Page 31 of Zero Chance

She gasped and lurched forward, tripping over her own feet as she ripped herself from my arms.

“Whoa, hey!”I laughed, grabbing her elbow to steady her.“Makayla.It’s okay.It’s just me.”

She paused, going momentarily still.“Keene?”

Her voice was so quiet I barely heard her.

“Yeah,” I assured, stepping closer and finding her hand when she turned my way.“Not a serial killer.Just Keene.”Squeezing her fingers in reassurance, I lifted them to my chest so she could feel me for herself.“See.One hundred percent flesh and blood Keene Dugger here.”

My other palm found her hair, and I patted it in calming strokes.

I could barely make out her form in the dark, and for some reason, the absence of sight made her hair feel incredibly soft against my fingers.

She exhaled audibly as if relieved.

“You okay now?”I asked as I shifted even closer to inhale her scent.

She smelled good, like a woodsy, smoky, vanilla-ish scent.It reminded me of old, leather-bound books being read in front of a crackling fire while you were curled up on a soft, warm couch in front of a big bay window overlooking a snowstorm.

I shuddered, wanting to open her from cover to cover and burrow into her warm, inviting pages as I devoured every word.

“I didn’t mean to scare you quite that much.”Finding her ear with my nose, I nudged the lobe playfully and whispered, “I mean, maybe a little.Just enough to get your blood flowing.”

She shuddered against me but didn’t pull away, making me think this one was a good shudder.

“My blood is definitely flowing,” she admitted.

I grinned.“Yeah?”Letting go of my grip on her hand, I ran my fingers up her arm.“Then perfect.”

On my chest, her hand slowly slipped its way down with her thumbnail dragging along behind.

I drew in a heavy inhale, feeling the touch all the way to my junk, and I gripped her shoulder.

She swirled small circles across my pecs, clearly curious about the terrain and exploring it openly.A shiver of need coursed through my veins, and my flat nipples must’ve beaded because she paused on one and sucked in a quick breath before she pinched it lightly between two fingers, right through the cotton of my shirt.

“Jesus, woman.”I squeezed her shoulder to steady myself against a sudden wave of desire.“You’re killing me here.”

“Sorry,” she rasped and tore her hand away as if chastised.

“No, wait.”I nearly wept from the absence of her touch.“Come back,” Finding her hand once again, I squeezed it in reassurance.“I liked it.”

“Oh.”

She sounded uncertain as if she didn’t know what to do now; I grinned and tugged on her hand, pulling her behind me as I started back up the path from the way we’d just come.“Follow me.The gazebo’s this way.”

She did willingly, not saying a word.And her silence made the moment feel heavier somehow.Sexier.

My body stirred, and anticipation mounted.

At the gazebo, I paused.“Watch your step.”I tightened my grip as she stumbled around before finding the first stair.“No lights yet.But we have plans to install them.”

Once we were inside, Makayla drew in a deep breath.“It smells like new wood,” she murmured in obvious appreciation.

I smiled, drawing in my own nose full.“Yeah.”

“Why isn’t anyone else out here?”

She was talking in such a low voice it was hard to make out her words, but it was also hot as hell, causing something in my ear to twitch with arousal.

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