Page 34 of Spike

I sat up. “What?Why?”

“You don’t want meto come?”

“No, it’s notthat, but don’t you have a job?”

“I’m not workingtoday.”

I settled my handagainst my stomach. “It’s pouring outside, you can’t ride in this weather.”

“I’m at the Sanctuary.I’ll borrow a truck.”

I blinked backtears. “Are you saying you’d be willing to stop whatever you’re doing and haulyour butt all the way over here in order to cheer me up?”

“That alldepends.”

“On what?”

“Will it cheer youup?”

“Immensely.”

“I’ll be there intwenty.”

He was gone beforemy phone beeped and I sat on my bed for about ten seconds before his wordsfinally registered.

“Oh, crap, I onlyhave twenty minutes to change!”

I went intooverdrive, rushing to find something cute before doing a quick cleanup of myspace, including making my bed and emptying the dishwasher.

I’d set an alarmto warn me at the fifteen-minute mark, so when it pealed, I grabbed a jacketand headed downstairs to guide Spike up my long driveway.

He arrived abouttwo minutes early, pulling up in a giant pick-up truck. I pointed to the leftside of the driveway which was directly behind my car parked in the garage. Hecould stay there as long as he wanted without blocking either of my parents’cars.

He slid out of thecab and closed the door, looking unbelievably gorgeous in jeans, motorcycleboots, and a leather jacket.

“Hi,” I breathedout.

“Hey. You didn’tneed to come down, it’s freezing.”

“I had to show youwhere to park and finding my place is a little confusing.” I smiled. “Come onup.”

I led him up theouter stairs and inside, closing the door behind us and it was like my wholeworld suddenly felt right. I shrugged out of my jacket and faced him. Icouldn’t stop staring at his face. He was beautiful.

“You okay?” heasked.

“Yes, why?”

“Because you’relookin’ at me like you’ve just discovered chocolate and I’m Willy Wonka.”

I licked my lips.“It’s just…”

He raised aneyebrow. “It’s just what?”

I felt heat creepup my neck. “I really want to kiss you but—”

Before I could getthe rest of my sentence out, Spike pushed me gently up against the wall, hishand sliding to my neck and he covered my mouth with his. I sighed, grippinghis jacket as I opened my lips, his tongue slipping between them and I openedfurther to deepen the kiss.

He broke the kissfar too soon, stepping away from me as he dragged his hands through his hair.“Jesus.”

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