“I swear I don’t even remember any of the times, Nikki. I don’t.”
Just then a squad car turned down the road and headed towards us. The top lights began to flash and Celeste smiled. “Oh, here comes daddy. Stick around, Ethan; I’m sure he has some interesting questions for you.”
Ethan reached for me. “Nikki, come with me,” he said.
I stepped away from him. “No.”
Duncan stepped towards me and held out his hand. “Nikki doesn’t belong to you, Ethan,” he said. “Come on, Nikki, I’ll take you home.”
I shook my head. “No, Duncan. I’m not going with you, either.”
Then, before I changed my mind, I got into my car, started the engine, and took off.
Chapter Sixteen
It was after seven by the time I made it back to the cabin.
“Where were you?” snapped my mom when I walked through the door. “I’ve been trying to call you all afternoon.”
“Sorry, I think my phone battery died.” I stepped past her and towards the staircase. “I needed some fresh air, that’s all. I’m exhausted now, I think I’m just going to go and lie down.”
“You shouldn’t have gone anywhere, young lady!” she hollered as I proceeded up the stairs. “You’re still grounded and supposedly sick!”
I didn’t answer her; instead, I went into my bedroom and closed and locked the door. When I turned around, Ethan was waiting for me on the balcony.
Crap.
We stared at each other for a minute, until he gave me one of his disarming smiles and I eventually gave in.
“I knew you couldn’t resist,” he teased as I let him in.
“What do you want?” I asked, surprised to see that his face was completely healed without any hint of being in a fight.
He lay down on my mattress and folded his hands under his head. “This is nice,” he sighed. “I haven’t slept in a real bed for days.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I thought you guys preferred coffins?”
He burst out laughing. “Coffins? You shouldn’t believe everything on television.”
I sighed. “Ethan, I think you should leave.”
He turned on his side and rested his head in his hand. “I have a better idea, why don’t you come over here and keep me company?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He gave me a pouty look. “You’re no fun.”
I sat down on a chair and stared at him. “Tell me the truth; did you attack Duncan the other night?”
He frowned. “I already told you the truth.”
I crossed my arms under my chest. “Well, both of them said it was you.”
In a flash he was crouched in front of my chair with his hands on the arms, blocking me in. “I’m telling you the truth,” he said, staring into my eyes. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Are you trying to hypnotize me again?” I whispered, leaning back.
His eyes filled with anger. “No, dammit, I’m being honest with you. I didn’t do anything to Duncan the other night. I wasn’t even in town.”
“Well who did?” I asked, staring in wonder at his eyes, which were so clear and blue, they reminded me of an ocean beach. “And who’s been killing all of those girls?”
He moved closer until our faces were only inches apart. “I don’t know,” he whispered, staring down at my lips.
“I…”
The next thing I knew, he’d captured my mouth with his and I forgot about everything else, even Duncan. Soon, his tongue was inside, touching and exploring; sending a wave of heat throughout my body. I slipped my arms around his neck and sighed as he lifted me out of the chair and brought me to my bed.
“I want you,” he whispered huskily, setting me down. “I can’t wait anymore.”
I couldn’t speak.
He kneeled next to me on the mattress and removed his shirt, tossing it to the floor, revealing perfectly sculpted muscles and a narrow waist. I reached up and touched his chest, which was hard and smooth under my hands.
“Nikki,” he whispered. “Tell me if you want this to stop anytime. I don’t want to force you into anything.”
I licked my lips. “No, I don’t think I’ll want to stop.”
His lips curled up into a smile and then seconds later, they returned to my mouth, this time with much more intensity. I moaned against his lips as his hands began to move under my shirt.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered, his lips moved to my neck. “You’ve put some kind of spell on me.”
I gripped the sheets as his tongue traced a hot trail down to the junction between my breasts. When he couldn’t go further, he lifted my shirt away from my body and threw it down to the floor. Then he unclasped my bra, freeing my breasts.
“So beautiful,” he said, cupping them in his hands. When I thought it couldn’t get any better, his warm mouth came down and captured my nipple, rolling it around with his tongue.