Page 14 of Within Shadows
“Dang, just take my heart already. It’s yours.” I nearly spit my water across the island at him as I fight to swallow past the choking laughter. I roll my ankle and huff, struggling with the stuck zipper when the ache in my feet decides to make itself known. Garrett walks around the island and drops to one knee in front of me, bracing my foot on him. His fingers easily pull the zipper loose and tug my shoe off, setting it down next to him before he lifts my other leg. I nearly slide out of my seat from how intently I’m watching him while simultaneously melting.
“You have to stop looking at me like that.” He shakes his head, avoiding making eye contact.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I try to play coy, but when I spread my legs wide for him, we both know better. His eyes lock between my thighs and he grips my knees, holding me open as he licks his lips. My hands hurt from how tight I’m clinging to the chair, waiting and begging him to do something, anything.
“I can’t,” he whispers so softly I struggle to hear him.
Garrett suddenly shoots to his feet and holds his hand out for me. “Let’s get you into something more comfortable.” His face is red, and he’s looking everywhere except at me as I let him lead me to his room. My mind is still fuzzy, and I try not to pout at his denial. After Garrett hands me a plain shirt and his sweats, heleaves to let me get dressed alone while I try to figure out if I did something wrong or if he’s just truly shy and reserved.
Once we’re lounging on the couch, surrounded by fast food wrappers and stuffed full, he finally smiles at me.
“I owe you an explanation.” He rubs a hand over his face, sitting forward while staring down at his hands.
“Listen, you don’t owe me anything. We can just act like I didn’t throw myself at you and go back to being friends.” I smile, the lie tasting sour, but he shakes his head.
“That’s not what I want, unless you do?” I shake my head no. The motion makes the room spin, and I sink further into the couch.
“Good. I want us to take things slow, not rush into this. Relationships aren’t something I have a lot of experience in, and I should have had more self-control. I am sorry for that.” He glares at me when I scoff at his words.
“I’m not sorry, and you don’t get to apologize for giving me exactly what I wanted. Come off your knight-in-sparkly-armor stuff. I’m not some innocent damsel. I’m a grown woman who was and still is insanely horny. Tonight, I didn’t want a polite gentleman. All I wanted was orgasms and food. You did both of those things.” My words are punctuated with a yawn and Garrett watches me with amusement.
“We can talk more tomorrow. Let's get you to bed.” Garrett walks me to his room and tucks me into bed, but I grab his arm as he turns to leave.
“Stay with me?” I pull the blankets back, knowing I might be pushing too many boundaries tonight. He steps forward, gently smoothing the blankets down before he lies on top of them. He loops his arm behind his head as he stares at the ceiling. I scoot closer to him, wrapping my arms around his, and I bury my face against his shoulder. Ever so sweetly, Garrett kisses the top of my head. “Goodnight, Maeve.”
Chapter 8
Knox
I’m pretty sure I am working my way towards locking my jaw at this rate. Knowing that Maeve is opening her body for another man, wanting to sleep next to him in his bed. The gun in my hand is heavy, but nothing compared to my chest. Seeing her so carefree on the dance floor, only to be interrupted by some dirtbag who doesn’t take no for an answer, had me feeling both jealous and in awe. I pull his wallet out of my pocket and flip it open to stare down at the name and address again.Steven, it’s always the douchebags with the simplest names. I slide around the side of the house, fully prepared to break in, when I see a figure slumped over on his own front porch.
“Couldn’t even bother saving me a dance?” I sigh, reaching down to check his pulse. Steven groans when I push my fingers against his throat, and my lip curls in disgust as I pull back. The guy smells like vomit and stale beer. It’s almost enough for me to turn around and leave.Almost.
“You’re not going in the back seat, Steven. I’ve heard the trunk is spacious though and dark. It’s a great place for a nap.” I grip the back of his jacket and shirt before I stand and drag him behind me.
“Your carriage awaits, princess.” I chuckle to myself as I pop the trunk of my car open, tossing Steven inside and grinning in amusement when he groans. His eyes flutter for a moment before he finally opens them, blinking in confusion before I slam the trunk shut. The sound of it hitting his head when he tries to sit up is beyond satisfying. Al is sitting in the passenger seat and frowning at me when I get in and start the car.
“You could have just shot him on the front porch. Dude pissed off a lot of people at the bar earlier, and it would have been easier to cover up.” He yawns, and I roll my eyes at him as I drive straight towards one of the bumpier roads in the city.
“You melted the skin off of a guy's hands because he groped Jess, then made him beg for mercy while you tied a noosearound his neck, and you killed him anyway,” I remind him, and he cracks a smile, nodding with a gleeful smile.
“But I burnt his house down afterwards, so it was written off as if he did it to himself. What are you going to do to him?” Al asks, leaning his seat back as he stretches out. It’s nearly two A.M., and I’m on a tight schedule, so I won’t get to have as much fun as I want to.
“Going to take him for a joyride, then dump him in the woods. Without his shoes, phone, wallet, or anything else.” The sound of panicked thrashing comes from the back of the car and Al grunts, reaching out to turn up the volume on the stereo.
“Not very creative and a little extreme for some innocent dancing,” Al says. I dig my phone out of my pocket and unlock the screen, handing it to him. Al reads down the massive list of charges that were dismissed or that Steven was given community service for. Ranging from petty theft to domestic violence, drugging his dates, and other vile shit.
“Take a left off Applegate, there’s that shitty road they haven't finished repairing. Floor it.” Al’s tone is clipped, and I can feel the tension rolling off of him. I follow his direction and damn near jostle us to death on the crumbling road that is more potholes than pavement. Steven is now screaming from the trunk, and I’m running out of time, so I head towards the dense woods far out of town. Al and I spend the drive talking and joking until he brings up our upcoming concert next week.
“Jess and Maeve will be there,” I say, and he shakes his head.
“Maeve is going to want Garrett to come,” Al warns me. I shake my head once as my grip tightens on the steering wheel.
“Well, she’s not always going to get what she wants.” I try for a stern voice, but Al throws his head back with a deep laugh, making me crack a small smile.
“You’ll give that girl anything she asks for.”
“I’d fall to my knees and worship the ground she walks on with one heated look from those beautiful brown eyes. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be selfless enough to humor her infatuation with him.” I shrug and put the car into park. Al follows me around the side of the car and puts his hand on the trunk before I can open it.
