Page 68 of Meet Me in the Valley
“I see you had to fight off some pretty birds,” Tia teases, peppering kisses all over my jaw.
“More like vultures, T. They were vicious.”
Her laugh is straight up oxytocin, giving me a stronger buzz than the gin and tonic I left forgotten on the bar.
“You came at the perfect time,” I whisper as my hands roam over her backside, squeezing the globes in my palms.
A throat clears, pulling us away from our lust-filled bubble. Nora stands behind Tia with her arms crossed over her chest, lifting an inquisitive eyebrow with a playful smirk on her face.
“Shit. Um, Logan, this is my big sister. Nora,” Tia stutters. The flush from her cheeks spreads to her chest. Tia? Bashful? I never thought I’d see the day. I love how brazen my minx is, but I gotta admit, this bashfulness is unexpectedly adorable.
I stand, offering my hand out. “Hi Nora. You were amazing tonight. I really enjoyed your show.”
She shakes my hand with a smile, and I get a sense of warmth from her that’s comforting and familiar.
She’s fresh-faced post performance, her hair slightly damp. No longer in costume, I’m struck by just how down to earth Nora seems now, standing in front of us in a worn black sweatshirt and matching leggings. The bag slung around her shoulder is a massive thing with a bunch of different patchwork patterns, a stark contrast to her all-black get up. She looks so much like Tia with her long, raven hair and hazel eyes. Where Tia’s eyes hold more green, Nora’s have more flecks of gold. Both are beautiful in their own right. It takes a few blinks for my eyes to adjust to the uncanny resemblance.
“Thank you. I remember you. You’re the chief’s kid?”
With Dad being the chief of police, it isn’t difficult to place me. But I remember Tia telling me that Nora is two years older than us and went to a performing arts school a town over. It makes sense that I don’t really know her. She wasn’t around much before she up and left for Las Vegas according to Tia.
“That’s me. He’s still working—too much in my opinion. But, yeah. He’s still keeping Oakwood Valley safe,” I answer Nora.
Tia’s hand strokes up and down my arm, slinking down to lace our fingers together. Nora tracks the movement, a small smile tipping her lips.
“Good. That’s good,” Nora says, glancing at her phone. “I better get going.”
“No! Stay, Nor. Show us around? Please?” Tia pleads with her best puppy eyes.
“I can’t, Tia. I’ve gotta get back to—” Nora stammers on her words. “Um. Look, I’ll see you for lunch tomorrow, yeah? Logan, you’ll come, too?”
I look at Tia for confirmation. I can see the disappointment in her eyes, but she steels herself and nods out a yes.
Nora pulls Tia into a warm embrace, whispering something in her ear before pulling away to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek. Nora turns to walk away, giving me a small wave as she disappears around the corner.
“You okay, T?”
Tia curls into me, laying her head on my chest. I hold her there, close to me, my lips pressed to her hair.
“I’m better than okay.”
I smile. “Do you want to tell me what you two talked about?”
“She was kind of in a hurry, but I told her about Mom,” she murmurs against my chest.
“Oh?” I take a second to gauge her mood, pulling her chin up to look at me. Her lips look so kissable, I swipe her pout with my thumb. There’s no furrow in her brow, no tension in her shoulders.
“Yeah. She said we can talk more in-depth tomorrow at her place.” I nod, cradling her face carefully in my hands.
I let this moment wash over me— wrapped up in each other while the world spins around us. Laughter and voices blur into the background, a hum of chaos weaving through the air.
Sin City pulses around us. Poker chips clack as they stack on top of each other. The roulette wheel flickers, red and black flashing. Dice tumble across the felt, landing with soft thuds that echo like promises and dares.
Anything can happen here. For a moment, it feels like everything already is.
All of it fades to nothing as I get lost in those hazel eyes. The only presence is the sound of my heart beating in equal time with hers. The overwhelming need to show her how I feel takes over my body in one powerful tidal wave. It’s the impatience in me to explore her deeper—mind, body and soul.
I need to taste, claim, and possess.
