Page 67 of Meet Me in the Vines
I’m happy to see her in a better mood after last night. When we made love, I swallowed every doubt she had and took on her burdens as my own. We were so deeply connected that I felt every emotion as our bodies moved together in sync. But her fear was real, and we could be facing something dangerous.
I knew Kellan was out there on the loose. If someone truly had been following her in Oakwood Valley, then we have a huge problem. We can’t avoid the topic forever.
I stalk toward her, trying to stay out of her line of sight while she seductively ices the cinnamon rolls. Is that even possible? Every movement she does turns me on. I duck behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, kissing her neck as she jolts and drops the knife on the kitchen island.
“Oh, my god! Baby! You scared the shit out of me!” she squeals. I chuckle into her neck, the smell of sugar and cinnamon dusted on her skin. Her arms rest on top of mine as she turns her head. I reach over and turn down the music.
“Morning, Mouse. Mmm, it smells amazing. Did you make these from scratch?” I arch my eyebrow. My eyes scan the kitchen; flour, sugar, and dirtied-up mixing bowls covering every surface. She continues icing while I hold her, pressing my erection into her lower back.
“Mmm, well hello there,” she says playfully, backing her ass into me. “And yes, I made them from scratch. Sorry for the mess.” She uses the butter knife to motion into the entire kitchen. I’ll happily wash the dishes every morning if it meant that she would cook for me looking like this.
For a long time, I was content coming home to no one. I had my solitude, other than the odd nights my brothers would stay over when they’d be too drunk to move. But having Audrey here, covered in sugar and flour while singing and dancing in my kitchen, was something—I realize, holding her in my arms as if she’d been there every day for the last ten years—I can’t live without.
This house feels like a home with her warmth. The sun shines brighter through the windows. The kitchen appliances have purpose. Her lipstick stains the wine glasses, reminding me I’m not alone anymore.
“You seem happy this morning, Mouse.”
The corner of her mouth perks up as she mixes. “I feel better. I think middle-of-the-night orgasms will do that for ya,” she teases. There’s a hint of worry in her eyes, and I instinctively hold her tighter, my chin resting in the crook of her neck.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” I say softly. She stops mixing and takes a beat to set the knife down on the counter. She turns around to face me, her hands rest on my chest and the worry in her gaze deepens.
“I guess we should, huh?” she says, unsure, shrugging her shoulders.
“Only if you want to, Mouse. But if you’re sure that you were being followed, we need to make a plan,” I say, stern but soft. Her eyes dart around the room, settling everywhere but in my gaze. Her jaw ticks as she grinds her molars, her chest heaving with breaths that deepen with every inhale. Feeling her discomfort, I chime in to break the silence.
“You’re not alone in this. If you want, I can talk to Logan’s dad and?—”
Her head shakes back and forth as she puts her hand on my mouth to keep me from talking further. “Donovan, we don’t need the chief of police getting involved. Ijustgot home. I don’t want the whole town to know about my past,” she sighs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Pleasedon’t talk to Chief Harper. Promise me?” she pleads in desperation, eyes wide and beseeching.
I want to tell her she’s wrong. That this town will have her back, no matter what. That the people who love her will protect her. But I don’t. She doesn’t need to hear this from me right now. I pull her into an embrace, hoping my actions can speak where my words fail.
“I promise,” I whisper, holding her close.
“I’m just paranoid,” she mumbles into my chest. “It’s probably nothing. I know I’m safe with you.” She looks up at me with a smile that makes my knees weak.
“I’ll always keep you safe,” I murmur. My voice is low, our lips barely touching.
Her hands slip behind my briefs and she grabs a handful of my ass. I waggle my brows and attack her neck with kisses. I nip her earlobe and playfully growl in her ear, ready to devour her right here in the kitchen.
She giggles and tries to shrug me off, and in one quick swoop I lift her up on the counter, settling myself between her legs. Before I can react, she scoops a dollop of icing with her fingers and spreads it across my face.
My mouth gapes open as she continues to spread sticky icing all over my nose and cheeks. Her mouth forms an O shape, her laugh is hearty and loud. Music to my ears. A sort of laugh-type scoff escapes me as I narrow my eyes at her. She hasno ideathe beast she’s about to unleash within me.
“Ohhh, Mouse. You better run,” I growl. She pushes more icing into my face as she ducks out from under my arms, sprinting into the living room. I’ve never seen her move so fast—it throws me off guard. “Shit!” I stammer, laughing as I grab a handful of icing myself, playfully chasing after her.
The couch separates us, her eyes wild and smiling.
“This seems familiar, doesn’t it, baby?” she teases.
My heart squeezes at the memory of us playing cat and mouse all those years ago. The adrenaline of the chase, of getting just close enough, only for her to run in the opposite direction. I loved every second. Just like I do now.
Her chest rises and falls with excitement. I look at the woman across from me and see the same girl I’ve always known. That glint in her eye that makes her eyes smile. The playfulness that emerges from her, challenging me unabashedly. The way I desire her, always wanting to get into the pretty head of hers to safeguard her dreams. The heat that builds in my loins just by looking at her. That’s my Audrey.
“Don’t you remember who won that night, Mouse?” I tease, running around in circles in the living room, chasing her laughter. She grabs a pillow from the couch, thinking it’s enough of a barrier between us.
“Iletyou win,” she taunts me while I calculate my next move.
“This isn’t the only sticky white stuff that I can paint your body with,” I growl. Her eyes widen at my comment and a devilish grin appears on her face.
