Page 53 of Bitter House

My core is molten liquid as he eases my underwear aside and presses his mouth right where I need him. My heart races, dancing in my chest in an erratic rhythm. My knees go weak, and he’s holding me up, his hands under each of my thighs as I cry out, holding his hair, prepared to direct him though he clearly needs no direction.

Our eyes lock, and my body ignites, half ice and half flame. The world seems to spin out of control, careening on its axis. Everything, everywhere, stops existing all at once. It’s only us and this feeling.

We are all that is left.

I’m nothing but pure lust in his hands, against his skin, his mouth. All too soon, I cry out, my body going rigid with the kind of pleasure you feel in every nerve ending as it spirals through my body. He grins against me, triumphant and unrelenting, as the tremors pass through my every muscle, not stopping until the final bit of liquid fire vibrates from my body.

He stands up, crushing his mouth to mine, as he lifts me up again and carries us toward the stairs. With savage intensity and impressive concentration, he refuses to stop kissing me even for a second as we make our way upstairs.

In his room, he places me down on the bed and undresses quickly, his lips meeting mine with a dreamy intimacy. As he eases himself onto the bed over me and sinks down between my legs again, I can’t help wondering why the hell we haven’t been doing this all along.

* * *

Later, we’re still lying in his bed as I run my fingers over the hair on his chest, tracing swirls in it, my mind dizzy with thoughts and emotions I can’t quite process yet.

“So, I’ve been thinking,” Cole says with a sigh.

“Oh? Do tell.” I’m thankful for the distraction.

He grins, one hand propped up under his head. “We should stay.”

The idea makes me sad in a sort of nostalgic way I don’t understand. There are so many bad memories here. How can he even consider staying?

“It’s the only way to save Vera’s secret. And Mom’s.”

“Stay forever?” I ask. The idea is both confusing and terrifying. This place is one giant mystery, much like the woman who once lived here. “What if it’s dangerous? So many bad things have happened here, Cole. I don’t know if I could do it. This place feels cursed.”

“No one dangerous has any reason to come here anymore. Vera is gone. Besides, we’ve got the camera and the gate. We can get an actual security system. I know this place has bad memories, but it has some good ones, too. It brought us together, and…it protected us in ways we never knew. We could make it something special, you know? And keep the secrets safe.”

I tap his chest thoughtfully. “There’s a lot of ‘we’ talk going on right now.”

He takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. “I’m not saying we have to live together as a couple or anything serious. I don’t know what any of this means for us. All I’m saying is”—his eyes flick down toward mine—“I don’t hate being here with you, and I don’t want to give up the house Vera gave so much for. The house that protected the people we love.”

“It wasn’t the house,” I say, though I know what he means. “It was Vera.”

Before he can respond, we’re interrupted by the sound of a doorbell.

CHAPTER THIRTY

BRIDGET

We dress quickly and rush down the stairs. No one has the new code. The delivery drivers couldn’t make it through the gate, nor could anyone else. It’s literally impossible for anyone to be here right now.

I’m still running my hands through my hair when Cole opens the door, and we spot Jane, Lily, and Cate standing there. It feels weird seeing them now when I’ve been reading so much about them in Vera’s journal.

Do I tell them what I know? That we found Vera’s journal? Do I tell them about the letters? Or do I pretend nothing has changed?

“Hey, ladies,” Cole says, his voice deep and gravelly as if he’s been sleeping.

They must’ve watched as I changed the code yesterday with their help.

“Can we come in?” Jane asks. “We need to talk to you about something serious.”

The weight her voice carries makes my heart sink. Something’s wrong.

Cole and I both mumble some variation of yes and of course and step back, allowing the women inside. They lead the way toward the sitting room, and we all take our seats, just like we did with Edna.

Once we’re seated, Jane reaches into her purse. “I have something for you.”

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