Page 57 of Light As A Feather
“Then you’re going to have to prove it to me by trusting me wholly and completely, because what lies ahead of us isn’t going to work otherwise.”
“Idon’t understand why you insist on living here,” Mendez mutters under his breath as he scans the expanse of the yard. “It’s crawling with spirits.”
“Most of them don’t mean any harm. There aren’t even that many anymore, and usually they come and go fairly quickly. Besides…” The reason draws my gaze up to the bedroom window. “It’s home.” I don’t need to be near her to read the anxiety painted on her face. Her hand on the window is a cue that she needs me by her side for this.
Sol might be hesitant about bringing other people into our situation, but they’re good people and, most importantly, they’re professionals. The only people I would trust with such a task. If we can’t do it on our own, they’re the best option we’ve got. Despite not talking to people easily, I’m confident that she’ll see what I see in them—safety, friendship.
It’s an effort to keep myself focused when Jayden strolls up the drive like he owns the place. He may as well after living herefor the last few years and putting so much of his own blood and sweat into it. Despite his attempt to appear nonchalant and in good spirits, the tension in his posture is a dead giveaway that he’s been avoiding me.
Clapping him on his shoulder, I stop him as he passes me. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Can we talk for a minute?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to scare her off.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.”
“You’re not a very good liar. Don’t you know that by now?” Still, he sets down his equipment.
“Jay, I don’t understand where this is coming from. Talk to me. Please.”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it. That you still don’t understand.” His gaze sweeps up to the primary bedroom window, something dark simmering at the surface of those crystalline eyes. “Besides, do you really think that’s a good idea?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be? I don’t like how we left things the other day.”
“Who were we kidding, Hawthorne? That things would stay the same.” Jayden shifts the bag on his shoulder. “But what’s important is that you have her back now, right? The last thing I want is to give her an excuse to run.”
“She’s not going to run,” I say a bit more aggressively than I intend.
Jayden lets out a long sigh. “I really fucking hope that’s true, but you don’t know that.”
“Sol is here to stay. She promised.” As if to calm my anxieties, I look up at the bedroom window, but she’s nowhere to be seen.
“Promised? Yeah, because she’s so good at keeping her word. What happened to all of those big future plans you two had?” Jayden takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “Maybe you can pretend that everything is fine, but I can’t. I’m here to do myjob and that’s it, so let me just get to it.” He doesn’t wait for my response, taking his equipment and heading into the house.
I’m left standing there, stunned into silence by the rift that tears further between us. I want to run after him, to make things better, to talk things out. But it has to wait, I can’t afford to be distracted tonight.
It’s a struggle to collect my emotions and shove them in a tiny box to deal with later, but I manage. With a deep breath, I put on a brave face and head back into the house. Passing everyone setting up, I go to find Sol.
The bedroom is empty, so I search for the next most likely place I might find her. Sure enough, she’s made herself at home in the library.
Engrossed inThe Phantom of the Opera, she doesn’t hear me when I enter. I take the opportunity to admire her. The knee-high black boots with the slight heel blend in with tight black pants, giving the illusion of lengthening her frame. But as I step closer to her, I’m still at least several inches taller than her.
Unable to resist temptation, my hands take on a life of their own, gliding over the black pants that embrace her thighs and hug the curve of her luscious ass. The front clings just as tightly to her soft lower stomach that I grab as I lean into her from behind.
I’m greeted by a slight gasp of surprise, but she doesn’t pull away.
“Do you always have to be so beautiful? It makes it nearly impossible to get anything done.”
“I want to make a good impression.” She sets the book down as she studies herself in the mirror, trying on that practiced smile she wears for strangers.
“You don’t need to do anything but be yourself. They’re going to love you as much as I do.”
Sol rolls her eyes. “They probably think I’m some heartless bitch.”
“Heartless might be a bit overkill,” I tease. “They’re a bit protective, but they know how much you mean to me. They understand that our situation is anything but simple.”
“Like I said, I don’t know if I could approve of friends who weren’t at least a bit angry with me for leaving you.”
“I think I know of a way you could start to heal me.” I slide my hands up the camel-colored corset that carves the silhouette of her hips and lifts her breasts. I could almost be jealous of the garment if it didn’t present her ample cleavage to me like an offering as I peer down at her over her shoulder.
