weird
or
strange
to describe me felt like I had an affliction. He was all I had in the world and I didn’t want to lose that.

I shivered as the northern wind snuck up from behind and curled around my legs like icy fingers.

Adam leaned on the door with one hand until it closed.

“I won’t judge you, and I won’t leave you.” He remained in that position, with one arm resting over my head and the other around my waist. “When your hand was on my face it was as if you were charging me up, like an electric shock. How is it that you can do that?” His eyes narrowed almost suspiciously. “It was energy. I can still feel it.” He let go of me and flexed his fingers open and closed.

“It’s not just my looks that changed Razor, there’s something else different inside of me. I don’t know what it is, how to control it or why it even comes out—but it’s there.”

“I don’t want you to leave,” he sighed. “I want you here, feel me? You need someone to look after you until we figure this out.”

We.

That was Adam—always wanting to look out for someone. Perhaps it was that lost opportunity with his sister. I gave him a chance to walk away but he planted his feet firmly in the ground and folded his arms, ready to go wherever this little journey led him.

“No more physical contact, it’s too risky and I have a feeling that I could have done more damage than curled your hair. Strictly plutonic, okay?

His mouth crooked up in a grin and he stuck out his hand. “Deal. Shake on it?”

I stuck out my tongue at him and sauntered off.

“Don’t tempt me woman.” He growled.

While his voice was laced with humor, I looked back and saw his sexy eyes hung on me heavily. Residual from our kiss no doubt, but something lingered on that expression.

“Put on your shoes Romeo, and pack the ladder. We’re going to do spidey work.”

Chapter 6

“Are you sure that your window is open?”

I looked over my shoulder towards the dark empty street. “I usually keep it unlocked in the summer. I like a cool breeze. Are you
sure
no one is watching?”

Adam glanced around my apartment complex. The cops would be one thing, but the last thing I needed was my neighbor, Mr. Harvey, pointing a shotgun at our asses.

I nervously gripped the edges of the ladder and took a deep breath.

“You’re good. Hurry up and don’t fall.”

I’m not sure whose idea it was that I was the one to go up, but Adam was stronger and could steady the ladder better than I could. I bit my lip looking up at where it rested against the brick beneath my window.

“Hold it tight okay? I don’t have nine lives.”

“No, you have eight.” A grin distracted me a moment while his hands worked to steady the ladder.

Halfway up, I realized two things. One: climbing was not a silent feat. Two: Flip-flops are not recommended. My toes grappled onto those shoes like grim death. I shot a worried look when Adam’s eyes gave me a reply:
you can do this and hurry your ass up
.

I pushed the window up and threw myself inside as fast as I could, my legs still dangling of the ledge.

Jesus I will never do anything like that again
. Just then, one of my flip-flops slid free.

The first thing I noticed was some of my things were gone.

“Max?” I frowned where his food dish once was.

After a couple of minutes, there was a light tap in the living room and I flipped the lock and pulled the door open.

“Lose this?” he said, dangling my shoe between his fingers. I snatched it and victoriously displayed my ATM card.

“Sweet, now you can buy your own panties.”

“Try to be quiet, I have thin walls.”

Adam was on it. Without a word, he slipped out of his shoes and turned off the light. I watched with amused curiosity as he closed the curtain in the bedroom as if he had done this kind of thing before. The man was a photographer by day and a ninja by night.

“Hey, I’m not Helen Keller, I need some light.”

A soft glow beamed from the connecting bathroom. Adam stopped short in the doorway. “That should give you enough. Hurry up, get whatever you need and let’s get the hell out of here.”

I brushed past him and as I did he yanked a stick out of his pocket and cracked it. After a few shakes it released a soft green glow.

“Who are you, an international spy?” I giggled to myself out of earshot range.

I stuffed a few personal things into a small bag and rejoined him in the living room.

“Can you help me get this down the stairs?” I whispered, dragging my white flokati rug behind me.

“Christ, Zoë.” He scolded. “If you take anything personal let it mean something to you. Hurry up; we need to clear outta here.”

I stared at the rug disappointed. “I took my first steps on this rug.” I sighed, dragging it back into the bedroom. I guess it seemed a silly thing to him but you can’t help what you form attachments to.

When I finished, I followed the glow of green light in my hall that was lingering over one of my picture frames. I stepped beside Adam who was looking at my former life.

“That’s my mom.” I pointed to an old Polaroid of my mother when she was young, standing behind me as I clutched an orange teddy bear. “And that’s Max, my baby.” My finger brushed over the glass, scratching his imaginary head.

“That’s a big baby,” he said, looking at the picture of Max lounged out in my bathroom sink with his massive jackrabbit legs spilling over the edges.

“And that’s…”

“You”, he whispered.

The picture was taken by my ex; I was sitting on my white rug gazing out the window. To anyone else it looked like I was daydreaming, but that was the day I was thinking about getting away from him.

“Yeah. Was.” I cleared my throat.

When memory lane turned into an HOV lane, I made a quick break for the exit not wanting to get lost in sentimental bullshit when I had a job to do. Adam went into my bedroom while I moved towards the front door.

“I’m heading down, I’ll be in the car.”

I glanced down. “Don’t forget your shoes, they’re by the door.” I could feel his
no shit
look through two inches of door.

Once in the Rover I slouched down in my seat and mentally collapsed. The remnants of my life were zipped up in a bag and I knew I was never going back. That chapter was closed, and yet knowing this I wasn’t as upset as I should have been. I had a clean slate. My life wasn’t much, but I was still grateful that I
had
it.

A few minutes later the rear hatch lifted for a few seconds and then Adam slammed it shut. He hopped in and punched the key in the ignition.

“Anywhere else?”

I opened my eyes and turned to face him. A laugh escaped that reverberated off the walls of the truck and spiraled out of control.

Adam had shoved the glow stick in his pocket causing his entire crotch to radiate like a nuclear meltdown. I was hysterical for a minute or two before I could breathe again.

“My stomach hurts.” I said wiping a tear. “That’s money.” I groaned letting out a few stray laughs. It was the first time I really let down my guard with Adam and he was thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. His eyes squinted from a broad grin and he winked at me.

“Kryptonite, sweetheart.” The stick was tossed into the back and the engine growled as the car backed out.

“Wait!” I hissed.

Adam reacted, slamming the break as I flew forward and he threw his arm out protectively even despite the fact I was buckled up.

Between two buildings, someone was watching us, and this time I
saw
him. He stepped into the dark shadows and that prickly feeling surfaced. Somehow—I
felt
him. Now I knew that he was not just a phantom memory chasing me in my dreams, and that terrified me.

When I lost consciousness during the attack, I never knew what happened to the man. With that uncertainty there was always an underlying fear that he was behind every door, every dark shadow, and in my head. He became my boogeyman. What if he found me? He couldn’t possibly know what I look like now, but what if…